MIT beats Worcester State in women’s soccer matchup
Rodriguez scores two, propelling the Engineers
After scoring the lone goal of the game against Simmons College the night before, Michaelann Rodriguez ’14 scored both of MIT’s goals against Worcester State University to lead the Engineers to a 2-0 win over the Lancers at home on Tuesday evening. MIT is now 2-1 for the season, while Worcester State fell to 1-1.
Worcester State started the first half off very strongly by scoring its first goal just 11 minutes into the game. The goal was made at the foot of Shelby Archer, who shot the ball from the right corner of the field, firing it clear over the head and out-stretched arms of goalkeeper Lauren S. Ullmann ’17. The Engineers wasted no time evening the score, however; at 16:23, Rodriguez received a pass from Ambika Krishnamachar ’15 and pocketed the ball in the back of the net, tying the score at 1-1.
Just five minutes later, Rodriguez stole the ball from the opposing team’s keeper and shot it at the goal, hitting the post with such power that it rolled into the net before the keeper could knock it free, giving the Engineers the 2-1 lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game. MIT took seven more shots at net throughout the remaining 30 minute half, with three of them being saved by keeper Jillian Witkowski. It looked as if MIT might score its third goal of the night at the 36 minute mark when Amma Okwara ’16 swept the ball up and fired it at the keeper, who knocked the ball out of harm’s way with the tips of her fingers.
The Engineers turned up the intensity in the second half, firing 19 shots at goal throughout the entire second half, 13 of which were saved by the goalie. Worcester State was able to break through MIT defense a handful of times, but were thwarted each time by goalkeeper Tamar N. Weseley ’16 during her stint in the net. With neither team able to get close enough to the opposing goal, the game ended with an MIT victory.
MIT outshot Worcester State 35-12. Ullmann and Weseley each spent 45 minutes in net, with Ullmann making two saves and allowing one goal and Weseley making three saves. Witkowski made an impressive 19 saves throughout the entire game.
The Engineers will host their second of three consecutive home games on Saturday, Sept. 7, facing Emmanuel College at 11:00 a.m..