Apostol Scores Twice to Lift No. 15 MIT to 2-1 Non-Conference Win Against Tufts
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 15 MIT 2, Tufts University 1
- Records: No. 15 MIT (10-0-0); Tufts University (3-1-3)
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Roberts Field at Steinbrenner Stadium)
- The Lead: MIT junior forward Amy Apostol (Los Gatos, Calif.) scored twice for the 15th-ranked women's soccer team as the Engineers topped Tufts University, 2-1, in a non-conference battle on Tuesday afternoon. With the victory, MIT moved to 10-0-0 this fall and tied the longest win streak in program history which was previously set by the 2014 squad from September 27 through November 1.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- MIT had its first chance to open the scoring just 2:18 into the contest when a header from freshman Maya Nielan (Danville, Calif.) ricocheted off the post on a corner kick via Emily Berzolla (Riverside, Conn.). However, the Engineers did find the back of the net about nine minutes later when Apostol stole the ball at the top of the box, drove towards the net and rocketed the ball into the upper right corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.
- Tufts attempted to answer later in the first stanza with two shots towards net with less than five minutes to play, but MIT keeper Lily Mueller (Lakeville, Minn.) stood her ground and kept the Jumbos scoreless headed into the break.
- MIT doubled its lead 12:11 into the second half after sophomore Lily Bailey (Danvers, Mass.) cleared the ball down field to a waiting Apostol, who took the ball, drove past two defenders and lifted the ball into the upper half of the net. For Apostol it was her fifth goal of the season and for Bailey it was her first collegiate point and assist.
- Less than ten minutes later, at the 64:40 mark of the contest, Tufts cut the deficit back to one when Jenna Troccoli sent a short pass to Sophie Lloyd, who was positioned at the top of the box, before she scored her fourth goal of the year on a ball that sailed into the upper right corner.
- From that point on, over the final 26:20 of the game, MIT's back line held its own as the Engineers only allowed Tufts to get away one shot to secure the 2-1 non-conference win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- The visiting Jumbos held a 13-9 advantage in shots and a 4-1 differential in corner kicks, while MIT made seven saves compared to Tufts' five in the game.
- Mueller made a career-high six saves in between the pipes for MIT as she moved her record to a perfect 9-0-0 this fall, while Tufts keeper Emily Bowers fell to 3-1-3 with four saves for the Jumbos.
- Apostol registered her second-career multi-goal game tonight as the other game it occurred was on November 7, 2015 in the NEWMAC Semifinals against Springfield College. The junior currently ranks third on the team with five goals and third on the team in points with 12.
- MIT's victory tonight tied the all-time series with Tufts at 3-3-0, which dates back to 2011. The Engineers have now won the past two matchups after defeating the Jumbos 1-0 on the road last season.
- The Engineers are ranked No. 15 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III national poll and No. 7 in the latest D3Soccer.com national poll.
UP NEXT:
- MIT returns to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play with a road match at Clark University scheduled for Friday, September 29 at 7:00 p.m., while Tufts heads to Amherst College for a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) on Saturday, September 30 at 12:00 p.m.
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