BABSON PARK, Mass.—First-year Justin Kaplan (Medway, Mass.) scored the go-ahead goal just 1:52 into the second half to help lift Babson College to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over visiting Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field.

With the win, Babson is now 2-0-0 overall, while Illinois Wesleyan drops to 0-2-0.

Junior James Rosso (Hingham, Mass.) also scored for the Beavers, while senior Brenden Matthews (Marlborough, Mass.) and sophomore Shane Mandel (Syosset, N.Y.) each added an assist. 

The Green and White looked sharp early and opened the scoring just 4:22 into the match on Rosso's first tally of the year. Following a build up through the midfield, Rosso received a cross from Matthews at the left edge of the 18-yard box, took a touch inside, and ripped a blast that found the upper corner inside the far post for a 1-0 edge.

Babson was unable to convert on a couple of dangerous balls in the box over the first 30 minutes and were fortunate to take a lead into the break after the Titans controlled the run of play late in the period. Beavers' junior goalkeeper Tanner Click (Lawrence, Kan.) made three first-half saves, including one on a header by Illinois Wesleyan junior Patrick Webb (Lisle, Ill.) in the 43rd minute.

The Titans finally did break through just 90 seconds after halftime on senior Colin Rathe's (Deer Park, Ill.) first goal of the season. Sophomore Connor Allen (Naperville, Ill.) served a lofting corner kick into the box and Rathe buried a header inside the left post to make it 1-1.

Babson wasted little time regaining the lead though, as Kaplan was able to out-muscle a defender to get to a loose ball over the top of the defense from senior Dillon Ventura (Pittstown, N.J.) before popping a shot over charging Titans' goalkeeper Erick Eklin (Homer Glen, Ill.) from the top of the box to regain the advantage.

The Beavers averted disaster in the 57th minute when junior Tyler Carlos (Prospect, Conn.), guarding the left post on an Illinois Wesleyan corner kick, was able to clear senior David Myers' (Chesterfield, Mo.) shot off the goal line to preserve the lead. Babson also had a pair of golden opportunities to extend its lead, but shots by junior Andrew Gonzalez (Durham, Conn.) following a corner kick in the 63rd minute and from sophomore Moses Lim (Torrance, Calif.) after a beautiful give-and-go with senior Justin Laurenzo (Park Ridge, N.J.) in the 69th minute were denied by diving saves from Eklin.

Click finished with a career-high five saves to earn his second consecutive victory for the Beavers, while Eklin had five stops for the Titans, who held an 18-17 edge in shots.

Babson held a slight 8-6 advantage in shots on goal and Illinois Wesleyan had a 9-3 edge in corner kicks.

Babson returns to action on Friday when it takes on Western New England University at 1 p.m. in the first round of the Mayor's Cup Tournament at SUNY Oneonta in Oneonta, N.Y., while Illinois Wesleyan will host Wisconsin-Platteville next Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES: Saturday's contest was the first meeting between Babson and Illinois Wesleyan…The Beavers have won their first two games in each of the last three seasons…Babson is 8-0-1 in August home games going back to 2002.