Sports Shorts
Women’s Soccer Shuts Down WPI, 3-0
Alisha D. Lussiez ’12 collected a pair of break-away goals just three minutes apart in the first half to lift MIT to a 3-0 victory over the host Worcester Polytechnic Institute in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women’s soccer action on Saturday afternoon.
After WPI had mustered five of the game’s first six shots, Lussiez took control of the game. In the 31st minute, she took a feed from Erica W. Little ’11, got behind the defense, and buried her third goal of the season. In the 34th minute she came up with a ball that was deflected off a WPI player and went in alone for her second goal of the half.
Lauren R. Hernley ’11 provided MIT with insurance in the 77th minute as she recovered a loose ball inside the 18-yard box and tucked it low into the goal for her first career goal.
MIT goalkeeper Stephanie V. Brenman ’09 notched five saves en route to her third shutout of the season.
—James Kramer, DAPER Staff
Field Hockey Falls to WPI, 3-2, in NEWMAC Opener
Maggie Elbag scored off of a penalty corner with 15:48 left to lift WPI to a 3-2 win over MIT in a soggy afternoon of NEWMAC field hockey action on Jack Barry Field Saturday. The game was the conference opener for both teams.
The teams battled at midfield for much of the first half until Anna H. Teruya ’12 finally broke through, scoring on a penalty stroke 26 minutes into the game. It was the eighth goal of the season for the MIT freshman. MIT’s slim lead would hold up for the remainder of the half, as they outshot WPI 9-3 and held a 6-0 advantage on penalty corners.
Sasha Markhovsky put WPI on the board just over a minute into the second half, scoring on a feed from Paige Hanson. MIT would regain the lead when Danielle C. Smith ’11 deflected in a shot from Nirupama Yechoor ’10 in the 48th minute. Jackie McDonough scored for WPI just over a minute later to tie the game at two, setting up Elbag’s game winner.
MIT goalkeeper Keri A. Dixon ’12 had five saves in the losing effort. Betsy Ray picked up the win in net for WPI, stopping six shots.
MIT will look to bounce back today when they host Endicott College.
—Greg McKeever, DAPER Staff
Men’s Soccer Remains Unbeaten With 2-1 Win Over Clark
MIT remained unbeaten and extended its winning streak to a program-best 10 games with a 2-1 victory over host Clark University in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game on Saturday. Ranked 10th in New England by the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll, the Engineers improved to 9-0-1 on the year and 1-0 in conference play.
MIT opened the scoring just under 10 minutes into the game when Christian W. Therkelsen ’11 one-timed a cross from Zachary E. Kabelac ’12 and lofted it into the far corner of the net. Clark’s Brian Doenmez had a chance to tie it up minutes later, but his direct kick was turned away on a diving save by MIT goalie Thomas S. Caldwell ’09.
Therkelsen increased the Engineers’ lead to 2-0 in the 17th minute. The sophomore forward collected a punt from Caldwell at midfield and dribbled it inside the Clark penalty area where his shot bounced off keeper Peter Wise’s hands and into the back of the net.
The Cougars ended the shutout at the 69:04 mark when Doenmez sent a free kick into the box and Mike Trobagis converted the pass with a diving header into the far corner. Despite playing with a man down during the final 10 minutes of the game, Clark had three chances to post the equalizer but each attempt was snuffed out by Caldwell.
Caldwell finished with nine saves while Wise collected four for Clark.
—Mindy Brauer, DAPER Staff
Women’s Volleyball Places Fourth at MIT Invitational
Following a 2-2 outing, the MIT Women’s Volleyball team finished in fourth place at the MIT Invitational this past weekend. MIT swept Bridgewater State College (25-12, 25-18, 25-7) and Bates College (25-22, 25-21, 25-11) in pool play on Friday. The Engineers (10-8) dropped a five set-thriller to Connecticut College (20-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22, 22-20) before falling to Springfield College (25-23, 25-22, 25-21) in the third-place match. Alexandra T. May ’10 represented MIT on the All-Tournament Team.
In Saturday’s semifinal match with Connecticut College, May tallied 19 kills, 16 digs, and four blocks while Katrina M. Ellison ’10 posted 10 kills, a .588 hitting percentage, seven digs, and five blocks. Barden E. Cleeland ’10 totaled eight kills and six blocks as Kelly E. Schulte ’12 recorded nine kills and five aces. Catherine Melnikow ’10 finished with 46 assists and a team-high seven aces.
May wrapped up the weekend with 15 digs, 10 kills and two blocks against Springfield. Cleeland had nine kills and four blocks while Ellison notched eight digs and seven kills. Jennifer Li ’11 rounded out the attack with six kills as Hunting registered 13 digs and two aces. Melnikow capped off the match with 34 assists, eight digs, and two aces.
—Mindy Brauer, DAPER Staff