WORCESTER -- Visiting MIT, ranked fourth in the nation, posted a 2-0 win over the WPI women's soccer team in NEWMAC action on Saturday night at Alumni Field. The loss dips the Crimson and Gray to 7-4-4 overall and 4-2-2 in conference play, while the Cambridge squad runs their record to 14-1-1 overall, 8-0 in the conference.
 
MIT scored a goal in each half and kept WPI keeper Lili Hellerman (Ashland, MA) busy all game, piling on a 29-4 shot advantage. Hellerman faced 18 shots on goal in the contest, racking up a career-high 16 saves. MIT's Maddy Noll (Northbrook, Il) got the victory, playing all 90 minutes and making a pair of stops.
 
WPI's Madisyn Bagby (Aurora, CO) recorded the first shot on goal in the game, a ball that Noll stopped in the first minute of play. From there, however, MIT piled it on, finally breaking through in the 29th minute. A nicely placed corner from Leena Mehendale (Dallas, TX) found Madelyn Popilek (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), who buried the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage that stood at the break.
 
MIT recorded the first 16 shots of the second half, but the WPI defense kept it a one-goal game. In the 58th minute, Hellerman made a diving save off to tip a shot from Meagan Rowlett (Dana Point, CA) off the cross bar, and then scrambled back to her feet to cover the ball before MIT could corral it for a second chance.
 
The Cambridge side kept the pressure on, however, and in the 87^th minute, they put the game away for good. Natalie Barnouw (Los Angeles, CA) was able to collect her own rebound and send it past the keeper for her team-leading ninth goal of the season, which made it a 2-0 game.
 
Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Wednesday. WPI plays at Emerson at 6pm, while MIT hosts Wellesley at 4pm at Roberts Field.
 
Box Score