Wellesley Soccer Falls to No. 10 MIT, 4-0

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Sophomore Karina Groff (Weston, Mass.) tallied a goal and an assist to lead visiting MIT to a 4-0 shutout of Wellesley College soccer in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Tuesday afternoon at the Wellesley Fields Complex.

MIT, ranked No. 10 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III Coaches Poll, is now unbeaten in 12 straight games and improves to 12-1-2 overall and 5-0-0 in NEWMAC play. The Blue are now 4-9-0 (1-5-0 NEWMAC) and finish the home portion of the team's regular season schedule with a mark of 3-7-0.

Groff scored the first MIT goal 3:36 into the game, scooting along the top of the penalty area before unleashing a shot past Blue goalkeeper Olivia Reckley (Grosse Ile, Mich.). Reckley made six stops in the first half for the Blue, as MIT outshot the hosts 12-1 in the opening 45 minutes. Groff now leads the Engineers with 12 goals on the season.

A Wellesley own goal off the head of a defender on an MIT corner at 33:05 made the score 2-0. The Engineers capitalized on another corner at 35:10. Sophomore Jessica Sonner (Naperville, Ill.) played the ball in from the flag and connected with first year Kaya Villa (St. Charles, Ill.), who headed the ball in for a 3-0 MIT lead.

Senior Montana Reilly (Los Angeles, Calif.) netted the fourth MIT goal on a great set-up at 53:13. Groff played a low cross from the left of the penalty area to senior Allie Werner (Tyler, Texas), who one-timed a pass to Reilly at the far right post for a tap in. The goal was the only blemish for Wellesley first year Kendall Lincoln (San Diego, Calif.) who made a game and career-high seven stops on eight second half shots.

MIT first year Ava Gilkin (Flemington, N.J.) and junior Riley Terando (Folsom, Calif.) combined for the shutout, as the Engineers finished the contest with a 27-2 advantage in shots. MIT held the Blue without a shot on goal while totaling 17 shots on target. Gilkin moved to 9-0-2 with the win, Reckley is now 4-9-0 for the Blue.

Both teams continue the NEWMAC season on the road at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 19. Wellesley will travel to Emerson and MIT will head to Coast Guard.