Tufts Fights Hard, Draws with Connecticut College

MEDFORD, MA (September 15, 2024) - The Tufts University men's soccer team played in a hard fought scoreless draw against Connecticut College on Sunday afternoon at Bello Field.

The match started with the Camels(2-1-2) establishing control over possession. The Jumbos (3-0-1), despite chasing for a large part of the first half, managed to embrace a "bend, don't break" philosophy to the defense. This worked in favor of the home side, as they managed to get the better scoring chances of the first half.

The Jumbos did a great job at letting the Camels push deep into their territory, while limiting their chances and using their deep-lying position against them. Graduate Student Mikey Brady was stellar in the first half, using his speed to break out of the Jumbos defensive end and lead the counterattack against the away team. Brady would finish the match with two shot attempts, one of which was on target, tied for a team best.

Graduate student Max Clivio worked hard on the opposite end of the field as Brady, holding the line on the defensive end. Clivio was a powerhouse on the Tufts back line, setting the tone with his physicality, overpowering the Camel's offense and providing a much-needed sense of stability under the pressure of the Connecticut attack. Clivio's defensive partner at right back also had a stellar game. Junior Mateo Bargagna was also beneficial on defense, providing a physical edge to the game that helped Tufts pry possession away from their opponents.

Sophomore Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das was a notable performer on offense for the Jumbos, but more so in the second half of play, where he notched a shot on goal. He proved to be the engine of the offense, as he used his speed and strength to break down the Connecticut defense while on the counterattack. He would play the full 90 minutes, joining senior Taylor Feinberg, junior Nikola Antic, and Clivio in that distinction.

Substitute forward and sophomore Xavier Canfin, just eight days removed from his dramatic game-winner at Williams, was a threat against Connecticut in the second half, where he attempted three shots of his own. Thru 60 minutes of play, Canfin probed at the Camel's defense, playing a physical and fast game to break into the penalty area and notch a shot on goal. 

While each team would have their chances, none would come to fruition. For Tufts, a lot of this had to do with the play of Antic, who made six key saves, keeping the Camels off the board. This preserved his shutout streak and extended it to four games. 

Despite the sound strategy and three shots on goal, Tufts would be unable to score come full time. The match ended in a scoreless draw, the first draw of the season for the Jumbos.

The Jumbos will be back in action at Bello Field on Wednesday for an evening non-conference match against Salem State University at 7:00.