Women’s Soccer Beats Wellesley; Ludlum Sets Record for Goals
Andrea Robles—The Tech
Forward Amy S. Ludlum ’08 scored the 51st goal of her career to ignite the women’s soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Wellesley College. Fittingly, Ludlum’s finish occurred on Senior Day and marked the most career goals by a player in the history of the men’s and women’s programs.
Ludlum’s historic feat stole the headlines against the Blue, but it was Jean E. “Liz” Theurer ’10 who sparked MIT (10-4-0, 5-2-0) in a key New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference battle. After setting up the first score of the game in the 17th minute, Theurer knocked home the eventual game-winner in the 53rd minute. For the 12th and 13th times this season, Ludlum and Theurer assisted on each other’s goals as MIT built a 2-0 lead.
The first half produced only four total shots, three by Wellesley (6-6-2, 2-4-1), although neither team was able to generate a great chance after Ludlum’s opening strike from 15 yards out on the left. The pace of the tilt picked up in the second half, with Wellesley’s Jennie Krasker scoring an unassisted goal in the 72nd minute to slice the Engineers’ lead in half. MIT defender Monique T. Squiers ’11 made a nice play to prevent the ball from crossing the line, but Krasker’s shot was too solid for Squiers to clear. The lunging attempt bounced off Squiers’ thigh and into the net for Krasker’s seventh score of the season.
Despite surrendering a goal, the MIT offense immediately rebounded. Out-shooting Wellesley by a margin of 8-3 in the second half, MIT upped its lead to two again in the 76th minute. Ludlum served up a terrific ball off a corner attempt, which Theurer headed past keeper Katie Martore to mark her third multi-goal game of the year and Ludlum and Theurer’s 14th connection. More importantly, it gave the Engineers a 3-1 lead in a match that should factor into the NEWMAC Tournament seedings.
Capping a tremendous effort, Janine M. Hopmans ’08 made her final regular-season home game appearance one to remember as she followed up last Saturday’s hat trick with her sixth goal of the season in the 90th minute. Karen M. Davie ’08, who was making her 37th career start in three years on defense, also shared in the Senior Day festivities.
Ludlum finished the afternoon with four points, setting a new Institute standard for points in a season. With two matches left on the regular slate, Ludlum has 47 points, topping the previous record of 45 set by Rebecca Hill in 1993.
Wellesley keeper Martore made three saves in defeat, while Stephanie V. Brenman ’09 stopped six shots en route to the win. With the victory, MIT improved to 7-1-0 this season in the friendly confines of Steinbrenner Stadium.
MIT returns to the field tomorrow in an away match against Smith at 1 p.m.