Box Score WORCESTER -- Brady Burch (South Deerfield, MA) and Eli Marden (Shelburne, VT) each registered a second half goal to propel WPI to a hard-fought 2-1 season-opening victory in a non-conference men's soccer contest played Saturday afternoon on H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium. 
 
The victory oddly enough snapped a two-game opening-match winless streak for the Engineers, who had tied the Lancers in the previous two debuts, yet extending the unbeaten run of the Crimson and Gray in season lid-lifters to 13 matches (11-0-2) dating back to 2011.
 
The opening 45 minutes saw WPI attempt 8 of the 10 shots of the half with Aaron Vaz (Medford, MA) perhaps having the best chance for the hosts when he dribbled past defenders in the seventh minute, but his shot went wide right.
 
Worcester State seemed poised to dent the scoring column early in the second half but goalkeeper Julian Quaresima (East Meadow, NY) denied Wilbur Garcia's (Bilbao, Spain) penalty kick with a diving save to his right to keep the game scoreless.
 
WPI took the lead in the 59th minute following a perfectly executed corner.  Anthony Previte (Andover, MA) lofted the corner to the far post where it found the head of Burch at the top of the six-yard.  The sophomore's header went into the goal near post for his first career tally.
 
The Crimson and Gray received a much-needed insurance goal with 8:29 remaining when Vaz accepted a long cross from the left side and laid off to Marden, who placed a shot into the top right corner for his second career-goal.
 
The guests pulled one in the 87th minute when they received their second PK of the day and this time Mohammad kadar-Yussuf (Worcester, MA) found paydirt when he tucked one into the left side as Quaresima went right.   
 
Neither team would muster a shot over the remaining 3:50 with WPI emerging with the 2-1 triumph.

Quaresima tallied three stops in net for the Boynton Hiller while Worcester State netminder PJ Schmidt (Westwood, NJ) recorded nine saves on day for the Lancers.  Overall, the Engineers held a 24-7 advantage and 10-4 edge in corner kicks in a match that featured a combined 25 fouls.
 
WPI remains at home as they face off against UMass Boston on Tuesday at 4pm. Worcester State stays on the road to battle Johnson and Wales on Wednesday at 4pm.