Men’s Soccer Blanked by #1 Tufts

Framingham, Mass.- The Framingham State men's soccer team was shutout by reigning national champion and nationally top-ranked Tufts University by a score of 4-0 Tuesday evening at Bello Field.

THE BASICS:

- Score: Tufts University 4, Framingham State 0

- Records: Tufts University (1-0), Framingham State (1-1)

- Location: Bello Field – Medford, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Zach Lane got the scoring started in a hurry as he found the back of the goal in just the fourth minute. A Framingham State goal kick was sent towards midfield as senior back Will Raphael won possession with a header forward to classmate, Joe Braun. Braun forced a ball through the Ram backline, and it appeared as though Corey Davidge (Blackstone, Mass.) was going to make a play on the loose ball. Lane came charging in and found the ball and room to shoot with a near empty net in front of him to give the Jumbos a 1-0 lead.
• In the 15^th minute, senior co-captain Gavin Tasker found himself a gift of a rebound in the box to extend the lead to two. After a strong push down the sideline by Drew Stern, he earned enough space to fire a cross that found Braun. His shot was blocked but a rebound found the foot of Travis Van Brewer who would have found the goal if Odane Scale (Galtegobay, Jamaica) was not in position to make a goal line stop for the Rams. However, the attack would prove too strong as Tasker fired home the rebound.
• The Rams did not go away quietly in the half. A strong drive down the sideline by Gustavo Cassemiro (Minas Gerais, Brazil) allowed for him to get a shot away that forced junior goalkeeper Will Harnedto make a strong save. The rebound would pop out to Bryce Nardizzi (Framingham, Mass.) but he could not get a shot away. Another opportunity for the Rams came just minutes later as Akeem Bucknor (Manchester, Jamaica) found a loose ball at the top of the box. He started to cut in towards the middle of the field, but he was swarmed by the strong Jumbo defense.
• Tufts found the goal again late in the first half. Stern found Raphael with a throw in. Raphael sent a cross to Mati Cano who headed home his first of the season.
• The Jumbos started out the second half strong as they added another tally in the 50^thminute. Senior Brett Rojas sent a corner kick to the middle of the goal, which found Braun's head. The deflection found a crashing Ian Daly who finished off the play with the fourth goal for Tufts.
• Another opportunity came in the second half for the Rams. They earned a corner kick and after some give and go play between Bryce Nardizzi, Bryant Nardizzi,(Framingham, Mass.) and  Nahuel Algibay (Montevideo, Uruguay) gave them room for a clean shot. Algibay was at the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot to the right of Harned which forced him to make a diving save to keep the shutout alive.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Isaac De Souza (Sao Paulo, Brazil) led the Ram offense with three shots in the contest.
• Tasker, Braun, and Rojas had three shots each for Tufts.
• James Hartshorn (Chelmsford, Mass.) saw his first collegiate action when he was brought in to replace Davidge in the second half.
• Freshmen Woovin Shinand Ian Sinkowitz both made their collegiate debuts for the Jumbos in the contest.

UP NEXT:

• The Rams are back in action on Saturday as they travel to MIT for a 7 pm start. 

*Release courtesy of Tufts sports information