The Tufts men's soccer team netted its third win in a row yesterday afternoon against non-league rival Plymouth State. Although the crowd was scarce at Kraft Field, the Jumbos put on a solid performance to defeat the Panthers 2-0.
The win was welcomed by the team, as it needed a good game to maintain momentum before their next few NESCAC match-ups. Despite the win, everybody agreed that the game could have been easier than it really was.
"I am happy we have won," Jumbo coach Ralph Ferrigno said, "Although we did have good chances and could've put it away earlier."
The game began fast-paced and there was no clarity for either side. The Jumbos played with long passes looking for the pace of their attackers to beat the rival defense.
"The long balls were good," Ferrigno explained, "Sometimes that's what the game calls for."
Tufts dominated ball possession although it lacked clear chances to open the scoreboard. In the fifth minute of play, however, the Jumbos came close to taking the lead as senior Panther goalkeeper, Dan Custace, saved a crossed ground ball from sophomore and Rome native, Mattia Chason.
The long balls looking for the speed of Chason and sophomore forward Ben Castellot up front finally paid off, when junior midfielder Mike Guigli scored a screamer from well outside the penalty area to shift the lead in favor of the Jumbos.
On the score, the ball was cleared defensively by the Panthers after a well-played cross. Guigli found the ball and after a couple of quick touches blasted the ball into the top right corner, giving the opposing goalkeeper no chance to save. This was Guigli's third goal of the season, tying him for second place in most goals scored for the Jumbos this season, alongside Chason.
From that moment on, the game fell into a stalemate that neither team could break. At half time neither team had shown great soccer, but the lead was in Tufts' hands.
The second half epitomized the Jumbos' problems when it came to defense, as Plymouth State forward Alex Marin had two straight excellent chances to level the score. The Jumbo midfielders came to life, however, and finally played the ball to the feet of the attackers.
"It was a good game," Guigli said. "We tried to put the ball on the ground and it worked."
Tufts continued to hold the game back as Plymouth State looked for openings. Tufts' offense showed their skill with great combinations by Guigli, junior forward Todd Gilbert, Castellot and Chason that created unique chances to broaden the lead. However, the momentum shifted to the Panthers, and despite some good plays, the offense could once again not put away there chances.
The game grew dull as the minutes progressed. The Jumbos went back to kicking long balls down the right flank, while the Panthers' nerves impeded them from threatening the Tufts' area.
Finally, the younger players on the field started to take control of the situation and make a difference in the game, putting the match back into Jumbo control.
"We are finally coming together as a team," Guigli said. "The younger guys know where to be on the field."
It wasn't until the 28th minute of the second half that Gilbert put the ball on the ground and found an opening with a seeing-eye through pass to Castellot. The sophomore scored with a strong strike into the bottom right corner of Custace's goal.
Both senior Tufts keepers sometimes seemed mere spectators of the game. Both Matt Sullivan and captain Scott Conroy shared the shutout with six saves to their names. Conroy made his first appearance since Oct. 2, after battling a knee injury.
The game served to boost the Jumbos to a 6-3-1 record for the season, having won three games in a row. The Panthers, on the other hand, now have a 6-4-2 record.
"This is a young team," Ferrigno said. "The more wins, the better."
Surely these wins will help the Jumbo squad face the next four NESCAC games with confidence. The next clash away at Trinity will prove to be a tough test for this young team. The Jumbos will face the Bantams, who have a deceiving 1-2-6 record for the season (1-3 in the NESCAC), this Saturday.
