Late Goals Doom Men’s Soccer in 3-1 Loss at No. 22 Babson

WELLESLEY, Mass. (September 14, 2022) - The Western New England Golden Bears went on the road to Babson looking to keep their four-game undefeated streak going and trying to grab their fourth win of the season. However, Babson would have other plans in store for Western New England.

Records:

• Western New England: 3-2-1
• No. 22 Babson: 3-1-1

How it Happened:

As the game began, WNE looked to start the game like they had started off previous games, with pressure. However, the start was more of back-and-forth play between the two teams. It was not until the 12th minute that a shot was taken. It was taken by Babson's Eamon Keenan and sailed wide of the net. That shot would be answered quickly when Roger Leland put a shot on goal during the 15th minute and tested Babson's GK, Walker White. White would make that save for the first one of the game from either side. Then, just as WNE looked to be getting settled into the game, Babson would strike. In the 18th minute of play, Mitchell Collins would send a ball to Louis Gazo, who in turn would send it to Ryan Grund, who would direct the ball into the net for his first goal of the season. This would make the score: Babson 1, WNE 0.

WNE would respond with some pressure, including their first corner kick of the game. Even after Babson dealt with the corner, the Golden Bears would not take their foot off the gas until Shay O'Neill would find a striking Mike Milazzo, who would then put the ball right past White for his second goal of the season and the first goal of the game for the G-Bears. That would even up the score at one a piece. After that, the game would move forward with the ball moving from one end to the other with little action on net. That was until Babson's Rodrigo Madiedo put a shot on net, but WNE GK, Jacob Wadas, would be equal to the task and keep the ball from finding the back of the net. Babson would keep pressure on the Golden Bears with five shots during the last ten minutes of play. 

Babson outshot the Golden Bears nine to two in the first half. Four of their shots would test Wadas, and he would make saves on three of those shots. WNE would challenge white twice and would get one past him. Babson would also lead the G-Bears in corner kicks, with an advantage of four corner kicks to two. WNE would be the more forceful of the two teams, with four fouls being called against them and zero fouls called against Babson. 

The second half would begin just as the first half ended. Babson would pressure WNE with a couple of shots right out of the gate. That would be followed by more back-and-forth by the teams as they both looked for the go-ahead opportunity. Babson would get a few more shots, but none of them would worry Wadas. WNE would not be able to get a shot off during the first 25 minutes of the second half, and neither team would have a shot on the goal until the 71st minute of the game. Babson's Samuel Smith would be found by Liam Rhatigan inside the penalty box. He would then bury the ball into the back of the net, just past Wadas, to put Babson up 2-1. WNE would make a push at equalizing again as Mike Riley would have a shot blocked in the 76th minute, and both Milazzo and Matt Spruill would go for goal in the 82nd and 85th minutes, respectively. However, both of those attempts would go wide of the goal. Unfortunately, those would be the last chances for the G-Bears. Babson would tack on an insurance goal in the 88th minute Lyndon Way got his first goal of the season off a pass from James Modiano. The game would end just a couple of minutes later as Babson would take down WNE 3-1. 

Babson would continue their dominance of the stat sheet in the second half and finish with 18 shots to WNE's five shots. They would get three shots on net and put two past Wadas. WNE would not test Walker White in the second half and would finish with only two shots on the net for the game. WNE would not get a corner kick in the second half, and Babson would have six, putting their total at ten for the game to WNE's two. WNE would have ten fouls to Babson's four. 

Inside the Lines:

• Today's matchup against Babson saw WNE lose their first game since the opener when they faced Brandeis. 
• Babson's Ryan Grund would notch two points in the victory, one being a goal and the other being an assist.
• Mike Milazzo would net his second goal of the season to tie up the game in the first half off of an assist from Shay O'Neill.
• Samuel Smith and Lyndon Way would each score in the second half for Babson.
• Jacob Wadas would make four saves during the 90-minute game.
• The Golden Bears would lose 3-1 on the road to the Babson Beavers.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England will stay on the road as they head to Curry to start CCC play. That game will be Saturday, September 17, at 2:00 pm.
• Babson will also hit the road for a matchup with Wheaton as they start their conference play. They will face Wheaton on Saturday, September 17, at 2:00 pm.