THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 12 MIT 4, WPI 2
 
- Records: No. 12 MIT (14-3, 7-1 NEWMAC); WPI (11-7, 6-2 NEWMAC)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Jack Barry Field)
 
- The Lead: After trading goals in the first half, No. 12 MIT scored twice during the final 17 minutes of regulation to secure a 4-2 victory over WPI in NEWMAC field hockey action on Saturday. Senior Paige Forester (Glencoe, Ill.) tallied one goal and three assists, helping her become MIT's all-time leader in career points. Her tally of 156 surpassed the mark of 155 that was set by Kimberly Barker '13 in 2012.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- MIT controlled the action from the opening whistle as it generated six shots, three of which were saved by Nina Acquista, and three penalty corners in the first five minutes of play. Following a penalty corner, Forester collected the rebound of first-year Bailey McIntyre's (Concord, Mass.) saved shot and found senior Laura Schwendeman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) who managed to get the ball through a scrum in front of the goal and past Acquista. WPI evened the score in the ninth minute when Eliza Dutson fired a pass from Samantha Robison from the far side to the opposite corner during a penalty corner.
 
- MIT went up 2-1 in the 18^th minute when senior Liberty Ladd (Falmouth, Maine) batted in a high pass from Forester. Once again, WPI quickly tied the game as Lauren Dishong corralled the rebound of her saved shot and hit it past senior goalie Kiely Smiga-McManus (Etna, N.H.) in the 25^th minute. WPI continued to press, as it registered two shots, both of which were saved by Smiga-McManus, and three penalty corners. However, the score remained knotted at two at halftime.
 
- The early stages of the third quarter saw both teams attempt to score their third goal, however, Acquista and MIT sophomore goalie Anna Duncan (St. Louis, Mo.) preserved the deadlock. Following almost six minutes of back-and-forth play, MIT went up 3-2 with 2:24 left in the frame. Forester took a pass from McIntyre on the far side, came in and lifted the ball over Acquista.
 
- In the fourth quarter, MIT had a 6-1 margin in shots, including a 5-0 advantage in shots on goal as well as penalty corners. The hosts eventually increased their lead to 4-2 on a penalty corner in the 55^th minute when Ladd sent a feed from Forester through Acquista's pads. WPI's only attempt at net was a blocked shot by Dishong with 25 seconds left to play.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Smiga-McManus recorded three saves during the first half while Duncan made two during second half.
 
- Acquista finished with 13 saves.
 
- MIT had the upper hand in shots (22-8), shots on goal (17-7), and penalty corners (14-6).
 
UP NEXT:
 
- Both teams will continue their seasons in the NEWMAC Tournament. As the No. 2 seed, MIT receives a first-round bye and will host a semifinal game on Thursday, Nov. 3 against either No. 3 WPI or No. 6 Wellesley College. WPI, meanwhile, will host Wellesley on Tuesday, Nov. 1 with a time to be determined.
 
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