Men’s Soccer Falls in Double Overtime at Babson
Wellesley, Mass. - First year midfielder Justin LeBlanc (Manchester, Conn.) knocked home a cross from sophomore midfielder Edson Silva (Brockton, Mass.) two minutes into the second overtime to lift the Babson College men's soccer team to a 3-2 win over the Framingham State Rams in non-conference men's soccer action this afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field. With the win, Babson improves to 5-2 on the season, while the loss drops the Rams to 1-6.
Babson's offense dominated much of the game as they outshot the Rams 25-12. Junior goalkeeper Greg Halle (Beverly, Mass.) kept the Rams in the game as he made 12 saves on the day including several key saves down the stretch and in the first overtime to preserve the tie. Sophomore Pete Crowley (Lexington, Mass.) made two saves on the day for Babson and picked up the win.
Sophomore midfielder Ryan Obolewicz (Bow, N.H.) gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead in the 5th minute of play as his header hit the cross bar and bounced into the goal. First year Eric Anderson (Schituate, Mass.) assisted on the tally.
Babson would maintain the 1-0 advantage until the 40th minute when the Rams were awarded a penalty kick after Babson was called for a handball in the box. Junior midfielder Scott Faria (New Bedford, Mass.) converted the penalty kick to tie the game at 1-1.
The game would stay tied till the 67th minute of play. Faria sent a direct kick into the box that junior Andrew Berte (Malden, Mass.) deflected to junior forward Jason Silva (Northbridge, Mass.) who connected for his first goal of the season. Babson tied the game at 2-2 in the 80th minute as senior Sean Gleason (Clinton, N.Y.) sent a cross to first year Ayo Iwuagwu (Lagos, Nigeria) who placed a shot in the corner for his second goal of the season.
The Beavers outshot the Rams 6-1 in the first overtime but were unable capitalize on any of their scoring opportunities. Babson had a chance to end the game in the 93rd minute as Iwuagwu took a through ball and was behind the Rams defense. He fired a shot at net but Halle was able to come off his line enough to make the save and keep the score tied. With just 27 seconds remaining in the first extra frame Babson once again had a chance to win the game as sophomore forward Billy Nickerson's (Middleton, Mass.) header from ten feet out sailed just wide.
It took just two minutes in the second overtime for Babson to capitalize on another quality scoring opportunity. Edson Silva drove the ball down the right side and sent a cross into the box that LeBlanc was able to control and slip past Halle for the game winner.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as they host Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 10 a.m. as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend, while the Beavers travel to Coast Guard at noon also on Saturday.