MEDFORD, MA (December 4, 2025) -- The No. 1 ranked Tufts University men's soccer team continues its quest for its fifth national title in program history this upcoming weekend, as the Jumbos travel to Salem, Virginia for the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four hosted at Roanoke College. The Jumbos will battle St. Olaf College in the national semifinals Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the first of two semifinals that day at Kerr Stadium, while Trinity University (Texas) and Emory University (Ga.) will compete in the other national semifinal. Tufts is coming off a exciting 2-1 win over Bowdoin College in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Bello Field two weekends ago, having defeated Messiah University 4-1 in the Third Round as well that weekend.
Game Details
Tournament Schedule:
NCAA Tournament Page
Friday, December 5, 2025
3:00 p.m. - Tufts University (18-1-3) vs. St. Olaf College (20-2-3)
6:30 p.m. - Emory University (17-1-3) vs. Trinity University (19-1-1)
Sunday, December 7, 2025
National Final
12:00 p.m.
Location: Salem, VA –
Kerr Stadium at Roanoke College
Against Other Final Four Teams All-Time
Tufts and St. Olaf will be playing for the first time in each of the school's histories this weekend, as not many opportunities to take on the Minnesota-based school have come along. Tufts also has not taken on either of Emory University or Trinity University before. The Jumbos have played one school in common with St. Olaf this year, as Tufts fell to Williams 3-1 earlier in the season for their lone loss of the campaign while St. Olaf topped Williams in the NCAA Third Round 2-1. Emory tied with Brandeis 1-1 earlier this season, the lone common opponent with Tufts, which defeated Brandeis 1-0 in overtime in the NCAA Second Round. Trinity and Tufts have no common opponents this year.
A Look At The Jumbos (18-1-3)
The Jumbos come into the weekend as the No. 1 team in the last NPI rankings that were released before the selections for the NCAA Tournament. During the Tournament, Tufts has rolled through the first four games with opening weekend wins over Penn State Harrisburg (5-0) and Brandeis, while knocking off Messiah and Bowdoin College to earn the ticket to Salem.
This weekend will be the Jumbos' fifth all-time appearance in the NCAA Final Four, and each of the previous four have ended up in a title for Tufts. Tufts has also been to Salem before, winning the 2016 title inside Kerr Stadium with a 1-0 win over Calvin College for the program's second all-time championship.
The Jumbos have been a complete team so far this season, as they are 11th in goal differential in the NCAA and first in the NESCAC, outscoring opposition by 42 goals on the season. Tufts averaged a NESCAC high 2.41 goals per game this season, but its defense has been stellar as well.
This season, Tufts has posted a shutout in 63.6 percent of their games this season, while posting a goals against average of .496, the fifth-best in Division III.
Senior goalkeeper
Nikola Antic is having a stellar season, as he has totaled 11 shutouts on the campaign which ranks sixth in NCAA Division III and first in the NESCAC. He also is fifth in the nation in minutes played with 1927, while his goals against average of .514 is eighth nationally.
Junior
Xavier Canfin was named as a United Soccer Coaches (USC) All-Region and All-American for the Jumbos, as he comes into the season with seven goals and six assists for a team-high 20 points. Junior
Henry Brown has scored seven goals this season for Tufts, while
Henry Perkins and
Daniel Yanez each have netted five goals apiece.
The backline has been paced by Bijan Akhartzandi-Das, who was named as a NESCAC First Team honoree and All-Region honoree. He has teamed with
Ben Brown to provide a fantastic duo in the center, while
Mateo Bargagna and
Alex Johnson have been solid as outside backs for the Jumbos.
Ethan Jett has tallied three goals to go with one assist, while
Ellis Denby has been stellar in the midfield with two goals and two assists.
Head coach
Kyle Dezotell is making his first Final Four appearance as a head coach, and the first trip to the semifinals since 2019.
More Jumbo Notes:
- Tufts has won seven straight coming into Friday afternoon's semifinal against St. Olaf.
- Over the last two seasons, Tufts is 14-0-2 on games away from Bello Field.
- The Jumbos are 6-1 this season against ranked opponents in the USC Coaches' Poll.
- In the postseason, Tufts has scored multiple goals in four of the seven games while outscoring teams in the NCAA Tournament 12-2.
- Tufts was honored with five All-Region performers including three First Team All-Region honorees in Antic, Akhartzandi-Das and Canfin while Yanez and Brown were Second Team honorees.
A Look At The Rest of The Field
St. Olaf enters the national semifinal at 20-2-3 with one of the most consistent and balanced statistical profiles in Division III. The Oles have scored 70 goals while allowing just 21, averaging 2.8 goals per match behind a deep and varied attack. Their offense is built around two primary creators: Ryan Bechtel (11 goals, 13 assists, 35 points) and Jack Soares (14 goals), who provide a true dual threat. Bechtel is the team's top facilitator and leads the squad in points, while Soares is the most dangerous pure finisher, generating 62 shots. Midfielders Charlie Piller (6g/8a), Robi Buzakovic (4g/8a), and Ryan Wilson (4g/7a) round out an experienced core that drives tempo, chance creation, and sustained pressure.
