WORCESTER --
Aaron Vaz (Medford, MA) and
Fabio Bastida-Andreu (Logrono, Spain) notched goals to propel the WPI men's soccer team to a comeback 2-1 NEWMAC victory on Wednesday night on H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium.
WPI, third in the latest United Soccer Coaches Region II lifts its record to 9-3-4 overall and 1-1-4 in NEWMAC action. Clark falls to 4-7-4 on the season and 0-5-1 in conference play.
The Crimson and Gray controlled most of the offense in the first half, registering nine of the 11 shots and earning all three corner kicks in the opening 45 minutes. However, the Cougars capitalized on their first shot on goal, striking first at the 27:38 mark.
Colin Ruiz (West Hartford, CT) sent a soaring cross into the box where
Tyler Manley (New Rochelle, NY) executed a perfect bicycle kick, drilling the ball into the right side of the net for his third goal of the season.
Just 61 second later, a trip in the box led to a penalty kick for Vaz at the 28:39 mark. He converted the opportunity, ripping the ball high into the left corner of the net for his seventh goal of the season.
The Engineers struck again to take a 2-1 lead just after intermission.
Anthony Coutts (Millis, MA) redirected the ball toward the center of the net, and when a Clark defender attempted to clear it, the ball ricocheted off Bastida-Andreu and landed right at his feet. The junior unleashed a direct shot into the bottom left corner of the goal at 49:27 for his seventh of the year.
Arguably, Clark's best scoring opportunity in the second half came in the 54th minute during a scramble in front of the net. However,
Mason Perham (Hampden, MA) stepped up to clear the ball and avert the threat.
WPI held an advantage in shots, 15-6 and completed all six of the corner kicks in the match.
For the Engineers,
Savio Ketnouvong (Paxton, MA) was in net, blocking four shots, while the Cougars' netminder
Diego Marin (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) totaled four saves.
WPI ventures to Coast Guard for a 3pm conference matchup on Saturday. Clark hosts Anna Maria for a 1pm Saturday contest.
Recap Written by Sports Information Student Assistant Maya Vartabedian '24 '25
