The Middlebury men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to #1 Tufts on Saturday from South Street Field. The contest opened a three-game homestand for the Panthers.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury generated the first opportunity with 1:19 elapsed. Eduardo Casanova whipped in a free kick that bounced off the head of Colin Dugan, but Tufts goalie Nikola Antic slid to his left and made the stop.
• About a minute later, Xavier Canfin sent in a pass toward the middle of the box. Henry Brown rose and put his head on the ball, but the bid sailed over the crossbar.
• Henry Perkins nearly put the visitors on the scoreboard in the ninth minute with a header that almost tucked inside the right post. Panther goalie Joey Waterman scooted over and smothered the chance.
• With 15:44 elapsed, Will Sawin worked the ball in the box and sent a shot from 15 yards out that Antic tracked and dove to secure the save.
• In the 24th minute, Casanova set up for a free kick just beyond the midfield line. The midfielder sailed the ball near the top-left corner and despite the wind, Antic rose up and grabbed the ball with both hands.
• Middlebury had the final chance of the opening half with 27:24 elapsed off a corner kick. Hamin Kim blasted the ball into the box and Sawin raced to the right side before flicking a shot that sailed over the pipe.
• Tufts opened the scoring at the 51:02 mark when a Panther foul in the box awarded the visitors a penalty kick. Daniel Yanez stepped to the spot and buried the ball in the lower-right corner to take a 1-0 lead. 
• The Jumbos continued their pressure four minutes later. Ellis Denby fired back-to-back point-blank bids that Waterman stifled.
• Antonio Cosentino looked for the equalizer with 19:58 remaining. The hosts settled a bouncing ball and sent a shot from inside the 18-yard box that Antic steered aside.
• Tufts extended its lead less than a minute later. Ethan Jett blitzed down the right side of the field before firing a shot that sailed into the upper-left corner for a 2-0 advantage.
• Middlebury ramped the pressure up as the minutes ticked down, but could not get a shot on target as the Jumbos secured the two-goal victory.

NOTES

• Waterman tallied five saves in the loss.
• The programs met for the 45th time.

The Panthers close their non-conference schedule by hosting Vassar on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.