NORTON, Mass. -– The second-seeded and No. 15 Babson College men's soccer team scored in the 68th minute to defeat visiting number three seed Wheaton College (Mass.), 1-0, this afternoon in the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Semifinals on MacDowell Field in Babson Park, Mass.

The Lyons, who are slated second in the most recent NCAA Region II rankings and third in the United Soccer Coaches regional survey, dip to 8-5-6 on the season. Wheaton's win streak was snapped at five straight and will await a decision for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Beavers, who are ranked in the most recent United Soccer Coaches National Poll and tabbed first in both the NCAA's and the USC's regional rankings, extend their unbeaten streak to 11 straight and improve to 11-3-6 on the season. Babson advances to play in the NEWMAC Championship contest on November 4 and will play the winner of top-seeded Worcester Polytechnic Institute and number five seed United States Coast Guard Academy. 

Much like their regular-season meeting, the teams were evenly matched throughout the contest. Wheaton owned a 13-11 shot advantage, including a 5-4 edge in shots on goal. The Lyons were awarded three corner kicks in the opening half, while the Beavers were given three corners in the second stanza. 

The Beavers got on the board with the only score of the match with 22:30 left to play in the second half. Senior midfielder Samuel Kalishman (Clarksville, Md.) dribbled the ball to the top left corner of the box, before unleashing a shot into the upper left corner of the net for his first marker of the year to give Babson a 1-0 lead.

Wheaton looked to respond immediately when first year forward Avery Dinham (Swansea, Mass.) fired a shot inside the box that sailed inches over the crossbar just 41 seconds later. The Lyons continued to put pressure on Babson in search of the equalizer. Sophomore midfielder Baden McLaughlin (Yarmouth, Maine) fired a shot in the 70th minute from the left post that was stopped by Beaver sophomore keeper Derek Polanco (Verona, N.J.), who was making his first appearance of the season. 

Wheaton had another chance to knot the score with 7:51 remaining in the game. The Babson keeper came off his line to play the ball, but was unable to collect it before senior forward Alberto Franceschi (Caracas, Venezuela) was able to get just enough of his foot on the ball for a shot ticketed toward the back of the net. With the Beaver keeper out of the net, the Babson back line was called into action as senior defender Louis Gazo (Colchester, Vt.) was there to clear the attempt and keep the home team's shutout intact. The Lyons didn't allow their host to rest as senior forward Luke Strange (Portland, Ore.) carried the ball into the box, before uncorking a shot from the right side, but he was unable to get the angle and the try went wide of the near post with 6:47 showing on the second half clock. It proved to be the last quality chance of the afternoon for the visitors.

The Wheaton offense was very active in the opening minutes of the match. Sophomore back Leao Nelson (Bar Harbor, Maine) got his foot on a ball off a corner kick, but the ball trickled harmlessly wide of the right post in the ninth minute of play. Strange also put a strike on frame when he fired a shot from the top left corner of the box, but Polanco made a diving stop at the near post to make the denial.

The Lyon defense was outstanding throughout the match, limiting Babson's scoring chances and reducing its shots to strikes that did not pose a threat – sans the Kalishman marker.

Wheaton sophomore keeper Michael O'Gara (Ardmore, Pa.) finished with three saves, while Polanco posted his first collegiate shutout in the biggest match of his collegiate career with four saves for the Beavers.