CAMBRIDGE, Mass., October 21, 2006 – Senior co-captain Ryan Sheffler netted a hat-trick for the Engineers on Saturday afternoon at Steinbrenner Stadium, but it wasn’t enough for Tech to overcome New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) foe Springfield College, ultimately falling, 4-3. The loss drops MIT to 5-9-0 on the season, including an 0-5 mark in the NEWMAC. The Pride improved to 5-10-2 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

The match was the Engineers’ final regular-season home match of the 2006 campaign. They finished the year with a 4-5 record on home turf, including a 2-3 record on their recent five-game home stand.

SC wasted no time in making its mark on the game, taking the lead just over two minutes into the contest. Junior forward Colin Cook (Wilbraham, Mass.) sent a driven cross into the area which classmate Tony Distasio (Burlington, Conn.) brought down and finished for the 1-0 lead.

Tech responded just over 20 minutes later, however, when Sheffler’s floated free kick from well outside the area fooled everyone and ended up finding a home in the top corner of the net.

The score remained deadlocked into the half, but the second stanza was to bring much more excitement.

Sheffler converted a penalty kick in the 56th minute to give MIT a 2-1 lead, but Distasio added his second of the match and fourth of the season in the 68th minute to knot the game at 2-2. Tech took the lead once again in the 71st minute when Sheffler completed his hat-trick after being played through on goal by Nitin Perumbeti. It was the Beaumont, Texas native’s team-leading seventh tally of the season.

However, SC bounced back once again, leveling the score through freshman forward Adrian Schippers (Ashby, Mass.) in the 81st minute. Sophomore back Jeremy Scheer (Enfield, Conn.) contributed with an assist.

Schippers then added his second and team-leading seventh of the season in the 83rd minute to give the Pride the 4-3 lead. The goal would ultimately prove to be the game-winner.

Sophomore goalkeeper Tom Caldwell made six saves for the Engineers in the losing effort, while junior Ryan Driscoll (Wilmington, Del.) made three stops for SC.

SC will next play at Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) in a non-league contest on Wednesday evening, October 25th, in a 7:00 p.m. start.

published: 10/21/2006