Box Score NEW LONDON, Conn. – A second half goal by senior Tyler Carlos gave Babson a 1-0 victory over the Bears in both teams New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener.
With the loss Coast Guard drops to 1-5 on the season and 0-1 in NEWMAC play. The Beavers earns their fifth win of the season improving to 5-2 on the year and 1-0 in the conference.
Babson had the first opportunity of the game as Carlos took a free kick from the left side of the Bear's penalty box. Carlos hit a hard shot, but was outside the near post.
Midway through the half sophomore Tyler Furry sent a low bouncing cross into the Beavers penalty area. Off the bounce sophomore Ryan Dandan flicked a header to the back post. Junior Kyle Phillips came on to the flick, but the ball was just out of his reach to put on goal.
Coast Guard best opportunity of the game came early in the second half when freshman Patrick Palermo-Re played a corner kick to the Babson far post. Phillips met the cross with a header and beat Beaver goalkeeper senior Stephen Donato, but was headed off the line by a Babson defender.
The Bears continued to pressure as Coast Guard controlled the attempted clearance by the Beavers and sent the ball back into the Babson penalty area. Dandan settled the cross and attempted to put a shot on goal while shielding off a defender but sent the shot over the bar.
The Bears pushed into the Beavers offensive third again as Dandan found senior Ricky Davies free out wide. Davies sent a low service across the front of the Babson goal untouched, but no Coast Guard player could get their foot to the ball.
Davies again set up another Bears attack as he played a ball over the top to freshman Garrett Magill who beat his defender and sent a shot past the keeper towards goal. The shot hit the outside of the near post and bounced out of play.
The Beavers pressed back midway through second half as sophomore Justin Kaplan got in behind the Coast Guard defense and was in on goal, but his final touch was too big and freshman goalkeeper William Bragaw came out to make the sliding save.
In the 66th minute Babson would break through when a cross came into the Bears Box. The Coast Guard defense went to clear the ball, but it was intercepted by Carlos, who took a touch and fired a shot past a diving Bragaw for his fourth of the year.
Coast Guard had one more notable chance in the half as Magill sent a cross into the box from the right side. Dandan rose up and flicked the ball towards the back post, but was wide of the mark as the Bears lost 1-0.
"The guys deserved more from the game today," commented head coach Chris Parsons. "We played very well and we're unlucky not to take the lead at the beginning of the second half. Overall, we take the postives, and will move on to our next match"
Bragaw's season record fall to 0-3 on the year as he faced seven shots, one on goal making zero saves. Sophomore Jake Sorenson relieved Bragaw, playing the final 16 minutes of the game seeing zero shots and making zero saves.
Donato improves to 5-2 on the year as he faced eight shots, two on goal, making one save.
Coast Guard is back in action Tuesday, September 22nd as they host Endicott in a nonconference showdown. Kickoff is 7:00 pm.
