Box Score MEDFORD, Mass. – The Tufts University men's soccer team received goals from five different players Wednesday, as the Jumbos defeated visiting Keene State, 5-1, in a non-conference game at Bello Field in Medford, Massachusetts.
The Jumbos (8-3-2, 5-1-2 in NESCAC) increased their undefeated streak to six games. The squad has been unbeaten in nine of 10 games, dating back to Sept. 17. The Jumbos currently sit in second place with 17 points in the NESCAC standings, with two games remaining on their conference schedule. No. 5 Amherst currently sits in first place with 19 points, while Williams sits in third place with 16 points.
The Jumbos opened the scoring during the 24th minute, as junior midfielder Kevin Halliday scored his first collegiate goal assisted by senior forward Gaston Becherano. The Jumbos extended their lead to 2-0 in the 31st minute, when freshman midfielder/forward Gavin Tasker netted a header goal off a cross from the right side by sophomore back Sterling Weatherbie. The goal was the first of Tasker's collegiate career.
The Owls (8-6-1, 3-2-0 in Little East) made the game a one-goal contest heading into intermission, as senior midfielder Conor Leahy posted a header goal off a free kick from junior back William Salta in the 40th minute. The tally was the fourth of the season for Leahy.
The Owls attempted to net the equalizer during the 51st minute, when sophomore forward Samuel Binogono fired a shot on net, but it was turned aside by Jumbos senior goalkeeper Scott Greenwood. The Jumbos controlled the second half from a possession and territorial-advantage standpoint, as they outscored the Owls, 3-0.
Becherano gave the Jumbos a 3-1 lead in the 52nd minute, when he netted his team-leading 10th goal of the season off a rebound from a shot by junior midfielder Dexter Eichhorst. Junior back Conor Coleman netted his first goal of the season, when he recorded a header goal in the 61st minute off a corner kick by senior midfielder Kevin Lawson.
Senior Nathan Majumder ended the scoring in the 74th minute, as the captain found the back of the net, for the second time this season, assisted by freshman midfielder Brett Rojas.
Greenwood (7-2-1) made three saves in the contest to earn the victory. Junior goalkeeper Jason Smith (7-5-1) made 10 saves for the Owls, as he was tagged with the loss.
Sophomore goalkeeper Conner Mieth made his collegiate debut for the Jumbos and posted one save in relief, as he played the final 18 minutes, 51 seconds of the game. The Montclair, New Jersey, native made a save on a free-kick shot by Leahy in the final minute.
The Jumbos outshot the Owls, 33-11, during the game, while holding a 15-5 advantage in shots on goal. The Jumbos attempted seven corner kicks during the game and committed 17 fouls. The Owls were guilty of 11 infractions. Majumder posted five shots for the Jumbos, with two being on goal, while Leahy recorded five shots, with three being on target for the Owls.
The Jumbos final regular-season home game will be on Saturday against Williams at 2:30 p.m at Bello Field. The Jumbos will honor their six seniors prior to the contest, which includes captain/midfielder Zach Halliday, Becherano, Lawson, back Daniel Sullivan, Majumder and Greenwood. The squad will compete in its 2016 regular-season finale Tuesday at Bowdoin in Brunswick, Maine, at 2:30 p.m.
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