BABSON PARK, Mass. – Competing in the NCAA Quarterfinal round for the first time in team history, the No. 7 ranked Wesleyan field hockey team was defeated by No. 3 Babson in a 1-0 loss at MacDowell Field on Sunday afternoon. Wesleyan (16-5) completes its 2025 season with a host of records and memories that future classes hope to bulid on.
 
Sunday's Quarterfinal showdown saw the Cardinals fall victim to a first half goal from Laney Reed on a penalty corner in the 18^th minute. Despite outshooting the Beavers 9-3 and generating a 5-3 margin in penalty corners, the Cardinals couldn't find an equalizer and the hosts advance to the Final Four for the second time in three years and third time in program history.
 
It was a dominant defensive effort from both teams all afternoon. The only shot of the first quarter for either team was an attempt by Babson's Carolien DiGiovanni with just over a minute remaining, but it was blocked by a Cardinal defender.
 
Babson found their goal following back-to-back penalty corners early in the second quarter. Penny Baroni got a shot off on the second corner, which was saved by Audrey Pace '26, but Grace Mullaney, who had inserted from the left side, came rushing over and sent the rebound to Reed on the far post.
 
Wesleyan had a pair of shots in the 25^th minute to no avail as Georgia Adams '26 saw her attempt blocked and Emily Smith '29 was denied by Babson goalie Madison Tibbals.
 
The defenses continued to limit scoring opportunities in the third quarter. Babson had a penalty corner in the 36^th minute but was unable to capitalize and Wesleyan's first corner of the game in the 41^st minute led to a shot by Adams but it was blocked.
 
Pushing for an equalizer, the Cardinals had a decisive advantage in field player in the fourth quarter, pinning the hosts in their own end for most of the way and outshooting the Beavers 6-0 with four corners. Leila Feldman '28 had a pair of attempts early in the frame, but one was wide and the second was blocked. Tibbals stopped a shot by Smith in the 50^th minute on a penalty corner, and two other Wesleyan corners were defended well by Babson.
 
Wesleyan pulled Pace with 2:38 remaining in favor of an extra field player, and Babson received a yellow card within the final minute of regulation for a two-attacker advantage for Wesleyan. The Cardinals were awarded a corner with six seconds left and another untimed corner after time had expired, but Babson's defense held firm and secured the win.
 
Among a host of single-season school records, the Cardinals complete the 2025 season with the most wins in team history, most shutouts, longest win streak, and fewest goals allowed while finishing as the NESCAC Runner-Up for the first time and Little Three Champions for the first time since 2003.