Wellesley Field Hockey Drops Overtime Heartbreaker at Babson

Senior co-captain Sarah Fredlund (New Preston, CT) scored the game-winning goal on a penalty corner after time has expired in the first overtime period to lift the Babson College Beavers to a thrilling 4-3 victory over visiting Wellesley College in the first NEWMAC contest of the season for both squads. With the win,  Babson is now 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference, while the Blue fall to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.

Fredlund and first-year Morgan Lockwood (Feeding Hills, MA) each recorded two goals and one assist in the win for the Beavers, while senior Katie Frett (Hallowell, ME) tallied one goal and one assist to pace Wellesley.

Babson jumped in front early when Lockwood converted a feed from junior Courtney Weaving (New Preston, CT) at 9:47, but Wellesley answered when Frett fired a shot into the open right side of the cage off a cross from sophomore Emily Lewis (Weston, CT) at 14:47.

Fredlund put her team ahead once again at 16:16, as she tipped in a shot from the left side off a Lockwood cross to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts. Wellesley would tie the game for the second time when Frett's drive from the top of the circle was tipped over Babson junior goalie Jess Pashos (Winchester, MA) by first-year Alex Azzi (Rye, NH) at 22:36, but Lockwood scored again off a Fredlund feed at 25:08 to give the Beavers a 3-2 advantage heading into the break.

The Blue pulled even again 14 minutes into the second half, as Lewis sent a cross to the left side where senior Sally Scudder (Delafield, WI) tipped it inside the post at 48:37. Babson would have numerous chances to reclaim the lead over the final 20 minutes of regulation, but Wellesley senior keeper Sarina Sawyer (Wilmette, IL) made four clutch saves to keep the game deadlocked.

Both teams had great scoring opportunities in the overtime session, but Sawyer and Pashos each made several big stops in their respective cages. Sawyer made three saves in the 15-minute period, giving her nine for the game, while Pashos made all five of her stops in overtime, including three straight on point-blank bids by Lewis during a frantic flurry at the 80-minute mark.

Babson finally secured the victory on a penalty corner after the clock had expired, beginning when senior co-captain Colleen Kelly (Milton, MA) received a pass on the right side of the circle. She then fired a pass to Fredlund coming in from the left endline, and the senior forward tipped it past Sawyer for the game-winning goal at 85:00.