Late Goal Downs Men’s Soccer in First Loss of 2021 Season

Springfield, Mass. (September 15, 2021) - The Western New England University men's soccer team saw Babson College score in the 84^th minute of the 90-minute contest to take down the Golden Bears for the first time this season by a final score of 2-1. Junior Ian Alves picked up his first career goal while sporting a WNE uniform in the loss. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-1-1
• Babson College: 4-1

How it Happened:
The Golden Bears seemed to be in control in the opening 20 minutes of the contest. Good chances from Andrew Crean, Chris Allen, Matt Remillard, and Mike Milazzo would provide a spark to the WNE offense on the warm afternoon from Suprenant Field. However, GK Itai Rubin came up big for the Babson College Beavers in the first half, making multiple saves to keep the Beavers in the game. It wasn't until the 35^th minute of the contest that Babson College was able to set a spark of their own. 

In the 35^th minute, the ball was cleared up the field to Samuel Kalishman who then took the ball down the left side of the field and took one dribble into the box before unleashing a shot into the bottom right corner of the net, past the dive of Golden Bears keeper Brady Allen, to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead. The sophomore credits his first career goal as a member of the Beavers squad. 

Western New England, who had much of the possession time in the opening half, took advantage on one of their seven first half corner kicks just five minutes after the goal from Babson. On the corner kick, it was Josh Labonte who took a strike on the ball and saw the ball sail to the back post guarded by Itai Rubin. Junior Ian Alves missed the ball with his head, though saw the ball deflect off his back and into the cage, giving the Golden Bears their first goal of the game, drawing even with the Beavers. Like Kalishman, Alves picks up his first career collegiate goal. In the half, WNE out shot Babson 10-2, while GK Itai Rubin came away with four saves on five shots on goal by the Golden Bears. GK Brady Allen was tested one time by Babson, though was unable to come up with the save on the lone goal for the Beavers in the first half. 

Babson College came out strong in the second half, forcing the Golden Bears defense to play much less aggressive in the half. Brady Allen would be tested two times in two minutes by the Beavers as Matthew Thompson would take space and come away with two shots on goal, though both handled by the Golden Bears netminder. Western New England's final chance of the half came in the 79^th minute when Sean O'Neill took a shot toward goal, though it was swallowed by the Beavers keeper to keep WNE off the board and prevent the Golden Bears from taking their first lead of the game. 

The Beavers would net a late go-ahead goal in the 84^th minute as Samuel Kalishman would add onto his first career tally and net his second goal of the game. Kalishman went one on one with a defender and took space on the left side of the field, cut towards the middle of the box, and sent the ball low on the ground past the diving Brady Allen and into the net. Kalishman netted his second goal of the season and put Babson College ahead 2-1, a lead the Beavers did not surrender in their 2-1 win over the Golden Bears. 

Inside the Lines:

• Samuel Kalishman put the Beavers on top over the Golden Bears 2-1, scoring his first two career goals for Babson. Kalishman's goals in the 35^th and 84^th minute gave Babson the edge.
• GK Itai Rubin came away with six total saves in the game, four in the first half, and both shots on goal by Western New England in the second half. His counterpart Brady Allen made three second half saves on five total shots on goal by the Beavers. 
• The Golden Bears out shot the Beavers 10-2 in the first half but failed to shoot more than twice in the second half, being out shot by Babson 7-2 in the final 45 minutes. In total, WNE shot 12 times towards goal while Babson came away with nine total shots. 
• Western New England capitalized their lone goal of the afternoon off a corner kick, in which they took nine of in the 90-minute game. Babson was unable to draw a corner kick in the first half but came away with five in the second half. 
• Senior Matt Remillard tied Samuel Kalishman with three shots towards the target, which was a game high by all players. Only one substitution player for the Golden Bears took a shot, compared to two for the Beavers. 

Up Next on the Schedule: 

• Western New England welcomes their first conference opponent to Suprenant Field on Saturday, September 18 at 3:00 pm as the Nor'Easters of the University of New England come to Springfield. 
• Babson College will open their NEWMAC schedule when they host Wheaton College (Mass.) from Hartwell-Rogers Field on Saturday, September 18 at 1:00 pm.