Men's Soccer Shuts Out Bates For Homecoming Win

MEDFORD, MA (October 11, 2025) - The number five ranked Tufts University men's soccer team played an afternoon homecoming game against Bates College, snatching victory from the Bobcats with two late goals on Saturday at Bello Field.

The Jumbos (8-1-2, 4-1-2 NESCAC) faced a tough opponent from the very start in the number 16 ranked Bobcats (7-3-1, 3-3-1 NESCAC). The visitors were ready for Tuft's high tempo, and answered with some great physicality to keep the Jumbos off balance. The game's physicality was ferocious from the get go, and the Jumbos were forced to defend on a few occasions in the opening phases.

Despite the early pressure coming from their visitors, the Jumbos were able to notch the first shot on goal of the game as Henry Brown had his header snatched up by the opposing goalkeeper George Nassar.

Henry Brown had a second effort denied, and senior goalkeeper Nikola Antic made a save of his own to keep the game scoreless going into halftime. Coming out of the half, both teams ramped up their intensity in both tempo and physicality. Both sides would finish the game with more than 10 fouls as the tension continued to rise. 

The Jumbos were continuing to press on despite the heightened intensity, and built off of their 12 shots in the first half by taking another six in the second. It took only six minutes of the second half for the Jumbos to finally be rewarded for their efforts. Mateo Bargagna was taken down in the penalty area to give the Jumbos a penalty kick, which senior Daniel Yanez quickly buried. 

A 1-0 lead under the belts, the Jumbos now moved with a lighter step as they accelerated up and down the pitch. Their tempo was maintained throughout the entire 90 minute affair, and they would find an insurance goal before the game's close. Mason Shultz and the speedy winger Xavier Canfin linked up on the right side of the attacking third. A wonderful one-two give-and-go freed up Shultz on the endline, letting him cross the ball across the box to an eagerly awaiting Ethan Jett on the back post. Jett wrestled past the Bobcat marking him to tap the ball home into the wide open net.

The Jumbos would hang on to win 2-0, continuing their hot month of October. They earned their eighth win of the year with their sixth shutout of the campaign. All of their attention will now be trained on their upcoming opponent, the defending Division III National Champions of Amherst College. The Jumbos will host the Mammoths in an exciting Tuesday NESCAC match under the lights.