Box Score MEDFORD, Mass. – The seventh-seeded Bowdoin College men's soccer team used two goals in the first 11 minutes to defeat second-seeded Tufts University, 2-1, in the quarterfinal round of the NESCAC Tournament on Saturday at Bello Field in Medford, Massachusetts.
|
| Gavin Tasker posted his second goal of the season in the 43rd minute. |
The Polar Bears will play top-seeded Amherst in the semifinal round of the conference tournament next Saturday in Amherst, Massachusetts. No. 19 Tufts will now wait to hear if it is earns an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.
Senior forward Cedric Charlier opened the scoring for the Polar Bears (9-3-4, 4-3-3 in NESCAC) in the seventh minute. The Baltimore, Maryland, native posted a shot that was saved by Jumbos senior goalkeeper Scott Greenwood (8-4-1), and then he fired the rebound into the back of the net.
The Polar Bears were awarded a penalty kick in the ninth minute, but Greenwood made a sensational stop on junior midfielder Ethan Ellsworth's shot. The Polar Bears kept up the pressure, and extended their lead to 2-0, when senior midfielder Matt Dias Costa recorded a header goal off a cross by sophomore back Matty McColl during the 11th minute.
The Jumbos (9-5-2, 6-2-2 in NESCAC) tried to make the game a one-goal contest in the 31st minute, but senior forward Gaston Becherano's header shot was saved by senior goalkeeper Noah Safian (5-0-1). Freshman midfielder/forward Gavin Tasker found the back of the net for the second time this season in the 43rd minute, trimming the deficit to 2-1 heading into intermission.
The Polar Bears outshot the Jumbos, 10-6, in the opening half, while each team attempted two corner kicks. Bowdoin was whistled for 11 fouls and Tufts was guilty of seven infractions.
The Jumbos came out with a great deal of energy in the second half, as they claimed a 12-1 advantage in shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks. The Jumbos controlled the second half in terms of territorial advantage and possession, but the Polar Bears played strong defense in front of their goal, blocking a large amount of shots.
The Jumbos fired three shots during the opening 10 minutes of the half, including a drive by senior midfielder Kevin Lawson that was stopped by Safian. In the 73rd minute, the Polar Bears posted a team save, as a player cleared junior midfielder Christian Zazzali's header shot from in front of the goal.
The Jumbos received a pair of corner kicks in the 77th minute, and then junior back Stephen McMillian fired a shot, which went wide left in the 80th minute. Becherano fired back-to-back shots in the 84th and 85th minutes, but neither attempt was on target.
Freshman forward Joseph Braun's shot in the 87th minute was blocked. Then, McMillian fired a dangerous shot, but Safian responded with a remarkable diving save, preserving the one-goal advantage for the Polar Bears.
Safian and Greenwood each registered four saves in the contest. Becherano posted a game-high eight shots, while Ellsworth posted a team-high three shots, with all of them being on goal for the Polar Bears.
#
