CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The No. 3 MIT women's soccer team broke a scoreless tie early in the second half to earn a berth in the NEWMAC Championship game as the top-seeded Engineers defeated fourth-seed Babson, 1-0, on Thursday night on Roberts Field in the NEWMAC Women's Soccer Championship Semifinal.
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THE BASICS
- Score: No. 3 MIT 1, Babson 0
- Records: MIT (19-1-1 Overall), Babson (8-7-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED:Â
- The Engineers looked to open the scoring early as a header by senior Lauren Davis (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) rang off the crossbar in the third minute.
- The Beavers defense and goalkeeper Nora Ryan (Abington, Mass.) held firm against a flurry of shots from the Engineers' offense as MIT outshot Babson 13-0 in the first 45 minutes.
- After over 50 minutes of scoreless action, a shot by Natalie Barnouw (Los Angeles, Calif.) went off the hands of Ryan right to Sean Luk (Bel Air, Md.) who got the ball right inside the far post and past a diving Ryan at 55:56.
- Just over a minute later, senior Elisa Diletizia (Canton, Mass.) sent a 30-yard shot to the left post that was saved by a diving Maddy Noll (Northbrook, Ill.).
- Babson had another chance in the 81st minute, but the shot by freshman Lillian McAughan (Bellevue, Wash.) was caught by Noll as the Engineers' defense was able to contain the Beavers' offensive chances.
- MIT kept the ball in the offensive zone as time expired on the clock to seal the 1-0 win and advance to Saturday's championship final.Â
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:Â
- Luk recorded her seventh score of the season. Barnow increased her team lead in points to 24.
- MIT will play in the championship match for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.
- Noll made two stops in goal to move to 11-0 while Ryan ends the year with an 8-7-5 record.Â
UP NEXT:Â
- The Engineers will make their 11th NEWMAC Championship game appearance when they welcome WPI to Roberts Field on Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 PM. MIT is in search of its eighth title overall.
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