The men's soccer team scored its biggest win of the season Saturday, knocking off No. 24 Williams 3-1 to secure the Jumbo's first victory over the Ephs since 1994 and keep pace in the NESCAC playoff race.
Coming into their weekend match-up, the Jumbos and the Ephs seemed to be heading in opposite directions. Williams stood in second place in the conference standings with a 4-1-0 record, having most recently dominated Wesleyan 4-0 on Oct. 11. With a 1-4-0 NESCAC record, Tufts was second-to-last in the standings and suffering from a three-game conference losing streak. Moreover, history was not on the Jumbos' side, as they were previously 0-12-1 against Williams dating back to the 1994 NCAA Tournament.
Despite the apparent historical disadvantage and Tufts' lowly position on the conference totem pole, the players approached the contest like any other.
"There was no real different strategy," senior tri-captain Dave McKeon said. "We know we have the ability to play with anyone, and our goal was to come out and put them under pressure early. It was one of the biggest wins of my four years here."
The victory proved significant for the Jumbos as the squad stayed on par with two other NESCAC foes: Both Colby, at 2-4-1 in the NESCAC, and Bates, at 2-5, won on Saturday as well.
"We needed a big win," McKeon said. "It's huge, because if we had lost, we would be alone in last place in the NESCAC."
"It's one of the great wins I've had here," senior tri-captain Peter DeGregorio said. "Unfortunately, it only counts as much as any other win. Our last couple of practices were really good, and we showed up to the game mentally prepared and believing in ourselves."
Tufts benefited from an early score in the 11th minute from junior forward Dan Schoening, who leads the team with 11 points on the season. Schoening took a long pass from McKeon at the edge of the box and touched it twice before beating the Williams goalie with a blast that snuck in just under the crossbar.
"I saw that we had an even number of players up top, and when we have an even number I try and punt the ball ahead," McKeon said. "It's tougher for the defenders to win the ball because they're running backwards. It was a quick counter that worked."
Tufts tacked on a second goal, this time by sophomore midfielder Ron Coleman, shortly before halftime. Coleman used some fancy footwork to slip past a Williams defender on the right side of the box before beating the keeper near post.
Williams put continued pressure on Tufts' goalie McKeon, using the speed of its two outside forwards senior Peter Gordon and junior Pierre Meloty-Kapella to threaten the Jumbos' net. But McKeon, who had nine saves on the day, and the rest of the defense were up to the challenge.
"We didn't want to let them gain any momentum, and [junior] Ari [Kobren] and [freshman] Rafa [Ramos-Meyer] did a great job containing their speed on the outside," DeGregorio said.
Sophomore Mike Fitzgerald helped stretch Tufts' lead to 3-0 in the 88th minute off a through-ball from DeGregorio for his second assist of the game. Williams only just got on the board one minute later, when sophomore midfielder Colin Ainsworth scored off a rebound from a McKeon save.
Tufts appeared to have benefited offensively from the season debut of DeGregorio as a midfielder. The senior, who had been playing on the defensive line, was a central playmaker for the Jumbos.
"Because of injuries, it's been difficult to form a set lineup this year," DeGregorio said. "I've played most of my career at midfielder and that's where I feel most comfortable."
The Jumbos will have little time to celebrate though. With just three conference games remaining, the squad will host a crucial game tomorrow night against Wesleyan, which is currently in sixth place in the standings with a record of 2-2-2. Last year, the Jumbos fell 2-0 to the Cardinals on the road.
"We can't rest on the laurels from this game," McKeon said. "Tomorrow at practice we'll start concentrating on Wesleyan. We can't harp on this win for too long because we have to come out against them and take care of business."
