Men's Soccer Knocks Off Previously Unbeaten Middlebury in NESCAC Semifinals

MIDDLEBURY, VT (November 4, 2023) - The Tufts University men's soccer team will play for its fourth New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title on Sunday after knocking off top-seed, previously unbeaten Middlebury College 2-1 in the semifinals today.

Sophomore Daniel Yanez scored the game-winner 10 minutes into the second half, and sophomore goalie Nikola Antic and the Jumbo defense kept a persistent Panther attack at bay to earn the win. Middlebury had defeated Tufts 3-0 in the regular-season two weeks ago.

The Jumbos (12-2-3), seeded fourth in the conference tournament and ranked #20 nationally, will face Amherst College in tomorrow's NESCAC final at noon. Middlebury, ranked third nationally, dropped to 12-1-4 and will await an NCAA Tournament berth to be announced on Monday.

Tufts had taken a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game on a Middlebury own goal. After a Panther free kick in a dangerous position was defended by the Jumbos, at the other end of the field a Middlebury defender played the ball back to Panther senior keeper Ryan Grady. However, Grady missed the ball while attempting to kick it and the ball dribbled into the goal for a Jumbo lead.

The Panthers owned possession for the next 10-plus minutes, but Antic made a right-leg save on a shot by Will Sawin during a corner kick. For the Jumbos, Yanez fired high on an advantageous free kick 20 minutes into the half.

As the clock wound down under 10 minutes until halftime, Antic would make another great stop on another strong free kick opportunity for the Panthers. Junior Hank Nelson sent in a ball that junior Luke Madden put on goal and Antic batted away.

However, after a Tufts yellow card with five minutes left to play in the half Middlebury had yet another well-positioned free kick. First-year Colin Duggan sent it into the fray and Madden headed it into the far side of the goal to even the game at 1-1.

The Panthers were all over the Jumbos in the first five minutes of the second half, but Tufts would retaliate which led to their best scoring chance thus far. Jumbo senior Mikey Brady was set up in front for a shot that Grady dove to left to save with his arms outstretched.

However, the Jumbos would soon take advantage of their momentum. Senior Sean Traynor took a pass along the sideline in the middle of the Panther end. He advanced a few steps before moving inward and taking a step back to find an open Yanez at the top of the right side of the box. Opening some space in the middle of four defenders, Yanez drove his shot into the top right corner for a Jumbo lead. It's his third game-winner out of four goals total this fall.

Both teams would have additional scoring chances over the remainder of the half, but Tufts was able to defend four corners and six shots by the hosts after the Jumbos had taken the lead to close out the victory.

Middlebury finished with advantages in shots (15-13) and corners (10-5). Antic made five saves in the Jumbo net with Grady stopping four shots for the Panthers.

Head coach Kyle Dezotell's Tufts team will be attempting to win its third NESCAC title in the last four times it has been contested tomorrow. The Jumbos were 2019 and 2021 champs, while the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. Tufts also won NESCAC in 2017.