Blue Soccer Falls to Babson, 1-0

BABSON PARK, Mass. – Senior captain Lisa Wojnar made six saves – including two on clean breakaways – to help the Babson College women's soccer team secure a 1-0 victory over visiting Wellesley College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletics Conference (NEWMAC) contest at Babson's Hartwell-Rogers Field on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Beavers are now 5-1-1 overall and 1-0-0 in the conference, while Wellesley dips to 1-5-1 overall and 0-1-0 in the NEWMAC.

Wellesley mounted a 6-4 advantage in shots and a 7-2 margin in corner kicks in the first half, but it would be Babson that came away with the period's only goal. After the Beavers earned one of their two corner kicks, junior Kelly Hanly sent a perfect cross into the center of the box. Classmate Amy Festa then redirected it back toward the left post, where it trickled just beyond the outstretched arms of diving first-year keeper Claire Cerda for the game's lone goal at 32:51. It was Festa's first of the season.

Wojnar was spectacular in the victory for the Beavers, making six saves to earn her fifth shutout of the season. In the first half, she made a tremendous diving save on a breakaway down the right side by Wellesley junior Chelsea-Ann Patry at the 8:25 mark, and then made another fine stop on junior Megan Turchi's hard-hit shot off a corner kick just 40 seconds later.
 
The biggest save of the game came with just over 10 minutes left in regulation, as Wellesley senior captain Amanda Young took the ball away from a defender on the right side and broke in alone on Wojnar. Young then blasted a shot on net from point blank range, but the Babson keeper made a brilliant denial and then punched the rebound out of the goal mouth to preserve Babson's 1-0 lead.
 
The Blue would put one final shot on net in the closing minutes, as junior Gayron Berman  launched a bid from 30 yards out. However, Wojnar made a clean catch near the right post to finish off the shutout victory.

Cerda went the distance in net for Wellesley, finishing with one save.