SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – Senior Emiko Pope (St. Louis, Mo.) and sophomore Macy Lehrer (Danville, Calif.) scored in the first half to lift the fourth-ranked MIT women's soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Mount Holyoke College in the NEWMAC season opener for both teams.  

THE BASICS:  

• Score: No. 4 MIT 2, Mount Holyoke 0 
• Records: MIT (6-0-1 Overall, 1-0-0 NEWMAC); Alfred State (3-1-2 Overall, 0-1-0 NEWMAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• MIT outshot the host Lyons 14-0 in the first half but could not break through until the 32nd minute when junior Leena Mehendale (Dallas, Texas) connected with Pope on a corner kick to make the score 1-0. Pope redirected the eventual game-winner past Mount Holyoke sophomore goalkeeper Evie Krieg (Frisco, Texas) to make the score 1-0 at 31:38.  
• The Engineers doubled the advantage to 2-0 at 37:10 of the first when Lehrer converted on a penalty kick. 
• MIT outshot Mount Holyoke 17-0 in the second half but could not find a way past Krieg. Mount Holyoke's goalkeeper made seven saves in the second half to finish the game with 12.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:  

• Pope's goal was her third of the season and third in her last five games. 
• Mehendale's assist was her first point of the season and the second of her career. 
• Lehrer scored her first goal of the season after finishing her rookie campaign with three goals and an assist in 2023.  

UP NEXT:   

• MIT will return home to Roberts Field for a big non-conference match-up with Tufts University at 4:00 PM on Wednesday evening. 

STAY CONNECTED:  

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