BABSON PARK, Mass.—Graduate student James Donaldson (Kirkland, Quebec) scored twice in the span of 73 seconds early in the second half to help Babson College defeat No. 12 Montclair State University, 2-1, in non-conference men's soccer action on Sunday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field. 

With the win, Babson improves to 1-0-1 on the year. Montclair State, which lost just twice last season, drops to 0-2 overall. 

Graduate student Kento Abe (Quincy, Mass.), junior James Modiano (Montclair, N.J.) and sophomore Alexander Yablonovskiy (Berkley Heights, N.J.) all recorded an assist for the Beavers. Senior goalkeeper Walker White (Coral Gables, Fla.) made a pair of second-half saves in the victory. 

Samuel Epitime (Bloomfield, N.J.) scored his first goal of the season for the Red Hawks, who got five saves from first-year goalkeeper Alexander Velasquez (Roselle Park, N.J.). 

After an opening half that saw the sides combine for just four shots, Donaldson opened the scoring in the 59th minute. Yablonovskiy plowed through multiple defenders after tracking down a long ball just over midfield and laid the ball off to his right for Abe, who set up Donaldson's driving header that snuck inside the near post with a great cross. 

The Green and White doubled its advantage in the 61st minute when Modiano weaved his way into the box and drove toward the end line before playing the ball across for Donaldson, who finished from the edge of the six-yard box to complete his brace. 

White made a pair of comfortable saves and got some help in the 72nd minute when a 20-yard rocket by first-year Kevin Contreras (Northvale, N.J.) hit the left post. Montclair State cut its deficit in half just over two minutes later when Epitime converted a penalty kick after sophomore Salem Ellisy (Nyack, N.Y.) was dragged down inside the box. 

Babson allowed just one shot over the final 16 minutes, an attempt from distance that was blocked by junior Liam Goldstein (Princeton, N.J.), and was able to successfully clear a corner kick in the closing seconds to secure their first win of the year. 

The Beavers finished with an 11-8 edge in shots and a slim 3-2 margin in corner kicks. The teams also combined for 39 fouls in the match. 

Babson returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Wesleyan at 3 p.m., while Montclair State hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering next Friday at 7 p.m. 

GAME NOTES
•    The Beavers are now 1-1-1 all-time against Montclair State with the home team winning by a 2-1 scoreline in each of the last two seasons.
•    Babson is now 17-2-4 at home going back to the start of the 2022 campaign. 
•    The Beavers are unbeaten in 12 straight home openers (11-0-1) going back to 2012. 
•    The Green and White is now 25-1-1 when scoring at least two goals going back to the start of 2021.