HARTFORD, Conn. – The Trinity College men's soccer squad suffered a 3-1 setback at the hands of visiting Tufts University in a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) battle on a soggy Trinity Soccer Field Sunday afternoon. The Bantams slide to 1-3-2 on the season, and 0-3-2 in conference play, while Tufts climbs to 4-1-1 overall and 1-1-1 in the NESCAC.

The Jumbos broke the scoreless tie in the 32^nd minute of play as sophomore Mateo Bargagna (Atlanta, Ga.)  delivered a cross to the far post, where sophomore Ben Pensky (Knoxville, Tenn.) controlled the ball with his body, and then tucked a shot past Bantams senior keeper Bernardo Simoes (Lisbon, Portugal) to stake Tufts to a 1-0 lead.

With 1:43 remaining in the first half, the Jumbos struck again as Pensky received a free kick inside the box, and then dropped a touch pass for junior Ben Verner (Acton, Mass.), who placed a shot past Simoes' left side, pushing Tufts ahead 2-0 at the break.
In the 54^th minute of action, Tufts senior Mikey Brady (Washington, D.C.) brought the ball up the wing and played a ball to the front of the net, where classmate Sean Traynor (Rye, N.Y.) sprinted through the defense and one-timed a shot to the back of the net, making it a 3-0 game.

With less than five minutes left to play, the Bantams cracked the scoreboard as a foul on Tufts awarded Trinity a free kick inside the box. On the ensuing free kick, senior Quinn Ackman (Evanston, Ill.) fired a low shot past Tufts sophomore keeper Nikola Antic (Waltham, Mass.) en route to the eventual 3-1 final.

Tufts edged Trinity in the shot column, 14-8, and in corners, 8-7, during the contest. Simoes made a game-high four saves, while Antic stopped three shots for the Jumbos.

The Bantams will be back on the pitch with a non-conference clash against visiting Western Connecticut State Wednesday at Trinity Soccer Field. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. Tufts will host Wesleyan in NESCAC action Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.