Box Score LEWISTON, Maine – Bates College men's soccer fell to Tufts University, 3-0, in its NESCAC opener on Saturday afternoon at Russell St. Field.
Trailing 1-0, the Bobcats (1-1-0, 0-1-0 NESCAC) threatened to find an equalizer early in the second half before the Jumbos (1-0-0, 1-0-0) tacked on tallies in the 69th and 86th minutes.
Bates created scoring chances on a couple of long throw ins from sophomore Wes Shrewsbury (Boxford, Mass.) and a dangerous cross from junior Nick Ford (Columbus, Ohio) but could not convert. First-year Peabo Knoth (Portland, Maine) and senior Tyler Grees each put shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
The Jumbos posted their second goal as Kyle Volpe (Blackstone, Mass.) finished off a cross from Connor Brown (Bow, N.H.), and Tal Smith (New Orleans, La.) added an insurance tally late in the game.
Tufts controlled play throughout most of the first half outshooting Bates 12-2 in the opening period. The visitors took a series of shots and corner kicks midway through the half and kept the ball in the hosts' end for the majority of the first 45 minutes.
The Jumbos first cracked the Bobcats' back line in the 26th minute when Max Hoppenot (Princeton, N.J.) snuck a shot past sophomore goalkeeper Zach Shabman (Scarsdale, N.Y.) who made three saves in the opening half. Tufts' Rui Pinheiro (Princeton, N.J.) set up the shot with a through ball past the defense in the box, and Hoppenot beat Shabman in a one-on-one situation.
Next, Bates hosts Bowdoin on Wednesday at 8 p.m. underneath the lights on Garcelon Field.
