Salem State Battles to 1-1 Draw vs. WPI

THE BASICS 
Salem State, 1 vs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), 1

Records: 
WPI Engineers (4-3-5)
Salem State University Vikings (5-3-6)

Location: Salem, Mass. - Alumni Field

Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

THE LEAD—  After a back-and-forth battle all afternoon, the Salem State men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw versus WPI on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Less than 10 minutes into the first half (6:54), WPI got on the board first after Adin Pezo set up Eli Marden for the Engineers score. Pezo corralled a loose ball near the Salem box, and then he sent over a crossing pass to Marden, who was toward the top of the box. From there, he one-timed a shot past the bottom right of the Vikings' goalie, Marcelo Silva (Marlborough, Mass.). 
• As the half went on, Salem had a chance toward the end of the frame to even the contest (35:00) when Matheus Pelissari (Lowell, Mass.) put a shot on net but was turned away by Engineers goalie, Brendan Ross. WPI nearly went up two before halftime when the visitors drew a penalty kick, but Silva made the clutch save and kept the Vikings' deficit to one going into the half. 
• Throughout the second, Salem had numerous chances to get on the board as the squad peppered Ross with three shots, but were turned away each time. However, the Blue and Orange finally caught a break when Iago De Sousa-Vieira (Medford, Mass.) drew a foul inside the box at 84:24 for a penalty kick. The graduate forward calmly stepped up and sent his shot past a diving Ross to the left side, evening things at one. 
• WPI had a chance for the go-ahead score at 85:51 when Jason Hrkach sent a shot on net, but the Vikings' defense blocked his attempt. In a last-ditch effort for Salem, Silva came out of the box, took a free kick at 89:22, but was turned away by Ross, and the contest ended in a 1-1 draw.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• De Sousa-Vieira has now scored at least once in four of his last five contests.
• The graduate forward now has 10 goals on the year. The last Viking to score 10-plus goals in a season was Vanilton Xavier in 2012 with 12 goals. 
• Salem has yet to lose a contest at home this season (3-0-4).
• Silva ended the day with seven stops for the hosts. Meanwhile, his counterpart Ross finished with six saves.
• WPI held the slight advantage in shots, 13-11. However, the Vikes finished with more corner kicks, 5-1.

UP NEXT

• Salem heads out for a road match at Worcester State on Saturday, October 18, at noon.