The men's soccer team found itself on unfamiliar ground after its 2−0 victory over Suffolk University on Wednesday night. For the first time since the 2008 season, the Jumbos (3−2−1 overall, 1−1−1 NESCAC) have a winning record.
"This was a big game for us because it was our second chance to get our record over .500," freshman midfielder Scott Blumenthal said. "We haven't been over .500 in a long while."
After a somewhat listless first 45 minutes from both sides that ended in a scoreless tie, Tufts regrouped at halftime and came out firing in the second half.
"It took us a little while to get adjusted to their style of play," first−year head coach Josh Shapiro said. "They have a lot of international students who play with a lot more sophistication and gamesmanship. They were able to hold on to the ball for long stretches in the first half because we kind of over−pursued their back line. But we came out a lot stronger in the second half."
The Jumbos played in the road match at Dilboy Stadium without two of their senior captains — Naji Muakkassa and Josh Molofsky, who were out with injury. Molofsky is also an editorialist for the Daily. This offered underclassmen the opportunity to step up and play important roles in a non−conference game.
And step up they did, as both second half goals came off the legs of underclassman: sophomore forward Franco Silva and the first−year Blumenthal.
Silva, who now leads the team with three goals on the season, scored off an assist from Luke Booth in the 52nd minute. In the 89th minute, Tufts added to the tally, as Blumenthal corralled a fifty−fifty ball near the Tufts bench and dribbled past several Suffolk defenders on his way into the box before cashing in on his first career shot.
"It was awesome," said Blumenthal of the first goal of his collegiate career. "I was pumped to help the team, and it was great because I'd been preparing for this mentally. I was able to get around a few defenders, set up a one−on−one with the goalie and finish it."
In addition to the pair of stellar finishes, the Jumbos played stalwart defense, keeping Suffolk at bay throughout.
The back line, made up of first−years Ben Ewing and Jay Messenger and sophomores Michael Walker and Pat Bauer, deserves much credit, Shapiro said. "Suffolk really had only one good chance the entire second half, and our goalkeeper Alan Bernstein made a terrific save, diving to his right."
Bernstein, a junior, has recorded shutouts in each of his past two starts, including the win over Wesleyan on Saturday. He made six saves on Wednesday and has not been scored on in over 100 minutes, dating back to Tufts' 1−1 draw against Amherst on Sept. 17.
Considering the strong overall effort from defenders, midfielders, forwards and goalkeepers — first−years and upperclassmen alike — it's easy to see why the Jumbos are confident that they can start to build a little bit of momentum heading into their next few NESCAC games.
"We've gotten two wins in a row for the first time in awhile, and we're in a stretch of our schedule right now where I think we can definitely be competitive," Shapiro said. "To be 1−1−1 coming out of Middlebury, Amherst and Wesleyan is a good way to start, and I think we can force our way into the top five if we keep playing well."
Tufts will have an opportunity to showcase their recent success during Homecoming weekend tomorrow, when they host Bates at 2:30 p.m. at Kraft Field.
"This is a huge game coming up for us," Blumenthal said. "It's a chance for us to get into the top half of the NESCAC standings, and we'll get a chance to play in front of a big crowd. We're all playing well, and we're excited and confident that we can keep it going."
