CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A goal by Ashley Braren with 6:12 remaining in regulation put No. 2 seed and nationally ranked No. 17 Babson College in front as it held on for a 2-1 victory over top-seeded MIT in the NEWMAC Field Hockey Championship on Saturday afternoon at Jack Barry Field. At the conclusion of the game,
Meredith Wu received the Laurels of Academic Excellence Award which honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing in the NEWMAC Championship.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 17 Babson 2, MIT 1
- Records: MIT (13-7 Overall); No. 17 Babson (15-6 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Following a scoreless first quarter that saw Babson produce two shots, one of which was saved by Alexia Ninios, and a penalty corner the Beavers got on the scoreboard after 2:52 elapsed in the second quarter. On a restart just beyond midfield, Kate Schneider sent a throughball towards the circle where it was collected by Helen DiGiovanni who quickly took a shot from the near side into the far corner of the cage.
- In a span of 1:43 MIT recorded the equalizer as Janie Thomas connected on feeds from Drew Hussar and Sammi Blocher during a penalty corner with a player advantage. The Beavers followed with a pair of shots with one resulting in a defensive save by Natasha Parker.
- Babson controlled the action in the third quarter as it had advantages in shots (11-0), shots on goal (4-0), and penalty corners (2-1), but the Engineers' defense held strong and kept the game knotted at 1-1.
- The Beavers continued to press, generating four penalty corners and two shots on goal during the first 2:33 of the fourth quarter. MIT followed with a pair of penalty corners and a shot by Thomas that was blocked, however, Babson ended the stalemate with 6:12 remaining when Braren knocked in the rebound of DiGiovanni's previously saved shot.
- The Engineers countered with three penalty corners and another Thomas shot but they could not find the back of the cage.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Ninios finished with eight saves. Carly Spinner and Madison Tibbals split the game in goal for Babson and neither goalie made a save.
- MIT had an 8-7 edge in penalty corners, but the Beavers led the way in shots (20-3) and shots on goal (11-1).
- This was the Engineers' ninth appearance in 10 seasons in the title game and the eighth time in 10 seasons they faced Babson.
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