BABSON PARK, MA – Senior Garrett Bates (Norwell, MA) headed in the game-winning goal with just 21 seconds remaining in regulation to lead the Babson College men's soccer team to a t2-1 victory over sixth-ranked Union College in a non-conference match at Hartwell-Rogers Field on Saturday afternoon.

Now unbeaten in their last seven games, Babson, ranked fifth in New England by the NSCAA, improves to 8-1-1 overall. Union, ranked first in the Northeast and sixth in the country in the most recent NSCAA poll, drops to 8-1-0 with its first defeat of the season.

Union grabbed a 1-0 lead just 4:28 into the game, as senior Matt Wentworth (North Andover, MA) stole the ball from a Babson defender and took it to the left corner. He then hit a short cross to senior Chris Poey (Amherst, MA), who redirected it past Beavers' senior goalie Chris Necklas (Guilford, CT) for the game's first goal. Babson would have three key chances to tie later in the half, but junior goalie Rob Kramer (Westport, CT) and the Dutchmen defense held strong. After deflecting a cross out in front, Kramer made two consecutive saves on point-blank shots by first-year Harrison Heller (Fort Wayne, Ind.), and, after the second caromed out to the left side, Wentworth made a huge block on the goal line off a shot from senior Jonny Hakala (New Ipswich, NH).

Babson finally tied the contest with just over 30 minutes left in the second half, as Hakala beat a defender in the left corner and hit a cross to junior Tim Winn (Sutton, MA) on the far side. Winn then headed a shot over a leaping Kramer and into the back left corner to even the score at 1-1.

The Beavers nearly took the lead with 11 minutes remaining, as senior Justin Unger (Cape Elizabeth, ME) hit a shot off a deflected corner kick that was blocked by a Union defender and cleared off the goal line. Babson then finally pulled ahead with 21 seconds remaining, as senior Chris Schwartz (Guilford, CT) hit a perfect ball up the left sideline to Hakala, who took one touch and hit a cross to through the box. The ball took one bounce before reaching Bates, who headed it just out of the reach of Kramer's outstretched hands and into the back left corner. It was Bates' fourth goal of the season – three of which have been game-winners.

Necklas finished with three saves in the victory for Babson, while Kramer turned away four shots in net for Union.

The Dutchmen return to Liberty League play on Friday, October 5, in a 4 p.m. game against St. Lawrence at College Park Field.

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