Babson 2, WPI 1
Box
Score
Worcester, MA --- Sophomore Jimmy
Stento (Needham, MA) scored one goal and assisted another
to help lift top-seeded host Babson to a 2-1 victory over visiting
fourth seed WPI in the semifinals of the 2009 NEWMAC Men's Soccer
Tournament at Hartwell-Rogers Field on Saturday. With the win, the
Beavers (14-5-1), ranked eighth in New England by the NCAA, advance
to their fourth straight conference championship game, where they
will meet either second-seeded Wheaton College or sixth-seeded
Clark University on Sunday at 1pm. Meanwhile, WPI finishes its
season with a record of 10-7-1.
In a game dominated by defense and midfield play, the two squads
combined for just six shots on net. The Beavers, who held a 16-9
shot advantage overall, broke through first at the 33-minute mark.
After receiving a service from sophomore Clint
Mason (Williamstown, MA) down the right side, Stento broke
through a pair of defenders and fired a shot from close range into
the upper left corner for his second goal of the year at 33:05.
That gave the hosts a 1-0 lead that they would eventually carry
into the break.
Babson doubled its lead in the 60th minute, beginning when
sophomore Billy Nickerson (Middleton, MA) chipped
a pass over the defense to Stento. The sophomore midfielder then
slid a pass across the box to the left post, where first-year
Eric Anderson (Scituate, MA) blasted home his
team-leading 13th goal of the year at 59:26.
WPI pulled back to within one with just under 10 minutes
remaining in the game, as junior Thomas Cucinotta
(Easton, MA) took a cross from senior captain Tommy
Zajac (Merrimack, NH) on the left side and poked it in for
his second goal of the season at 80:14. The goal was set up
by Kevin Ducharme's (Bedford, MA) long throw
in.
However, that would be all the Babson defense would allow, as
the Beavers blocked the Engineers' lone shot in the final nine
minutes to clinch the 2-1 victory.
Junior Peter Crowley (Lexington, MA) made one
save to earn the victory for the Beavers, while junior Paul
Moan (Watertown, MA) stopped two shots in net for WPI.
Release Courtesy Babson Sports Information
