WORCESTER --- Katie Adiletta (Bolton, MA) scored twice, including the game-winning goal just 40 seconds after host Clark had erased a three-goal deficit, as WPI women's soccer opened NEWMAC play with a wild 5-4 victory over its crosstown rival Saturday afternoon at Granger Field.
With the victory, the Engineers improve to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in conference action, while the Cougars slip to 4-2 on the season and 0-1 in NEWMAC play.
WPI wasted little time jumping in front, opening the scoring just 2:13 into the contest. Abigail Johnson (Middletown, CT) served a corner into the box, where Jess English (Ledyard, CT) connected with a header to give the Engineers an early 1-0 advantage.
The Crimson and Gray doubled the margin less than six minutes later. Adiletta gained possession in the attacking third and lofted a left-footed effort into the right side of the net at 8:05, sending WPI ahead 2-0. Clark pulled one back with just three seconds remaining before halftime as Kory Lloyd (Jamestown, NC) converted a free kick from outside the box, trimming the Engineers' advantage to 2-1 heading into the break.
WPI came firing out of halftime with two goals in a span of just 57 seconds. Johnson played a ball down the left side to Maeve Steckley (Irondequoit, NY), who tucked her attempt inside the left post at 48:53 to restore the two-goal cushion. Less than a minute later, Caila Scully (Merrimack, NH) sent a ball over the Clark back line that found Johnson, who lofted her attempt over the goalkeeper and into the net to push the advantage to 4-1.
Johnson, fresh off her first career hat trick in Wednesday's victory over Johnson & Wales, finished Saturday with a goal and two assists and has now totaled four goals and two helpers over the Engineers' last two contests.
The Cougars responded with three unanswered goals to pull even. Caroline Knecht (Scottsdale, AZ) struck twice in a span of 2:23, scoring at 59:00 and again at 61:23 off assists from Solimar Rivera (Worcester, MA) to cut the WPI lead to 4-3. Georgia Louis (West Hartford, CT) completed the comeback in the 78th minute, finding the net at 77:23 to knot the contest at 4-4.
The tie lasted all of 40 seconds. Adiletta answered immediately for the Engineers, splitting the Clark defense before blasting a left-footed shot over the goalkeeper and into the net at 78:03 for her second goal of the afternoon and the eventual game-winner.
Clark generated one final shot on goal in the 84th minute, but Abigail Marsolais (Norton, MA) made the save to preserve the victory. Marsolais went the distance in net and finished with five saves while earning her second consecutive victory.
Clark held a 19-17 advantage in total shots and a 9-6 edge in shots on goal, while also earning seven corner kicks to WPI's five. Adiletta paced the Engineers with five shots, putting both of her attempts on goal into the net. Steckley added four shots, while Johnson finished with three.
The five-goal performance marked WPI's highest-scoring outing of the season and gives the Engineers eight goals over their last two matches.
WPI returns home Monday for a NEWMAC matchup against Wheaton at H.Carr Field at Alumni Stadium slated for a 6pm start. Clark enjoys a break as the Cougars will venture to Norton next Saturday to tangle with the Lyons at 11am.
