As a team, the men had their best individual performances of the season, but were unable to score high enough to make more of a team impact. Tim Caldwell (Dover-Foxcroft, ME), as he has all season, led WPI finishers. He came in at 27th overall and was followed by Liam Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA) in 45th, Don Wallace (Brunswick, ME) in 48th, Brian Kennedy (Ballston Lake, NY) in 49th and Tyler Lupien (Waldoboro, ME) in 53rd.
The women were at Smith for their championships. The team's top runner, Sue Shorrock (N. Smithfield, RI), did not compete due to injury, so others would have to try to pick up the slack. Leading the way for WPI was Vicky Dulac (Manchester, NH) with an overall finish of 56th. She was followed by Lydia Love (Nashville, TN) in 67th, Michelle Lutz (Albany, NY) in 68th, Jen Wright (Keene, NH) in 82nd and Kerri O'Connor (Worcester, MA) in 85th.
Last Thursday WPI traveled to MIT for their first round tournament game with the hopes of pulling off an upset. It was not to be as MIT shutout WPI 4-0, thus ending their season.
With the nucleus of some very talented freshmen coming back next year, the outlook is good for the program.
In the win over Norwich, WPI took an early lead on an unassisted goal by Jim Goodreau (Ludlow, MA). WPI maintained that lead until early in the second half when they were called for a penalty inside the box which gave Norwich a penalty kick. The shot just deflected off the outstretched hands of keeper Matt Woodcock (Orange, MA) to tie the game at 1-1. Twenty minutes later WPI added two goals in the span of two minutes from one another to increase their lead to 3-1. Shaun McDonough (Whitman, MA) scored the eventual game-winner, assisted by Mike Couchon (Longmeadow, MA). Eric Briggs (Shrewsbury, MA) added the insurance goal for the victory.
In the Babson game, the Beavers went up 2-0 midway into the first half and then played solid defense for the rest of the game to get the win.
McDonough was selected as player of the week in the conference after his two assists versus Springfield and game-winner against Norwich.
Key injuries on the defensive side of the ball for WPI really hurt during the rest of the game. Springfield scored 28 unanswered points to win 35-7.
On the 26th, WPI hosted Wellesley in the last game of the regular season. The game went down to the final three minutes before Wellesley scored to win the game 2-1. The two squads battled to a 0-0 first half tie. Goalkeeper Lynn Kearnan (Medway, MA) came up with some big saves. It wasn't until early in the second half that Wellesley took a 1-0 lead. WPI came right back and tied the game on a goal by Heather Mazzaccaro (Bristol, CT), assisted by Erin Duffy (Poughkeepsie, NY). Then came a very controversial offsides call aginst WPI that negated a possible breakaway by Diane Nascimento (Ludlow, MA). That call was critical because who knows what may have happened on the play.
Last Wednesday, WPI was on the road to play Smith in the conference tournament. The score was 0-0 at the half, but in the second half Smith tallied three times for the 3-0 win.
The women's team has come a long way in just one season. They went from 4-11 to 7-10 and only graduate three players from this year's squad. With many exeprienced players returning in 1997, there promises to be more improvement for sure.
In the match versus Worcester State, WPI won 3-1, winning 15-12, 15-7, 8-15 and 15-4. Emma Palmacci (Walpole, MA) had 20 assists and 5 aces. Melinda Darway (Nipomo, CA) had ten kills.
WPI came from behind to defeat Fitchburg State last Thursday on the road 3-2. The scores were 11-15, 15-7, 11-15, 15-5 and 15-11. In the match, freshman Corinna Hearn (Wingdale, NY) established a new WPI record for service aces in a five-game match with 14 aces. She also added nine kills. Shannon Sura (Yardley, PA) had ten digs in the match.