Box Score BABSON PARK, Mass.—Junior Shane Mandel (Syosset, N.Y.) scored in the 32nd minute and senior goalkeeper Stephen Donato (Morganville, N.J.) made five saves as Babson College knocked off previously unbeaten and 23rd-ranked UMass-Boston, 1-0, in non-conference men's soccer action on Wednesday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
With the win, Babson is now 6-4-1 overall, while UMass-Boston drops to 10-1-0 on the year.
The Beavers had the two best scoring chances of the early portion of the match as senior James Rosso (Hingham, Mass.) hit the post in the 21st minute and first-year Noah Parker (Hampden, Maine) saw his rebound attempt bounce just wide of the left post. Babson's pressure finally paid off a little over 10 minutes later when Mandel struck for his second goal of the year.
Junior Caleb Long (Kingston, Mass.) played a ball out wide for Mandel, who cut back inside to his right foot and hit a shot that went off the body of Beacons' senior goalkeeper Alfonso Rosales (Revere, Mass.) and inside the near post to break up his 520-minute scoreless streak. Donato made his best save of the day late in the period to preserve the lead, diving to his right to deny UMass-Boston first-year Mohamed Kenawy (Revere, Mass.) in the 44th minute.
Despite combining for a 11 shots in the second half, neither goalkeeper was tested over the final 45 minutes. Donato turned away a pair of shots and the Beavers' back line blocked three more attempts to preserve their sixth clean sheet of the season.
Rosales, the Division III leader in goals against average and save percentage, stopped six shots in defeat.
The Beacons held a 16-12 edge in shots, 6-5 on frame, while the Green and White finished with a 5-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Both teams return to action on Saturday as Babson travels to Clark for a 1 p.m. match, while UMass-Boston hosts nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State at 5 p.m.
GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are now 4-0-0 all-time against UMass-Boston.
• Babson is now 9-1-1 over its last 11 matches against non-conference opponents at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
• The Green and White is 6-1-0 this season when scoring first, and 6-2-1 when holding its foes to one goal or less.
• Donato, who lowered his goals against average to 0.71 on the year, posted his 10th career clean sheet in the victory.