Springfield, Mass. - October 8, 2022 -  In a rematch of last season's NEWMAC Championship, The Springfield College women's soccer program dropped its first NEWMAC contest to nationally-ranked MIT, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon in NEWMAC play at Brock-Affleck. 

Both programs entered the contest with a perfect conference record at 4-0. The Pride are now 6-3-1 with a 4-1 record and MIT, who was ranked No. 19 in the nation in the latest United Soccer Coaches' Division III National Poll, moves up to 10-2-1 and 5-0 in the NEWMAC. The Engineers outshot Springfield 27-7, and were awarded seven corner kicks.

A. Harper (Taylorsville, Utah) put together a gutsy effort between the pipes with 13 saves in the setback. 

Springfield stalled the Engineers in the beginning of the half as Gabby Scott (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) was active in helping disrupt passes coming into the box with Harper taking away shots that did get through the backline. At 11:43, Scott gave Springfield a chance to go ahead on MIT as Kaleigh Dale (Mansfield, Conn.) sent a corner to Scott, however, Scott nicked the left post, which continued the scoreless tie. MIT continued to attack for the go-ahead goal, but Springfield packed in the defense to make timely plays. At the 24th-minute mark, Maddie Daigneault (Watertown, Conn.) and Scott made crucial blocks to help protect the goal, which led to Harper diving on the free ball. The Engineers received its best chance with just under two minutes to play as Brigette Wang was awarded a free kick from just outside the box, however could not convert as the shot skipped to the hands of Harper for their eighth save to close out the half at 0-0. 

Springfield picked up where they left off in the second half with Harper defending the MIT attack with ease. Through the first 12 minutes of the stanza, Harper added four saves to their total for the game. At 69:57, Wang broke free for MIT and dialed in the go-ahead goal off a feed from Gillian Schiffer to put the Engineers ahead 1-0 with 20 minutes to play. The Pride raced to pull the contest to a tie and found a tremendous chance as Nicole Sweeney (Grafton, Mass.) turned a pass inside to Kayla McGrath (North Adams, Mass.), who rang a shot towards the goal, but connected with the crossbar leaving the Pride trailing 1-0. The Engineers looked to run out the clock, although Springfield had one last run in the final seconds, but could not translate it into a goal leading to the setback. 

Springfield will take on another nationally-ranked opponent in Babson College on Wednesday at 4 pm. 

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