WENHAM, Mass.—Ninth-ranked Babson used a six-goal second half to break open a close game and spoil the Fighting Scots' Senior Day, 6-0. The Beavers fought through a defensive showcase from the Gordon side in the first half, scoring a minute into the second half and never looking back on a rainy Saturday afternoon at the Brigham Athletic Complex.
The favored Beavers were the second straight top-10 matchup for the Fighting Scots after Tufts posted a 6-0 win over Gordon on Thursday. Despite their ranking, Gordon held its own over the opening 35 minutes. Babson racked up 13 shots in the first period, 11 of which were on frame, but Gordon's defense held firm. Shannon Hicks (Scarborough, Maine) made several eye-popping stops to keep the Beavers from celebrating a goal, but it was Gordon's six defensive saves in the first half that made a big difference on the scoreboard.
Babson broke through in the second half thanks to an 11-0 edge in penalty corners, capitalizing on five of them. Staci Swallow (So. Portland, Maine) was the first to strike gold for the Beavers with a tip-in goal off a pass from Jacki Merrigan (Canton, Mass.).
In the 49th minute, Ashley Tango (Reading, Mass.) made it a 2-0 game with a strong service from just inside the crease that was deflected into the wood on the back side. Tango's shot was the only goal Babson did not score off of a penalty corner in the second half.
The two-goal game held until the final seven minutes when Babson scored in bunches to put the game out of reach.
Merrigan and Tango combined for three straight goals in a one-minute span, including a pretty lift by the junior from Canton. Lauren Drakeley (Woodbury, Conn.) rounded out the scoring with a strike just before the one-minute warning.
Babson outshot Gordon 31-1 in the game, but Gordon made 21 saves on the day. Brianna Kowolenko (Brooklyn, Conn.) made a career-high four defensive saves, while Bailey Balmer (Perkasie, Pa.) came up with three. Hicks still managed 14 saves, but none more impressive than an air-born stop late in the first half on a high shot.
Gordon's tough slate continues on Wednesday with Commonwealth Coast Conference opponent UNE in Biddeford. The Nor'easters are just outside of the top 20 in the latest NFHCA poll at 22nd. Babson faces the Nor'easters a day earlier, also in Maine.
