WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State men's soccer team could not find the back of the net on Friday evening, as the Lancers fell 1-0 to WPI in its season opener Friday evening at Coughlin Field.

With the loss, the Lancers open their season in the loss column, falling to 0-1. WPI improves to 1-0.

The Lancers outshot the visitors 8-4 in the contest's opening 45 minutes, but neither team was successful in finding the back of the net in the half. 

The second half was a different story, however, as the Engineers completely took it to their cross-town rivals. WPI recorded the game's only tally in the 57th minute, as junior Jackson Conroy (Reading, Mass.) headed home a corner kick off the foot of Frank Ciliberto (Spencerport, N.Y.). WPI hit the woodwork on three occasions in the half, but could only muster the market from Conroy. The Engineer defense held Worcester State shotless in the second half to secure the victory.

Sophomore Rufus Adams (Duxbury, Mass.) got the win in goal for the Engineers, making a pair of saves on the evening. Lancer Henri Guilmette (Franklin, Mass.) made five saves, but was still dealt the loss.

Both teams have quick turnarounds as they take the field on Saturday. Worcester State travels to Eastern Nazarene for a 7 p.m. kickoff, while the Engineers host UMass Dartmouth at 3 p.m.