Men's Soccer Stymies Babson for 1-0 Shutout

Box Score BABSON PARK, MA. (September 30, 2025) - The number 22 ranked Tufts University men's soccer team blanked the Babson Beavers in a Tuesday afternoon showdown between two regional rivals at Hartwell-Rogers Field as they took a 1-0 win back to Medford.

The Jumbos (6-1-2) took to the match with great rhythm, holding the ball far away from a tenacious Babson (5-4-2) midfield. The Jumbos passed sharply and with purpose as they sought out the weak areas in the Babson defense.

The Jumbos were rolling offensively as they marched down the field with fantastic possession play. They were so eager to score, in fact, that they were whistled for offsides twice in the opening two minutes of the match. Eventually they figured out their timing and were able to win the first corner kick of the game. 

A shot in the 17th minute slipped by the host's goalkeeper but was kept out of the back of the net by a stunning defensive team save, much to the chagrin of the one who fired the shot, senior Mateo Bargana. 

The Jumbos were knocking, but the all-important opening goal would elude them until their tenacity on offense was finally rewarded. Junior Ben Brown, who has dominated aerial battles all season, headed home the cross sent in by freshman Gianluca Fallone to give Tufts the 1-0 lead. The goal relieved some mounting pressure for Tufts, as they had a penalty kick shot saved just two minutes prior.

As they came out for the second half, the Jumbos knew they would have to tighten up defensively to keep a scrappy Babson side off the scoreboard. They did exactly that, as the fullbacks Alex Johnson and Ethan Jett stifled the speedy forwards on the Babson wings.

They still managed to generate some offense, but the pressure was not as consistent as it was in the first. The Jumbos still were airtight on defense, and made it a cakewalk of an evening for senior goalkeeper Nikola Antic, as he once again had to make zero saves en route to a shutout.

The Jumbos would win despite Babson's best efforts, and would ultimately outshoot the Beavers with seven shots on goal to the host's zero. A complete team win will carry the Jumbos down to Connecticut as they get ready to play Trinity College (Conn.) in a road NESCAC game on Saturday at 2:30.