Worcester, MA --- MIT freshman Nikki Effenberger (Escondido, CA) sent in the game-winning tally off a redirected stop by the keeper on classmate Jennifer Ibanez's (West Windsor, NJ) attempt in the 81st minute to give the Engineers the 3-2 victory over Worcester State in non-conference women's soccer action this evening at Coughlin Field.
MIT, which is ranked eighth in the inaugural NSCAA/Continental Tire New England regional rankings, improves their record to 2-1 while the Lancers slip to 1-2.
Worcester State staked the 1-0 advantage in the ninth minute when senior Brianne Beckman (Lakeville, MA) sent a cross from the middle of the field to junior Laura Maunsell (Medford, MA), who chipped it in from 10 yards away.
Senior Emily Kuo (Chicago, IL) then found a hole in the Lancer back line to help the Engineers respond 10 minutes later on a one-on-one breakaway goal to knot the score 1-1.
The Blue and Gold answered back less than two minutes later when Beckman fired a laser beam from 30-yards away that ricocheted off the crossbar into the net for her team-leading third marker of the season.
But MIT junior Samantha Fleischmann (East Chester, NY) helped the visitors equal things up 2-2 in the 35th minute on a rocket around the 20-yard marker from the left side of the field that slipped through the net minders hands.
The Engineers would finish the first half with the 13-6 edge in shots while Worcester State did not take advantage of either of their corner kick opportunities.
After both defenses struggled to play consistently in the opening frame, they tightened up and did not allow many quality scoring opportunities in the final period of play.
In the 50th minute, MIT sent a free kick in the direction of junior Michaelann Rodriguez (Florence, AL), who headed it towards the net, but it was snared by WSU keeper sophomore Danielle Grunbaum (Marlboro, MA).
The Lancers also had sophomore Shelby Archer (Dayville, CT) wide open, but first-year Megan Wright (Devon, PA) snatched the ball at point-blank range for the save.
After several other chances, the Cardinal and Gray finally broke through and took advantage of the loose ball in front of the net for Effenberger's first collegiate goal.
MIT finished with 24-9 edge in shots and corners were even at 2-2.
Grunbaum finished with 11 stops while Wright ended the evening with four saves.
The Lancers continue their non-league schedule with cross-town rival Clark on Saturday at 1 PM.
The Engineers will face off against Eastern Connecticut on Friday at the Valiant Classic hosted by Manhattanville College (NY). It will be a match-up of two teams that both played in last years NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament.