WPI Downs Men’s Soccer, 4-1

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – Elms College senior goalkeeper Ryan Sullivan (Agawam, Mass.) recorded five saves and freshman forward Joseph Coleman (Easthampton, Mass.) scored a goal but Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) used a two-goal effort from Chris Ciampa (Danvers, Mass.) to post a 4-1 victory over the Blazers in Thursday evening's non-conference men's soccer game at Alumni Field.

With the loss, Elms moves to 1-1 on the season, while WPI improves to 3-0 overall.

WPI struck quickly as Ciampa delivered a scoring blast from the 18-yard box into the top right corner just 36 seconds into the game to give the Engineers a 1-0 lead.

Jason Hopkins (Mendon, Mass.) put WPI ahead by two goals 1:29 later when he scored on a header off an assist by Stephen Partridge (Worcester, Mass.).

WPI held its 2-0 advantage early into the second period until Ciampa scored his second goal of the contest when he and Kyle Powers (Hamilton, N.J.) executed back-to-back headers resulting in a goal and a 3-0 Engineers' lead with 38 minutes to play in the game.

Coleman put Elms on the board when he capitalized on a feed from freshman midfielder Josh DiNoto (Branford, Conn.) and scored his second goal of the season from just outside the six-yard box to pull Elms to within two at 3-1 at the 85:14 mark.

One minute later, Chris Savoia (Pembroke, Mass.) drilled a Sam Russell (Glastonbury, Conn.) pass from the left side of the 18-yard box into the corner of the net lifting WPI's cushion back to three at 4-1.

Sullivan (1-1) suffered the loss but is now just three saves shy of setting Elms' all-time saves record.

Engineers' net-minder Jeff Wong (Millington, N.J.) also made five saves and earned the win to improve to 3-0 overall.

Elms returns to non-conference action on Saturday, Sept. 10 when it travels to Springfield College for a 12:00 p.m. showdown with the Pride.