The men's soccer team snapped its three-game losing streak on Saturday at Hamilton College, grinding out a 1-0 victory in difficult conditions and in the process handing out Hamilton's first loss at home since Oct. 9, 2012.
Two of the Jumbos' previous three losses came despite Tufts taking early leads, and therefore the team concentrated on improving its mental toughness heading into the game.
"Our focus was to have a stronger mentality than we had the previous three games," sophomore forward Tal Smith said. "Especially in the case of going up one, and then succumbing to pressure following our first goal, we knew that if we got a lead we had to keep it and be mentally tougher and physically tougher as a team."
The Jumbos also sent out a different starting lineup than usual against the Continentals, due to a slew of injuries. With sophomore midfielder Jason Kayne a late game scratch and junior striker Gus Santos missing his third straight game, head coach Josh Shapiro had to improvise his lineups, sending junior tri-captain MaximeHoppenot and sophomore midfielder RuiPinheiro to the bench to start the game.
Without Hoppenot or Santos in the starting lineup, the Jumbos were without their typical punch up top and did not manage a shot on goal in the first half. However, the Continentals did not fare any better, managing only one shot on goal. Part of the sluggish offense in the first half can be attributed to the difficult conditions both teams were playing in.
"I think the game wasn't conducive to offense because the field was very wet and choppy, and both teams were pressing high," Hoppenot told the Daily in an email.
However, unlike its previous games, Tufts came out of the break with renewed energy, and just under 12 minutes in the second half, Hoppenot put the Jumbos on the board.
"I was playing out wide and started cheating in, and [sophomore midfielder] Connor Brown turned his defender and sent a perfect ball in between the center back and outside back," Hoppenot said. "I cut in behind and put it past the keeper."
The goal was Hoppenot's team-leading fifth of the year, giving the Jumbos an important lead in a game that appeared as if it was going to end scoreless.
After the goal, Tufts continued to pressure Hamilton, trying to maintain its lead. In the 64th minute, the Jumbos almost found the back of the net again but had the goal called back because of an illegal play of the ball while a player was on the ground.
In the 72nd minute, freshman striker Zach Halliday received a costly red card, which left Tufts down a man with almost 20 minutes to play, only a goal separating Hamilton and themselves. Despite the disadvantage, though, the Jumbos were able to limit the Continentals to only one shot on goal after the card.
"After the red we started sitting back a bit more and absorbing some pressure, but we defended really well as a team," Hoppenot said. "Everyone had to work twice as hard for the last twenty minutes."
The Jumbos also received a strong performance from sophomore goalie Nick Moeser, who recorded his first shutout of the season, despite making only his second start of the year.
With the win, Tufts moves to 7-5-1 on the year with one more game to play against Bowdoin on Tuesday. The Jumbos, who have already clinched a playoff spot, will need to still beat Bowdoin in order to secure home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Smith sees the win this past weekend as an important first step for a team turnaround heading into the NESCAC playoffs.
"I think this game is a very good marker for the type of performance we'll need going forward," Smith said. "It won't always be pretty, and it won't always be one-sided. We're going to be facing tough competition, especially heading into the playoffs, but if we have that same grit and mentality to go along with our physicality and play ... then I think for sure we can make a great run and get back to our earlier season's form."
