Emerson Soccer Teams Advance to First-Ever NEWMAC Championships

Matt Horan and Olivia Cappoli co-wrote this article.

Emerson Lions continue to make history this fall season: Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams advanced to each program’s first-ever NEWMAC championship games.

Both teams will vie for NEWMAC supremacy on Saturday, November 5. The women (11-3-5, NEWMAC 6-1-3) will host No. 4 Clark at Rotch Field at 2:00 pm. The men, seeded second, will play at No. 1 Babson at 1:00 pm.

Less Drama, Still a Great Win for Women’s Squad

It would’ve been almost nearly impossible to have more drama than the women’s quarterfinal game, when they scored two goals in less than a minute in double overtime.

But it’s still exciting that the women’s team will vie for their first NEWMAC championship after winning 3-2 against Babson (14-4-1, NEWMAC 7-2-1).

Emerson got goals from Yoshiko Slater ’25, Cali Bruce ’23, and Brittney Righetti ’24, and goalie Amara Schaub ’25 had three saves.

Bruce scored six minutes into the match on a free kick, which found net after hitting the left post. Righetti scored 19 minutes into the first half, when she scored her seventh goal of the season on a pass by Ainslee MacQuarrie ’23. 

The Babson Beavers gnawed their way to a tie with two goals, one at the 23 mark and the other 28 minutes into the first half.

Emerson was able to net their third, and what proved to be the game-winning, goal, late in the first half, when Slater scored her third goal of the season on a pass from Lauren Carlson ’25. 

The score remained 3-2 for the rest of the game.

Men’s Team Out-Duels MIT in Semis

The men’s team advanced to their first-ever NEWMAC championship game after defeating No. 3 MIT (8-8, 4-3 NEWMAC), winning 4-3 on penalty kicks.

Emerson scored first with 15 minutes to go in the first half when Jorah Delbanco ’26 crossed the ball over to Thomas Chuaqui ’24, who put the ball past Babson’s diving goalie. Babson would score a goal with 10 minutes left in the half, tying the game, 1-1.

Gregory Kopanezos ’23 scored Emerson’s second goal with 19 minutes to go in the second half, and MIT scored 15 minutes later, forcing overtime.

Two overtime periods were played, and MIT scored six minutes into the first stanza. In the second overtime period, co-captain Bo Feekins ’23was able to knock one in, tying the game at 3-3, forcing penalty kicks.

Each team scored two goals, then Emerson goalie Ethan Fitzsimmons ’26 was able to knock a shot away. Phil Han ’23 and Skyler Stark Ragsdale, MA ’24 scored Emerson’s last two penalty kicks before MIT’s final attempt hit the crossbar to help the Lions lock up the 4-3 win.