Teams: Men's Soccer: Schedule & Results

SILVA'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS TUFTS TO 1-0 VICTORY OVER CORSAIRS

COLLEGE MEN'S SOCCER FINAL SCORE
Tufts 1, UMass Dartmouth 0  ot

At Medford, MA
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Game Box Score

Goalkeeper Alan Bernstein played solidly in his first collegiate action

MEDFORD -- Franco Silva's (Houston, TX) first collegiate goal was golden as the Tufts University freshman scored with 1:25 remaining in the first overtime period to give the Jumbos a 1-0 victory against UMass Dartmouth in non-conference men's soccer action on a cold and windy night at Bello Field Tuesday.

Silva collected a pass from Jumbo junior tri-captain Naji Muakkassa (Jamesville, NY) at midfield and worked his way into the Corsair end. With some skillful footwork, he opened up an opportunity and blasted a shot past UMD keeper Mike Phelan (Carver, MA) for the winner.

For a game tied 0-0 at the end of the regulation, both teams had good scoring chances. The visiting Corsairs moved the ball particularly well in the first half, putting 12 shots towards the Tufts goal compared to just three shots for the hosts in the first 45 minutes. Tufts sophomore Alan Bernstein (Wayne, NJ), who got the start in his first collegiate appearance in goal, played with composure and made six first-half saves. The Corsairs failed to put a few other quality chances on goal.

However, Bernstein was whistled for a red card in the second half when he came outside of the box and used his hands to snuff a break-away by UMD's Robbie Muller (Rochester, MA) in the 70th minute. He was replaced by Pat Tonelli (Andover, MA), and the Jumbos actually improved their play while down a man with a greater sense of urgency.  Phelan stopped a Tufts break-away by sophomore Matt Blumenthal (Simsbury, CT) with 11 minutes remaining in the second half. The Corsair keeper later stoned Blumenthal on a point-blank shot with 5:30 to go.

In the overtime period, with two minutes remaining, Muller put a header on goal on which Tonelli made a nice off-balance save by corralling the ball with his right arm. Less than a minute later, Silva was making his run downfield to win it for the Jumbos.

The game was the sixth overtime contest of the season for Tufts, which improved to 2-2-2 in extra time and 2-6-2 overall. They are now 2-0 under the lights at Bello, with both wins coming in overtime including a 2-1 final against Suffolk on September 29. UMass Dartmouth (8-3), which finished with a 21-10 advantage in shots and 10-2 in corner kicks, lost for the first time in three games.

Bernstein (7 saves) and Tonelli (2) combined for nine saves in the Tufts goal. Phelan stopped five for the Corsairs.

Tufts is in the midst of a four-game home-stand that continues against Trinity on Saturday (Oct. 17) at 2:30 pm. UMass Dartmouth continues a busy week by hosting Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Thursday (Oct. 15) at 7:00.

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