BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to regional rival Babson College in the season opener for both teams on Tuesday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
Sophomore Kelsey Ford (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) scored 26 seconds into the contest and first-year Jessica DeLuca (Sudbury, Mass.) notched her first career goal in the 50th minute to pace the host Beavers.
Juniors Taylor Goldsborough (Williston, Vt.) and Marissa Endow (Worcester, Mass.), and freshman Kathryn Clark (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) all finished with one assist apiece for the Beavers. Freshman goalkeeper Elizabeth Mycock (Windham, Maine) did not have to make a save to record her first career shutout.
Babson (1-0-0) had the ball to open the game and wasted little time scoring its first goal of the year. After playing the ball down the left sideline, Clark gained control and sent a cross into the box for Ford, who volleyed it home for a 1-0 lead. The Green and White nearly extended the lead late in the opening stanza but Bridgewater State (0-1-0) sophomore goalkeeper Lauren DeSousa (Taunton, Mass.) denied Beavers' freshman Jessica Fernandes' (Pawtucket, R.I.) strike from the top of the box in the 40th minute.
DeSousa made another save on Fernandes in the opening minute of the second half before Babson doubled its advantage. Goldsborough played a ball wide down the right side for Endow, whose cross bounced inside the six-yard box to setup DeLuca's finish at the 49:47 mark.
The Beavers continued to pressure throughout the second half but were unable to add to their lead thanks in large part to DeSousa, who made five of her seven saves over the final 45 minutes. She made a diving stop to deny a shot by Babson freshman Emma Dineen (Hinsdale, Ill.) in the 53rd minute and later tipped a 20-yard blast by rookie Jenna Blouin (Westford, Mass.) off the crossbar before gathering the ball.
The Green and White outshot the Bears 23-0 and held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Both teams return to action on Saturday as Babson hosts Lesley at 2:30 p.m., while Bridgewater State welcomes Wheaton to campus for its home opener at 1 p.m.