LEWISTON, ME (October 12, 2024) - The number three ranked Tufts University men's soccer team played a gritty match against the Bates College Bobcats at Russell Street Track and Field on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Bobcats 1-0.
The Jumbos (9-0-2, 6-0-1 NESCAC) were quick to set the tone against the Bobcats (6-5-1, 2-4-1 NESCAC). They marched down the field and earned a corner kick in the first five minutes. Senior
Ethan Feigin notched the first shot of the game, using his speed to get in behind the Bates defense. Speed was a key factor for the Jumbos throughout the game, as they used it to great success on the wings. The Jumbos midfield bore a heavy load, as they plugged up the middle of the pitch to repel any Bobcat advances. Junior
Daniel Yanez was dynamic from his midfield position, notching two shots in the first 20 minutes of play.
Yanez would be denied by a tough center back pairing for the Bobcats. They put their bodies on the line as they stood in front of both of the visitors' attempts to block them out of bounds. The Jumbos were excellent all over the pitch, the Bobcats just barely hanging on by some selfless play by the Bates back line.
The Bobcats managed to engineer some scoring chances of their own, none better than a shot in the 20th minute. Following an out-swinging corner kick, the ball was jammed into a mass of several scrambling bodies. A Bobcat found a window and rifled a shot towards goal at point blank range, where it was subsequently denied by goalkeeper
Nikola Antic. The junior's incredible reflexes kept the home side off the board, and kept the match scoreless going into half time.
The chances continued to come for the Jumbos in the second half, as they continued to display not only impressive speed but impressive depth, with substitute forwards
Xavier Canfin and
Henry Perkins each playing solid minutes in the second frame. The Jumbos would be more selective with their shooting in the second frame, tallying only one shot. That shot would prove to be crucial.
The lone second half shot came off of the head of senior defender
Taylor Feinberg, who rose above everyone else in the penalty area, flicking a shot to the opposite post to score.
Liam Gerken earned the assist off of the corner kick delivery, and Feinberg scored his second goal of the season to give the Jumbos a 1-0 lead.
The remaining 20 minutes saw the Bobcats become desperate for an equalizing score. They gave it everything they had, but a solid defensive performance from Feinberg, graduate student
Max Clivio, junior
Mateo Bargagna and senior
Owen Denby limited the hosts to only one attempted shot, which went well off target.
The Jumbos would see the match out with little incident as they continued their unbeaten streak, extending it to 11 games. They currently sit in first place in the NESCAC with 19 points, two points ahead of second place Middlebury. The Jumbos 11 game stretch is their best start to the season since a 12 game unbeaten run to start the 2021-22 season.
The Jumbos have a quick turnaround before heading to Amherst College for a road NESCAC match against the Mammoths on Tuesday at 3:30 PM.
--JUMBOS--
