By: Western Connecticut State University Athletics

BABSON PARK, Mass. - The visiting Western Connecticut State University Wolves fell behind, 6-0, in the opening quarter and never recovered in a 24-4 setback against the Babson College Beavers in Little East Conference (LEC) men's lacrosse action this afternoon on McDowell Field.  WestConn loses for the first time in 11 games and finishes the season with a 13-7 record.  Babson improves to 14-5 and will visit Wesleyan in the NCAA Second Round on Saturday.  The NCAA appearance was the second in three years for the Wolves.

Seamus Rooney scored three of the six Beaver goals in the first quarter before senior attackman Julian Duque (Mastic, N.Y.) got the Wolves on the board with a goal from clsssmate Matt Sweeney (Rocky Point, N.Y.) 1:44 into the second frame.  Babson scored the next 12 goals, however, until the Wolves ended a 28:08 scorig drought on a goal by junior midfielder Matthew Maloney (Bohemia, N.Y.) with 1:06 left before the final break.  WestConn junior Tristan McMahon (Farmingville, N.Y.) and senior Peter Traina (East Moriches, N.Y.) scored back-to-back to open the fourth quarter, but Babson scored the game's final six goals. 

Babson doubled up WestConn in shots, 56-28, and faceoff wins, 20-10, while scoring on all four of its extra-man chances and holding the Wolves scoreless on all six of its opportunities with the extra player.  The Wolves forced 22 turnovers but committed 25 and scooped 26 ground balls to 56 for the Beavers.  Wolves rookie goalkeeper Jake Kelly (Bethpage, N.Y.) made 11 saves, while Nolan Michalowski (East Quogue, N.Y.) and Nathan Caldwell (Cranford, N.J.) had four ground balls each, and junior defender James Gitzinger (West Islip, N.Y.) added three caused turnovers.  Rooney finished with eight points on three goals and five assists, and Bennett Smith scored four goals with one assist for the Beavers.  Alex Facilla got the win in the Babson goal with eight of the team's 13 saves.