United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Soccer

BABSON PARK, MASS.--(10/27/07)--Babson clinched the second seed in the upcoming New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Coast Guard in a key league matchup at Hartwell-Rogers Field on Saturday.

With the win, Babson finishes the regular season with a record of 11-5-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the conference, and will host #7 WPI in the quarterfinals this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Coast Guard finishes at 9-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the NEWMAC and as the sixth seed will travel to Springfield for a quarterfinal match with the #3 Pride.

Babson grabbed a 1-0 lead at the 13-minute mark, as a Coast Guard defender headed a long throw-in from in front of the net to the left side, where Beavers’ freshman Harrison Heller corralled it. The rookie midfielder immediately crossed it to the far right side of the box where it was blasted in by charging sophomore Dan Fogarty for the game’s opening score.

Things stayed that way until midway through the second half, when Heller tallied the first goal of his collegiate career to give the Beavers’ some breathing room. Senior Chris Schwartz hit a pass along the right side to sophomore Chris Morris, who one-timed a long cross to the far side. There, Heller headed it past sophomore keeper Tim Olah and inside the left post for his first goal of the year.

Heller’s score would prove to be crucial in the final moments of play, as Coast Guard junior James Toohey headed in a free kick by classmate Ben Walsh with 1:04 left to play. That would end up being the Bears’ final shot of the contest, however, as Babson held on for the 2-1 victory.

Senior captain Chris Necklas finished with three saves in net for the Beavers, while Olah also stopped three shots in goal for Coast Guard.