Box Score
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Junior goalkeeper Wyatt Zeller earned a shutout in his first collegiate start
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MIDDLEBURY, VT – Tufts used a goal in each half on its way to a 2-0 victory over Middlebury in the opener for each squad in Saturday afternoon NESCAC men's soccer play.
Tufts took a 1-0 lead at the 24:54 mark when sophomore Maxime Hoppenot's (Princeton, NJ) shot from 10 yards away was redirected into the net by a Middlebury defender. Neither team had many scoring opportunities in the first session, with the Panthers holding a slight 3-2 shots advantage at the break.
Junior Jono Edelman (Memphis, TN) of Tufts had a nice look in the 56th minute, as his open shot sailed over the crossbar. His teammate Gus Santos (Framingham, MA) also had a chance in the 65th minute, but his shot went just wide with just the keeper between him and the net.
The Jumbos gained some breathing room at the 67:09 mark with freshman Jason Kayne (Deerfield, IL) scoring his first collegiate goal from Santos. The original shot from Santos was deflected away, falling to the feet of Kayne who finished.
Middlebury threatened late in the contest with a pair of free kicks in the final five minutes, but could not get on the board. Junior Wyatt Zeller (Sea Ranch Lakes, FL) finished with three saves in goal to earn the shutout in his first collegiate start. Zach Abdu-Glass made three stops for the Panthers.
In the regional polls this week, the Jumbos were ninth and Middlebury was tied for 10th.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday when the Panthers host Norwich and the Jumbos entertain Plymouth for the season opener at Kraft Field.
Match box score
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Match release courtesy of Middlebury College
