Field Hockey Rolls Past Babson, 2-0
SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Oct. 16, 2009) – The Mount Holyoke College field hockey team rolled to a 2-0 triumph over Babson College in New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at the Mount Holyoke Turf Field this afternoon. It was the Lyons first victory over Babson since the 2005 season, when they prevailed 3-2 in overtime. They have now grabbed three wins in their last four outings.
Mount Holyoke controlled play from the outset, piling up large advantages in both shots (12-6) and penalty corner opportunities (18-6). In the process, the Lyons handed Babson’s high powered offense its first shutout of the 2009 campaign. The Beavers entered the match leading the NEWMAC in scoring.
Both squads went scoreless until the 31:36 mark, when senior midfielder Peggy Wefald redirected a shot by sophomore forward Tricia Chase over the shoulder of Babson sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Pashos. Wefald’s second winner of the year came off of a penalty corner set. After receiving the initial injection, Chase fired a shot from the right side, and Wefald knocked it in from just in front of the cage.
The Lyons then took advantage of another penalty corner chance to notch their second goal in the 45th minute. Sophomore midfielder Taylor Hedges collected a loose ball at the top of the circle and slipped a pass to senior forward Mary Kate Switchenko, who ripped a shot past Pashos for her fifth tally of the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Gibson made five saves en route to her third shutout of the fall and fifth of her career. At the other end, Pashos came up with six stops for the Beavers.
Mount Holyoke (7-5, 3-3 NEWMAC) will return to action on Sunday, when it faces off against Hendrix College at 12:30 p.m. The match will take place at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, Conn. Babson (9-5, 4-2 NEWMAC) is slated to resume its league schedule on Tuesday at Wellesley College beginning at 4:30 p.m.