WORCESTER --
Brady Campbell (North Tustin, CA) notched a first half tally and
Kelsey Yoshikawa (Mililani, Hawaii) registered a second half goal as Emerson sprinted out to a 2-0 lead and then withstood a late WPI rally as the Lions knocked off the host Engineers 2-1 in a NEWMAC women's soccer contest played Wednesday evening on H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium.
With the triumph Emerson improves its record to 8-3-4 overall and 6-0-2 in conference action while WPI, ranked fifth in the most recent United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Region II rankings, dips to 9-5-2 on the year and 4-3-1 in NEWMAC play.
The game was tightly-contested throughout the opening with the Lions denting the scoring column just after the half hour mark.
Linae Bezdek (Frisco, TX) uncorked a shot that was saved by WPI netminder
Maya Mussel (Oxford, CT) and then rebounded off the crossbar and knocked home by Campbell for her second marker of the season at 31:07. Emerson held a slight 6-5 edge in first half while attempting all four corners in the opening 45 minutes.
The 58th minute was an eventful one as the Lions went up 2-0 at 57:10 when Yoshikawa received a cross from
Rowan McCrary (Washington, DC) and buried her third goal of the year into the back of the next. Now trailing by two goals, WPI answered right back 30 seconds later when
Tiziri Tizi-Ougdal (Acton, MA) sent a long ball to set up
Abigail Johnson (Middletown, CT) for the sophomore's sixth goal of 2025 and ninth of her career.
WPI's best chance to equalize with about seven minutes remaining when Johnson nearly got behind and defense and was fouled just outside the box but the ensuing free kick was blocked. The Engineers uncorked three more shots the rest of the way, but Emerson goalkeeper
Hailey Forman (Saratoga, CA) was up to task, including impressive saves on bids by
Reese Pszenny (Danvers, MA) and
Caetlyn Embree (Sherborn, MA).
Forman finished the night with six saves while Mussel was credited with four stops for the Crimson and Gray. The hosts outshot the Lions 19-17 while the guests took four of the match's five corners.
Both teams continue NEWMAC play on Saturday. WPI closes outs a two-match homestand against Coast Guard at 4:30pm while Emerson closes out a two-game road trip by venturing to Springfield for a 6pm kickoff.
