Late Goal Lifts WPI to Victory over MIT in NEWMAC Quarterfinal
Courtesy of WPI Sports Information
WORCESTER, Mass. – Kevin Ducharme made his
first goal of the season a memorable one as he successfully
converted a penalty kick with just 2:26 remaining in regulation to
propel WPI to a dramatic 2-1 victory over visiting MIT in a NEWMAC
Men’s Soccer Tournament quarterfinal on Wednesday. WPI
advances to this weekend’s semifinals where they will face
top-seeded and host Babson College. The Engineers ended their
season with an overall record of 8-9.
The hosts were awarded the penalty kick when Ducharme, who had
slipped beyond the defenders, was taken down just to the left of
the penalty spot. His shot went to the lower right corner and was
his second career marker. MIT then applied significant pressure in
the final two minutes, with their best chance coming on a shot by
Zachary Kabelac, that went high and hard over the crossbar with 44
seconds remaining.
The Engineers opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Chris
Hammond buried a cross from Christian Therkelsen into the back of
the net for his third goal of the season. WPI (10-6-1) answered
back midway through the first half. Mike Ford connected with Tommy
Zajac on a nifty one-touch, who split the defense with a pass to
Jason Hopkins. Hopkins beat MIT goalie Dylan Rankin to the lower
left for his team-leading 11th marker of the season at 24:40.
WPI netminder Paul Moan was called upon to make five saves on the
night while Rankin made a pair of stops for the visitors. For the
game, the MIT enjoyed an 11-8 advantage in shots and took seven of
the game’s 10 corner kicks.