Wesleyan, ranked fifth nationally in Division III, scored 15 consecutive goals during a 45-minute stretch to make short work of its season opener at home vs. Babson College. The Cardinals got 21 points from its starting attack of juniors Russ Follansbee and Jason Ben-Eliyahu and senior Grayson Connors.

Follansbee, an honorable-mention All-American in 2007 and a preseason All-American in 2008, posted a career-high 10 points on three goals and seven assists. His previous high game came last year during a victory over Trinity when he logged three goals and four assists for seven points. Ben-Eliyahu, the team's top scorer (36 goals and 19 assists) a year ago when Wesleyan reached the NCAA Division III semifinals for a second straight season, racked up three goals and three assists, while Connors led the team with four goals and added a helper for a five-point game.

Also contributing a hat trick for Wesleyan was senior middie Chris Jasinski. Both Babson goals came of the stick of junior R.J. Moulton, who has scored four of the Beavers' seven goals thus far in 2008 after notching 16 goals in 14 games a year ago.

Today's game was played on a slick artificial turf with occasional bursts of rain. After moving ahead 4-1 in the first quarter, Wesleyan used a 7-0 run in the second period to assume a commanding 11-1 halftime lead. Follansbee had assists on five of the Cardinals' opening 10 goals, while Connors had a hat trick within 21 minutes of play.

Wesleyan enjoyed a 43-19 edge in total shots and a 35-7 margin in shots on goal. Wesleyan starting goalie junior Mike Borrero made three saves while yielding just one goal in 45 minutes of action. Playing half the fourth quarter, sophomore Colin Campbell allowed a goal with two saves while junior Trevor Adams saw no shots in the closing minutes of the contest.

Babson split time in net between freshman Mike Saucier (eight saves and 11 GA) and junior Max Owens (eight saves and eight GA). Wesleyan is now 10-1 all-time vs. Babson. Wesleyan will travel to Endicott Monday, March 10 to take on the Gulls, currently ranked 16th nationally, while the next game for Babson is Wed., March 12 at Colby.

Score by Period       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Babson College......  1  0  0  1 -  2
Wesleyan University.  4  7  4  4 - 19
 
Attendance: 100
 
Babson College SCORING:
GOALS: R.J. Moulton 2.
ASSISTS: Shane Farrell 1; Jason Wellemeyer 1.
 
Wesleyan University SCORING:
GOALS: Grayson Connors 4; Russ Follansbee 3; Jason Ben-Eliyahu 3;
       Chris Jasinski 3; Jeff Strittmatter 1; Dan Latzman 1;
       Adam Michael 1; Pete Modera 1; John Olbeter 1; Adam Kirk 1.
ASSISTS: Russ Follansbee 7; Jason Ben-Eliyahu 3; Grayson Connors 1;
         Tim Dodds 1; Graham Gnall 1; Alex Kaufman 1; Jon Killeen 1;
         Dan Latzman 1; Chris Michael 1; Jeff Strittmatter 1.
 
SHOTS BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Babson College......  4  5  7  3 - 19
Wesleyan University. 10 13  8 12 - 43
 
GROUND BALLS BY PRD   1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Babson College......  8 10  6  7 - 31
Wesleyan University. 10  9 10 15 - 44
 
FACE-OFFS BY PRD       1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Babson College......  3-6   5-7   1-5   2-6  - 11-24
Wesleyan University.  3-6   2-7   4-5   4-6  - 13-24
 
CLEARS BY PERIOD       1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Babson College......  2-8   4-5   3-3   0-7  -  9-23
Wesleyan University.  4-5   7-7   3-4   0-2  - 14-18
 
EXTRA-MAN OPPS         1     2     3     4     Total
----------------------------------------------------
Babson College......  0-0   0-0   0-1   0-1  -  0-2
Wesleyan University.  0-0   0-2   0-0   2-3  -  2-5
 
SAVES BY PERIOD       1  2  3  4  Tot
-------------------------------------
Babson College......  4  4  2  6 - 16
Wesleyan University.  1  1  1  2 -  5
 
PENALTIES - Babson College 5/4:00; Wesleyan University 2/2:00.

2008-03-08