MEDFORD, MA (September 19, 2026) – The No. 18 ranked Tufts University men's soccer team played to a scoreless tie in a regular season New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) contest on Bello Field versus the Camels of Connecticut College.
 
For the Jumbos (3-1-1, 2-1-1 NESCAC), this was their first draw and first game being held scoreless of the season. In a game where strategy, possession, and shut down defense were key factors in the tie, neither team was able to find a weakness in each other's back line. The Camels (3-1-1, 2-1-1 NESCAC) held a heavy possession advantage in the opening half, but no threatening scoring chances came of it.
 
The matchup featured just six overall shots on goal from both teams, with four coming from the visitors of Connecticut College.
 
Alex Johnson and Xavier Canfin fired off the first two shots of the game under three minutes into the game, but both attempts missed high. Ethan Jett was the first to test a goalkeeper with a shot dialed for the bottom right corner, but Casey Shea made the stop for the Camels.
 
Marco Perugini was a standout contributor for Connecticut throughout the game, dribbling through defenders, squeezing passes through tight areas, and maintaining possession were major helping points for the Camels. Perugini also attempted the final shot of the first half that missed wide.
 
The Jumbos carried a five to two shot margin lead heading into the break and also held a four to one corner kick opportunity in the opening 45 minutes.
 
Tufts dominated possession and were in the Connecticut defensive end for most of the final half. Ben Brown took the first shot attempt of the second half just under two minutes in, but missed just left. The Jumbos then proceeded to tally four more shot attempts in under two minutes of play, but none of those rips made it to goal.
 
As the play grew in terms of physicality in the second half, William Cornug for Tufts and Thomas Rooney of Connecticut were both issued yellow cards for persistent infringement.
 
The Camels put two shots on goal in the 85th minute, but Nikola Antic made two big saves to earn his second clean sheet of the season and 26th of his career.
 
Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das and Ben Brown saw the full 90 minutes of action for the Jumbos.
 
The Jumbos are back on Bello Field tomorrow afternoon for non-conference action against Thomas College at 2:30 PM.