MIDDLEBURY, VT (October 18, 2025) -- The No. 1 Tufts University men's soccer squad won its fifth straight game Saturday afternoon on the road, taking down host Middlebury College 2-0 in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play from South Street Field.
The Jumbos' (10-1-2, 6-1-2 NESCAC) victory coupled with Wesleyan's loss to Bowdoin College put Tufts three-points clear for the top spot in the regular season standings. The Jumbos have 20 points with just one game to play in NESCAC play and lead both Wesleyan and Williams College and their 17 points apiece. Both have two more games left in league action. Tufts did clinch at least a top four seed in the postseason NESCAC Tournament.
Middlebury (5-4-2, 2-4-2 NESCAC) had the best opportunity early in the game, as a Colin Dugan attempt on a header was stopped by senior keeper
Nikola Antic. Tufts first clear chance was nearly a minute later in the third minute, as
Xavier Canfin's header off a
Henry Brown cross whizzed just over the crossbar of an empty net after the Panther keeper was caught out of the net.
The next good chance came in the sixth minute for Tufts, as a Brown header off a long throw-in by
Ben Brown lobbed over the crossbar. In the 27th minute,
Mateo Bargagna charged down the left sideline and nearly tucked a shot inside the near post by Middlebury's Joey Waterman was up to the task. Minutes later, Middlebury had a great scoring attempt off of a loose ball in the box, but a shot by Will Sawin screamed high over the crossbar.
After a scoreless first half, the action would pick up early in the second half in the 51st minute. After Antic collected a loose ball at the top of his own box, a quick outlet led to a counter attack for the Jumbos on the foot of Canfin. The junior charged into the box and was taken down with a loose tackle to earn Tufts a penalty kick. Senior
Daniel Yanez stepped up and potted his third penalty goal in as many games to put the Jumbos on top.
About six minutes later, Tufts nearly doubled its lead as
Ellis Denby had two point-blank chances in front of goal but both were stopped by sprawling saves from Waterman before the ball was cleared.
With 15 minutes to play, Middlebury had a good look at goal off of a free kick by a Hugo Horwitz header fluttered over the bar and out of danger.
The insurance goal for the Jumbos would finally come in the 78 minute, as first-year
Alex Johnson sprung a 5-on-2 counter attack after a mix-up in the Jumbos' box.
Henry Brown charged into the Midd attacking zone before dishing off for junior
Ethan Jett, and Jett unleashed a rocket into the top left corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
The Panthers would have two more decent chances, but neither would trouble Antic as the Jumbos recorded their third straight shutout.
Both teams took 13 shots for the game, with Tufts holding a slight 7-5 edge in shots on goal. Antic finished with a season-high five saves for his seventh clean sheet on the year.
The Jumbos will now look forward to next Saturday's final non-conference game of the year, entertaining Emerson College at noon for Senior Day on Bello Field.
--JUMBOS--
