South Hadley, MA --- Sophie Papamechail (Danvers, MA) notched a pair of goals and Abbey Powers (Halifax, MA) chipped in with a goal and an assist to lift WPI to a 6-0 shutout of host Mount Holyoke in the NEWMAC opener for both squads played Saturday morning on the MHC Blue Turf.

WPI is now 4-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.  The Engineers have won six straight NEWMAC openers dating back to the 2018 campaign, including all four during head coach Kim Cosenza's tenure.  With the loss, the Lions slip to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in league action.
 
The Crimson and Gray rattled off the first seven shots of the game and finally broke through with 2:15 to go in the first period when Ella Reeners (Windham, NH) smacked home a rebound of a Powers bid for the rookie's first goal.  The Lyons best pressure came in the final minute of the opening frame as they launched three shots but had one saved and two others blocked. 
 
WPI added a pair of goals in the second half to expand the advantage to 3-0 at the intermission.  Following a penalty corner insertion by Eliza Dutson (Woodstock, CT), Emily Sollecito (Bedford, MA) sent a pass to Arie Lang (West Hartford, CT) who netted her second goal of the year at 18:15.  Powers found the back of the net nearly five minutes later following a fine play by Lauren Meinhold (Boxboro, MA).  The tally was Powers' first of 2024 and 15th of her career.
 
Coming out of the break Leah Uglevich (Maynard, MA) recorded a shot that was steered away by Mount Holyoke's Rachel Katzenberg (Reisterstown, MD) before Papamechail notched her first marker of the day shortly after to extend the game to 4-0. Uglevich and Dutson continued to strike as Katzenberg kept the shots away before Eve Martineau (Greene, ME) found the back of the goal with an assist by Papamechail. Mount Holyoke's Diane Lee (Boston, MA) recorded the final strike of the quarter but was turned away by Ella Moreau (Huntington, MA).
 
The contest's final goal came in the fourth stanza as Powers connected with Papamechail for the tally to make it 6-0. Linnea Alsted (Crownsville, MD) recorded the final attempt to get on the board but was deflected by Myles Lakin (Reading, MA)
 
Both teams step out of conference next.  WPI is on the road to face Trinity in a 6pm match on Tuesday while Mount Holyoke hosts Elms on Thursday at 6pm.