CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – No. 4 Clark women's soccer (12-5-2) traveled to No. 1 seeded and nationally ranked No. 16 MIT (14-5-2) on Thursday night in the NEWMAC Semifinals and came away with a thrilling 1-0 victory to secure a spot in Saturday's NEWMAC Championship Game on Saturday afternoon.

Graduate student Jamie Joseph netted Clark's game-winning goal in the 45th minute with a header off a corner kick that was serviced in from sophomore Cassandra Trevino.

The win gives Clark its first ever appearance in the NEWMAC Championship in program history. The victory over MIT was also the program's first since 2005 and eliminated the four-time defending NEWMAC Champions.

With the win, the Cougars will travel to No. 3 Emerson on Saturday afternoon for the NEWMAC Championship beginning at 2:00 p.m. from Rotch Field. Emerson knocked off No. 2 Babson 3-2 in today's other NEWMAC Semifinal.

Coach Smith's Thoughts

"So proud of this group. They fought for 90 mins and defended with everything they had. MIT is nationally ranked for a reason. They are an excellent team and they played us hard. We gutted this one out. We knew it would be a battle it certainly was. We look forward to another one on Saturday against Emerson."

How it Happened

• Sophomore Anabella White recorded her first save of the match as she stopped an early chance from Ceci Munoz in the fourth minute of play on a shot from outside of the box.
• White then made two more saves in the 15th minute with the first coming off a corner kick shot attempt from Lauren Davis and the second off the foot of Meagan Rowlett.
• Both defenses then controlled the pace for the next 20 minutes before Joseph ran past the MIT defense and put a boot just high as Clark nearly took a 1-0 advantage.
• In the 45th minute, Trevino serviced in a corner kick that found the head of Joseph and Joseph put the shot to the far post and past the keeper to give Clark a 1-0 lead at the half.
• White came up with another save to open up the second half on a shot from Stephanie Howe and registered another stop off a shot from Karenna Groff in the 57th minute.
• Groff fired a shot from outside the box that hit the post and Clark's backline continued to hold the Engineers off the scoreboard.
• In the 79th minute, Howe put another shot on target, but White again denied the Engineers from scoring.
• Clark's defense held off five MIT corners in the final seven minute of play and did not allow a shot on goal off any of the attempts as the Cougars recorded the historic 1-0 victory over the Engineers.

Inside the Box Score

• Joseph's goal was her sixth this season and 14th of her career.
• Trevino's assist was her third this year and third of her career.
• The shutout was Clark's 11th defensive shutout of the year.
• White recorded six saves in the contest.

What's Next

The Cougars will travel to No. 3 Emerson on Saturday afternoon to play for the NEWMAC Championship beginning at 2:00 p.m. from Rotch Field.