MEDFORD, MASS. -- Representing Maritime College on the national stage for the first time since 2011, the men's soccer team had a choice to make just thirty seconds into their first round NCAA tournament matchup with Tufts University on Saturday afternoon at Bello Field. Already down one goal off a deflection, the Privateers could choose to roll over against the reigning Division III national champion Jumbos, or they could regain their composure and belief in themselves.
Considering the resiliency head coach
Daniel Gwyther's group had displayed to become the
2019 Skyline Conference champions, it was no surprise to the Maritime faithful who made the trip to Medford, when the Privateers' offensive attack earned a free kick to the left of the box six minutes later.
Sophomore midfielder
Thomas Kropp (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) waited for his teammates to find their positions, and he sent the ball high in the air, and into the pack of players jostling for postion in front of the goal. A Tufts player got his head on the ball, but it bounced into the back of the goal. Less than seven minutes into the match, the score was all tied up, against a program that had given up just two home goals all the season, coming into the NCAA tournament.
In front of a raucous crowd, the Privateers defense created a wall for goal keeper
Michael Rodriguez (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham), fending off attacking threats, and forcing the Jumbos to often pass the ball back and forth to each other in their own half. However, in the 23rd minute, Tufts took a corner kick, and scored off their set piece on the back post to take a 2-1 lead.
For the next 22 minutes, Rodriguez and his back line were phenomenal, with the Maritime goalie picking up five saves in that time. He finished with six for the first half, and the Privateers went off the field for halftime, trailing the #5 team in the nation by just a single goal.
The second half began with Maritime finding cracks in the Tufts defense, as
James Roland (Fairfield, Conn./Fairfield Ludlowe) and
Doga Sisman () both got shots off in the period's first eight minutes. In the 65th and 66th minutes, Tufts had two shots on goal, the first required Rodriguez to make a diving save, and the second one was blocked by
Justin Forrest (Lusby, Md./Patuxent), recently named to the
Skyline All-Conference Second Team.
The Maritime coaching staff continued to roll in substitutes in the second half as they searched for a spark off the bench, desperately looking for the equalizer. However, the Jumbos broke through in the 79th minute, and scored off a give-and-go play to extend their lead to 3-1. The hosts continued to add to their lead in the 82nd and 86th minute, and finished the match, 5-1. With the result, the Privateers end the 2019 season at 12-10-2, while Tufts moves on to play WPI on Sunday in the second round. Rodriguez's eight saves were a season-high for the senior keeper.
Check out the post-game comments from Gwyther, Rodriguez, and senior captain
Anthony Sblendorio (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) below:
And take an inside look at what the preparation for the NCAA opportunity was like for the program:
