WORCESTER, Mass. -- Clark University and Babson College
battled to a double-overtime scoreless tie in a New England Women's
and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's soccer game played
Saturday at Granger Field. It was the NEWMAC opener for both
teams.
Clark moves to 5-1-2 overall and 0-0-1 in league play, while
Babson, ranked ninth in New England in the latest National Soccer
Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll, is 5-2-1 (0-0-1
NEWMAC).
The game was evenly matched as Babson held a slim 11-10
advantage in shots, 6-5 edge in saves, and 4-2 margin on corner
kicks.
The first half featured a pair of strong scoring chances by each
team, with Chris Morris (Shoreline, Wash.)
striking first for the Beavers. The junior midfielder's bid
at the 18 rolled just wide of the far post at 18:05. Just
under 10 minutes later, Clark defender Lucas Neustadt (Brooklyn,
N.Y.) swiped the ball away from one of the Babson forwards in a
flurry of action in front of the Clark goal to keep the game at a
stalemate.
Clark's Baran Doenmez (Dublin, N.H.) broke in alone, but his
close-range drive was stopped on a sliding save by freshman keeper
Peter Crowley (Lexington, Mass.) at 33:09.
A pair of failed attempts from Babson's Harrison Heller
(Fort Wayne, Ind.) - a header that sailed wide at 66:56
and a drive stopped by Cougar goalie Peter Wise (Providence, R.I.)
at 72:53 - were the visitors' best opportunities to start the
second half. Sandwiched between those two chances, was a shot from
Adrian Blackadar (Warwick, R.I.) that drifted past the right post
at 67:35 for Clark's prime opportunity.
Babson wasn't without chances in the extra period, outshooting
the hosts, 2-0. Just over one minute into the overtime,
Billy Nickerson's (Middleton, Mass.) drive
10-yards out was smothered by Wise.
Senior Mike Trobagis (Acton, Mass.) had the best chance of the
day for the Cougars. Set up on the right side, Trobagis fired a
shot towards the left post, where Crowley made a diving save to tip
it out of the goal at 103:19 to preserve the tie.
Wise finished with five saves to record his fourth shutout of
the year. Crowley stopped six shots for Babson.
Clark will host MIT next Saturday (2:30 p.m.). Babson will
travel to Framingham State College on Wednesday (4 p.m.).
NOTE: Taken from a Clark University press release.
