Teams: Men's Soccer: Schedule & Results

JUMBOS LOSE 2-0 NESCAC MATCH AT WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE MEN'S SOCCER FINAL SCORE
Wesleyan 2, Tufts 0

At Middletown, CT
Saturday, September 26, 2009

Game Box Score

Naji Muakkassa was active offensively for the Jumbos

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- Behind four saves from freshman keeper Adam Purdy, Wesleyan University (3-0-2, 2-0-1 NESCAC), ranked seventh in New England, earned a 2-0 victory over Tufts University (0-4-1, 0-3-0 NESCAC) in a physical men's soccer contest Saturday afternoon.

Tufts out-shot Wesleyan 5-1 in the opening frame, but Wesleyan took a 1-0 halftime lead thanks to senior Asante Brooks. Brooks took a pass in traffic along the left side of the box and fired the ball into the lower-right corner of the net at the 12:21 mark. The goal was Brooks' first of the season and increased his point total to four, making him the team's second-leading scorer.

Purdy made three saves in the first half to preserve Wesleyan's edge. Tufts' best chance came early in the period when Purdy snatched a crossing pass, but mishandled the ball, giving Tufts a shot at an open net. Wesleyan sophomore defender Harrison Lewin rushed in and cleared the ball out of bounds to avert the threat.

Wesleyan expanded its lead to 2-0 in the second half when senior and leading scorer Nick Whipple took a pass from freshman Walter Rodriguez along the left side of the box and fired it into the right side of the net at 52:33. Whipple had shot the ball wide just eleven seconds earlier. Rodriguez earned his first career point with the assist.

Wesleyan held a 7-3 edge in shots overall in the second half, but Tufts senior goalkeeper Pat Tonelli (Andover, MA) made two saves to limit the damage. Wesleyan also took three corner kicks in the game to Tufts' two.

Purdy recorded his second straight shutout and third of the season with the win while lowering his goals-against average to 0.25. Two of Wesleyan's last three wins against Tufts have come by shutout, including a 2007 victory in Middletown by the same score.

Both teams will be back in action Tuesday as Wesleyan travels to Wheaton College, ranked fourth in New England, while Tufts hosts Suffolk University under the light at Bello Field beginning at 7:00 pm.

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