Somerville, Mass. - The Tufts University Jumbos scored a goal in each half to give the visiting Trinity College Bantams their first loss of the 2013 season, 2-0, in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) men's soccer action this afternoon on Kraft Field. The match featured two national top-25 teams as the No. 23-ranked Jumbos topped the No. 15-ranked Bantams.  Trinity, which tied 0-0 at Bates yesterday, dropped to 6-1-1 and 3-1-1 NESCAC.  Tufts stopped a two-game winless and goal-less skid with the victory, improving to 5-2-1 overall and 3-2 in NESCAC.

The first half didn't feature many scoring chances until late. The Bantams had the first quality opportunity of the game as sophomore back Mark Perreault (Southborough, Mass.) missed just wide on a free kick from the top-center of the 18.  The Jumbos scored first with under two minutes remaining, as sophomore Rui Pinheiro launched a 35-yard free kick to the far post. Tufts junior Sam Williams beat his defender to the ball and scored on a diving header.Shots were 5-4 Trinity in the first half, with Bantam rookie goalkeeper Domenic Quade (Norwood, Mass.) and Jumbo goalie Scott Greenwood both making one save. Trinity had two corners while Tufts had none.

The action was more dramatic in the second half. Ten minutes in, Quade made a diving save of Jumbo junior Max Hoppenot's wide-open shot from the top of the box. Less than three minutes later, sophomore Connor Brown's bullet was just wide for the Jumbos.  Jumbo sophomore Tal Smith found Brown wide open for a one-timer finish from just inside the box in the 67th minute.

Down 2-0, Trinity looked to cut the margin in half when freshman Fernando Cuervo-Torello's (Arlington, Mass.) shot in the box got by the keeper. However, it was blocked by the defense to preserve the shutout.  Quade made five saves for Trinity, including four in the second half. The Bantams had a 2-1 edge in corners.