BABSON PARK, Mass.—Graduate student Kento Abe (Quincy, Mass.) provided a goal and an assist in span of two minutes late in the first half to help 11th-ranked and top-seeded Babson College defeat second-seeded Salve Regina University, 2-0, in the NEWMAC Tournament final on Saturday afternoon at Hartwell-Rogers Field.
 
Babson, which was making its sixth consecutive conference final appearance, improves to 14-1-6 with its seventh straight win while claiming its 11th conference championship since 2002. Salve Regina, which was making its first NEWMAC final appearance, sees its season come to a close at 10-8-3. 
 
Sophomore Alexander Yablonovskiy (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) added a goal and first-year Phillip Finch (La Jolla, Calif.) added an assist for the Beavers. Senior goalkeeper Walker White (Coral Gables, Fla.) finished with four saves in the victory. 
 
First-year goalkeeper Adonis Santiago (Oakdale, Conn.) made two saves, both in the second half, for the Seahawks.
 
Abe, who was selected as the NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding player, opened the scoring in the 30th minute. He blasted a rising 35-yard free kick on goal that went just over the head of senior Lyndon Way (Atlanta, Ga.) at the edge of the six-yard box and past Santiago for his team-leading eighth marker of the year.
 
The Beavers doubled their advantage just 1:50 later when Yablonovskiy flicked Abe’s service from the right wing back inside the left post with his first touch for his fifth goal of the year.
 
The Green and White had a chance to extend the margin early in the second half but Santiago came off his line to make a terrific save on Abe’s shot from 10 yards in the 51st minute and junior Will Lloyd (Lexington, Mass.) had his 30-yard rocket following a corner kick go off the crossbar in the 53rd minute. White was in good position to catch Seahawks’ sophomore Daniel Goba’s (North Kingstown, R.I.) shot from distance in the 62nd minute and then made a diving save going to his left to snare first-year Lincoln Freeman’s (Avon, Conn.) bid from a tight angle inside the six-yard box in the 71st minute.
 
The Beavers out shot Salve Regina 16-6 with both sides finishing with four shots on frame. They also attempted five of the seven corner kicks in the contest.
 
Babson will learn who it will play in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament when the 64-team is unveiled on Monday at 1 p.m. live on NCAA.com
 
About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports.