MEDFORD, MA (October 15, 2023)—Senior forwards
Mikey Brady and
Sean Traynor had fans feeling déjà vu, as they recreated a pair of goals with Brady scoring twice and Traynor assisting him both times to put the men's soccer team over the top of the Williams College Ephs 2-0 from a gusty Bello Field in Medford, MA.
The Jumbos exit this weekend with a full head of steam following a pair of New England Small College Athletic Conference wins over the Ephs and the Bates College Bobcats. Today, the Ephs put up an impressive fight against a red-hot Tufts men's squad, as they were dead even with the Jumbos in offensive production, each totaling 15 total shots, with three on target towards goal. Tufts was able to produce more corner kick opportunities than Williams, as they finished the game with nine chances from the corner, compared to the Ephs' five chances. Sophomore goalkeeper
Nikola Antic produced three miraculous saves on his way to
the Jumbos' seventh total shutout of the season. An attributed feat to the impressive form of the Jumbos' defense this season.
Jumbos kicked off the game with possession, but the initial moments of the first half were spent between the two teams figuring each other out tactically. Williams would break the defense first with the first shot of the game resulting in a Sam Gibson shot that was deflected out of bounds wide left, putting the Jumbos on their heels early in the game.
It took Traynor ten minutes to find a break in the Ephs' defense. Traynor received possession from the defensive midfield just at the half line. He took an initial touch pass forward to find his supporting teammate in the midfield, and bolted forward to find the through pass wide open in their offensive midfield. Traynor didn't need a second touch to break the Ephs' defense like an eggshell as his pass split the defense to find an onside Brady all alone in the 18-yard box. Brady took one touch to finish the transition attack to put the Jumbos up early in the first half.
After the half, the Ephs were down but still fighting as they finished the initial 45 minutes with a one-shot advantage over the Jumbos heading into the second half.
The second half was an offensive show from both sides, as the Ephs had the green light to shoot from distance, and were able to produce several plays from the wings, some resulting in collisions with the framework – inches from equalizing – however were unable to find the target on several of their attempts.
The second and final goal of the game was once again produced by Traynor, as he took his defender from their offensive third toward the right wing entering the penalty box. His heads-up pass found Brady in enough space between two Ephs defenders to give him enough time to settle it all alone facing goal. His second touch was rifled passed the Ephs keeper with zero chance of contest, as the Jumbos tallied the second and final of the day.
With the win this afternoon, the Jumbos advance to 9-1-3 overall this season, 5-1-2 in the NESCAC as they head into a big week this week with a huge NESCAC matchup against conference giants Middlebury College from Middlebury, VT on Saturday, October 21
st.
Live stats and video coverage will be available at
Tufts University - Official Athletics Website (gotuftsjumbos.com)
--JUMBOS—
Written by athletic communications intern David Cataloni
