COLLEGE MEN'S
SOCCER FINAL SCORE
Middlebury 1, Tufts 0
At Middlebury, VT
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Game
Box Score
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Tri-captain Pat Tonelli and the Jumbos nearly
matched #6 Middlebury in a defensive battle
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MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Middlebury men's soccer team, ranked #6
in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)
preseason poll, opened up its season with a win for the seventh
straight year, as the Panthers earned a 1-0 shutout victory over an
upstart Tufts University squad.
The NESCAC rivals engaged in a major defensive battle that
featured only six shots total. Middlebury had a solid scoring
opportunity late in the first half, but rookie Adam Batista was
denied from close range by Tufts' keeper Pat Tonelli
(Andover, MA). That was one of three Panther shots in the
first half, while Tufts did not have one.
The Panthers had a few chances in the second half and cashed in
on Tyler Macnee's game-winner in the 50th minute. He broke in all
alone and struck a ball over the shoulder of Tonelli into the back
of the net from 15 yards out. That would be the game's only tally.
Tufts managed its only shot of the game in the second half, by
freshman Kameron Jaff (Dubai, UAE).
Tonelli ended the day with a pair of saves for the Jumbos, both
in the first half. Ryan Cahill earned the shutout without having to
make a save in his first career start for the Panthers. Middlebury
finished with a 7-4 edge in corner kicks for the game. A typically
hard-played conference game had its share of fouls, with 13 for
Tufts and 12 for the hosts.
The Jumbos open their non-league season on Tuesday night when
they travel to Eastern Connecticut for a 7:00 start. Middlebury
will have little time to rest as they return to action on Sunday at
1:00 when they host UMaine-Fort Kent.
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