Men's Soccer Comes From Behind For 2-1 Win at Trinity

HARTFORD, CONN. (October 4, 2025) - The number 18 ranked Tufts University men's soccer team had to dig deep in order to earn a road win against the Trinity College (Conn.) Bantams in a thrilling NESCAC match on Saturday afternoon.

Tufts (7-1-2, 3-1-2 NESCAC) took the game well, as they established their typical sense of dictatorial tempo over the Bantams (3-3-2, 0-3-2 NESCAC) with excellent ball movement up and down the pitch. Senior Mateo Bargagna exemplified the fluid dynamic presented by Tufts in the early goings of the game, making several runs in deep from his fullback position. The senior stonewall pounded the first shot on goal for the Jumbos, forcing a save out of the opposing goalkeeper, Nate Dyott.

The momentum would flip dramatically and quickly, despite the strong start for Tufts. A shot from Trinity midfielder Trevor Saruwaka from distance took a wild deflection off of a Jumbo in front of the shooting lane. Senior goalkeeper Nikola Antic was already moving to make the save to his left when the deflection suddenly redirected the ball towards his right. With no time to adjust, the ball floated into the back of the net for the opening goal of the game.

Trinity was propelled by the fortuitous score. They employed their speed up front to get in behind a bewildered Tufts defense as they looked to double their lead before the break. Their goal would not come to pass, and the Jumbos would find themselves down 1-0 at the half.

Tufts took to the second half much the same way they did the first, but the wind was still fully in the Bantams' sails. They continued to pester the Jumbos back line in the opening phase of the second half, but after 20 minutes of back and forth play, Tufts found their rhythm.

A corner kick from senior Daniel Yanez drifted over the entire group in front of goal, freeing up freshman Gianluca Fallone to work some magic in the opposite corner. Somehow, Fallone kept the ball in his control as he slipped his way past two defenders. A heads-up cross found a wide open classmate in freshman Alex Johnson on the penalty spot, making it an easy affair for the equalizing goal. Johnson's first career goal came at an excellent time, as the Jumbos finally felt the momentum tilt back to their end. 

They immediately launched their quest for a go-ahead goal. It was a short-lived endeavor as the 81st minute saw junior Xavier Canfin work the ball into the middle for an open senior Ellis Denby. Denby finished with a powerful strike into the bottom-right corner, leaving Dyott frozen as the Jumbos jumped ahead with a 2-1 lead.

A desperate attempt to salvage a point was launched by the Bantams in the final minutes, but the Tufts defense held fast as they earned their seventh win of the season in dramatic fashion.

Tufts will have the week off ahead of an exciting homecoming weekend where they will host the Bates College Bobcats for Somerville Youth Soccer Day on October 11 at 12:30 pm.