Balanced Effort Key as WPI Shuts Out Undefeated Salve Regina
Worcester, MA --- Jeff Wong (Millington, NJ) notched his ninth career shutout and six different players tallied points as host WPI knocked off previously undefeated Salve Regina 3-0 in a non-conference men's soccer match on Wednesday evening.
With the win, the Engineers move to 7-2 on the season while Salve Regina, ranked eighth in the latest NCSAA New England rankings and receiving votes in the D3soccer.com Top 25, is now 8-1.
It appeared the two teams would head into the intermission scoreless until a free kick by Sean Galligan (Weymouth, MA) from 40-yards out was headed into the upper left hand corner by Christopher Murray (Canton, MA) for his fifth goal of the season at 42:05.
Salve Regina had perhaps its best scoring chance 15 minutes into the second half when Patrick Vierengel's (Armonk, NY) bid was deflected by the defense and Jake Weinshank's effort went just wide of goal.
WPI got an important insurance marker midway through the second half when Jason Hopkins (Mendon, MA) took a feed from Connor King (Douglas, MA), spun past a defender and beat the sprawling Salve Regina goalkeeper to the far post at 67:28. The goal was the senior's fifth of the season and 24th of his career.
The Engineers closed out the scoring in the 77th minute when Joe Rucco (Whitesboro, NY) received a pass from Tom Meagher (Acton, MA) in space and sprinted in on a breakaway and deposited his third goal of the season.
Wong turned back four shots en route to his third shutout of 2012. Salve Regina net-minder Daniel Stern (Kings Park, NY) was credited with six saves on the night.
WPI held a 14-9 edge in shots and took six of the contest's nine corner kicks.
Both squads have conference action on Saturday. WPI heads to Babson for a 11:30am match while Salve Regina entertains Curry at 2:30pm.
