Box Score
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| Connor Brown scored the game winning goal for the Jumbos Saturday |
MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Tufts men's soccer team got back on track on Saturday evening, opening up play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and picking up a 2-1 win over Salisbury at Montclair State University. The Jumbos got goals from junior Daniel Sullivan and senior Connor Brown in the win.
With the win the Jumbos advance to play host Montclair State in the second round on Sunday at 6 pm. The Red Hawks topped Daniel Webster 3-2 in first round action on Saturday.
Salisbury opened up scoring when Dennis Runikera Jr. scored his second goal of the season when he found the back of the net off a pass from Leslie Umanna that Jumbo junior goal keeper Scott Greenwood was not able to stop. Umunna and Runikera brought the ball into the Jumbo zone before Umunna, who was just to the right of the goal was able to pass the ball to Runikera right in front of the Jumbos goal.
The Jumbos and the Seagulls would then play back and forth, both having opportunities to score. But, both teams got stellar play from their keepers, who both made great saves to keep the score in the Seagulls advantage.
The Jumbos earned a corner in the 25th minute that would help them score the equalizer. Senior Rui Pinheiro took the corner, and made a beautiful pass that Sullivan was able to get a head on, sending it into the left post to tie the game at one.
Salisbury was able to then put some pressure on the Jumbos with a slew of corner kicks, but the Jumbo defense played strong, like it has all year, and kept the contest locked at one. The Jumbos and Seagulls would enter halftime in the tie. At the half, the Jumbos had the advantage in shots, 7-4.
The Jumbos dominated a good part of the second half. After putting some pressure on the Seagull defense, the Jumbos took a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute when junior Gaston Becherano shot Brown a crisp pass that he was able to notch into the left side of the goal for his third of the season.
Playing with the lead, the Jumbos relied on their defense, which remained strong and secured the 2-1 win for the Jumbos.
Tufts finished with the advantage in shots, 16-10. Both the Seagulls and the Jumbos each had five corner kicks. Greenwood made three saves in the win, while his Seagull counterpart Drew Staedeli made eight in the setback.
The Jumbos will have little time to rest as they are back in action in less than 24 hours when they battle with host Montclair State on Sunday at 6 pm in NCAA Tournament second round action.
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