WORCESTER -- Nikolas Previte (Andover, MA) and Adin Pezo (Everett, MA) registered first half goals as the WPI men's soccer team went across the city of Worcester and defeated Clark 2-1 in a NEWMAC men's soccer contest played Saturday afternoon on Granger Field off of Beaver Street.
 
The victory improves WPI's record to 4-3-4 overall and 1-1-1 in conference action while the Cougars dip to 3-7-2 on the season and 0-3-1 in NEWMAC play. 
 
The opening 20 minutes was nearly even with both teams totaling two shots and a corner.  The Engineers opened the scoring at 22:40 when Mike Montabana (Jamison, PA) fired a strike which hit the far post and bounced back to center of goal for a waiting Previte for the tap-in goal for the sophomore's second marker of the season.
 
The visitors doubled its advantage with 5:08 to go before intermission after Tora Ito (Hopkinton, MA) intercepted a pass and directed it to Pezo who buried a far-range shot in the top corner of the net for the rookie's team-leading third goal of 2025.
 
Clark, which was outshot 9-4 in the first half, tried to turn the tables in the final 45 minutes, attempting 8 of half's 12 shots but broke through with just seven seconds remaining when Brendan Stevenson (Holyoke, MA) headed home a cross by Ben Siegel (Holliston, MA) at 89:53.  WPI successfully dribbled out the final seconds to claim their first conference triumph of 2025.
 
Savio Ketnouvong (Paxton, MA) earned the victory in net for WPI, makn ione stop on the day while Diego Marin (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) turned away four shots for the hosts.  For the game, the Crimson and Gray held slight edges in both shots (13-12) and corners (6-4) with Montabana leading the way with five.  Siegel paced all players with six shots for the hosts.