Norton, MA --- The WPI women's soccer team defeated host Wheaton 2-1, this afternoon in NEWMAC play at Mirrione Stadium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, MA. The Engineers improve to 7-2-2 overall and 2-0-1 in league play, while the Lyons slip to 5-4-0 and 1-2-0.
WPI owned a 23-15 shot advantage, including 13-6 in the second half. Wheaton held a 6-4 margin in corner kicks.
All three goals in the game came in the second half. The Engineers netted the first two markers of the match in the opening 15 minutes of the second stanza.
WPI cracked the scoring column just 4:44 into the second half to take a 1-0 edge. Junior forward
Katie Adiletta (Bolton, MA) sent a cross into the box, where junior forward
Maeve Steckley (Rochester, NY) fired a right-footed shot into the upper right corner of the frame that hit just under the cross bar and straight down over the goal line to give the visitors a one-goal margin with 40:16 to go in the match.
The Engineers added to their lead, less than 10 minutes later, to take a 2-0 lead. Junior midfielder
Delaney Mohl (Hopewell Junction, NY) carried the ball down the right side, before sending a lead cross ahead to sophomore forward
Abigail Johnson (Middletown, CT). Johnson uncorked a shot from the right side, inside the box, that found the back of the net for her fifth marker of the year in the 60th minute of play.
WPI's bid for a shutout was dashed in the 82nd minute of play when the Lyons converted a penalty kick for their only goal of the afternoon. Junior back
Maya Thomas (Goffstown, NH) carried the ball into the box on the right side, before firing a shot that caught the hand of an Engineer defender to draw a penalty kick for Wheaton. Senior forward
Ali Roche (Maynard, MA) deposited her attempt just inside the left post, to catch the WPI keeper flat-footed, for her fifth goal of the season for the home team with 8:55 left to play in the contest.
Sophomore goalie
Ayla Verheul (Naarden, Netherlands) turned away five shots for the Engineers, while senior keeper
Patricia Bandrup (Poway, CA) made 11 saves for the Lyons.
WPI returns to the pitch on Saturday, October 4 when it hosts Babson in NEWMAC play for a 11am kickoff, while Wheaton hosts league rival Mount Holyoke on the same day at 1pm. at Mirrione Stadium.
Release Courtesy Wheaton Sports Information
