NESCAC

[Mr.Right]

Great work by Amherst Dane Lind to win the ball back from Tufts and squeeze a nice thru ball into Giammattei's path who finished it. Nice run by GG but I would give Lind three fifths of that goal.

[Mr.Right]

1-1 Amherst v Tufts at the Half...Good competitive game so far

[The_View_From_732]

Tufts v. Amherst is a fun game between two good teams with very different styles of play. And, as importantly, it's been referee'd quite well, so the game has been mostly focused on the soccer.

[Jump4Joy]

Mr. Right is right about Lind's effort to create the goal scoring opportunity.
More long balls bypassing the midfield than I thought there'd be for Tufts. Especially when #5 was in. Both teams getting stuck when trying to clear their lines. Lots of heart on the field for both squads.

[Falconer]

101 Amherst v Tufts at the Half...Good competitive game so far

This is the third time I've watched Tufts this year, and the first time they've looked like a top team. They do look awfully good at building from the back, getting good looks, and generally being dangerous. Amherst is more athletic than I had expected, but the last time I saw them was two years ago in the Sweet Sixteen vs Rochester (in Grantham), so I haven't really seen several of their players before--especially FR German Giammattei (who is very quick and skilled) and the big FR Nico Kenary, who plays like a veteran. Amherst is playing up to their reputation as a big team that likes to kick and run, but they are still dangerous, especially when they are getting those very long flip throws--that's quite a weapon. I would call this about even, with an edge to Tufts for being quicker to the ball and taking slightly better care of it. The game is living up to its billing, IMO.

[blooter442]

When I first saw the Amherst goal I thought that the three CBs got caught by that through ball. When I watched it back, I tried to see how it might have been defended better, but that through ball from Lind was extremely well played. I guess if we're being super critical you could say that Tufts got caught a little high, but that was a great heads-up play by Lind and run and finish by Giammattei. A great ball played to feet (see, that's what can happen when you keep it on the ground )!

Tufts has lost possession in its own half a few times and gotten away with it — that time, the Jumbos did not.

[blooter442]

Honestly I've been impressed at how open this game has been — from both sides. Amherst has generally kept the ball on the ground and Tufts has played some nice combinations going forward.

That said, don't love the idea of Johnson doing flip-throws in his own half. Level to the opposing box, sure, but I can't think the threat of losing the ball in your own half from a throw-in is so high that you need to clear the zone immediately (Tufts' aforementioned losses of possession occurred in central, crowded areas, much more highly contested than throw-ins). I know that's probably a directive issued from above his (metaphorical) pay grade, but it certainly doesn't help improve existing perceptions of Amherst's long ball game.

[Mr.Right]

Amherst #8 Shahmirzadi has been a worker bee today. Gives the ball away to much but he more than makes up for it with his hustle and soccer brain.

[blooter442]

Home field advantage for the NESCAC tournament stays in Tufts' hands with the draw. That said, the Jumbos have lost at home in the first round in 4 out of the last 5 years (the one exception being 2017, when they won the conference tournament) — make of that what you will.

[Mr.Right]

Amherst backline has been much improved this season led by Kyle Kelly who has been solid again today shutting down Tufts attackers . Wu still makes me nervy as he makes stupid decisions sometimes...I feel like the Amherst backline is the Country Club backline of Nescac....Kyle Kelly, Gabe Gittler, Bryce Johnson, Felix Wu oh and lets throw in Cutler Coleman...These guys sound like members names at Pine Valley Golf Club(Women allowed on Sundays)

[Jump4Joy]

Names might sound clubby, but working like the lunch pail gang.

[blooter442]

MASSIVE chance for Tufts at the end of regulation...Amherst defender hacks the ball up into the air to clear the zone with about 0:15 left, his man heads it on but it goes straight to a Tufts player (Daly?) who plays it and finds Braun in behind the Amherst CBs, but Braun's touch was too heavy and took him way wide of the goal...may have been difficult to finish after settling anyway given the 'keeper charged out although looked like he could have scored if he took it first time.

[Jump4Joy]

Boom! Lights out!

[blooter442]

Tufts totally fell asleep from the kickoff, which is very unlike the Jumbos given how strong they usually are in the first and last few minutes of periods. Amherst (Giammattei) stormed right through the middle of the field and while a couple of the bounces of the ball in that sequence seemed fortunate it was great work by him to stay with it and finish. Tufts has gone from perfect record and NESCAC/National favorite to 2nd favorites in both of those senses in 10 days. Even before today Giammattei seemed to be clear favorite for NESCAC PoY, something that seems even more nailed-on now, although we've seen Amherst players equally well-positioned snubbed before (e.g. Pascual-Leone). Crazy how less than two weeks can massively alter perceptions, and I don't think any of us saw Tufts losing two games in the regular season let alone in 3 days. Massive goal for Amherst, both in terms of playoff implications and psychology. Might 2019 be another 2015? Hell of a battle at the top going on, but it's advantage Amherst and it's tough to see the Mammoths relinquish it. Still probably a few more twists to come, but, wow.

[Mr.Right]

Names might sound clubby, but working like the lunch pail gang.

Agreed....I am still stunned how that ended....Now what for Tufts??? I actually think they played pretty well and came up with nothing...They are having trouble finishing right now. Harned made a couple nice saves he also made a couple very questionable decisions one of which almost ended up in the back of his net in the 1st Half off a long ball into mixer. If Tufts plays like that tomorrow at Hamilton they should be fine. Now, I will say if it happens that they they play like that tomorrow and still get held to another Draw then I might start to worry,