Northampton, MA --- Emily Sollecito (Bedford, MA) notched a pair of goals and five other Engineers chipped in with points to lift WPI to a 5-0 shutout of host Smith in a NEWMAC field hockey contest played Tuesday night on Smith Turf Field.
 
With the win, WPI improves its record to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in NEWMAC play.  The win assured the Engineers a spot in the conference tournament for the fourth straight season under fourth-year head coach Kim Cosenza and the Crimson and Gray can earn its third consecutive quarterfinal home contest two weeks from tonight with a victory in either one of its two remaining league games versus Salve Regina and Wellesley at home the next two Saturdays. Smith drops to 4-11 on the year and 3-4 in conference action.
 
WPI started off strong and found the back of the net with its second shot to open the scoring column. Lauren Meinhold (Boxboro, MA) maneuvered the ball around the top of the circle and fired a shot toward the net, where Eliza Dutson (Woodstock, CT) successfully redirected it into the goal for their second of the season at 5:53.
 
A couple minutes later, the Crimson and Gray struck again to lift the score to 2-0. After an insertion by Sollecito, a nifty pass, and a shot by Eve Martineau (Greene, ME) which was deflected by Smith goalkeeper Emma Newman (Clarks Summit, PA), Sollecito stepped in and the graduate student redirected the ball into the net and earned her first goal of the year at 8:33.
 
Smith controlled the majority of the second quarter, taking six of the ten shots, three on target, and earning the only penalty corner, but the score remained at 2-0 entering halftime.
 
After the half, the Pioneers maintained their control, generating three shots and earning three corners. However, it was WPI who found the back of the net at 40:13, extending their lead to 3-0. A series of quick passes sets up the shot for Sophie Papamechail (Danvers, MA), who pushed the ball past the goalkeeper for her fourth goal of the year.
 
In the final frame, the Engineers capitalized again at 47:21 following a penalty corner. An insertion by Sollecito led to a saved shot by Meinhold. The rebound was diverted to the stick of Samantha Robison (Wrentham, MA), who aimed toward the net where Alexandra Wolf (Clinton, CT) redirected the ball into the goal, earning her third of her senior season.
 
The Boynton Hillers final goal was netted from their third corner, marking the successful conversion of all three corners into goals. Another insertion by Sollecito set up a stick stop by Meinhold, who launched a powerful shot toward the goal, where Sollecito was poised to deflect the ball into the net for her second goal of the game and second of the year at 52:51.
 
The Engineers saw a slight advantage in shots, 15-14, while the Pioneers earned the majority of penalty corners, 6-3. Callahan Day (Shady Side, MD) and Laura Dreher (Durham, NH) took charge for Smith, accounting for a combined five shots on target.
 
Ella Moreau (Huntington, MA) defended net for the Engineers, blocking 10 shots on the game. For the Pioneers, Newman was credited with seven stops
 
Both teams compete in a NEWMAC matchup on Saturday. WPI ventures home for an 11am contest against Salve Regina, and Smith is on the road to battle Springfield at noon.
 
Recap written by WPI Sports Information Student Assistant Maya Vartabedian '24 '25