Engineers edge Seahawks, 1-0

WORCESTER, Mass. - Junior Kurt Naugler (Westford, Mass.) notched his third game-winning goal of the season as host WPI blanked Salve Regina, 1-0, on Wednesday night in a non-conference men's soccer match at Alumni Stadium.

The Engineers, currently ranked 10th in the most recent NSCAA Division III New England coaches poll, improve to 7-1 while the Seahawks even out at 4-4.

With 6:08 remaining in regulation, senior co-captain Eric Crevoiserat (Glastonbury, Conn.) dribbled the ball toward the net and, following a number of passes, dished it to Naugler, who found the lower right corner of the net for his third goal of the season. Of Naugler's eight career goals, seven have been game-winners.

Junior Chris Murray (Canton, Mass.) had a close range shot turned away by a diving junior Daniel Stern (Kings Park, N.Y.) in the 13th minute while senior Sam Russell's (Glastonbury, Conn.) shot moments later was blocked. With 21:08 left in the opening half, Murray looked to thread traffic from just outside the box only to have it scooped up by Stern. Freshman Ryan Stokes (Fairport, N.Y.) tested Stern with a hard header off a well-placed feed from senior co-captain Shane Fagan (Middletown, R.I.) in the 41st minute. Salve Regina had a pair of corner kick chances in the 27th minute but was unable to convert.

A bid by Crevoiserat was punched away by Stern in the 65th minute. The subsequent rebound went wide after being struck by freshman Seth McClenahan (Rhinebeck, N.Y.). Eight minutes earlier, Crevoiserat took aim from the top of the box; however the ball was deflected over the crossbar. Seahawk junior Joseph Pate (Smithfield, R.I.) and sophomore Evan Dudney (North Andover, Mass.) each took aim in the second half but their bids went over the crossbar.

Engineer freshman goalkeeper Jordan Finzel (Northport, N.Y.) picked up the shutout in his first collegiate start while Stern stopped five of six shots.

As a team, the Crimson and Gray outshot their guests 13-4 and took seven of the 12 corner kicks. 

WPI heads to Wheaton on Saturday for the first of three road games; first kick is slated for 1 p.m. Salve Regina, meanwhile, travels to Wentworth for a 3 p.m. match on Saturday.