#5 Babson Edges #4 Wellesley in NEWMAC Women's Soccer Quarterfinals

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Babson College's Jessica DiPhilippo broke a scoreless tie in the 62nd minute, leading the fifth-seeded Beavers over the fourth-seeded Wellesley College Blue in the quarterfinals of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament on Tuesday afternoon. 

The win advances Babson (10-4-4) to Saturday's semifinals, where they will face top-seeded MIT at 11:00am. Wellesley ends its season with a 9-8-4 overall mark.

Mika Cucullo started the game-winning drive, carrying the ball up the left side of the field and sending a great pass to DiPhilippo at the left side of the box. DiPhillipo beat the Blue keeper high on a one-touch attempt, recording her seventh goal of the season.

The game was close throughout, with Wellesley holding a 15-11 advantage in shots, and a slim 2-0 edge in corner kicks. Babson Keeper Melina Kapotsis came up big, stopping eight shots, while Blue goalie Kat Goldsmith also played well, recording five saves.

In the first half, Wellesley compiled a 7-3 shots advantage, but Babson had an edge in the possession battle. The Blue had two good opportunities to score, the first coming in the 21st minute when a bullet of the foot of LJ Foster from 15-yards out that the Babson's Kapotsis saved with a dive. Wellesley also had a chance with 10 minutes remaining in the half, but an attempt from Kyla Petrie in front of the box went just high.

Babson's best first half chances came from Olivia Kerester and Jennifer Narlee. Kerester nearly scored in the 31st minute, when a cross was batted around in front of the box and her attempt went just over the net. Narlee's attempt came with 13 to play in the half, with her header being saved by Wellesley's Goldsmith.

In the second half, Babson turned up the pressure, recording five shots in the first 16 minutes, before connecting on the eventual game-winner. Wellesley had a great chance to tally the equalizer in the 74th-minute, but Francesca Lapsley's shot hit the crossbar and bounced over the goal.

After Lapsley's near miss, Wellesley fired a barrage of shots at the Babson goal in a two-minute stretch from the 75th to the 77th-minutes. Beaver keeper, Melina Kapotsis batted each one away, however, keeping the game at 1-0. 

The Beavers had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 82nd minute, but their penalty kick attempt sailed high. Wellesley threatened down the stretch, with the Blue's last shot, a Petrie attempt, went just wide of the goal.