The Oles are at their best when their midfield is flowing forward, with Tustin Todd (2g/9a) operating as a key link piece who helps unlock the wings and the box. Kymani Chitulangoma (6g), Abdirasak Bulale (4g/4a), and Riker Doolittle (5g) provide strong secondary scoring that forces defenses to account for threats across all channels. St. Olaf averages 17.4 shots per game and holds a massive 182–88 corner advantage, reflecting how often they tilt the field and sustain attacking phases. Nineteen different players have recorded a point, giving the Oles flexibility to adapt personnel and structure depending on the opponent.
Defensively, St. Olaf has been consistent and resilient. They allow just 0.84 goals per match and give up 11.2 shots per game. Jack Hobday has handled the bulk of the goalkeeping workload with a 0.82 GAA, an .821 save percentage, and seven shutouts across 18 matches. Beckett Carlson has also been strong in rotation, posting a 0.96 GAA and .759 save rate. Together, the two have backstopped 12 clean sheets, with a defense that bends at times but rarely breaks in the box. St. Olaf is in search of its second NCAA title in three seasons.
Emory enters the national semifinal at 16-1-4 with one of the most dominant statistical profiles in Division III. The Eagles have outscored opponents 58–13 and average nearly 21 shots per match while conceding fewer than seven. Their attack is led by forward Ignacio Cubeddu, who drives the offense with 12 goals, 6 assists, and 103 shots—one of the highest shot totals in the division. He is complemented by a dynamic mix of playmakers and finishers, including Lorenzo Avalos (8g/1a), Adeyemi Oni (7g/4a), and Logan Steren (6g/2a). Midfielder Josh Grand adds another elite layer with 6 goals and 10 assists despite appearing in only 11 matches, and he has been perfect from the penalty spot (4-for-4).
Emory's midfield and supporting cast provide consistent balance and depth. Jack Burgess (3g/7a) and Charlie Clark (3g/2a) help facilitate ball progression and chance creation, while Jake Breitegan, Nick Carrano, and Julian Hee contribute efficient, timely scoring in rotation. Emory generates a massive 438–144 shot advantage and holds a dominating 154–38 corner margin, underscoring their ability to pin opponents deep for long stretches of play. Sixteen players have recorded points, giving the Eagles tactical flexibility and multiple scoring outlets beyond their top attacking group.
Defensively, Emory is built on structure, discipline, and a strong goalkeeping foundation. The Eagles allow just 0.61 goals per match and have posted 10 shutouts, anchored by goalkeeper Geoffrey Halpern. Halpern has played nearly 1,700 minutes with a 0.64 GAA, a .797 save percentage, and eight solo or combined clean sheets. The back line—athletic, experienced, and aggressive in duels—holds opponents to 6.9 shots per game and just 65 shots on goal all season.
Trinity enters the national semifinal at 19-1-1 with one of the most complete profiles in the country, combining a balanced, high-efficiency attack with an elite defensive structure. The Tigers have scored 59 goals while conceding only 12, averaging 2.81 goals per game and allowing just 6.3 shots per match. Their attack is powered by forward Samuel Theiss, who leads the team with 15 goals, 2 assists, and a strong .246 shot percentage, including a 4-for-5 mark on penalties. He is supported by Adam Knutson (8g/5a), the team's most active shooter with 77 attempts and six game-winning goals, and Joey Perryman (6g/3a), who provides a clinical finishing presence in the final third.
Trinity's attacking depth extends well beyond its front line. Thomas Kay (3g/5a), Alex Baltov (3g/4a), Max Salinas (3g/3a), and Luke Mayfield (3g/2a) all contribute meaningfully from midfield, while Alex Ramirez (3g/1a) and Julian Lopez (2g/2a) offer important rotational scoring. The Tigers maintain a 362–132 shot advantage and a massive 160–42 corner margin, driven by their ability to create sustained pressure through possession, wing play, and organized buildup. Eighteen different players have recorded points, highlighting the flexibility and unpredictability in Trinity's attacking structure.
Defensively, Trinity is one of the most efficient teams remaining in the tournament, anchored by goalkeeper Jayden Schell. Schell has posted a 0.55 GAA, .735 save percentage, and 4 solo or combined shutouts across more than 1,460 minutes. The Tigers' back line concedes just 12 goals in 21 matches and allows only 45 shots on goal all season—a testament to their positioning, physicality, and dominance in duels. Brandon Gongora (0.75 GAA in 360 minutes) and Luis Yunta (1.000 save percentage in limited action) provide additional depth, but the defensive success is rooted in a structured, experienced back four that rarely gives opponents clean looks inside the box.
--JUMBOS--
