NORTON, Mass.— First year Karina Contreras (Pawtucket, R.I.) scored the only goal of the game three minutes into the second half to give Wheaton College a 1-0 victory over visiting Babson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's soccer match Saturday afternoon at Mirrione Stadium.

With the loss, the Beavers dropped their second conference contest in the past eight days and fell to 7-3-5 overall and 6-2-1 in the NEWMAC. The Lyons improve to 8-7-0 on the season and 4-5-0 in conference matches.

First-year keeper Maisie Creamer (Boulder, Colo.) kept the Beavers in the game with seven saves, including five in the second half. Wheaton senior Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) secured her fourth shutout of the year with nine saves with the victory.

Babson had a 13-3 margin in shots in the first half but couldn't muster a significant scoring threat. Junior Olga Metelkine (Marlboro, N.J.) had back-to-back shots on target in the 10th and 13th minute that were denied by Bandrup and had another with the same result in the 30th minute. First-year Autumn Simon (Sharon, Mass.) created a solid shot from 15 yards out in the 40th minute that Bandrup punched over the crossbar.

The Lyons needed just three minutes in the second half to take the lead. Contreras broke up a Babson clear and stole the ball before lofting a shot from the left elbow of the 18-yard box over a leaping Creamer and into the bottom right corner of the net for her fifth goal of the season.

The Beavers continued to pepper the Wheaton goal in search of an equalizer, finishing with 13 shots in the second half and 26 for the game, compared to just nine for the hosts. Babson also had a 12-0 advantage in corner kicks, but none led to a goal. The last good scoring chance for Babson came on a restart with a header by junior Caroline Sutherland (Millville, Mass.) that was corralled by Bandrup.

Babson plays its final two games of the regular season at home beginning on Wednesday vs. local rival Wellesley at 3 p.m. on Hartwell-Rogers Field. Wheaton is on the road to wrap up the regular season, starting at Coast Guard on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES
• Babson is 16-29-10 all-time against Wheaton in a series that dates back to 1981.
• The Beavers were shut out for the third time in their last four outings and the sixth time this season.
• Babson went 4-1-1 on the road against NEWMAC foes this season while conceding just two goals. 
• The Green and White were defeated for just the second time on natural grass (15-2-4) in their last 21 games dating back to October 12 of last season.