Men’s Soccer Loses Heartbreaker in Overtime 2-1 to Babson
Framingham, Mass. — Sophomore Ayo Iwuagwu (Lagos, Nigeria) scored the game winner just 3:04 into overtime to lift the Babson College men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over the Framingham State University Rams in non-conference action this afternoon at Maple Street Field. With the win, the Beavers, who are ranked ninth in New England in this week's NSCAA/HendrickCars.com Regional Rankings, improve to 6-2 on the season. The Rams, who are ranked seventh in the same poll, suffer their first defeat and are now 6-1 on the season.
The game was scoreless after the first half as neither team could capitalize on their scoring chances. Babson's best scoring opportunity came just five minutes into the game as sophomore Eric Anderson (Scituate, Mass.) had a clean look at the net but his shot hit the post. The Rams best opportunity came with just over ten minutes to play in the opening half as senior Scotty Faria (Fall River, Mass.) took a pass in the middle of the field and launched a shot that sailed just wide of the net.
The Rams, who outshot the Beavers 15-9 in the second half, were finally able to break the scoreless tie in the 68th minute as senior forward Jason Silva (Northbridge, Mass.) fed the ball up the right sideline to sophomore Bryan Damas (Milford, Mass.). Damas sent a cross into the box and Chris Wilkins (Heath, Mass.) knocked it home giving the Rams a 1-0 lead.
The Rams had a chance to extend their lead to two with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game, but Babson College goalkeeper Peter Crowley (Lexington, Mass.) made a diving save on Silva's shot from inside the box.
Babson's offense came alive and responded with the game tying goal. With 10:24 remaining in the game, Joshua Danesh (Brookline, Mass.) lobbed a shot over Framingham State goalkeeper Greg Halle (Beverly, Mass.), who made seven saves, knotting the game at 1-1.
The Rams had several scoring opportunities in the final ten minutes, but Faria's shot with seven minutes remaining went wide of the net and Jepherson Cardoso's offering also missed the mark with just over three minutes to play.
The Rams had the first opportunity to score in overtime, as just over two minutes in, junior Peter Maranto (Haverhill, Mass.) dribbled through the Beavers defense, but Crowley, who made nine saves in the game, was able to make the save on Maranto's offering.
Babson responded by moving the ball down the field and Iwuagwu maneuvered down the right side placing a shot in the bottom corner for the game winner.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as they resume conference play hosting Worcester State at 1 p.m., while Babson squares off with Brandeis on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.