Box Score MEDFORD, Mass.—#5 Tufts University took advantage of three of their four best chances, to earn a 3-0 win over visiting UMass Boston men's soccer Tuesday evening at Bello Field.
THE BASICS
#5 Tufts University 3, UMass Boston 0
(UMass Boston 0-3)
(Tufts University 1-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacons played their best defensive game of the season, against easily their best competition, but couldn't overcame the nationally-ranked Jumbos.
Tufts scored just under five minutes in and added goals off Beacons' turnovers in the 33rdand 72ndminutes.
Junior goalie Omar Castro-Dreher (Woonsocket, R.I.) kept the game from getting out of hand, thanks to two key saves. He made a huge save in the 83rdminute, when he stopped Alex Ratzan on a point-blank shot inside the 18.
Beacons junior forward Nilton de Andrade (Fogo, Cape Verde) created the team's best chance in the 29thminute. With the Beacons still trailing 1-0, de Andrade received a perfect diagonal through ball and dribbled past two defenders, gained the corner around the onrushing goalie, but sent his shot just over the crossbar from 15-yards out.
Senior back Eric Murakami (São Paulo, Brazil) was involved in the other two best chances for the visitors. The left back sent a pair of free kicks from 20-30 yards out just over the bar from threatening angles.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Tufts held a slim 10-6 edge in shots, but earned a 5-1 advantage in shots on goal.
- The Jumbos took 11 of the 13 total free kicks and the two teams combined for 27 fouls (UMB 14, Tufts 13).
- Sophomore Ramsay JeanJuste (Boston, Mass.) made his collegiate debut in the contest.
- Tuesday's game marked the first meeting between the two programs since the 2016 Sweet 16. The Jumbos own a 4-0 overall mark against the Beacons all-time.
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will travel to Upstate New York this weekend for a the SUNY Oneonta Invitational. The Beacons will play SUNY Plattsburgh on Friday at 1 p.m., before taking on the hosts on Saturday at 4 p.m.
