WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College field hockey dropped its NEWMAC opener to No. 6 Babson College, 5-1, at Butler Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Blue (1-5 Overall, 0-1 NEWMAC) scored the game's opening goal in the eighth minute when sophomore Claudia Summers (San Diego, Calif.) connected on a reverse shot into the left side of the cage. Sophomore Annika Schermerhorn (Clifton Park, N.Y.) set up the play to earn an assist. 

The Beavers (6-1 Overall, 1-0 NEWMAC) evened the score less than three minutes later converting on a play off a penalty corner. Senior Laney Reed (West Chester, Pa.) was able to find junior teammate Grace Mullaney (Boxford, Mass.) through traffic waiting on the far side of the goal. Mullaney redirected the pass into the back of the goal for the 1-1 tie. 

Babson scored three times in the second quarter for a 4-1 lead at the half. Reed, junior Emma Smith (Kenilworth, Ill.) and senior Alex Michelotti (Englewood, Colo.) each scored for the Beavers. 

The visitors added a fifth goal early in the fourth when senior Caroline DiGiovanni (Harwich, Mass.) notched a team leading seventh tally of the season. 

First-year Madison Tibbals (Gorham, Maine) earned the win with one goal allowed and a couple of saves for Babson. Wellesley sophomore Hannah Simmonds (Austin, Texas) made eight saves and allowed four goals in the first half, while first-year Katelyn Hurt (Carrollton, Texas) had four stops and a goal allowed in the second half. 

Wellesley will remain home on Tuesday, September 24 to welcome University of New England in a 5:00 PM showdown. Babson travels to Mount Holyoke College for a NEWMAC game on Saturday, September 27 at 12:00 PM.