MEDFORD, MA (November 8, 2025) -- Junior center back
Ben Brown scored 6:42 into the first overtime period, lifting the No. 1 Tufts University men's soccer team to a come-from-behind, 3-2 overtime win over No. 14 and sixth-seed Middlebury College in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) semifinals on Bello Field Saturday afternoon.
The Jumbos (13-1-3) will now take on No. 7 and fifth-seed Connecticut College in the NESCAC Finals on Sunday at 11 a.m. following the Camels' 2-1 win over Wesleyan University in the second semifinal of the afternoon. Tufts and CC will in the NESCAC title game for the second time in five years, as the Jumbos defeated the Camels 2-0 back in 2021. Conn. College has been in the NESCAC title game in four of the last five seasons, while Tufts appears in the NESCAC Final for the fifth time in program history looking for its fourth all-time crown.
Tufts battled back from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime, and in the extra session the Jumbos earned the golden goal after a free kick opportunity just inside of midfield. Senior
Daniel Yanez lofted a service into the box where fifth-year
Taylor Feinberg headed it into the path of Brown. The 6-6 defender got free for a shot and ripped it from just inside the left top of box off the right post and in for the sudden victory.
It was the second goal of the season for Brown, as he also scored the game-winning goal against Babson College back on September 30.
The Jumbos had to play catch up for the majority off the game though, as Middlebury (9-5-2) had the better of the chances in the first half, eventually taking the lead in the 32nd minute on a diving header goal by Pablo Gonzalez off of a free kick delivery from Hamin Kim.
Tufts had a great chance in the 43rd minute as
Henry Perkins got free in front of goal but his shot was saved by Joey Waterman of Middlebury.
After halftime, Middlebury doubled its lead at 49:06 as Will Sawin snuck behind the Tufts defense and converted a perfectly-weighted ball from Harper Nicholl to make it 2-0.
The hosts would turn up the pressure from that point though, finally breaking through with 18:47 to play in the game as Perkins scored his fourth of the season to pull Tufts to within one at 2-1. On the build-up, senior Mateo Bargnana played a cross to the back post where
Ethan Jett played it back across the goal mouth. Junior
Henry Brown headed it towards the left post, where Perkins pushed it over the goal line for the score.
Less than 10 minutes later, Tufts equalized on a fantastic individual effort from Jett, as he sidestepped a tackle near the right sideline, wiggling free into the middle of the field. Jett found some space 25 yards in front of goal and bounced a shot inside the right post to pull even. It was Jett's third tally of the season.
With under five minutes to play, Middlebury nearly regained the lead on a Gavin Randolph header but
Nikola Antic was able to get a head of his own on the shot to deflect it away.
After being deadlocked in regulation, the Panthers nearly almost scored early in the frame, but Antic made a diving save on a Colin Dugan shot to keep it tied at two. Minutes later, Yanez earned the free kick just behind midfield, setting up the game-winner.
Middlebury held a slight 19-18 edge in shot attempts on Saturday, while Tufts edging Midd in shots on goal, 9-7. Tufts also posted a 6-4 edge in corner kicks, in a physical game that saw 40 total fouls and six yellow cards.
Antic finished with five stops between the pipes for the Jumbos, while Waterman had six saves as well. Jett had three points with a goal and an assist to pace Tufts.
Sunday's final will be the second NESCAC crown handed out on Bello Field, with the last coming in 2017 when Tufts earned their first conference championship.
--JUMBOS--
