The men's soccer team is still looking for its first NESCAC win after battling to a 2-2 tie in double overtime with Colby Saturday at Kraft Field. The Jumbos appeared to be in the driver's seat when they went up 2-0 early in the second half, but could not hold off the surging White Mules, who forced the overtime period by virtue of two second half scores of its own. Tufts had won the last six straight against Colby, including a 4-1 triumph in Waterville a year ago.
"It's certainly disappointing," coach Ralph Ferrigno said. "At two up, we seemed to be in control. But obviously, sealing up a game is something that we need to work on."
Senior goalie and tri-captain Steve McDermid echoed his coach's sentiments. "It was a long, tough game," he said. "We played well, but were lucky to get out with a tie."
The Jumbos poured on the pressure from the get-go, marching downfield and testing Colby senior goalkeeper Justin Amirault multiple times. Sophomore striker Matt MacGregor appeared to score the game's first goal just minutes after the opening kickoff, only to have it called back due to an off-sides violation. MacGregor poked in a pass at the left post, but was subsequently whistled off-side on a controversial call. Tufts was subject to similar treatment by the officials all afternoon, as their whistles - or lack thereof - prompted continuous frustration for players and fans alike.
"We did have some bad calls," Ferrigno said. "But ultimately, I don't think that it was a factor in the score. One of the officials was a guy who we hadn't had in a few years, though, and I am going to request that we don't have him again."
Tufts would cash in on a Colby mistake not long after MacGregor's goal was waved off as a White Mule defender headed a ball into his own net off a corner kick. Senior tri-captain David Drucker received credit for the score at 5:21, giving him team bests in both goals (three) and points (seven). The Jumbos continued to dominate until the last ten minutes of the half, when Colby started to make some noise of its own. A White Mule shot hit the post with just over six minutes to go, and then McDermid came up big with 2:55 left, making one of his 11 saves on the day from point blank range.
The Jumbos mounted their attack again early in the second stanza, and continued to force the ball into the Colby zone. MacGregor took matters into his own hands once again, storming past two defenders in the box, and uncorking a shot from the right post. The ball did not cross the plane, however, until junior tri-captain Brad Stitchberry put it home during the ensuing scramble to give his team a 2-0 advantage at 57:40.
"Matt did all the work on that one," Stitchberry said. "I just knocked it in."
Colby would roar back in the next fifteen minutes of play, culminating in junior Carl Tugberg's game-tying goal at 73:51. Sophomore Jamie Lue struck first, when he blooped the ball over McDermid and the Jumbo defense at 69:29 to put the visitors on the board. McDermid initially charged Lue, as the forward rushed into the box, only to have the ball float over his head and into the back of the net.
"We can't have a let up," MacGregor said. "That's what killed us, that stretch of time in the second half. For the game, we outplayed them, but it just wasn't to be."
Both teams had golden opportunities to end the battle in regulation, but simply could not finish. Colby's best chance came with just over sixteen minutes to go, when a Tugberg shot caromed off the post. Just over two minutes later, the White Mules were back in the box, only to be foiled twice by McDermid.
The Jumbos then used a Dave Drucker indirect to set up MacGregor, whose shot sailed just over the crossbar with under thirteen minutes to go in the contest. A spectacular defensive play by Colby with less than two minutes remaining saved another potential game winner, stopping a Drucker cross short of freshman Brian Mikel's foot. The Colby defender slipped, but still managed to head the ball away from the waiting Mikel and force an overtime period.
In both overtimes, things were much the same, with more scoring chances wiped out by the keepers. Tufts sophomore Alfred Burris was thwarted by Amirault with less than a minute to go in the second OT, and the Jumbos also failed to convert a free kick from 50 yards out in the final seconds.
"Every NESCAC team is going to come to play," MacGregor said. "We played well this time, but kind of gave it away."
"All games in the NESCAC are going to be physical," McDermid said. "Colby needed to have the points, as they came in with an 0-2 conference record, and they got them."
The team will now switch its focus to Amherst, another NESCAC rival. The Lord Jeffs currently stand at 2-1 in the conference and 3-1-1 overall, behind only the mighty Williams Ephmen.
"We'll have to come out better," Ferrigno said. "Amherst is definitely a better team than Colby."
The Lord Jeffs also boast a number five ranking in the NSCAA New England poll, while Ferrigno's squad did not receive a single vote in the most recent balloting. The Jumbos will come into the Amherst game with a 2-0-2 record, 0-0-2 in the NESCAC.
"Amherst will be a real test," McDermid said. "It's a matter of playing simple and keeping the ball moving. We moved the ball against Colby, but we went over the top instead of through the middle. We need to play through Drucker and the middle on Wednesday."
Tufts is currently slated for a 4 p.m. date with Amherst on Wednesday at Kraft Field.
