WORCESTER --
Violet Westburg (Falmouth, ME),
Ava Walker (Grafton, MA) and
Madeline Chase (Danvers, MA) all scored in the third quarter as WPI erupted for four unanswered goals and defeated Clark, 4-0, Saturday evening at H. Carr Field in the NEWMAC opener for both teams.
The Engineers improve to 3-4 overall and 1-0 in NEWMAC play with the victory, while the Cougars fall to 3-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference action.
After a scoreless opening quarter, WPI and Clark traded pressure in the second period. Clark earned three penalty corners and put one shot on target, but
Myles Lakin (Reading, MA) turned aside a bid from
Sedona Lee (Windham, NH) to keep the contest scoreless at halftime. WPI earned a penalty corner of its own and generated another opportunity from
Sanidi Waduthanthri (Hopkinton, MA), but the Cougars carried the 0-0 deadlock into the break.
The Engineers broke through in the third quarter, scoring three times in a span of 3:33. Westburg opened the scoring at 36:18, finishing a feed from
Emma Barton (Hopewell Junction, NY) for the first goal of her career. Just 1:13 later, Walker doubled the advantage with her first collegiate goal, converting a pass from Waduthanthri.
Kyra Duane (Marlboro, MA) then made it 3-0 at 39:51, scoring off a feed from
Lucy Clement (Burlington, MA) for her second goal of the season.
WPI added to its lead early in the fourth quarter when Chase scored at 48:02, finishing a pass from
Ella Reeners (Windham, NH). The goal was Chase's team-leading fourth of
the season. The Engineers continued to control play over the final 12 minutes, with Lakin and the WPI defense preserving the shutout.
WPI finished with a 13-2 advantage in shots, including an 8-1 edge in shots on goal, while earning seven penalty corners to Clark's three. Lakin made one save to record his first shutout of the season, while
Rachel Reiter (Millburn, NJ) made four saves for the Cougars. Westburg and Chase each recorded two shots, while Duane added two shots, including one on target.
Both teams have midweek non-conference road contests in Connecticut. WPI heads to Trinity on Wednesday for a 6pm matchup, while Clark travels to Hartford on Tuesday for a 6pm contest.
