Engineers win six of seven fall NEWMAC Championships

It has been a highly successful fall campaign for MIT’s varsity athletics program as the Engineers won six of the seven fall New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) championships over the past two weeks, a record level of success for MIT Athletics. Below are highlights of MIT’s fall season varsity athletics teams, for more information and updates visit www.mitathletics.com.

Cross country

Ranked No. 1 in the nation, the women’s cross country team picked up its sixth straight and eighth overall NEWMAC crown on the strength of senior Brooke Johnson’s (Shoreham, N.Y.) Runner of the Year performance. MIT claimed the first eight places in the race and head coach Halston Taylor was recognized as the league’s Women’s Coach of the Year. Men’s cross country collected its 15th consecutive title to go along with Rookie of the Year accolades for freshman Ian Tolan (Binghamton, N.Y.) and nine all-conference selections.

Next: At NCAA Regional Championships, Nov. 10 (11 a.m., women; 12 p.m., men), Westfield, Mass.

Men’s soccer

Men’s soccer won its first conference title following a dramatic run in the NEWMAC tournament. The No. 5 seed, the Engineers defeated No. 4 Wheaton College, 1-0, in overtime during the quarterfinals and then edged out host and top seed Babson College in a penalty kick shootout. MIT concluded its weekend with a 2-0 victory over No. 3 Springfield College, resulting in the program’s third NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2008. Senior midfielder Ben Lewis (West Hartford, Conn.) was recognized as the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player while freshman midfielder Sean Bingham (Garden City, N.Y.) produced two of the Engineers’ five goals and earned conference Rookie of the Year plaudits.

Next: at NCAA Tournament, First/Second Rounds, Nov. 10-11, Oneonta, N.Y. (Oneonta St.), 1:30 p.m. both days

Field hockey

Field hockey secured its third NEWMAC crown in four years. The No. 2 seed, MIT edged out No. 3 Wellesley College, 2-1, in the semifinals before defeating No. 4 Springfield College, 6-3, in the title game. Junior defender Maddy Wharton (Swarthmore, Pa.) was voted the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player for her solid play and scoring a goal in the championship game.

Next: at NCAA Tournament, Second/Third Rounds, Nov. 10-11, Geneva, N.Y. (William Smith Coll.), 2 p.m. (Sat.) and 1 p.m. (Sun.)

Women’s soccer

Although the women’s soccer team was eliminated from the NEWMAC tournament due to a penalty kick shootout with Wheaton College in the semifinals, the Engineers received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship. Making its third NCAA appearance in four years, MIT’s lineup boasts this year’s NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, senior forward Emily Kuo (Chicago, Ill.) and fellow classmate and goalkeeper Meghan Wright (Devon, Pa.) is currently tied for 15th in the NCAA recordbook for career shutouts with 35.

Next: at NCAA Tournament, First/Second Rounds, Nov. 10-11, Haverford, Pa. (Haverford Coll.), 1:30 p.m. both days

Women’s volleyball

Women’s volleyball team will be making its 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament after sweeping host and top seed Wellesley College to claim its first conference title since 1990 and fourth overall. Seeded No. 3, the Engineers defeated No. 6 Babson College and No. 2 Springfield College by scores of 3-1 en route to the championship match. Junior middle hitter Kristine Bunker (Falmouth, Mass.) powered MIT’s offense while NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, senior libero Katie Spielbauer (Lakeview, Mich.) was a defensive stalwart.

Next: at NCAA Tournament, Regionals, Nov. 9-11, New Haven, Conn. (Connecticut Coll.), 5:30 p.m. (Fri.); 6 p.m. (Sat.); 4 p.m. (Sun.)

Women’s tennis

Top-seeded MIT posted 5-0 victories over Wheaton College and Wellesley College en route to its fourth NEWMAC title and first since 2002. Freshman Victoria Tam (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.), who was a part of winning four points in the two matches, was named the Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and also collected Rookie of the Year accolades. Led by NEWMAC Athlete of the Year, junior Lauren Quisenberry (Corpus Christi, Texas), and conference Coach of the Year Carol Matsuzaki, the nationally ranked No. 21 Engineers earned the program’s third appearance as a team in the NCAA Tournament which will take place next spring.

Water polo

Water polo picked up a pair of wins over Harvard this season, including a 15-14 sudden-death overtime victory in the third place game of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Northern Division Conference Tournament. The Engineers’ best performance since 2009 earned them a spot in the CWPA Eastern Championship after a two-year hiatus from the event.

Next: Eastern Championships, Nov. 16-18, Princeton, N.J. (Princeton Univ.)

Football

Football concluded its season with an overall record of 5-4, resulting in the program’s first winning season since 1999. Included in the wins for MIT was a dramatic, 20-19 win over nationally ranked Salve Regina, the Engineers first win over a ranked opponent. In addition senior Ethan Peterson (Rutland, Vt.) was selected for a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award. He is one of 15 honorees from across all divisions of college football selected for the award.