WATERVILLE, ME (September 30, 2023) -- The Tufts University men's soccer team exploded for three first-half goals Saturday at Colby College, using that edge to hold on for a 3-2 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) victory in play from Sedfjenian Field.
The Jumbos (6-1-2, 3-1-2 NESCAC) were looking to bounce back after a scoreless draw against Wesleyan University on Wednesday, and they wasted no time getting onto the scoresheet as
Ethan Feigin netted his fourth of the season on a nice passage of play at 9:17 of the game. On the play, a through ball down the right sideline opened up the Mule defense, and
Mateo Bargagna was slipped through where he ripped a crossing pass for Feigin who one-touched home for the score.
The offense would continue to come for the Jumbos 20 minutes later, as Feigin was once again in the middle of the action. Feigin picked up the ball near midfield and raced through multiple defenders until he laid off a pass for Liam Gerkin, who ripped a right-footed shot off the hands of the diving Mules keeper and in for a 2-0 lead at 29:40.
Tufts defense held Colby to just one shot in the first half, and just before the break the lead swelled to three for Tufts after a long throw-in. After the long toss from the sideline, first-year
Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das hit a half-volley that was saved off the goal line by Jacob Sams of Colby but the ball was barely over the line before the clearing attempt to give the Jumbo rookie his first career goal.
After the halftime intermission, Tufts actually had a great chance at a fourth goal but
Mikey Brady had his shot saved in the opening minute of the second stanza. After two corners by the Jumbos, Colby came back in transition and netted its first goal as Arkam Traore scored from Eduardo Casanova to make it 3-1. In the 74th minute, Colby pulled to within one as Casanova scored his third goal of the season on a long strike at the 73:16 mark of the contest.
Colby had another great chance minutes later, but
Nikola Antic made a stop on a Casanova shot, and in the 84th minute a header by Lleyton Bristow was stopped by Antic in the final threat by the Mules.
The Jumbos finished with a healthy 12-5 lead on the shot counter, while earning all but one of the contest's six corner kicks on the afternoon. Antic finished with three stops in the contest to earn his sixth win of the season, and Brendan McCarthy made seven saves between the pipes for Colby (3-2-2, 1-2-2 NESCAC).
Tufts will be back out on the road on Tuesday, October 3 at 3:30 p.m., heading to Babson College in Babson Park, MA for a non-conference tussle with the Beavers.
--JUMBOS--
