MacPherson reaches 300th win in Newport

NEWPORT, R.I. - Sophomore midfielder Chris Murray (Canton, Mass.) assisted on the first goal and later scored the game-winner as WPI men's soccer defeated Salve Regina University, 3-1, in non-league action at Reynolds Field.

Engineer head coach Malcolm MacPherson, in his 22nd year at the helm of WPI, recorded career victory 300. Prior to coaching at WPI, he served as head coach with Fitchburg State for nine seasons. MacPherson's son, Chris, coached the Salve Regina men's ice hockey program for six seasons (2001-2007).

The elder MacPherson mentored Salve Regina head coach Craig O'Rourke II when he was a goal keeper at WPI in the 1990s.

After a scoreless first half, sophomore defender Zach Harmony (Dayton, Ohio) broke through for the game's first goal, his first of the season, at 50:54 with an assist from Murray.

Salve Regina (2-5-1) junior co-captain Alec Shuman (Pompton Plains, N.J.) knotted the score nearly five minutes later with an assist from his freshman backfield mate, Steven Aston (Sherborn, Mass.). It was the first goal for the Seahawks in over 285 minutes of action.

Murray scored an unassisted goal at 57:45 to put WPI back on top. Five minutes later, senior forward Chris Ciampa (Danvers, Mass.) notched his ninth goal of the season to provide insurance for the Engineers (5-1-1).

Salve Regina had the edge in shots (13-to-11) while both goal keepers made four saves apiece; senior Jeff Wong (Millington, N.J.) for the visitors and sophomore Jeffrey L'Heureux (Litchfield, N.H.) for Salve Regina.

The Engineers now own a 5-1-0 mark in the all-time series.

WPI hosts NEWMAC foe Wheaton College on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Worcester; Salve Regina has its Fall Festival Weekend with the Seahawks hosting nearby conference rival Roger Williams at 3 p.m.