BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Amanda Weinberger's (Colchester, Conn.) second goal of the game with 11:03 remaining snapped a 2-all tie and helped the Wentworth Institute of Technology women's soccer team open its season with a 4-2 win over Clark in non-conference action on Sweeney Field.
The win, which was the first for the Leopards in the five all-time meetings between the two schools, was the first in a season opener for the Black & Gold since the 2011 season.
Weinberger gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at the 9:01 mark when she intercepted a pass just inside the midfield line and went in alone, beating Clark junior keeper Gabby Paolini (North Potomac, Md.).
Late in the first half the Cougars evened the score at 1-all when senior Charlotte Mays (Melrose, Mass.) took a throw in from classmate Elizabeth Gomes (Arlington, Mass.) and chipped a shot over senior Nicole Leahey's (Warwick, R.I.) outstretched arms.
The Leopards took a 2-1 lead at 60:48 when senior Olivia Moore (Salem, Conn.) dribbled up the right side before sending a pass into the box where classmate Tori Armishaw (Scarborough, Maine) beat Paolini to the right side. However, Clark got the equalizer at 74:17 when junior Nikki Feinberg (San Antonio, Texas) took a corner kick that ended up resulting in a scrum in front of the Leopard net. Mays eventually came away with the ball for her second of the game.
Just under five minutes later Weinberger gave the hosts the lead for good when she picked up a rebound of a junior Valeria Zapata (Pawtucket, R.I.) shot which had hit the post and found the back of the net. With just under six minutes remaining Wentworth added an insurance marker when freshman Emily Richard (Fremont, N.H.) rifled a shot off the crossbar and sophomore Mary Annon (Concord, N.H.) deposited the rebound.
Leahey finished with three saves while Paolini stopped 11 shots. Wentworth held a 27-11 shot advantage and a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
Wentworth is at Emerson on Tuesday evening while Clark hosts Brandeis on Sunday.
