NEW LONDON, Conn.—Junior Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) converted a penalty kick in each half to help No. 7 Connecticut College defeat visiting Babson College, 2-1, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Freeman Field. 

Babson, which had won its last three matches entering the day, sees its season come to a close at 11-7-4. Connecticut College, which has lost just once over its last 13 contests, improves to 12-3-5 and will face Bowdoin in next Saturday's sectional semifinals. 

Junior Alexander Yabonovskiy (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) scored his 10th goal of the season for the Beavers, who also got an assist from junior Huey Miller (Gill, Mass.). Sophomore goalkeeper JB Montague (Lutz, Fla.) matched his career high with seven saves in the loss. 

Senior TJ Krongard (Montclair, N.J.) turned away three shots in the victory for the Camels. 

Connecticut College went in front in the 14th minute on Perugini's first penalty kick after junior Max Haberman (San Diego, Calif.) was knocked down in between a pair of Babson defenders trying to head a loose ball on goal. Montague kept the Green and White within one racing off his line to deny a pair of chances in the 17th minute and Yablonovskiy leveled the match with a brilliant goal in the 28th minute, chesting down a long service into the box by Miller and drilling a left-footed half volley inside the right post from 15 yards. 

Montague was tested again in the final minute of the first half and came up with a pair of terrific saves.  He dropped to his knees to deny a dipping 30-yard free kick by first-year Shinya Frank (Menlo Park, Calif.) at the right post and then raced off his line to get a foot on a late chance by sophomore Henry Lester (Southwest Harbor, Maine) before graduate student Albion Bacaj (Chappaqua, N.Y.) blocked the rebound to keep the game deadlocked. 

The Beavers had two quality scoring opportunities early in the second half but Miller's service into the box just missed the foot of a sliding Titus Charles (San Tan Valley, Ariz.) at the back post in the 48th minute, while Krognard came sliding out to the top of the area to get a piece of a shot by Yablonovskiy in the 60th minute. Senior James Modiano (Montclair, N.J.) also missed just wide of the right post in the 63rd minute to keep the sides deadlocked. 

The Camels went in front for good though in the 81st minute thanks to Perugini's second penalty of the afternoon. Babson senior Joao Araujo (Boca Raton, Fla.) slide across the center of the area to intercept a thru ball but Chase Corcoran (Lincoln, R.I.) was tackled from behind by a second defender. Perugini blasted his finish into the upper left corner to make it 2-1. 

Connecticut College finished with a 20-9 edge in shots and attempted all five corner kicks in the match. 
 
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 eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.