THE BASICS:
 
- Score: No. 16 Babson College 10, No. 20 MIT 7
 
- Records: MIT (16-4); Babson (16-2)
 
- Location: Babson Park, Mass. (MacDowell Field)
 
- The Lead: Nationally ranked No. 20 and No. 3 seeded MIT came within one goal with just over 11 minutes left to play, however, top-seeded and No. 16 Babson College scored twice during the final 2:06 of regulation to hold on for a 10-7 victory in the NEWMAC Women's Lacrosse Championship on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Ashley Thomas (Summit, N.J.) powered the Engineers with three goals as she broke the program record for points in a season, eclipsing the mark of 113 that was set by Emily Young '18 in 2018.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Senior Ellie Rabenold (Cincinnati, Ohio) gave MIT the early lead as she converted a player-advantage free-position shot at the 9:20 mark. The score remained unchanged until Babson rattled off four goals during the last 4:19 of the frame.
 
- The Beavers increased their lead to 5-1 during the first minute of the second stanza but Thomas redirected a feed from sophomore Nina Petulla (Natick, Mass.) with 11:55 on the clock. Following a pair of quick goals, Babson netted a free-position shot late in quarter for a 8-2 advantage at halftime.
 
- The Engineers controlled the action in the third quarter as they produced four unanswered goals. Junior Julianne Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.), Thomas, and senior Meredith Arterburn (Cooksville, Md.) each scored free-position goals while the Thomas-Petulla connection returned with just over five minutes remaining.
 
- MIT closed the gap to 8-7 courtesy of a free-position goal by Petulla with 11:19 on the clock. Down the stretch, Babson registered three shots, one of which was saved by first-year Pauline Vien (Brookline, Mass.), while an attempt by sophomore Monica Petulla (Natick, Mass.) was wide. Following a turnover by the Engineers, the Beavers ended their scoring drought with 2:06 remaining. Babson won the ensuing draw and added the final goal of the day with 59 seconds to go.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Nina Petulla finished with one goal, two assists, and two groundballs as senior Grace Harrington (Seattle, Wash.) and junior Sydney Hawkins (Franklin, Mass.) both chipped in two groundballs. Senior Faith Bulan (New Providence, N.J.) paced MIT with three caused turnovers while Julianne Flusche and sophomore Gwen Flusche (Ridgewood, N.J.) collected three and two draw controls, respectively.
 
- In net, sophomore Molly Dulde (Delafield, Wis.) totaled five saves and three groundballs in the first half as Vien ended the day with four saves and two groundballs.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- MIT now awaits word on a possible at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Tournament. The full tournament field will be announced in a selection show on Monday, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern on www.ncaa.com.
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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