The men's soccer team put a scare into the number-one team in Division III before finally succumbing to the still-undefeated Williams Ephs, 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Brian Mikel's goal gave the Jumbos a 1-0 halftime lead, but the Ephs bounced back with two goals in the second half to preserve its unblemished mark.
With the win, Williams improved its NESCAC record to 7-0, and its overall record to 13-0. The Ephs also extended their regular season unbeaten streak to 36 games. The Jumbos are now 3-3-2 in the NESCAC and 6-4-2 overall.
"The team played really well," Tufts coach Ralph Ferrigno said. "I couldn't have asked for more from them."
The Jumbos came out strong against the Ephs, keeping the ball in the Williams end for the first three minutes of the game. Still, Williams had several early scoring chances, starting in the fifth minute when junior forward Ted Giannacopoulos fed junior midfielder Josef Powell, whose blast from just outside the box was blocked by a Tufts defender. In the 15th minute, Jumbo back Rupak Datta headed another Williams chance away, and keeper Steve McDermid turned back a point-blank header from Eph junior Walker Waugh one minute later.
Consistent offensive pressure is the primary strength of the Ephs who have outshot their opponents 310-106 this season and outscored them 47-12. The attack is led by sophomore forward Alex Blake, Powell, and Giannacopoulos.
"I think number 11 really did a lot for them," Datta said of Giannacopoulos. "He really made a difference."
Tufts first real scoring chance came in the 23rd minute, when junior tri-captain Brad Stitchberry's shot from just inside the box bounced wide left. Five minutes later, Tufts broke the scoreless tie, and became the first team to lead Williams at any point this season. Mikel dribbled around a sprawled Williams keeper Ryan Spicer and tapped the ball into the net for the unassisted goal. The goal was Mikel's third of the season and it seemed to spark the Jumbos, who dominated play for the rest of the half.
In the 38th minute, a ball from freshman Michael Blea set up two Jumbo shots that bounced off the crossbar in quick succession. Sophomore Matt McGregor missed high with another great chance one minute later.
"We went one goal up and had some golden opportunities," Ferrigno said.
Still, the Jumbos headed into the break with confidence. "We were really into it at that point," Datta said. "We just wanted to keep the D strong and maybe add another goal."
When the second half kicked off, the Ephs quickly regained momentum. Powell headed a pass from senior forward Michael Cortese into the net to knot the score at one. Powell's fifth goal of the year came in the 47th minute and brought the Jumbos back to earth. Twenty-three minutes later, Waugh scored the game-winner, drilling home Blake's pass from the right side of the net, and saluting the Tufts fan section as he ran up the field. It was Blake's fourth assist, giving him a NESCAC-leading 34 points on the year.
Waugh's taunt showed how intense this game had become. Four yellow cards were handed out, two for each team, and the entire game was played to the cheers and jeers of those drunk with Homecoming spirit.
"Homecoming does have an effect," McGregor said. "We always have our biggest crowds. It does help you to get up for the game."
Saturday's game was the latest in a long line of close Williams vs. Tufts soccer games. The Jumbos are 0-8-1 against the Ephs in the last nine meetings, and all of those losses have been by one goal. Last year's game was played in the rain and mud in Williamstown and was decided on a Blake goal just 34 seconds into the game.
Despite the loss, Tufts held on to fourth place in the NESCAC by virtue of an Amherst loss to Wesleyan. Amherst stands at 3-5 in NESCAC play, tied with Wesleyan and Connecticut College. The Jumbos' next NESCAC game comes against Connecticut College, and a win over the 3-5 Camels will clinch fourth place in the conference. Fourth place would give the Jumbos home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which start Tuesday October 31.
Before visiting Connecticut, however, the Jumbos will host Gordon on Tuesday afternoon. The Fighting Scots are in second place in the Commonwealth Coast Conference behind Roger Williams College with an overall record of 10-6-0. The only opponent Gordon and Tufts share is Newbury College. The Jumbos defeated Newbury 10-0 in the first game of the season, and Gordon dispatched with the Knights almost as handily, 6-0.
