Soccer squeaks out double overtime win

Returning to the men's soccer team after missing two years, senior Dave DeLuca's double overtime goal helped the Jumbos take down the Lasell Lasers, 2-1, yesterday afternoon. Barely beating out the Lasers 2-1 for their season opener last fall, the Tufts played 103:50 minutes of soccer on Tuesday before finally putting away Lasell.

"It was not much really, the ball came through the box and a couple defenders missed it," DeLuca said. "All I was thinking was putting my foot on the ball and getting it in. I'll be the first to admit, it was lucky. But a goal is a goal."

The Jumbos started off strong, continually penetrating deep into Lasell territory. Yet while they looked like the stronger team in the first half, the team was unable to score. Several times the Jumbos found themselves taking shots that were either blocked or that missed the goal.

"We created a lot of opportunities but were unable to convert," senior co-captain Matt MacGregor said.

Going into halftime scoreless, the Jumbos came out strong in the second half quickly gaining control of the ball and scoring 30 seconds into the frame when junior Alex Berg put one in the net off of an assist from junior Brian Mikel.

Up 1-0 it seemed as if the Jumbos would be able to hold on for the victory, but with 16:03 to go Lasell answered Tufts goal with their own. In the 75th minute, Lasers senior tri-captain Bryan Silviera scored his team's first goal.

Attempting to regain the lead, Tufts took several close shots in the final minutes of regulation and in the first overtime but once again were unable to convert. The teams continued the stalemate into a second overtime where DeLuca brought the game to a close in it's 103 minute with the game winning goal for the Jumbos.

In their second overtime, Tufts once again drove down the field, looking for an opening. After several passes, DeLuca was able drive the ball through the crowd in front of the goal and into the right corner.

The goal was especially sweet for DeLuca who rejoins the Jumbos after missing two seasons. A starter in his freshmen and sophomore year, Deluca took off from school in 2000-2001 and then missed the 2001 season after tearing his ACL on the team's preseason tour in England.

"It feels good to be back out here and playing with the team," DeLuca said.

Despite the close score, Tufts dominating the ball on both offense and defense as it took 31 shots, while holding their opponents to only six. "We need to improve on hitting the targets," coach Ralph Ferrigno said about his team's inability to convert shots into goals.

The Jumbos will need to improve offensively this Saturday when they take on Amherst for the opener of their NESCAC schedule. Requiring two overtimes to beat Amherst 1-0 last season, Tufts wants to end the contest in quicker fashion this time around. For now the Jumbos can sit back and enjoy their sixth straight season opening win despite the hardships that came along with it.

"We shouldn't have gone into overtime but we still got the win. I don't think any coach isn't going to take that," Ferrigno said.