Second Half Flurry Sends Babson Past Mount Ida, 4-0
BABSON PARK, Mass.—Babson College got goals from four different players and scored three times in the second half to collect a 4-0 win over Mount Ida College in non-conference men's soccer action on Wednesdsay afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
Seniors Dillon Ventura (Pittstown, N.J.) and Kevin Israel (Lafayette Hill, Pa.), along with juniors Shawn Citro (Oakland, N.J.) and Justin Laurenzo (Park Ridge, N.J.) all scored for the Beavers, who also got a pair of assists from sophomore Tyler Carlos (Prospect, Conn.) in the victory.
Babson, currently ranked fifth in New England by the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA), moves to 4-1-0 with the win, while Mount Ida dropped its second straight game to fall to 1-2-1.
The Beavers dominated play for much of the opening half and nearly took a lead just over five minutes into the contest when Carlos hit a 35-yard blast that ricocheted off the crossbar and out of harm's way. Mustangs' junior goalkeeper Mat Pils (Monroe, Conn.) also made a pair of early saves on sophomore Telvin Lopes (Pawtucket, R.I.) before Ventura finally broke through to take a 1-0 lead. The substitute midfielder took a short pass from senior captain Salvatore Percival (Andover, Mass.) and poked home his first goal of the season at the 19:24 mark.
Mount Ida had its best chance to equalize in the 33rd minute when senior forward Steve McDonald (Medford, Mass.) collected a pass and found space going to goal before ripping a shot from 20-yards that was punched over the crossbar by Babson senior goalkeeper Jackson Klein (Maplewood, N.J.). Ventura had a golden opportunity to extend the Beavers' lead just before halftime, but his shot from inside the six-yard box was denied by Pils.
The Green and White took command of the game with a pair of tallies in the first three and a half minutes of the second half. Citro gave the Beavers a 2-0 lead with his first strike of the season at the 47:22 mark as he settled a perfect cross from first-year Caleb Long (Kingston, Mass.) and buried a shot from inside 10 yards past Pils. Laurenzo then struck 1:09 later with his first goal off the year, heading home a 35-yard free kick from Carlos, to put Babson ahead 3-0.
Israel capped the scoring with his first tally of the year in the 70th minute on a shot that slipped inside the near post.
Klein made two stops for the Beavers in just over 83 minutes of action before giving way to sophomore Tanner Click (Lawrence, Kans.) who did not make a save in just over six minutes between the pipes. Pils made five stops four the Mustangs before being relieved by senior Joe Casey (Merrimack, Mass.), who made one save.
Both teams will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as Babson hosts Lesley at 3 p.m. while Mount Ida opens up GNAC play with a 3 p.m. start at Emmanuel.
