The men's soccer team came into Saturday's critical game against Trinity needing a win to stay in contention for a NESCAC playoff berth. Thanks to the career day of a rookie forward, it left in control of its own destiny.
Behind two goals from freshman Alex Lach, the Jumbos defeated the Bantams 3-0 on Kraft Field, breaking a two-game losing streak and improving their NESCAC record to 3-6-1. The win, coupled with Colby's 6-1 loss to Amherst on Saturday, puts Tufts in sole possession of the seventh and final spot in the NESCAC Tournament with just two conference games left.
"Early in the season, we kept saying that if we only played up to our potential, we would get good results," senior midfielder Alex Botwinick said. "We finally recognized our potential."
Action was back and forth in the first half on Saturday, with neither team looking like it had a real advantage until the 41st minute when Lach netted his second goal of the season.
The play originated when senior tri-captain Greg O'Connell hit a beautiful through ball to senior midfielder Kevin Anglin, leading him down the left sideline. Anglin then hit a low, firm cross into the middle of the box where Lach was waiting to finish it off.
At halftime, coach Ralph Ferrigno and the captains stressed the importance of setting a strong tone early in the second half.
"We just tried to play as though it was still tied 0-0 and we needed to score," junior midfielder Peter DeGregorio said. "We've given up a lot of second-half goals this year, and we wanted to stop that trend."
Tufts did just that, controlling possession and scoring the clincher in the 69th minute on a goal by DeGregorio. The junior midfielder collected a pass from Botwinick inside the box, controlled the ball, and then fired a shot into the far side of the net.
Twenty minutes later, Lach iced the win when he out-muscled a Trinity defender down the right sideline and blasted a shot over the head of the goalkeeper that ricocheted off the far post for the first multi-goal game of his young career.
The growing contributions of three freshmen, Lach, midfielder Naji Muakkassa and defenseman Sam Estridge are providing the Tufts squad with new energy and unexpected depth.
"It says a lot about our freshmen that they've been able to come in and have an impact," Botwinick said.
"The freshmen are really showing their skills," DeGregorio said. "They've worked hard in practice and it's paying off. We have more depth this year than we've had in any other year I've been here. It gives us confidence knowing we have a lot of guys who can get the job done."
Before the game, Tufts made a tactical change, moving O'Connell away from his spot at forward, hoping to utilize his size and get him into a more physical role.
"The new formation moves Greg back to the defensive center midfield position, which makes us more solid defensively and helps us maintain possession of the ball better," DeGregorio said.
Next up for the Jumbos is a non-conference game at home against the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday. The Huskies are 8-5-1 on the year but were outscored 9-0 in three losses to NESCAC teams this season.
"We'll take them seriously," Botwinick said. "But it's an opportunity for us to get our confidence up, work on some new things, and get everybody on the team involved."
After its game against Southern Maine, Tufts will travel to Williams on Saturday with a chance to clinch a spot in the NESCAC Tournament. A win over the Ephs, combined with a Colby loss to Conn. College, would guarantee the Jumbos a trip to the conference championships for the eighth straight season.
"Williams is a good team," Botwinick said. "But they're always beatable, just like every other team."
