CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - MIT women's soccer team defeated local rival the Simmons Sharks, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon. Junior Samantha Fleischmann (Eastchester, N.Y.) led the Engineers with two assists, while Sharks senior Justine Beauchamp's (Exeter, N.H.) penalty kick marked the lone goal for the Sharks. With the win, MIT improved to 1-1 for the season, as Simmons' ledger lowered to 0-1.

The first half was controlled by the Sharks, who made two quality attempts within the first four minutes. Beauchamp put the Sharks on the board after they were awarded a penalty kick due to a handball in the 20th minute of the first half. With 13 minutes remaining, a Simmons foul resulted in a free kick taken by senior Andrea Park (Irvine, Calif.) from 35 yards away on the far side. Freshman Jennifer Ibanez (West Windsor, N.J.) headed the ball in for the equalizer and her first intercollegiate marker.

MIT continued to attack down the stretch, putting five shots on the goal, all of which were turned away by Sharks goalkeeper Briana Hayes (Manorville, N.Y.) to preserve the deadlock heading into halftime.

The Engineers carried the momentum into the second stanza, eventually breaking the tie courtesy of a free kick in the 66th minute. Fleischmann lobbed the ball into the box and was headed in by senior Emily Kuo (Chicago, Ill.), for what proved to be the game-winning goal. Hayes kept the Sharks within striking distance with a pair of point-blank saves on strikes by freshman Morgan Moroi (New Albany, Ohio) and junior Michaelann Rodriguez (Florence, Ala.).

With just five minutes left in the game, a corner kick by Fleischmann made its way to Rodriguez, who was able to sneak the ball past Hayes and raise the score to 3-1. Simmons made one more shot at senior goalie Meghan Wright (Devon, Pa.), but it was off the mark.

In net, Wright turned away three shots for the Engineers, while Hayes amassed 17 saves for Simmons in her first collegiate start.

The Engineers return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 4 when they travel to Worcester State University. Next up for the Sharks will be the Simmons Invitational on Sept. 8-9.