BABSON PARK, Mass.—Graduate student Ryan Grund (Princeton Junction, N.J.) put away a header in the 70th minute to help No. 8 Babson College defeat visiting Wheaton College, 1-0, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's soccer action on Saturday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field. 

Babson, which is unbeaten over its last six matches, improves to 9-3-3 overall and 4-0-0 in league play. Wheaton drops to 3-4-6 overall and 1-1-2 in the NEWMAC with the loss. 

Senior Ryan Kim (San Ramon, Calif.) and sophomore Robin Pestka (Highland Park, N.J.) picked up assists on the goal and junior goalkeeper Walker White (Coral Gables, Fla.) matched his season high with seven saves to record his eighth shutout of the year for the Beavers. 

Sophomore Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) stopped six shots in defeat for the Lyons. 

The Green and White was outshot 9-3 over the opening 45 minutes and needed four saves from White to keep the game scoreless going into the break. He came off his line to push away a header by senior Alberto Franceschi (Caracas, Venezuela) in the 31st minute and less than 60 second later made his best save of the game diving to his right to deny Franceschi's strike that was headed inside the left post. 

The Beavers came alive early in the second half and forced O'Gara to come off his line to make a pair of saves. He made a sliding stop in the 58th minute when junior Matias Gutierrez (Coral Gables, Fla.) got free in the box and then stuff senior Joseph Cardarapoli's (Longmeadow, Mass.) bid to open the scoring after running onto a through ball by classmate Lorenzo Mancini (Franklin, Mass.). 

Senior Samuel Kalishman (Clarksville, Md.) also hit the crossbar from 25 yards in the 66th minute before Babson's pressure finally paid off with the decisive goal. Pestka played his corner kick back to Kim and Grund calmly buried a header from the edge of the six-yard box for his second goal in as many games. 

White made two late saves and Wheaton senior Luke Strange (Portland, Ore.) saw his shot from distance sail wide of the left post in the 89th minute. 

The Beavers finished with a 16-13 advantage in shots and the Lyons held a slim 6-5 edge in corner kicks. 

Both sides return to action on Wednesday as Babson travels to Springfield at 5 p.m., while Wheaton hosts Emerson at 4 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are 25-20-0 all-time against Wheaton and have won nine straight and 11 of the last 12 matches between the teams. 
•    Nine of the last 13 matches between Babson and the Lyons have been decided by one goal. 
•    The Green and White has now scored 17 of its 20 goals this season in the second half. 
•    The Beavers have now won 16 consecutive games against NEWMAC opponents and are 25-1-6 since 2018 in the regular season against league foes.