Tufts Battles Back for 1-1 Draw and Undefeated Season, Eliminated in PKs 4-3

MEDFORD, MA (November 17, 2024) - The Tufts University men's soccer team played to a 1-1 draw with the Buffalo State University Bengals before being eliminated from the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship tournament in penalty kicks, 4-3, at Bello Field Sunday night,

The Jumbos (12-0-6, 7-0-3 NESCAC) hit the ground looking sharper than they had in weeks. The passing was accurate and quick, with cohesion across the field. The Bengals (16-2-4, 7-1-1 SUNYAC) were quick to react to the Jumbos high tempo and electric passing, and sat back in the early minutes of the match, content with allowing the Jumbos to run in deep to their defensive half. Tufts was eager to take this chance allowed to them by the Bengals, and began to shoot with high frequency. The Bengals did everything they could to stop the Jumbos from putting good shots towards goal. Their buy-in and commitment to the team's cause was apparent as the Bengals threw themselves at every shot, blocking many of the Jumbos eight shots in the opening frame. After the first 45, the Jumbos would only have a single shot on goal.

Just before the end of the first half, however, the Bengals would take their chance. Adey Djadou pressed high and deflected a Max Clivio clearance into the path of talented forward Diego Rivera. After seeing little of the ball through most of the first half, Rivera exploded forward with the ball at his foot. He was well behind the Tufts defense when he displayed his scoring prowess. He fired a shot to the lower right corner of the goal, sending junior goalkeeper Nikola Antic diving and scoring the opening goal of the game to give the Bengals a 1-0 lead.

The Jumbos entered the second half with much the same sharpness to their play, strong passing and a stronger sense of urgency led to the hosts putting Buffalo State on their heels. Shots began raining in towards the goal protected by Shae Wirt. In the first 13 minutes of the second half, the Jumbos would attempt nine shots. In the 62nd minute, the Jumbos found their equalizer. A free kick in an opportune position allowed the Jumbos to create some chaos in the Bengals penalty area. Senior Owen Denby nodded the bouncing ball over to graduate student Max Clivio, who took a touch to his right to open up some space. A shot along the turf went neatly into the bottom right corner of the goal, knotting the score at a goal apiece.

The Jumbos knew that a draw would not guarantee their advancement in the tournament, and immediately pressed for the go-ahead goal. Buffalo State had settled in defensively, and once again went to work blocking Tufts' shots. The Jumbos would finish the second half with an incredible 18 shot attempts, but the blocking by the Bengals allowed only four to go through on goal. The scoreline held through the desperate final minutes, as each team sought the go-ahead goal, but neither found one.

The first over time period saw a more fatigued version of both teams. The Jumbos passing was no longer as quick, and the Bengals counter attacks were more deliberate. Despite the fatigue, the Jumbos would see the bulk of the possession. They played smart, knowing their chance would come, but also with the urgency the 10 minute period demanded. Junior Henry Perkins and freshman Will Nicholas each had late chances in the Bengals penalty area denied by Wirt, and the first sudden victory over time period ended with neither team claiming victory.

The second overtime period now saw each side nearing exhaustion. The play was largely focused in the midfield, with the Jumbos unable to gain any sustained footing in the attacking third. The Bengals would notch two shot attempts, but one went wide and another was gobbled up by Antic. Penalty kicks would be needed to determine the side that advanced to the Sweet 16, but the match entered the books as a draw, sustaining the Jumbos unbeaten record.

The first inning of penalty kicks saw Max Clivio and Diego Rivera each bury their shots, the latter with a gutsy panenka. Senior Taylor Feinberg fired a shot that was palmed away by Shae Wirt, putting the pressure on Antic. Adam Webster stepped up for his first action in over 70 minutes and scored his attempt. Alex Wall made his shot in his only appearance of the match, evening the score at two penalties made each in the top of the third frame. Manu Prieto, taking his first penalty of the season, was denied by Antic to keep the score even through three frames. Daniel Yanez was next, and his shot towards the top left beat Wirt but not the crossbar, as it bounced away towards Ounjian Field. Aney Djadou scored his attempt to once again give the Bengals the advantage. Henry Perkins scored in the top of the fifth frame, making it all come down to David Wozniak versus Nikola Antic. Wozniak delivered with an unstoppable shot into the top left corner, clinching the victory for Buffalo State and guaranteeing their spot in the Sweet 16.

The Jumbos end the season with a 12-0-6 record, their second undefeated season in program history, and the best winning percentage (.833) under head coach Kyle Dezotell.