Amherst, MA --- The WPI women's soccer team closed out its three-game season-opening road trip with nationally-ranked Amherst on Tuesday and the Engineers suffered their first setback of the 2025 campaign, falling 1-0 to the No. 6 Mammoths.
WPI, who had not allowed a goal in back-to-back wins at Union and Western New England to open the season, falls to 2-1 overall while the hosts, who reached the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals a year ago, were making their season debut.
Amherst controlled the action in the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the guests 6-2 and earning eight of the first half's corner kicks. The Mammoths were rewarded for their persistence in the 36th minute when
Emma Darling (Weston, MA) banged home a pass from
Jessica Lomo (Accra, Ghana) for the rookie's first career goal in her debut match. The final 9:38 before intermission was defensive minded with neither team mustering a shot before halftime.
The second half had a similar statistical breakdown with the hosts holding a 5-2 edge in shots. Amherst had the best chance about 16 minutes into the stanza but
Caroline Coletti's (Carlisle, MA) shot was denied by a diving save by WPI's
Maya Mussel (Oxford, CT). The guests ratcheted up the pressure over the final 10 minutes but the Mammoths kept the Engineer attack from causing any damage.
The Crimson and Gray registered four shots on the night, credited to
Caetlyn Embree (Sherborn, MA),
Caila Scully (Merrimack, NH),
Abigail Johnson (Middletown, CT) and
Madisen McLeod (Ledyard, CT), with Scully and Johnson's bids on net.
Ayla Verheul (Naarden, The Netherlands) and Mussel split time in net for a third straight game. Verheul played the opening half while Mussel made two stops after halftime, including the aforementioned diving save. Amherst senior netminder
Lulu Fickes (Denver, CO) repelled a pair of shots to remaining undefeated (6-0) with her fifth career clean sheet.
WPI returns to action on Friday afternoon with its home opener as the Engineers welcome Cortland (NY) to H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium for a 4pm kickoff. The Mammoths hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday with an 11:30am match-up at Connecticut College is NESCAC in the lid-lifter.
Box Score
