Men's Soccer Moves On With 2-1 NESCAC Quarterfinal Win Over Bowdoin

MEDFORD, MA (October 28, 2023) -- The No. 25 Tufts University men's soccer team, playing as the No. 4 seed in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament Saturday, scored a goal in each half and fended off a late rally by visiting Bowdoin College to move on with a 2-1 win from Bello Field. 

With the victory, Tufts (11-2-3, 6-2-2 NESCAC) moves on to take on top-seed Middlebury College next Saturday in Vermont at 11 a.m., while Amherst College and Connecticut College will play in the other semifinal later in the day at Middlebury. 

The Jumbos and Polar Bears played an even battle the first half with not much separating the two teams. Sophomore Daniel Yanez had an early chance in the 21st minute, but his shot was stopped by Bowdoin keeper Alex Ainsworth. Tufts would finally get on the board in the 31st minute as Mason Schultz worked up the left sideline and fed a perfect low ball into Henry Perkins. The sophomore forward took a touch and fired his shot to Ainsworth's right for the opener. 

After intermission, Bowdoin picked up its pressure but the Jumbos were able to withstand it, taking advantage of a turnover in the back by the Polar Bears to double it's lead. On the play Ethan Feigin picked off a scuffed long ball, charged towards goal and dished a perfect pass to Yanez, who fired home on the near left post for Tufts' second goal. 

The Polar Bears got on the board in the 73rd minute, picking up a foul just outside the box and Felipe Duran ripped a free kick into the top left corner to make it 2-1. Bowdoin had three more shots through the rest of regulation, but couldn't find a tying goal as the Jumbos held on the for the win. 

The victory was the third in the NESCAC Tournament all-time against the Polar Bears, with the series moving to 3-2-1 in favor of Tufts. 

Bowdoin held a slight 11-9 edge in shots for the contest, while each team put four shots on frame and earned five corners. Jumbos sophomore goalkeeper Nikola Antic made three saves between the pipes, and Ainsworth added two stops.