NORTON, Mass. — The fifth-seeded Wheaton College (Mass.) women's soccer team will travel to take on number four seed Babson College on Tuesday, November 4 in the 2025 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference Championship Tournament Quarterfinals in Babson Park, Mass.
The teams will square off at Hartwell-Rogers Field for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff for the first time this season. The Lyons defeated the Beavers, 1-0, in their only regular season meeting at Mirrione Stadium on October 24 in Norton, Mass.
Wheaton finished the regular season with an overall record of 10-7, including 6-5 in league play to give it 18 points in the conference standings. Babson owned an 8-4-5 overall mark and was 7-3-1 for 22 points in league action.
The game is a re-match from last year's quarterfinal contest that saw the Beavers host as the fourth seed and the Lyons as the number five. Babson came away with a 3-1 victory on Hartwell-Rogers Field.
Wheaton is 6-3-2 all-time in post-season matches against the Beavers and 3-2 in quarterfinals contests.
The Lyons scored the lone goal of the regular-season contest in the 48th minute of play. Senior forward Ali Roche (Maynard, Mass.) played the ball on the left side to first year forward Karina Contreras (Pawtucket, R.I.), who floated the ball over the head of first year goalie Maisie Creamer (Boulder, Colo.) with three minutes gone in the second half. Senior keeper Patricia Bandrup (Poway, Calif.) stopped nine shots for the Blue and White. Creamer turned away seven shots for Babson. The Beavers owned a healthy 26-9 shot advantage, but looking inside the numbers, the visitors fired only one more shot on net than Wheaton at 9-8. Babson was awarded all 12 corner kicks in the match.
Wheaton was among the top-scoring teams in the NEWMAC, tied for fourth with 1.59 goals per game, while limiting opponents to 1.24 markers per outing to stand seventh. The Beavers were a bit more defensive-minded, yielding just 0.76 goals per game to rank second in the league. Babson scored exactly 17 goals in 17 matches to place eighth among conference teams. Within conference play, the Lyons ranked sixth in scoring and goals allowed, while the Beavers were eighth and second, respectively.
Wheaton has been fortunate to have most of its starting lineup intact for the balance of the season with six players starting all 17 matches and 12 players starting 10 or more contests. All seven of the Lyon seniors have been key contributors this season, providing invaluable experience to Wheaton's success. In addition, all three of the Lyons' first year field players have had a major impact on the team as well. Wheaton's offense was led by Roche, who netted nine goals to rank fifth among NEWMAC leaders with six of her goals coming in conference action to place her fifth in conference-only stats. Classmate Kate Wickenheisser (Oxford, Conn.) netted seven markers overall to slot her eighth in the NEWMAC. First year midfielder Kate Rafferty (Westerly, R.I.) has been an exceptional playmaker for the Lyons and has been outstanding from the corner flag on set pieces. She has five assists on the season to place her fifth in the conference. Contreras also added to Wheaton's offensive prowess with five goals and an assist, while starting all 17 matches. Junior Maya Thomas (Goffstown, N.H.) has been instrumental in the Lyons' play both in the back field and its ability to move the ball up front from the midfield. An All-Region honoree, Thomas also has two goals to her credit this season. Senior forward Julia Sternat (Ellington, Conn.) has started all 14 matches she's appeared in, while collecting five points, including a goal and an assist in the team's final match of the season at Salve Regina University on Saturday. First year back Kaydie O'Neil (Sturbridge, Mass.) has routinely marked the opponents' top offensive threats in the backfield and sophomore back Maile Chargualaf (Broomfield, Colo.) has made herself a staple on the backline, starting 14 of 16 contests. Senior back Francesca Freeman (Portland, Maine) has started the final 12 games of the season to solidify a formidable backline. Senior Mia Wolfgang (Holliston, Mass.) provides gritty experience and tenacity in the midfield as well, while classmate Arden Ulmer (Henniker, N.H.) has made her presence felt in the midfield as a starter in the final five weeks of the slate. Bandrup has continued her reign as one of the best goalies in the region, posting a sparkling .874 save percentage to go with a stifling 1.14 goals against average to place her second in the league in both categories. She was even more impressive in league contests, boasting a .879 save mark for the best in the league. Bandrup registered five shutouts for the second-most in the conference, while averaging 7.76 saves to place third.
The Beavers' lineup has also been pretty consistent with nine players getting the starting nod in 12 or more games. Sophomore forward Josie Lee (Duxbury, Mass.) netted four goals in league games to lead Babson and place her sixth among conference foes. She finished with 15 points, including six scores in 17 matches. Junior back Caroline Sutherland (Millville, Mass.) chipped in with three goals on the season, while both of first year back Izzy Lee's (Phoenix, Ariz.) tallies were game-winners. The Beavers have seen three keepers receive substantial time in net this season. Junior Callahan Cottone (Medway, Mass.) made all nine of her starts in the first half of the season and recorded a 0.55 goals against average to go with a gaudy .889 save percentage. Creamer was tapped as the starter for seven of the final eight games of the season and posted a 1.01 GAA to go with a .806 save mark. Senior Cleo Grignard (Red Bank, N.J.) has seen 405 minutes of action this season and got the start in Babon's final match of the year at Emerson. She owns a 0.67 goals against mark and has produced an .833 save percentage in nine matches.
