Women's Soccer Drops 2-0 Decision to No. 7 MIT in 2021 Opener

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 7 ranked MIT women's soccer team posted a 2-0 shutout victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Steinbrenner Stadium.

The Engineers improve to 1-0-1 on the young season, while the game marked the season-opener for the visiting Bears (0-1).

MIT broke a scoreless tie with just 53 seconds remaining in the first half on a strike from freshman midfielder Natalie Barnouw (Los Angeles, Calif.). Off an assist from junior midfielder Emma Rutherford (Nashville, Tenn.), Barnouw fired a shot from outside the 18 that caromed off the far post and into the back of the net.

The Engineers made it a 2-0 game 5 ½ minutes into the final stanza as junior defender Stephanie Howe (Geneva, Ill.) beat the BSU netminder after collecting a nice feed from Barnouw.

MIT finished with a 25-6 shot advantage as well as a 9-1 edge in corner kicks.

Senior defender Samantha Tomaszewski (Sterling, Mass.) and sophomore forward Stephanie Spear (Blackstone, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with two shots apiece. Spear nearly got the Bears on the board in the 74th minutes, but was stymied by MIT junior netminder Lauren Castle (Ridgefield, Conn.).

Castle turned aside four shots to record her first shutout of the season. Senior goalkeeper Tory Viola-Laughery (Brockton, Mass.) made a career-high 11 saves between the pipes for the Bears in her first collegiate start.

Both teams are back in action next week. The Bears host Wheaton College on Thursday (Sept. 9) night at seven, while the Engineers entertain Johnson & Wales University on Tuesday (Sept. 7) evening also at seven.