BABSON PARK, Mass. — Babson College defeated Occidental College 2-1 on Friday at Hartwell-Rogers Field. The Beavers took an early lead with a first-half goal and maintained their advantage with a second goal in the second half. The Tigers responded with a goal in the second half but could not overcome the Beavers' defense. Babson recorded 10 shots on goal compared to the Tigers' three, highlighting their offensive pressure.

Babson took an early lead in the first half with a goal from Alexander Yablonovskiy in the 16th minute. Occidental's Joseph Bassett played a crucial role in keeping the score close, making key saves, including a header from Adam Stetson in the 37th minute and another shot from Lukas Gessner shortly after. Despite the Tigers' efforts, the half ended with Babson holding a 1-0 advantage.

The second half began with Bassett making a crucial save for the Tigers early on, showcasing his defensive skills. Tyler Na-Nakornpanom had multiple attempts on goal, including a header in the 55th minute and a goal in the 88th minute assisted by Oscar Francis, marking his first of the season. Despite several saves by Bassett throughout the half, including critical stops late in the game, Babson secured a goal in the 80th minute, maintaining their lead and concluding with a 2-1 victory.

Occidental Top Performers 

Joseph Bassett  
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- eight saves  

Tyler Na-Nakornpanom  
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- three shots  
- two shots on goal  
- one goal  

Oscar Francis  
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- one shot  
- one assist  

The Tigers fell to 0-1-0 after the game. With the victory, the Beavers started the season at 1-0-0. The Tigers next game will be on August 31st at 12:00pm EST against MIT.