MEN'S SOCCER | Aggressive play gives previously 0-3-0 Jumbos first tie of season
September 24Just when it looked liked the men's soccer team would end its latest matchup with another loss, sophomore defender Stratos Saropoulos saved the day. In the double overtime, non-conference face-off against the Springfield Pride (2-4-1), the officials called it a night with the score knotted at one, helping Tufts improve its record to 0-3-1 on the year. It wasn't until 2:10 was left in regulation that Tufts notched the tying goal off of the foot of Saropoulos, who had controlled a header from senior forward Dan Schoening after a Pride miscue on the defense. The goal extended the game into overtime, in which neither team could convert on a series of solid opportunities. With one minute remaining in the first overtime period, Springfield freshman Cody Kaczetow almost ended Tufts' efforts with a blast that went just wide to the right. The Jumbos were undeterred, however, as sophomore midfielder Matt Blumenthal saw the two best chances to win the game in the second period of overtime. With seven minutes of play remaining, Blumenthal had a look at the goal from the top of the penalty box, but Springfield freshman midfielder David Chessen came up with arguably the biggest defensive stop of the match. Four minutes later, junior midfielder Ron Coleman sent the ball along the end line to Blumenthal who was again open, but Blumenthal's shot hit the crossbar in the final scoring opportunity of the game. The Pride had taken the lead in the 36th minute of play when they converted on a corner kick. Sophomore forward Eric Stalsburg headed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net off a pass from junior midfielder Joe Baia. After going down 1-0, the Jumbos were determined not to let another close game slip through their fingers. Coming back with a newfound intensity in the second half, the Jumbos outshot the Pride 5-3 and started dictating the pace of play. Despite not being wholly satisfied with a draw, it was a step in the right direction for Tufts as it prepares to play Wesleyan, a weaker NESCAC team than its previous conference opponents. The team was also happy to welcome back senior tri-captain Bear Duker, who had been recovering from a meniscus tear. "It was nice having Bear back controlling the center of the midfield," Coleman said. "This was the first game we dominated both sides of the ball. Everything just clicked." On defense, Tufts' senior goalkeeper Pat Tonelli only had to make three saves on the day, as the Jumbos' back line showed a marked improvement from its play on Saturday versus Amherst. On the other side, eight different players took shots for Tufts and forced Springfield's freshman goalkeeper Chris Walton to make six saves. "We played with a lot more composure on offense today," Coleman said. "We're definitely proud of how we played." Although Tufts may have been composed, intensity was still high as four players received yellow cards in the game. Defensively, the Jumbos displayed their depth as they held strong despite losing starting junior defenseman Josh Molofsky to a knee injury in the first period of play, forcing junior defenseman Alex Hart to take control of the position. In the face of their fair share of injuries, the Jumbos remain confident as they look ahead to their weekend match in Middletown, Conn. The winless Tufts squad faces a 2-0-2 Wesleyan Cardinals unit that currently ranks seventh regionally and sits fourth in the NESCAC. The Cardinals' undefeated record includes a win over Springfield Wednesday, Sept 16. While the Jumbos may be an underdog based on their record, Wesleyan would be remiss to forget the 2-1 comeback loss they suffered against the Jumbos last year. "Our biggest advantage at this point is that we are surprising teams who have seen our first few results," Molofsky said. "We're flying under the radar." However, in 2008 the Cardinals outshot the Jumbos 12-7 and received 11 corner kicks compared to Tufts' three. Depth will be important as the Jumbos have played two double overtime games in the past week and a half. Meanwhile, Wesleyan's last match was on Sunday, so fatigue has the potential to be a factor. While an 0-2 conference record on the surface indicates a team in turmoil, the record holds little weight when Tufts' past opponents are taken into account. Playing against the NESCAC's strongest teams, Amherst and Middlebury, the Jumbos faced an uphill battle to begin their season. But Wesleyan, which finished with a 3-4-2 record last year, may give Tufts more scoring opportunities than it got against its two previous nationally-ranked conference opponents. "We got our hardest games out of the way," Molofsky said. "We're feeling no pressure right now. Hopefully we'll run the table with our next few NESCAC games."
