Box Score MEDFORD, Mass – The Tufts University men's soccer team (8-1-1, 5-1-1 NESCAC) completed a 4-0 shutout victory over Middlebury College (6-4-0, 2-4-0 NESCAC) in their Homecoming game today at Bello Field.
The scoring started early when in the 10th minute a ball was played long to Gavin Tasker on the left side of the field. He caught up to it and sent a cross into the box that found a wide open Brett Rojas who calmly tapped it into the bottom left corner of the net. It was Rojas' second goal of the season and Tasker's third assist. They are now tied for the team lead with seven points each.
The Jumbos added to their lead in the 40th minute off a corner kick from Jack Delaney. The kick didn't lead to the goal directly, but the box was crowded with Tufts players who got the ball to Zachary Trevorrow who headed it down to freshman Biagio Paoletta. Paoletta sent a shot screaming into the back of the net for his first collegiate goal.
Just before the end of the half in the 45th minute the Jumbos made it 3-0 when Jarod Glover played one off his chest to the feet of teammate Dexter Eichhorst who took one touch and then beat the keeper to get in on the scoring action.
At the beginning of the second half in the 51st minute the Jumbos added their final goal of the game when Zach Lane found Travis Van Brewer at the top of the box. Van Brewer had to catch up to the ball and was able to get a shot off right in front of Panther goalie Jeremy Yeager. The ball flew by him and into the back of the net to solidify Tuft's victory.
The Jumbos held the advantage in shots 15-3. Middlebury did come close in the 21st minute when a shot was deflected away by Tufts keeper Bruce Johnson and appeared to hit the cross bar. Off the rebound a Panther wound up on the ground and it sounded like the team believed a foul occurred. The ref let play continue.
Tufts led in corner kicks seven to one while Yeager made five saves to Johnson's one. Johnson saved the only shot on goal that he faced.
Freshman goalkeeper Will Harned got into the action late when he came on in place of Johnson. A pass was played back to him in the air and with the pressure of a Panther closing in on him he played it away from danger off his head.
Tufts plays again on Tuesday in a home match up against Mt. St. Vincent. Middlebury travels to Wesleyan tomorrow.
Written by Curtis Stoychoff, Althetic Communications Intern
