Top-Seeded Babson Defeats #2 MIT, 3-1, To Win NEWMAC Men's Soccer Championship
BABSON PARK, Mass. - The Babson College men's soccer team secured its 19th bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and its first since 2004 on Sunday, as the top-seeded Beavers defeated second-seed MIT, 3-1, in the 2008 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament Championship Game at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
With the victory, Babson (16-4-1) earned its third NEWMAC Championship since the inception of the conference back in 1998 and received an automatic bid to next week's NCAA Tourney. The official tournament field and bracket will be announced on Monday morning at 9 a.m.
With the loss, MIT fell to 16-3-2 on the season. With two of their losses coming to Babson, ranked second in New England, and semifinal losses by #3 Clark and #4 Trinity, the Engineers still have an excellent chance of receiving an at-large bid when the NCAA field is announced tomorrow. MIT came into the weekend ranked fifth in the region.
Babson jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the contest, beginning when senior co-captain Tim Winn (Sutton, Mass.) headed a corner kick to senior Shane Fogarty (Rye, N.H.) near the goal line. Fogarty then slid a pass to first-year Max Walker (Newton, Mass.), who blasted a shot inside the right post at 9:55. MIT then nearly tied the game in the 26th minute, but Babson first-year goalie Peter Crowley (Lexington, Mass.) made his best save of the contest when he used a terrific diving effort to knock a hard shot by senior Andrew Bishara (Toledo, Ohio) just beyond the right post.
After the Beavers took a 1-0 lead into the half, MIT rallied behind sophomore Christian Therkelsen (Nesbru, Norway), who netted his conference-leading 15th goal of the season at 48:18. The Engineers' top offensive threat broke free down the right side of the field and lofted a perfect shot over a leaping Crowley to even the contest at 1-1.
Babson took the lead for good at 57:11, when first-year sensation Billy Nickerson (Middleton, Mass.) took a feed from Winn at the top of the box, cut back to his left, and ripped a shot around the defense and into the upper left 90 for his 11th goal of the season. It marked his second game-winning goal of the weekend and his league-leading seventh of the season. Winn then tacked on a key insurance goal at 65:51, as he followed up a rebound of his own blocked shot and tucked it into the lower left corner for his 14th of the campaign. Like Nickerson, it was the second goal in as many days for the Beavers' all-time goals and points leader, who will now join fellow seniors Brendan McNamara (Exeter, N.H.) and Shane Fogarty (Rye, N.H.) in making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Crowley finished with five saves in net for Babson, while MIT senior keeper Tom Caldwell (East Berlin, Pa.) made four stops. Engineers' sophomore Jason Zhu (Andover, Mass.) also added a blocked shot on the goal line late in the game.
Babson will now compete in the NCAA Tournament for the
19th time in program history. The Beavers will be
seeking their fourth National Championship, with previous titles
coming in 1975, 1979, and 1980. The program's last appearance came
in 2004, when Babson advanced to the second round. Game times and
locations will be announced on Monday following the release of the
official bracket.
2008 NEWMAC MEN'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT FINALS
Babson wins NEWMAC Tournament Championship and secures an
automatic bid
to the NCAA Tournament.
Soccer Game Summary (Final)
Babson College Men's Soccer Statistics
#2 MIT vs #1 Babson College (Nov
09, 2008 at Babson Park, MA)
MIT (16-3-2) vs. Babson College (16-4-1)
Date: Nov 09, 2008 Attendance: 450
Goals by period 1 2
Tot
-------------------------------
MIT....................... 0 1
- 1
Babson College...... 1 2 - 3
SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 9:55 BAB Max Walker (5) (Tim Winn) - shot
off rebound after corner kick
2. 48:18 MIT Christian Therkelsen (15) (unassisted) -
Breakaway down right side, shot over GK to upper left corner
3. 57:11 BAB Billy Nickerson (11) (unassisted) - Cut
to left side and shot inside left post
4. 65:51 BAB Tim Winn (14) (unassisted) - shot off own
rebound to lower left corner
Shots: MIT 23, Babson College 16
Saves: MIT 5 (Tom Caldwell 5; TEAM 1), Babson College 5
(Peter Crowley 5)
Copyright 2008 The New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference. All rights reserved.
