NESCAC

[blooter442]

The story of today seems to be that Babson has just taken its chances (2 goals from 3 SOG at this point) and Tufts has not. That said, based on watching about 30 minutes total of the game, Tufts has not played "poorly" IMHO...but they haven't threatened in their usual fashion (5 SOG at this point seems low to me) and I haven't seen Heintzelmann make any wonder saves or his defenders have to hack one off the line. Still 15 left.

[BendIt007]

Wow ...interesting at Babson ....with Tufts down 0 -2 with 12 left. 
Tufts did not look too sharp against Trinity on Saturday.  They were scoreless for a long time in first half, then it stayed 1-0 until almost the end of the game when they got their second.

[blooter442]

And it's over...Tufts falls to a first defeat in 22 months, 2-0 at Babson (and, as mentioned before, a first 2-0 defeat since the pre-national championship days). Didn't see that result coming.

The first goal 10 minutes in set the tone, and while it seemed that Tufts would respond, Babson instead went 2-0 up. I fancied Tufts to get one right after half (they seem to start and finish halves particularly strong) but it never came and Babson looked relatively comfortable and could have even got a third.

Huge confidence boost for the Beavers, who have looked solid but — aside from beating Brandeis in the 2016 and 2018 rivalry games — haven't put up a marquee result like this against a New England power since beating Williams back in 2014. With the NEWMAC looking like a dogfight this year this could be huge for their Pool C chances, although I would still have them favorites for their conference title.

As for Tufts, I have no doubt that the Jumbos will mount the proper response. They have had tough stretches in the last five years — 2015 and 2016, in particular — and have come out better each time. If there was any complacency within their camp about their ability to get results even when not being on the top of their game, it is gone now.

[Buck O.]

I'm going to drive past the Babson campus in the morning, so I'll let you know if it's been reduced to a smoking pile of rubble by the celebration.

[Mr.Right]

News and Notes:

-I was not able to predict the start of the year but my biggest two question marks for Tufts was going to be in net and leadership. Who are their leaders? Big Senior class with a ton of talent but certainly questions have to be asked about leadership(compared to the past two years). Tasker and Jameson are Captains....First of all its never a good sign when 1 Captain is not a regular starter. I know Jameson is a solid piece but he was more of a factor on the field when he first came to the program in his earlier years. Not sure if he had injury issues or if he just lost playing time. Tasker is one of their best players so he has the credibility BUT these guys all need to prove they are leaders when things sh*t the bed. So far so good with the 3-2 come from behind win at Williams but between you and me I think if things go south for Tufts there are a couple, let's say more "selfish" players, that could cause some issues down the line. Not predicting it will happen just maybe something to watch for.

This would be a good time to quote myself from a few weeks back on my thoughts for Tufts this season. Tufts is 1-1-1 in its last 3 games and while hardly a time to panic this is an inopportune time to be heading to Amherst this weekend. This is when your leaders step up and pull everyone together for maximum focus and concentration. Team......The Coleman's/Halliday's/Kulcsar/Kramer/Williams all those leaders the past 6-7 years were the glue to Tufts success. Of course they had plenty of talent but they also had command of the situation for the most part. I must admit I have not seen much of Tufts this year but I damn well know the talent is all there. Are there injuries? No clue but it should not matter with all the depth...This has now come down to everything I want to see play out for Saturday's game. It will come down to pure guts..Does Tufts have the Senior leadership to pull this around in 3 days and get a result against the best team in New England right now? Add to it the revenge for last season's NCAA romp will surely play into it. I promise I am not being overly dramatic because if Tufts loses this game and drop to 8-2-1 we could start to see players/coaches begin to question even the most minor decisions they make because of a lack of confidence.  I cannot be sure how Tufts Seniors are handling all this but on paper I see some possible issues that could spring up.....Will be most interesting to see how the Tufts players react but also how Shapiro reacts..In his early years when Tufts was just getting going he would pull the trigger on guys quickly and even rubbed some of his early players the wrong way if I remember correctly..All that changed rather fast and by 2014 you could see more and more confidence he had in his players/starters. Allowing them more freedom on the field while also allowing them to almost take charge of their own program. I get the feeling the Tufts players ARE WAY more invested in their team than other Nescac teams but by giving his players an almost transparent process day to day of what they are trying to accomplish this allows the players to feel as invested as their Head Coach(minus the estimated $70,000 Shapiro probably pulls). Off track.....

