Box Score
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Senior Franco Silva had one of the best scoring chances of the day for Tufts
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SOMERVILLE - The #2 ranked Lord Jeffs of Amherst College spoiled the Homecoming festivities for host Tufts University men's soccer Saturday with a 2-0 victory, handing the Jumbos their first loss of 2012. Amherst improved its own unbeaten record to 6-0-0 (4-0-0 in the NESCAC).
Both teams were undefeated in NESCAC play entering the contest, and it showed from start-to-finish. The game began fast and physical and nothing let up until the final whistle with both teams looking for whatever little advantage they could get, especially with free kicks.
Amherst forward Jae Heo (Changwon, South Korea) broke the stalemate with 36:40 left to play in the first half when he took a bomb of a throw-in from midfielder Chris Lerner (Canton, MA) to the doorstep for the tap in.
Tufts was sporadic on offense, taking good chances on goal but never quite finding a rhythm on the attack. The Jumbos had their best chance in the first half with about 20 minutes to go, as Franco Silva (Houston, TX) dove and headed the ball just wide after a beautiful cross to the far post.
The Lord Jeffs found easier routes to the goal, but Jumbo Wyatt Zeller (Sea Ranch Lakes, FL) stood tall in goal. The junior stopped five shots and played soundly in a very physical penalty box on all eight corners taken by Amherst. The Lord Jeffs outshot Tufts 11-5 and 7-1 in shots on target.
With 8:23 left to play in the first half, Tufts defender Sam Williams (Thetford Center, VT) collided with Julien Aoyama (Narbeth, PA) of Amherst at the top-right corner of the Tufts box leading to a Lord Jeffs penalty kick. Aoyama beat Zeller low and right to give the visitors a two-goal lead into halftime.
The intensity didn't let up in the second half, with three more yellow cards added to one in the final minutes of the first.
Tufts had a similar diving header chance to its one in the first half, but the Jumbos continued having trouble setting up strikes once they gained the Lord Jeff territory of the field. Amherst countered with two, late free kick chances just outside the box that were both stifled by the Jumbo defense.
The Jumbos fall to 4-1-2 on the season and 2-1-2 in the NESCAC and will host Bates College tomorrow. Amherst plays at Lesley College on Tuesday night at 8 pm.
Match statistics
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