Springfield, Mass. - October 30, 2021 - The Springfield College men's soccer program dropped its New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regualr season finale to Babson College, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Brock-Affleck Field. 

The Pride enters the postseason with a 10-6 overall record, while Babson, who was ranked No. 21 in the latest United Soccer Coaches' Men's Soccer National Poll, improves to 9-4-3. Springfield held the advantage in shots, 14-12, and corner kicks, 7-6. 

 Clayton Knibbs (Madison, Conn) locked in five saves in the setback.

Itai Matin secured eight saves for the Beavers in the victory. 

Neither team could take an advantage through the first half of play, howver the Pride received strong chances from Ian Macala (Vernon, Conn.) early as the graduate student put a pair of shots on goal in the early moment of the half. Sebastian Correia (West Warwick, R.I.) attempted to break the scoreless tie at the 36-minute mark, but Matin scooped up another save. At 39:01, Liam Rhatigan ripped a shot that seemed to be their best chance of the half, but sailed just over the crossbar and allowed for the game to remain at 0-0. Jack Rosenberg (Simsbury, Conn.) got free for a shot, at 43:49, that just missed high and pushed the 0-0 tie into the half.  

The Pride received a terrific chance as Derick Arhin (South Windsor, Conn.) worked it to Michael Tocci (Plymouth, Mass.), who bulleted on frame, however was saved by Matin to keep the score at 0-0 at 46:52 remaining in the second half. The deadlock was broken in the 55th-minute as Mitchell Collins scored off a direct kick just a few feet outside the box to allow the Beavers to jump up to a 1-0 lead. The Pride looked to even the game by putting four shots on goal in the remainder of the contest, however could not capitalize on the scoring opportunities attempted.  

Springfield will now shift its focus to the postseason push as the program gears up for the NEWMAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. 

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