[PaulNewman]

I generally agree with the above but would add a couple of thoughts.

I think it was during or right after the Bates game I posted that Tufts looked bored.  Boredom?  Championship title fatigue?  Whatever.  This was also a classic trap game for a team that is bored in a 3:30 midweek game while maybe looking ahead to Amherst. 

I would just note that some of those other years when Tufts had all of those studs and great leaders that they barely made the tournament a couple of times., including for their first two title runs.  Last year was the real aberration in terms of wins and losses.  I mean in 2016 Tufts went into the tournament at 9-5-2. 

If Tufts loses the next two, then I would be concerned, but even then, I would favor them to emerge as a team to beat come NCAA tourney time.

IMO Tasker is the guy who has to be the leader.  I know nothing about him but hopefully he isn't deferring to Rojas, Braun, Lane, etc.  He was the one who nearly equalized in the first half shortly after Babson scored.

[blooter442]

I'm going to drive past the Babson campus in the morning, so I'll let you know if it's been reduced to a smoking pile of rubble by the celebration.

Still standing, Buck?

[oldonionbag]

Echo Paul Newman's thoughts...especially the trap game part. It's homecoming for Tufts on Saturday against their biggest rival of the past decade (and another top 5 team in the country) and I'm sure they were all thinking about that game. I think they didn't get up for a noncoference midweek Babson game and it showed. Credit to Babson. Tufts should know that each time they take the field they'll have a target on their back. Will be interesting to see who becomes a leader on the team after this performance. 

Still, I don't think you hit the panic button (despite Tufts lackluster past 3 games). I sometimes think it's good to take a bad loss mid-season - oftentimes its a big wake up call. I think Tufts responds this weekend at home. 2-1 over Amherst.

[PaulNewman]

The only problem with that theory is that Tufts is playing AT Amherst...and immediately heading to Hamilton (another trap game).

[oldonionbag]

Haha apparently I didn't have my reading glasses on...nonetheless, I still have Tufts 2-1!

[Mr.Right]

Tufts does have a target on its back as EVERY team will give them their best game. By now Tufts knows this song and dance pretty well and have usually matched and / or exceeded their opponents effort. This little slump looks more or less like a team that cannot finish right now and a team not used to being put on their heels in the slightest against the likes of Bates, Babson and Wesleyan. That is why I would be curious what lineup and formation Shapiro throws out to start the game at Amherst. Amherst is playing as well as anyone and with a ton of confidence especially at Home and with revenge on their minds for last years romp. Individual match-ups will matter in this game as Amherst has more skill in midfield than years past as I would like to see both Cutler Coleman and the frosh Ignacio Cubeddu on the field together going at Tufts spine. Kyle Kelly has been pretty solid in the back for Amherst in the games I have seen this year as the defense has improved in front of White. Serpone has been bringing Dane Lind and Jimmy McMillian off the bench and that should worry any opposing coach. Giammattei has 8 Nescac Goals in 6 Games but can disappear against the best teams/team defending with solid man marking or just having one of your better defenders tracking his every step which seems unnecessary as of yet. I still think Amherst rolls over Tufts 2-0.


Disappointing loss for Wesleyan yesterday against Coast Guard in what would be considered a trap game for Wesleyan with Bates coming to town this weekend.

[PaulNewman]

Hard to imagine any games on grass in Massachusetts on Saturday, even as far west as Amherst where lower rain totals predicted.

[Buck O.]

Hard to imagine any games on grass in Massachusetts on Saturday, even as far west as Amherst where lower rain totals predicted.

The NWS indicated a short time ago that they're scaling back the forecasted rainfall, so we'll see, but I think Amherst may be OK. 

[Buck O.]

I'm going to drive past the Babson campus in the morning, so I'll let you know if it's been reduced to a smoking pile of rubble by the celebration.

Still standing, Buck?

Actually, I didn't drive by yesterday, because I pass Babson while taking my daughter to school, but she was off yesterday due to Yom Kippur.  But I drove by about an hour ago, and I didn't see any obvious signs of destruction from the roadway.

[Mid-Atlantic Fan]

I am going with Tufts in a 3-2 2OT game cuz we all want to see some free soccer with the overtimes