Leopards Earn First Win of 2009

BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman midfielder Devin Richard's (Smithfield, R.I.) goal with 3:30 remaining in regulation snapped a 1-all tie and lifted the Wentworth men's soccer team to a come from behind, 2-1 win over WPI in a non-conference match played at Sweeney Field.

Despite a scoreless tie through the first 45 minutes of action, the visiting Engineers held a slim, 5-3 shot advantage with four of the five goals put on goal.  On five occasions Wentworth had an offensive chance negated due to being offside.

At the 50:34 mark, WPI broke the ice when senior defender Matthew Gonsalves (Swansea, Mass.) fed freshman forward Jason Hopkins (Mendon, Mass.), who connected on a one-timer that would find an opening in the left side of the goal.

The Engineers clung to the 1-0 lead until Leopard senior midfielder Taylor Webber (Waldwick, N.J.) blasted a shot from 30 yards out that would hit the crossbar and come down over the goal line, just inside the left post.  That goal, which came at 82:50, was the first goal that WPI had allowed this season and the first in the last 371:55, dating back to last season.

WPI had a chance to break the tie in the 84th minute when senior defender Rens Hayes (Norton, Mass.) was stopped at point-blank range by Leopard junior keeper Brian Pearsall (Sanford, Maine).  Despite two corner kicks, the Engineers could not convert and a foul gave possession to the Leopards.

Richard notched his second marker of the season when he came down on a 2-on-1 with freshman midfielder Travis Lombardi (Enfield, Conn.).  Junior keeper Paul Moan (Watertown, Mass.) came out to play the ball, but Lombardi was able to slide a pass to Richard who knocked the ball into the open net.

Pearsall made seven saves to pick up the win, while Moan turned aside three shots in defeat.  WPI outshot Wentworth by a 14-8 margin and had eight corner kicks to the Leopards' three.

The win, Wentworth's first of the season, improves the Leopards' record to 1-2 on the season and snaps a four-game losing streak dating back to last season.  The Leopards open The Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Saturday against Roger Williams at Noon.  WPI suffers its first loss of the season (3-1) and is also back in action Saturday, hosting Framingham State at 11:00 a.m.