Worcester, MA --- WPI freshman Emily Doherty (Shrewsbury, MA) notched her first-ever goal and also registered an assist as the Engineers defeated crosstown rival Worcester State 2-0 at Alumni Field in non-conference women's soccer action on Tuesday evening. 

The victory is the second straight this season for the Boynton Hillers (2-2) and marks their first win since they last handed the Lancers a 2-1 setback in 2004.

Worcester State (2-3) took five of the game's seven first half shots, but the two teams played a scoreless opening stanza. 

The Lancers were poised to take the lead in the 62nd minute, however, junior Brianne Beckman's (Lakeville, MA) laser was repelled by a diving third-year Maddie Willer (Penfield, NY). Sophomore Therese Morss (Marion, MA) had another attempt at close range less than two minutes later, but Willer came out of the net to reject the bit out of harms way.

After Willer made her back-to-back specacular plays, the hosts seemed energized after Willer's heroics and took the lead when Doherty dribbled the ball up the right side of the field and rifled a shot that trickled past the Worcester State goaltender for a 1-0 lead at 65:27.

Third-year Natalie McMillan (Acton, MA) put WPI on the board again with some insurance when she took a perfectly placed corner of the foot of Doherty at 74:23 and headed it into the back of the net for the final tally of the game.  The marker was the co-captain's first of the season and second of her career.

Willer turned in an outstanding game, collecting four saves en route to posting her first shutout of the season and seventh of the junior's standout career. 

Sophomore Danielle Grunbaum (Marlboro, MA) played the first 68 minutes in net for the Lancers while freshman Mia Koutoulas (Danvers, MA) made one stop for the visitors over the final 22 minutes.

For the game, Worcester State held a 12-5 edge in shots with Morss and Beckman combining for seven. WPI attempted three of the game's five corner kicks.

WPI is back in action on Thursday, heading to Newport, RI to face Salve Regina at 3:30 PM. Worcester State opens MASCAC play on Saturday, hosting Framingham State at 1.

Full Release Courtesy of WPI Sports Information