BABSON PARK, Mass. – Playing in another difficult non-conference match against a strong regional opponent, the Mount Ida men's soccer team dropped a 4-0 decision at Babson College on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mustangs suffer their second straight defeat after opening the season with a win and a draw, while the Beavers run their record to 4-1.
Trailing just 1-0 at half time, the visitors conceded two goals just 1:09 apart early in the second half. Tyler Carlos (Prospect, Conn.) earned assists on both tallies and was the only Beaver with multiple points in the game, as four different Babson players recorded their first goal of the season.
Mount Ida, who was outshot 21-3, got five saves from starting goalkeeper Mat Pils (Monroe, Conn.), who played the first 68:00 and took the loss.
Senior Jackson Klein (Maplewood, N.J.) made two saves and shared the shutout with Babson sophomore Tanner Click (Lawrence, Kan.), who saw time in the final 6:15 of the game.
Dillon Ventura (Pittstown, N.J.) put the hosts in front just under twenty minutes into the contest when he scored off of a scramble in front of the net.
Senior Steve McDonald (Medford, Mass.) had a chance to put the visitors level a half hour into the game, but his attempt was tipped off the cross-bar by Klein.
The second half had barely started when Babson's Shawn Citro (Oakland, N.J.) got on the end of a ball at the six and finished inside the near post. Moments later, Carlos delivered a perfect free kick into the box that Justin Laurenzo (Park Ridge, N.J.) headed past Pils to give the Beavers a 3-0 advantage.
Kevin Israel (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) capped the scoring in the 70th minute with an unassisted goal from the edge of the box, which tucked inside of the near post.
Babson had a 9-6 edge in corner kicks and a 10-2 advantage in shots on goal. Kevin McKeon (Santa Rosa, Calif.) had the other attempt on net for the Mustangs, shortly after McDonald's effort at the end of the first half.
Senior Joe Casey (Merrimack, Mass.) played the final 21:25 between the pipes for Mount Ida and made one save, while allowing a goal.
Mount Ida will open up their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) schedule on Saturday afternoon when they visit Emmanuel for a 3:00 pm match.
Babson closes out their three-game home stand this weekend with games on Saturday against Lesley and Sunday against Williams at Babson Park.