Even though WPI was swept 3-0 against Wellesley, they didn't go easily and showed that they were a team to be reckoned with in the years to come. Freshman Rachel Zimet (Trumansburg, N.Y.) led the offense with 14 kills. She also added 4 blocks. Christine Biscotti (Glastonbury, Conn.) tallied 24 assists.
In their 3-0 win over Westfield State Zimet had 14 kills and 4 blocks. Valerie Sanders (Largo, Md.) had 4 kills, 11 assists, 12 digs, 4 aces and 1 block for a strong all-around game. Co-captain Wendy Jobling (Harrisville, R.I.) played her last home match and had 3 aces and 8 digs.
The top five runners for WPI were; William Churchill (New Gloucester, Maine), Justin Lutz (Walpole, Mass.), Alex Curry (Attleboro, Mass.), Michael Kearns (Saugus, Mass.) and James Koniers (Stratford, Conn.).
WPI traveled to Babson College for their first round game of the NEWMAC Tournament. The Engineers were hoping for a little revenge from their previous meeting with the Beavers.
WPI lived to play another day as Eric Langlois (Canton, Mass.) scored in the 79th minute to give the Engineers a 1-0 win. Sophomore Jason Cardinal (Halifax, Mass.) recorded three saves in picking up the shutout in goal.
The Colonials opened the scoring early in the first quarter when they capitalized on a WPI turnover deep in their own territory. A Matt LeFever 10-yard pass to Calvin Key put Western up 7-0. Late in the quarter WPI drove 68 yards on 12 plays capped by a John Riccio (Southington, Conn.) 6-yard pass to tight end Matt Surette (Spencer, Mass.). The extra point was blocked and the score was 7-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Western had the ball at the beginning of the second quarter and drove 68 yards on 10 plays for the go-ahead score. Chris McPhail scored on an 11-yard run. A bad snap on the extra point ended on the 20-yard line and the score was 13-6. On the ensuing drive WPI took the ball 72 yards on 14 plays while using over 7 minutes of the clock to tie the game on a Nick Fluet (Leominster, Mass.) run of 1 yard. The score would remain 13-13 at halftime.
Western had the ball to begin the second half and drove to the WPI 8 yard line before turning the ball over on a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Jon Pires (Stoughton, Mass.). The Colonials held and after a 20-yard punt by the Engineers they had the ball deep inside WPI territory. It was WPI's turn for a defensive stop and they held Western and forced them to punt the ball back. The third quarter would end with the score still 13-13 with the Colonials in possession of the ball.
Western took the lead at 20-13 with 5:06 remaining as John Gagliardi ended an 11-play, 56-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing kickoff Matt Seitz (Milford, Mass.) returned the ball 77 yards to give WPI the ball at the Colonial 22-yard line. Three plays later Fluet scored his second touchdown of the day on a 1 yard run. The extra point was good and the game was tied 20-20. Western had the ball and was driving when they were faced with 4th-and-1 from the WPI 42-yard line. Ben LaBelle took the ball over right tackle and made the first down, but fumbled and turned the ball over to the Engineers with 1:01 left in the game. WPI drove all the way down to the Colonial 21-yard line before attempting a 38-yard field goal which was blocked to end the game.
Western had the ball to begin the first overtime period. They drove to the 12-yard line and attempted a 29-yard field goal which was good. On their possession, WPI took just two plays to score a touchdown as Riccio hit Jared Lachapelle (Uxbridge, Mass.) on a 14-yard pass to end the game.