Box Score WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The sting of losing to graduation three players -- one a three-time All-America -- who combined for 90 goals and 132 points a year ago, was never more evident than in Wednesday's 10-6 loss to Babson College.
Junior goalie Blake Smaldone (Hamilton, MA) made 19 saves but Babson more than doubled the Warriors' shot total in the Beavers' non-conference victory at MacDowell Field. The win is just the fifth in this 18-match series for Babson (1-1), which handed Eastern (0-2) its second road loss this year.
Eastern turned the ball over on its first seven possessions. Junior attack
Michael Dellanno (Wakefield, MA) tied the game at 1-1 on the Warrior' first shot that did not come until just 5:22 remained in the first quarter.
Babson answered Dellanno's strike with the next four goals before Eastern scored as many as two consecutive goals for the only time in the match. That two-goal margin was the closest Eastern would come the rest of the afternoon.
While Smaldone allowed five goals in the first quarter, his eight saves prevented an early runaway for the hosts, who forced eight Eastern turnovers. The Warriors were held to just one goal in three of four quarters in the match, showing offensive life in only the second quarter, when they played Babson to a 3-3 stalemate.
Freshman
Dane Heckmann (Brookfield) scored three of Eastern's goals. Freshmen ruled the day for Babson, with first-year player Jordan Shapiro needing only seven saves to record his first collegiate victory in his second decision. Freshman attack Jason Cox led the Beavers with three goals, with classmate and linemate Austin Fabel adding two goals and two assists.
Babson outshot Eastern, 59-24 and held a 44-30 advantage in ground balls.
Sophomore
Jesse Schulze (Croton-on-Hudson, NY) won seven of Eastern's eight faceoffs while senior Phil Russo won all 12 of Babson's.
Eastern visits Hartwick College Saturday at 4 p.m.
