Box Score WALTHAM, Mass. – Christian Zazzali found the back of the net in the 110th minute of action for the Tufts University men's soccer team during a dramatic, 1-0, double-overtime victory over host Brandeis in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Saturday evening.
The Jumbos (3-2-1, 1-0-1 in NESCAC) are now riding a three-game winning streak, as they shutout their third consecutive opponent. The squad has outscored its last three opponents, 7-0, as the team defeated Bates, 3-0, on Sept. 17 and Plymouth State, 3-0, on Sept. 18.
Freshman forward Joseph Braun was credited with the assist on the game-winning goal, as he placed a perfect cross to Zazzali. The junior midfielder proceeded to kick the ball into the wide open net with 52 seconds remaining in the second-overtime session.
Senior goalkeeper Scott Greenwood (2-1-1) posted his second shutout of the season by making a pair of saves. The Weymouth, Massachusetts, native now has 29 career shutouts, which is the most in program history. Junior goalkeeper Ben Woodhouse (3-2-1) tallied three saves in the contest for the Judges (3-2-1).
Greenwood was called upon to make his first save of the contest in the ninth minute, as Judges junior midfielder Patrick Flahive posted a header shot off a free kick. The Judges held a 5-3 advantage in shots during the first half, as they nearly scored in the 36th minute when freshman forward Jake Warren crossed the ball to senior forward Evan Jastremski. Senior forward Gaston Becherano came to the rescue for the Jumbos, as he was able to clear the ball off the goal line.
The Jumbos began tilting the field toward the Judges net in the second half, as they held a 9-5 advantage in shots. Freshman midfielder Brett Rojas drove a shot toward the net in the 62nd minute but it was denied by Woodhouse. The Madison, New Jersey, native fired another shot toward the net just over three minutes later but it was blocked. Rojas had a strong chance in the 77th minute, as he fired a shot toward the right side of the net but Woodhouse was able to get a hand on the shot.
The Judges responded in the 81st minute with a quality chance, as sophomore forward Stephen DePietto posted a shot from 10 yards out but Greenwood denied the shot. The Judges continued applying pressure in the first overtime, with the hopes of finding the game-winner in the golden-goal extra session. DiPietto placed a well-orchestrated through ball to senior forward Mike Lynch in the 93rd minute, but Greenwood came out aggressively off his line and was able to save Lynch's shot.
The Judges outshot the Jumbos, 2-1, in each overtime session. Rojas posted a game-high four shots, with three being on goal, while junior midfielder Tyler Kulcsar recorded three shots. Senior midfielder Josh Ocel posted three shots for the Judges.
Each team posted 14 total shots in the game, while the Jumbos claimed a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. The game was physical throughout, as the Jumbos were tagged with 28 fouls and the Judges were whistled for 16 infractions. The Jumbos were the recipients of a pair of yellow cards, while the Judges were disciplined with one yellow-card booking.
The Jumbos will be back in action on Tuesday, as the squad will open up a three-game homestand when it hosts Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. at Bello Field in Medford, Massachusetts. The Jumbos will host Amherst next Saturday at 2:30 p.m., and then they will welcome Hamilton to Bello Field the following day for a 1:30 p.m. tilt.
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