Early goal holds up in 1-0 MIT victory

NEWPORT, R.I. - Junior midfielder Austin Freel (San Diego, Calif.) took a loose ball in the 14th minute and converted it into the game's only goal as Massachusetts Institute of Technology men's soccer defeated Salve Regina University, 1-0, in non-league action at Reynolds Field on Wednesday.

The Engineers improve to 2-0-2 on the season while the Seahawks slip to 2-2-0 overall. MIT has won all 10 meetings with Salve Regina since the series began, and has posted a 23-5 goal differential.

Salve Regina had only six shots in the game, and only three on goal. MIT had nine shots for the day with its first one, by Freel, the only one to elude Seahawk starting goalkeeper Daniel Stern (King's Park, N.Y.). Stern finished with seven saves.

Jake Amereno (Commack, N.Y.) made three saves in the victory. Salve Regina engineered five corner kick opportunities while MIT had only three.

The Seahawks return to Reynolds Field on Saturday when they host their first Commownwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contest against Nichols College (3 p.m.). The last time the Bison visited Newport (November 3, 2012), the Seahawks won 2-0 to claim the 2012 CCC Men's Soccer Championship. MIT follows its second shutout of the season with a home contest against Newbury College on Saturday (1 p.m.).