The Wesleyan field hockey team played host to Babson College on Saturday, scoring three goals in the first half and continuing its strong defensive play to keep the Beavers off the board and pick up its fifth shutout of the season as the team’s record improved to 7-4. The 3-0 victory not only extended the team’s winning streak to four games, but it also celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month as the team hosted its annual Play For The Cure game to benefit the Komen Foundation and breast cancer research.
The Cardinals took their high-pressure offense to the Beavers from the start, making threatening runs into the attacking end and peppering the Babson goalkeeper with shots early in the game. Wesleyan was unable to convert on two penalty corners awarded just minutes into the contest, but the Cards did not leave the home fans hanging for long. Just 10 minutes into the game, midfielder Blair Ingraham ’14 put a shot on goal from the right side that beat the goalkeeper to give Wesleyan a 1-0 lead.
Midway through the first half, co-captain Morgan McCauley ’12 added to the Wesleyan total, notching her team-leading 10th goal of the season. Fellow co-captain Liz Chabot ’12 assisted on the scoring drive as she secured the ball on the left side on a run toward the goal, sending in a cross to McCauley. McCauley received the pass on the right side in front of the cage and sent in a one-touch shot to double the Wesleyan lead.
The Wesleyan defense held the Beavers in check all afternoon, allowing the opponents only three shots on goal in the contest. This strong defensive effort also set up Wesleyan’s last goal, as Ashley McLaren ’13 stripped the ball away from a Babson player in their defensive end to set up the scoring opportunity for the Cards. McLaren took the ball up the left side and headed for goal, sending a pass into the middle. Taryn Murray ’13 collected the pass in front of the cage and converted her shot on goal to give Wesleyan a 3-0 lead at halftime.
While Wesleyan maintained most of the possession in its offensive end in the first half, the second half saw the teams battle for possession in the midfield. Despite a 27-4 advantage in total shots for the Cardinals, the Babson defense was able to keep Wesleyan off the board in the second half, as the Beaver goalkeeper finished the game with 16 saves. Wesleyan goalkeeper Tori Redding ’13 had three saves in the game and held the opposition scoreless for her fifth shutout of the year.
Saturday’s victory featured dominating defensive play and strong challenges to win back lost possession on the defensive side of the ball, along with high pressure in the offensive third and accurate passing in the attack.
“Our success in the past four games is largely a product of how well we’ve been playing as a unit,” said McCauley of the recent winning streak. “The back line has been playing extremely well together and have been amazing at stopping any opportunities that the other team may have, as well as creating opportunities for us by getting the ball up the field.”
Up next for the Cardinals are important road contests against Connecticut College on Wednesday and nationally ranked Amherst College on Saturday, as the Cards look to improve upon their 3-4 NESCAC record and secure a spot in NESCAC tournament play.
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