MANSFIELD, Conn. – For a program transitioning to a new system under its first new head coach in more than two decades, facing an established program fresh off beating a nationally-ranked team did not figure to be a recipe for success.

And it wasn't.

Babson, likely to land in the New England top ten in the first regional rankings this week after upending its geographical rival -- No. 21-ranked Brandeis University on Wednesday for its third straight win – pulled away from a one-goal halftime lead for a 3-0 victory Saturday at Rick McCarthy Field.

It was a veteran Babson team which included 17 junior, seniors or graduate students against a young Eastern team which has a core nucleus of 12 first-year and sophomore players and which is installing a new system under a new coach.

Unbeaten with an opening tie and three-goal win in its first two matches under head coach Sarah Tompkins, Eastern struggled offensively against Babson, which posted an 18-4 advantage in shots and dominated with a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks to remain unbeaten (4-0-0) through the early season.

Despite being outshot, 9-1, in the first half, the Warriors felt fortunate to behind by only one goal, thanks in large part to junior goalkeeper Emily Wallace (Smithtown, NY). Making her third straight start, Wallace stopped seven of the eight shots that she faced in the half to keep the Warriors within a goal of tying it. In all, Wallace equalled her career-high with nine saves.

However, the second half was much of a repeat of the first, and the Beavers finally added insurance with goals off headers. Senior Morgan Krauss scored her second goal of the year in the opening minutes on a shot from the middle of the box on a cross from junior Natalie Knauf, and graduate player Claire Middlebrook made it a three-goal differential with 14 minutes left when she converted her shot off first-year player Meredith Greeley's corner kick.

Graduate player Isabelle Lynch's team-leading fifth goal of the season off a thrown-in from Krauss finally snapped a scoreless first 30 minutes and provided Babson with the only goal in would actually need.

Sophomore Briley Harnois (Attleboro, MA) and first-year player Katelyn Herbert (Bethpage, NY), who had combined for all six of Eastern's goals in its first two matches, were limited to one shot apiece, allowing Babson senior keeper Morgan Fedosiewich a easy afternoon en route to her fourth win in net. Fedosiewich has played every minute in goal for the Beavers this year and lowered her goals-against average to 1.00 with her second shutout.

Herbert's shot came on a breakaway with Eastern trailing by one but it was deflected out of bounds, and her resulting corner kick did not translate into an offensive attempt.

Eastern visits Trinity College Tuesday in a non-conference match at 6 p.m. before opening its Little East Conference season Saturday at the University of Massachusetts Boston.