Box Score 
MEDFORD – The Tufts University men's soccer team defeated the Middlebury College Panthers in a NESCAC Championship Semifinal at Connecticut College by a score of 1-0 on Saturday to advance to the Championship game.
The lone goal of the game came off the foot of Jumbo freshman Ethan Feigin (pictured) in the 35th minute for his first career goal.
Third-seed Tufts and fourth-seed Middlebury have been two of the top defenses in the NESCAC this season with Middlebury leading the conference in goals allowed with just six and Tufts right behind them with seven. That showed for the majority of the first half, as it was a defensive standoff with not many scoring chances for either team. Middlebury seemed to have the immediate possession advantage and had the first opportunity in the 20th minute when sophomore Jordan Saint-Louis fired a shot from the left side of the box towards the left post that was saved by Tufts goalie Erik Lauta.
The Jumbos had the next two chances in the first half with the first coming in the 24th minute when sophomore Max Clivio tapped the ball to Mikey Brady in the box, giving Brady a clear shot, but it was sent wide left of the goal. Not long after, freshman Anthony Bhangdia took a hard shot at Middlebury goalie Ryan Grady who made the save, but left a rebound in front of the net that Feigin charged towards and fired into the back of the net for a goal that would end up being the difference. Saint-Louis finished off the first half with another chance to put Middlebury on the board when he fired a free kick from right outside the box towards the top of the goal that was punched over the crossbar by a diving Lauta.
Much like the first half, Middlebury started off the second half dominating the possession as well as scoring chances, including one just nine minutes into the half when a cross was sent into the box that found the head of senior Brandon Reid who sent it just high of the goal. The theme of the game continued to be defense as the scoring chances were limited for both teams until the 66th minute when Middlebury senior Andriy Proctor took an open shot from the left side of the box that sailed just high of the crossbar. Just under four minutes later, a corner kick found the head of Middlebury's Aiden Pape that was also sent high.
The best chance of the game for the Panthers came with nine minutes left when junior Liam Sloan collected a long throw-in into the box and fired a rocket of a shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced straight down, but just in front of the goal line before being cleared by the Jumbos. The Panthers would finish the game with one more opportunity in the 84th minute when freshman Casey Lund sent a cross to fellow freshman Aiden Pape right in front of the net who headed a shot that Lauta quickly reacted to and saved. There were no opportunities for the remainder of the match as the game ended 1-0 in favor of Tufts.
Middlebury had the edge in shots with 20 compared to Tufts' 14. They also led in corner kicks as they finished with five while Tufts had three. Tufts' Lauta made five saves throughout the game while Grady made two in the Panther net.
This victory gives the Jumbos a 12-1-3 overall record on the year and sends them to their second straight NESCAC Championship game on Sunday and their third in the last four seasons. The loss for Middlebury brings them to a 10-4-3 overall record and eliminates them from the NESCAC Tournament.
Tufts will play host Connecticut College on Sunday in the NESCAC Championship at 12 PM.
Written by Tim O'Brien, Athletic Communications Intern
