WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Kurt Naugler (Westford, Mass.) notched a goal and assist to help the WPI men's soccer team shut out visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology, 3-0, on Wednesday night in a non-conference men's soccer contest at Alumni Stadium.
The Engineers, currently the seventh-ranked team in the NSCAA Division III New England coaches' poll, improve to 10-2 while the Leopards move to 4-5-3 on the season.
Naugler first setup senior Sam Russell's (Glastonbury, Conn.) team-leading sixth goal of the year on a shot that found the lower left corner of the net after grazing the Wentworth keeper. In the 74th minute, Naugler curled the ball to the top right corner of the net with an assist from freshman Brendan Nemes (Kingston, Mass.).
Senior Tristan Richardson (Attleboro Falls, Mass.) looked to double the hosts' advantage off the opening touch of the second half as he boomed a ball that went wide. The score remained 1-0 until Tynan MacLeod buried a cross from junior Chris Murray (Canton, Mass.) in the 62nd minute.
Junior Sam Martins (Dartmouth, Mass.) logged two of Wentworth's four shots, including the only Leopard shot on goal with a free kick late in the 80th minute. Sophomore Alec Watkinson (Merrimack, N.H.) and junior Alberto Benhamu (Caracas, Venezuela) each added a shot for the guests.
WPI freshman backstop Connor Hoeckele (Granby, Conn.) made the lone Engineer save before yielding to classmate Jordan Finzel (Northport, N.Y.) for the final nine-plus minutes. Wentworth freshman Alec Boyle (Shirley, Mass.) stopped four shots in the setback.
The Engineers enjoyed a 13-4 margin in shots and a slim 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
WPI plays the middle match of its current three-game homestand on Saturday as it hosts Springfield at 10am as part of Homecoming Weekend. Wentworth wraps up a brief two-game road trip the same day, traveling to the University of New England for a noon start.
(Portions courtesy of WPI Sports Information)
