SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. -- An epic team defensive performance nearly earned the Mount Holyoke College soccer team a scoreless tie against favored Babson College, but the visiting Beavers finally scored on a penalty shot by Lindsey Cassady in the 85th minute for a 1-0 NEWMAC victory on Saturday at the MHC Soccer Field.
Through 84-plus minutes, Babson (6-1-4, 5-0-0 NEWMAC) shot the ball 55 times without scoring on Mount Holyoke (1-6-3, 0-5-0 NEWMAC), with senior Clarissa Govea (Pico Rivera, Calif.) turning away the Beavers' 15 shots on goal to that point.
But with 5:09 left in regulation, after some deliberation by game officials, a foul was called against the Lyons in the penalty area. Cassady stepped in and hammered a perfect shot into the upper right corner, leaving Govea without a chance to maintain the improbable shutout. The goal, Cassady's first of the season, finally gave Babson a 1-0 lead.
Mount Holyoke packed its defense in throughout the game, limiting Babson's real scoring opportunities to textbook effect, with most of the Beavers' shots either going wide, being stopped by Govea, or being blocked by a defender. Josie Lee took a game-high 10 shots but only two were on goal; Lillian McAughan was limited to one shot on goal out of eight shots.
The Lyons' doggedness on defense only intensified after two starting players went down with injuries during the first half. Babson outshot Mount Holyoke 23-0 in the half, with Govea making six saves. The Lyons also averted danger when Sarah Hogan's shot in the 17th minute caromed off the far post.
Babson's offensive urgency also intensified in the second half, in which the Beavers outshot the Lyons 34-2. Govea racked up 10 saves in the half, several of them spectacular. In the 55th minute, Govea sprang up for a high save on a close-range shot by the post by Priscilla-Rose Men-Martin. With 15:00 remaining, a long-distance missile by Cassady required another leaping save by Govea.
With 6:46 to go, Babson had its final prime scoring chance, as McAughan slipped around two defenders along the goal line to set up a 1-on-1 against Govea, but her close-range shot went wide right.
Maisie Creamer was not challenged in her shutout for Babson, making one save on a long free kick sent by junior Evie Krieg (Frisco, Texas) in the 77th minute. Govea finished with a career-high 16 saves for Mount Holyoke.
Babson won its third straight game and remained in a tie for first place in the NEWMAC standings with MIT. The Beavers next play at Salve Regina Wednesday at 3:30pm.
Mount Holyoke hosts Coast Guard Wednesday at 7pm.
