Springfield, Mass. — A goal by Brendan Nemes in the 69th minute lifted second-seeded WPI to a 1-0 victory over No. 3 Coast Guard Academy in the semifinals of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference men's soccer tournament on Saturday.

WPI will play top-seeded Springfield, a 3-2 winner over No. 4 Clark, for the NEWMAC title and automatic bid into the NCAA Division III tournament on Sunday. Coast Guard finishes 10-5-3.

Nemes scored the game-winner when Luke Reininger sent a cross in from the right side to the center of the penalty area. Coast Guard goalie Jake Sorenson, a senior from Montville, went up but could only deflect the pass and Nemes fired a shot into the net.

Sorensen made eight saves for the Bears, including kick save in the first half that kept the game scoreless.

In other games:

• Top-seeded Mitchell College plays for an NCAA Division III tournament bid on noon Sunday when the Mariners host No. 3 Elms College in the New England Collegiate Conference tournament championship game. The Mariners defeated No. 5 Newbury 3-1 in Friday's semifinals while Elms, following a scoreless tie with No. 3 Lesley, advanced 4-2 in penalty kicks in its semifinal.

Men's hockey

• Vermont exploded for four goals to beat UConn 4-2 and earn a split of their weekend Hockey East series at the XL Center. After goals by Miles Gendron and Maxim Letunov gave the Huskies (3-6-1, 2-3-1) a 2-0 lead in the second period, the Catamounts (3-5-1, 1-1-1) scored four unanswered goals, including the go-ahead goal by Matt Alvaro late in the second period. Alvaro scored twice.