WORCESTER -- Reese Pszenny (Danvers, MA) and Sera Brunner (Littleton, CO) accounted for second half goals as WPI blanked visiting Clarkson 2-0 in a non-conference women's soccer match-up on Saturday afternoon.
 
The match, which was played in front of a large Family Weekend crowd of 500 on H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium, was dedicated in support of WPI head coach Steph Riley-Schafer, as the Engineers wore blue in pregame to honor their beloved coach and blue ribbons were distributed to fans, who were reminded and encouraged to get regular medical check-ups, including colonoscopies.   
 
WPI, which is ranked fourth in the latest United Soccer Coaches Region II rankings, improves to 3-2-1 overall while the Golden Knights, third in most recent Region III rankings, see their record move level at 2-2-2.
 
The first half was a defensive stalemate, with the teams only mustering a total of four shots (3-1 WPI) and three corner kicks (2-1 Clarkson).  The Engineers had the best scoring chance in the 19th minute when Madison Shaw (Cheshire, CT) appeared to get a step behind the Golden Knights defensive line but Clarkson's Riley Irvin (Lake Zurich, IL) swooped in and blocked the shot attempt out of harm's way.
 
The Crimson and Gray turned up the pressure to start the second half, registering four shots and a pair of corners in a four-minute span highlighted when Pszenny collected a rebound and buried her second goal of year at 52:42 off an assist from Maeve Steckley (Rochester, NY).  WPI doubled its advantage nearly 20 minutes later when Sera Brunner (Littleton, CO) headed home a corner by Abigail Johnson (Middletown, CT) for the sophomore's first tally in an Engineers uniform at 70:10.
 
Ayla Verheul (Naarden, The Netherlands) and Maya Mussel (Oxford, CT) split the halves in net for the sixth consecutive match this season for WPI.  Verheul made a stop over the opening 45 minutes while Mussel was credited with victory after producing a save in the second half.  Isabelle Wood (Winfield, PA) notched three saves in goal for the guests.
 
WPI ended the game with a 12-5 advantage in shots while the Golden Knights held a slight 5-4 edge in corner kicks. Steckley paced all players with four shots for the hosts while Callie Abel (Quakertown PA) launched two shots for the Golden Knights.
 
WPI heads to North Dartmouth for a 6pm meeting with UMass Dartmouth and its final match before next weekend's NEWMAC opener with Clark.  Clarkson begins Liberty League play next Saturday, entertaining RIT at 2pm.