Game 1- MIT 1, Babson 0
MIT and Babson faced off in a well-matched semifinal Thursday night, with the Engineers ultimately prevailing 1-0.
The first half of play was hard fought from both sides, with Babson facing 13 shots and goalkeeper Nora Ryan (Abington, Mass.) making 5 saves to keep MIT out of the back of the net.
MIT’s persistent offense succeeded in the 56th minute, as junior Sean Luk (Bel Air, Md.) opened the scoring off a Natalie Barnouw (Los Angeles, Calif.) assist.
Ryan made another save in the second half to keep the Engineers from extending their lead, but 2 saves from MIT’s Maddy Noll (Northbrook, Ill.) also kept Babson off the board.
No. 1 MIT, now 19-1-1 overall and 12-0 in the NEWMAC, will compete against No. 7 WPI for the 2024 NEWMAC Women’s Soccer title this Saturday at home.
Game 2- WPI 1, Emerson 0
WPI pulled off another upset on Thursday night, besting No. 6 Emerson on the road in a 1-0 matchup.
The game's first half was a back and forth battle, both teams creating opportunities on goal. Both Emerson’s Amara Schaub (Torrance, Calif.) and WPI’s Lili Hellerman (Ashland, Mass.) made saves in the opening minutes to keep their opponents off the score sheet.
WPI broke through with the game’s only goal in the 22nd minute. Sophomore Maeve Steckley (Rochester, N.Y.) scored her 8th goal of the season, assisted by midfielder Madisyn Bagby (Aurora, Colo.).
Emerson, with 2 shots on goal overall, was denied in both halves.
WPI, now 10-6-4 overall and 6-4-2 in conference play, will advance to the NEWMAC championship against MIT. The Engineers will be on the road on Saturday.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.