CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A six-goal run that spanned the third and fourth quarters put No. 5 Babson College ahead for good as it defeated MIT, 12-8, in the NEWMAC men's lacrosse regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday.
Riley Pierce generated four assists and four groundballs for the Engineers while Joey Allen led the Beavers with two goals and three assists.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 5 Babson 12, MIT 8
- Records: MIT (8-7 Overall, 5-2 NEWMAC); No. 5 Babson (14-2 Overall, 7-0 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Allen put Babson on the scoreboard after 3:18 elapsed and the slim margin held until Patrick McAleavey found the back of the net with 4:49 on the clock. MIT quickly ended the shutout when Bryce Metalios connected on pass from Pierce and then Garrett Campagna evened the score at 2-2 courtesy of a feed from Zach Bleil.
- The trend of back-to-back goals continued in the second quarter, resulting in a 4-4 deadlock at halftime. Oscar Lindenthal and Denley Kofoed scored for the Engineers while Camden Matthews and Jack Feeks did the honors for the Beavers.
- The third quarter featured both teams trading goals until blasts by Bennett Smith and Matthews gave Babson an 8-7 edge at the end of the frame.
- The Beavers pulled away in the fourth quarter courtesy of goals from Feeks at the 11:46 mark, Allen just over two minutes later, and then a man-up goal from Matthews that was set up by Braden Reilly with 7:32 on the clock. Seamus Rooney later capped Babson's pivotal run by redirecting a feed from Smith with three minutes remaining. Hayden Calabretta ended MIT's scoring drought after connecting on a pass from Pierce with 1:22 to go, resulting in the 12-8 final.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Bleil posted one goal and two assists while Lindenthal and Metalios both scored twice.
- Campagna notched one goal, one assist, and three groundballs as Daniel Patterson registered five groundballs and one caused turnover.
- Ashton Axe generated four groundballs and two caused turnovers while James Lukish added two caused turnovers.
- Kaden Fenno won seven of 12 faceoff attempts as Mason Prettyman was 6-of-12 at the faceoff "x" and corralled five groundballs.
- In net, Collin Lung collected 13 saves.
- Matthews had a hat trick while Feeks finished with two goals and one assist.
- Tyee Ambrosh produced three groundballs and two caused turnovers as Beck Trafton went 10-of-23 in faceoffs.
- Andrew Almquist tallied 14 saves, four groundballs, and one caused turnover in net for the Beavers.
UP NEXT:
- Both teams will continue their seasons in the semifinals of the NEWMAC Championship on Thursday, April 30 at 7:00 PM.
- MIT is the No. 3 seed and it will travel to No. 2 Springfield College.
- Babson earned the top seed and it will host either No. 4 U.S. Coast Guard Academy or No. 5 Salve Regina University.
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