Babson Turns Away Women's Soccer, 3-1

By Babson College Sports Information

BABSON PARK, Mass. - First-year Amy Festa recorded one goal and one assist to lead the Babson College women's soccer team to a 3-1 victory over visiting MIT in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) showdown at Hartwell-Rogers Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Beavers, ranked sixth in New England by the NSCAA, improved to 9-3-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the conference, while the Engineers fell to 5-4-1 overall and 1-1-1 in the NEWMAC.

Babson took a 1-0 lead just over nine minutes into the contest, as first-year Ashley Tourso took a cross from junior Patty Pytlik on the right side of the box and lifted a shot over MIT goalie Meghan Wright for her fifth goal of the season at 9:16. The Beavers then added another goal 16 minutes later, as sophomore Annie Kenney tucked a rebound of Festa's shot over the goal line for her first score of the year at 25:16.

MIT cut its deficit in half just before the break, as sophomore Alisha Lussiez took a service from junior Lauren Hernley down the right side and hit a low cross through the box. Senior Liz Theurer then came sliding in to knock the ball inside the right post for her third goal of the season at 42:57.

Festa re-established Babson's two-goal cushion with her fifth goal of the year midway through the second half, as she gathered the ball at midfield and fired a shot from 35 yards out that glanced off Wright's outstretched hands and into the right corner at 71:29. That would be enough for junior keeper Sarah Macary, who finished with three saves in net to secure the 3-1 Babson victory. Wright went the distance in net for MIT, making a total of five stops in defeat.

Both teams hit the fields again Saturday, October 10, with MIT playing host to Wellesley at 1 p.m. and Babson travelling to face Clark at 4:30 p.m.