THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 12 MIT 1, WPI 0
 
- Records: No. 12 MIT (15-3); WPI (12-8)
 
- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Jack Barry Field)
 
- The Lead: A goal by senior Liberty Ladd (Falmouth, Maine) in the 47^th minute helped nationally-ranked No. 12 and No. 2 seed MIT defeat No. 3 seed WPI, 1-0, in the semifinals of the NEWMAC Field Hockey Tournament on Thursday. With the win, MIT secured a spot in the championship game for the sixth straight season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- After three scoreless quarters, Ladd ended the stalemate 1:24 into the fourth quarter. On a penalty corner, the ball eventually made its way to Ladd at the near post. She battled WPI goalie Nini Acquista's stick while Acquista was laying near the goal line, but Ladd batted the ball through.
 
- MIT's attack continued to press while the defense did not concede a shot or a penalty corner down the stretch.
 
- WPI's best attempt to get on the scoreboard occurred in the 22^nd minute. Arie Lang forced a turnover in MIT's defensive end and charged to the cage, however, sophomore goalie Anna Duncan (St. Louis, Mo.) came off her line to make a kick save at the near post.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Duncan recorded one save for MIT while Acquista generated nine saves for WPI.
 
- MIT ended the night with advantages in shots (22-2), shots on goal (10-1), and penalty corners (13-1).
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT will travel to nationally-ranked No. 10 and top-seeded Babson College for the NEWMAC Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 5. This will be the fifth time in six seasons that both squads will battle for the conference title. MIT won in 2019 and 2017 while the Beavers were victorious in 2021 and 2016.
 
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