The scene that unfolded at the Tufts-Colby men's soccer game on Saturday was eerily familiar.
Just like last year, the Jumbos opened their schedule with Colby, a historically middle-of-the-pack team that offered the chance of an early league win. And just like last year, the game ended in disappointment - in a double-overtime tie.
But unlike last season's opener, a back-and-forth battle that ended in a 1-1 stalemate, Tufts had the chance to walk away with a win this time around. Two first-half goals from senior tri-captain Greg O'Connell gave the Jumbos some breathing room. But Colby battled back from a two-goal deficit to send the Jumbos home from Waterville, Maine with a 2-2 tie.
The highlights came early for the Jumbos when O'Connell put the Jumbos on top with a tally in the 20th minute.
"There was a cross and the goalie mishandled the ball and I tapped it in," O'Connell said. "It was a gift."
O'Connell proved the first goal was more than just luck when he scored again in the 41st minute, giving the Jumbos a two-goal lead heading into halftime. The assist was credited to sophomore forward Dan Schoening, who set up O'Connell's blast with a pass through traffic.
Just as the team struggled in the second half in both of their pre-season scrimmages, it came out sluggish at the start of the half, surrendering two early goals less than a minute apart.
"It was a mental lapse," senior midfielder Alex Botwinick said. "We're actually lucky we didn't give up more goals in the first ten minutes of the half."
"We were just flat-footed in the second half," O'Connell added. "It's disappointing because it's a game we wanted to win, but at least a tie is not a loss."
The Mules' first goal came on a tap in by junior midfielder Logan King in the 52nd minute, on a cross from the right flank. The equalizer came just 49 seconds later.
"[Sophomore goalkeeper Pat Tonelli] tried to clear the ball and their forward deflected the ball into the air, followed it, and then knocked it in," Botwinick said. "It was an unlucky goal."
The Mules controlled the tone in the second frame, taking fifteen second-half shots, compared to Tufts' seven.
The second overtime period was marred by a controversial play involving a possible Colby handball. The play in question came on a shot from senior Kevin Anglin that seemed on course for the net, but the handball was not called and the game ended in a tie that left the Jumbos deflated.
"We had a lot of opportunities in the first half, but now we're just looking forward, trying to move past today's result," Schoening said. "The squad will not have much time to reflect on this game, as tomorrow it will suit up against MIT. The game has two noteworthy subplots, one technical and one more personal.
The first is especially interesting in light of Saturday's defensive lapse: The past two meetings between the teams have seen Tufts leads slip away into MIT wins in the final 10 minutes.
Last year, MIT erased a one-goal Tufts lead in the 82nd minute and sealed the win in overtime with a game-winner from then-sophomore Andrew Bishara. The previous year, the Engineers closed 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to steal a 3-2 win at Kraft Field. The Jumbos again surrendered two goals in the final 10 minutes to let the Engineers back into the game.
The Jumbos also have a bone to pick with new MIT coach Milton Gooding. Gooding was the former coach at Amherst and guided the Lord Jeffs past the Jumbos in the NESCAC playoffs last season in a game that came down to penalty kicks. Nevertheless, the Jumbos believe they have put last season behind them.
"We just want to get a result," Botwinick said. "We don't want to get carried away with thoughts about last year and psych ourselves out. We have something to prove against MIT."
Just like last year, the Jumbos opened their schedule with Colby, a historically middle-of-the-pack team that offered the chance of an early league win. And just like last year, the game ended in disappointment - in a double-overtime tie.
But unlike last season's opener, a back-and-forth battle that ended in a 1-1 stalemate, Tufts had the chance to walk away with a win this time around. Two first-half goals from senior tri-captain Greg O'Connell gave the Jumbos some breathing room. But Colby battled back from a two-goal deficit to send the Jumbos home from Waterville, Maine with a 2-2 tie.
The highlights came early for the Jumbos when O'Connell put the Jumbos on top with a tally in the 20th minute.
"There was a cross and the goalie mishandled the ball and I tapped it in," O'Connell said. "It was a gift."
O'Connell proved the first goal was more than just luck when he scored again in the 41st minute, giving the Jumbos a two-goal lead heading into halftime. The assist was credited to sophomore forward Dan Schoening, who set up O'Connell's blast with a pass through traffic.
Just as the team struggled in the second half in both of their pre-season scrimmages, it came out sluggish at the start of the half, surrendering two early goals less than a minute apart.
"It was a mental lapse," senior midfielder Alex Botwinick said. "We're actually lucky we didn't give up more goals in the first ten minutes of the half."
"We were just flat-footed in the second half," O'Connell added. "It's disappointing because it's a game we wanted to win, but at least a tie is not a loss."
The Mules' first goal came on a tap in by junior midfielder Logan King in the 52nd minute, on a cross from the right flank. The equalizer came just 49 seconds later.
"[Sophomore goalkeeper Pat Tonelli] tried to clear the ball and their forward deflected the ball into the air, followed it, and then knocked it in," Botwinick said. "It was an unlucky goal."
The Mules controlled the tone in the second frame, taking fifteen second-half shots, compared to Tufts' seven.
The second overtime period was marred by a controversial play involving a possible Colby handball. The play in question came on a shot from senior Kevin Anglin that seemed on course for the net, but the handball was not called and the game ended in a tie that left the Jumbos deflated.
"We had a lot of opportunities in the first half, but now we're just looking forward, trying to move past today's result," Schoening said. "The squad will not have much time to reflect on this game, as tomorrow it will suit up against MIT. The game has two noteworthy subplots, one technical and one more personal.
The first is especially interesting in light of Saturday's defensive lapse: The past two meetings between the teams have seen Tufts leads slip away into MIT wins in the final 10 minutes.
Last year, MIT erased a one-goal Tufts lead in the 82nd minute and sealed the win in overtime with a game-winner from then-sophomore Andrew Bishara. The previous year, the Engineers closed 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to steal a 3-2 win at Kraft Field. The Jumbos again surrendered two goals in the final 10 minutes to let the Engineers back into the game.
The Jumbos also have a bone to pick with new MIT coach Milton Gooding. Gooding was the former coach at Amherst and guided the Lord Jeffs past the Jumbos in the NESCAC playoffs last season in a game that came down to penalty kicks. Nevertheless, the Jumbos believe they have put last season behind them.
"We just want to get a result," Botwinick said. "We don't want to get carried away with thoughts about last year and psych ourselves out. We have something to prove against MIT."
