WORCESTER --
Michael Montabana (Jamison, PA) factored in both WPI scores and
Anir AitDowd (Harvard, MA) netted his first collegiate goal as the Crimson and Gray opened NEWMAC play with a 2-2 draw against MIT Saturday afternoon at H. Carr Field at Alumni Stadium. WPI moves to 0-3-3 overall and 0-0-1 in conference play, while MIT is now 1-3-2 on the season and 0-0-1 in the NEWMAC.
After WPI generated several chances during the opening half, AitDowd broke through in the 36th minute. Montabana worked the ball from the right side across to AitDowd, who finished the opportunity at 35:03 to give WPI a 1-0 advantage. The lead lasted less than five minutes, however, as
Max Cassidy (Marion, IA) headed home a free kick from
Ilya Davydov (La Jolla, CA) at 39:47 to send the teams into halftime even at 1-1.
WPI regained the lead just over 15 minutes into the second half when Montabana converted a penalty kick at 60:05, firing his attempt into the upper left portion of the net for his second goal of the seasonG. MIT answered again in the 70th minute when
Charles Lai (Providence, RI) headed in a corner kick to knot the contest at 2-2.
WPI had opportunities to find a winner down the stretch.
Jason Hrkach (Lexington, MA) forced MIT goalkeeper
Nicolas Santos-Shin (New York, NY) into a save in the 81st minute before
Noah Amorim (Weymouth, MA) put attempts on target in both the 83rd minute and at the final horn. MIT also threatened late, but
Savio Ketnouvong (Worcester, MA) turned aside five second-half shots, including a header by
Woods Windham (Greer, SC) with just 20 seconds remaining.
MIT finished with an 18-12 advantage in total shots, while each team placed seven attempts on goal. Ketnouvong and Santos-Shin registered five saves each. MIT held an 8-5 edge in corner kicks, including six in the second half.
With rain in the forecast for Sunday, WPI's match tomorrow at Trinity has been postponed to Monday at 6pm in Hartford. MIT begins a two-game homestand on Wednesday, hosting UMass Boston at 6pm.
