Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WORCESTER -- Roger Williams scored three times in the first three quarters and held off a late WPI push to defeat the Engineers, 3-1, Tuesday afternoon at H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium in the season opener for both teams.
 
WPI generated six penalty corners and nine total shots, but was limited to three shots on goal by a stout Hawks defense.
 
The Hawks opened the scoring with 16:24 remaining in the first quarter when Reese Jefferson (Dighton, MA) converted a rebound after her initial attempt was stopped by WPI goalkeeper Myles Lakin (Reading, MA). Jefferson's goal was her first of the season.
 
Roger Williams doubled its advantage early in the second quarter. At 28:56, Brodie Loveland (West Milford, NJ) collected a rebound on the left side and put it home for her first goal of the season, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
 
The Hawks added another goal at 34:43 of the third quarter when Lexi Yost (Swansea, MA) finished a penalty-corner opportunity set up by Anna Kruggel (Scituate, MA), pushing the advantage to 3-0.
 
WPI answered just 25 seconds later. Kyra Duane (Marlboro, MA) scored her first goal of the season at 39:04, with Chloe Luongo (Amherst, NH) earning the assist to bring the Engineers within two.
 
WPI continued to pressure throughout the fourth quarter, earning two more penalty corners and putting two shots toward the Roger Williams cage. The Engineers' final penalty corner came with just 15 seconds remaining, but WPI was unable to cut further into the deficit.
 
Lakin finished with six saves for the Engineers, including four in the fourth quarter. Roger Williams goalkeeper Shae O'Neill (Medway, MA) made two saves for the guests.
 
Roger Williams held a 12-9 edge in shots and a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal. WPI earned six penalty corners compared to two for the Hawks.
 
WPI heads to Springfield on Saturday to take on Western New England at 1pm. Roger Williams is right back at it tomorrow, visiting Lasell for a 5pm contest in Newton.