Four First Half Goals Lift Babson to 4-1 Win Over Women's Soccer

Babson Park, Mass. - Senior captain Amy Festa (Medfield, Mass.) scored two goals the game's first 11 minutes helping Babson College cruise past visiting Framingham State University 4-1 on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference women's soccer action at Hartwell-Rogers Field.

Festa added an assist while senior Ashley Tourso (Glen Rock, N.J.) and junior Meg Andrew (Easton, Mass.) each tacked on first half tallies for the Beavers, who led 4-0 at halftime.

With the win, Babson halted a two-game losing skid and is now 2-4-1, while the loss dropped Framingham State to 1-4-0.

Following a Framingham State turnover in its defensive third, sophomore Jess DePhilippo (Falmouth, Maine) gained possession for Babson and hit a cross from the right wing to Festa, who buried a header past Rams' goalkeeper McKenzie Verson (Chicopee, Mass.) and inside the right post for a 1-0 lead just 6:30 into the game.

The senior forward tacked on her second goal of the game just over four minutes later, cutting the ball back inside on the left flank and hitting a bending shot to the upper right corner from 20 yards out to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead at the 10:52 mark.

Babson extended its lead to 3-0 in the 25^th minute as Tourso scored her second goal of the season. After pushing the ball down the right sideline, senior back Nichole Vargas' (Warren, R.I) cross found the senior captain, who one-touched the ball inside the right post.

Andrew capped the Beavers' first half outburst with her team-leading third goal of the season at 33:06. Festa played a thru-ball behind the Rams' backline and Andrew was able to beat the charging Vershon to put Babson ahead 4-0 at halftime.

Framingham State scored the only goal of the second half in the 53^rd minute as sophomore forward Marisa Parent (Revere, Mass.) beat a defender and hit a hard left-footed shot from just outside the box that found the far upper corner.

Despite the scoring disparity, the Rams had plenty of scoring chances in the contest, but Babson's sophomore goalkeeping duo of Melina Kapotsis (Watertown, Mass.) and Elizabeth Estabrook (Falmouth, Maine) helped keep the visitors at bay. Kapotsis started and made four saves in the first half to earn her second win of the season, while Estabrook came on to start the second half and turned away three shots.

For Framingham State, sophomore McKenzie Vershon (Chicopee, Mass.) played the first 45 minutes in net and made one save before giving way to first-year Jess Anthony (Stoneham, Mass.), who made four stops in the second half.

Now 20-6 in the all-time series between the two teams, Babson won its fifth straight against the Rams – a streak that dates back to 2007. The Beavers will look to continue their winning ways this Saturday, when they host NEWMAC rival WPI at 1 p.m. Framingham State will also be at home for a league match on Saturday, as the Rams host Salem State in a MASCAC battle beginning at noon.

Release courtesy of Babson Sports Information.