With a 2-0 lead at halftime, the men's soccer team came out just as hard in the second half with strong defense and a continued attack to close out Rhode Island College 3-0 yesterday at Kraft Field. The win was a big step toward gaining much-needed momentum and curing the team's tendency to play complacently in the second half.
"I think in some of the games that we dropped earlier in the season we played well, but we didn't play well for the 90, and we were giving up goals in the second half," coach Ralph Ferrigno said. "So I think for the team collectively that it's been a focal point to play hard in the second half, get behind the ball, and make it difficult for the opponents, and I think [in yesterday's win and Saturday's 2-0 win against Amherst] that they did the job well."
The team has been well-aware of its late-game woes, and Ferrigno decided to get the team up and running on the sideline during halftime.
"One of the things we felt that maybe we needed was something to get their heart rate going again before we go out and compete in the second half," the coach said. "So [having them run at halftime] was a conscious decision."
Tufts still appeared to get off to a slow start to the second frame, but everything changed in the 53rd minute when freshman goalkeeper Brian Dulmovits dove to his right to keep an R.I.C. free kick out of the net in what was the best chance of the afternoon for the visitors. From there, Tufts was energized from back to front and set off to put the contest out of reach for the Anchormen.
The Jumbos did so in the 55th minute when sophomore forward Dan Jozwiak headed a ball over the R.I.C. defense, leaving junior forward Mattia Chason alone with opposing sophomore goalkeeper Jadon Neves. The Anchormen, who donned Burgundy uniforms, refused to stay classy, however, fouling the Rome-native from behind to create a penalty kick.
R.I.C. immediately regretted its decision, as senior tri-captain Todd Gilbert buried it in the lower-left corner from the penalty spot, giving Tufts an insurmountable 3-0 advantage.
"The first few games of the season we really struggled in the second half," Gilbert said. "And the last couple games we've come out and posted shutouts, so that's huge."
After Gilbert's insurance tally, it was only a matter of playing out the final 35 minutes, a timeframe during which the Anchormen's primary concern was complaining to the officials. The Jumbos took advantage of R.I.C.'s lack of focus by playing many long balls to create dangerous opportunities in the offensive end, although they failed to add to the margin.
Tufts opened the scoring early, as they did in the win over Amherst on Saturday, as Chason took advantage of sloppy defense on the part of the Anchormen. The junior striker stole a loose ball, moved confidently into the opposing 18-yard box, and slid the ball past Neves for the opening goal, Chason's third goal in two games.
"It's nice [to win consecutive games]," Chason said. "The results are showing from the hard work we've put in. We've always been playing hard in the games this year, even when we were losing. Now we're winning, which is nice."
For Tufts to get on the board early was kind of a big deal against the Anchormen.
"We wanted to come out and put the game away real quick," Chason said.
Tufts controlled the ball throughout the first half, creating many opportunities on goal in front of strong play in the back from a defense led by senior Mike Lingenfelter. The attack was highlighted in the first half by freshman Peter DeGregorio's composed play in the midfield, senior tri-captain Mike Guigli's ball-handling, and Chason's positioning up front.
Lingenfelter did not limit himself to defense, however, as his pass to DeGregorio from the right side started the build-up to the Jumbos' second goal. DeGregorio handled the defender's pass and deftly sent the ball along to classmate Sam James who pushed the ball off the near post and into the net for his first career tally in the 41st minute.
The team's coach and senior leadership were thrilled with the contribution from James and DeGregorio, along with Dulmovits posting his third career and second consecutive shutout in goal, as the freshmen are certainly helping to fill the void left by injuries to senior tri-captain Jon Glass and sophomore midfielder Greg O'Connell.
"We've had a couple injuries, so to have two solid hard working players in James and DiGregorio is great for us," Gilbert said. "Obviously Sam [James] scoring a goal will be great for his confidence, and hopefully it will rub off on the rest of us."
"[DeGregorio and James are] good players," Ferrigno added. "And Brian [Dulmovits], that's his second straight shutout, and that's not going to hurt him either.
"They're all doing well," the coach continued. "I think the squad overall, although we've got a few injuries, even without Jon Glass and Greg O'Connell who are major leaders to the team, I think the rest of the group has stepped it up."
The win brings Tufts to .500 on the season at 3-3, as they prepare to travel to Bates (3-1-1, 2-1-1 NESCAC) on Saturday in what will be only the team's second away game of 2005. Gilbert does not discount the importance of momentum going into this weekend's conference showdown.
"We struggled a little bit at home and we haven't done well against Bates in the last few years, so it's good to have a couple wins under out belt before we head out there," the senior tri-captain said.
