Tufts Men's Soccer Dominates Bates and Westfield State
The Jumbos secured two decisive victories to improve their standing after a recent loss.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Soccer
Tufts men's soccer bounced back from a defeat against Middlebury by outscoring Bates and Westfield State across two recent matches. The team netted a combined 11 goals to stabilize their position in the NESCAC standings.
Why it matters
These consecutive wins were critical for the Jumbos to regain momentum as they fight to climb from fifth place in the NESCAC. The team demonstrated offensive depth by scoring nine goals alone in their final match against Westfield State.
Tufts outscored their opponents 11-1 during the two-game stretch. The squad currently holds a record of 8-2-3 while sitting in fifth place in the NESCAC rankings.
The players
Tufts men's soccer
This collegiate team competes in the NESCAC and represents Tufts University.
Nikola Antic
He is a goalkeeper for the team who recorded his fifth clean sheet of the season against Bates.
Griffin Bone
He is a forward who scored two goals in the victory against Westfield State.
Xavier Canfin
He is an offensive contributor who tallied his fourth goal of the season during the match against Bates.
The details
Tufts defeated Bates 2-0 before delivering a 9-1 blowout against Westfield State at Bello Field. The offense was sparked by multiple contributors, including Griffin Bone with two goals against Westfield State and Xavier Canfin scoring his fourth of the season.
Timeline
October 17, 2026: Tufts secured a 2-0 win over Bates in Lewiston, Maine.
October 20, 2026: The Jumbos defeated Westfield State 9-1 at Bello Field.
Season Trajectory
These victories keep Tufts in the hunt for a favorable seeding in the upcoming NESCAC postseason tournament. The team now turns its attention to final matchups against Williams and Bowdoin to solidify its ranking.
With a 8-2-3 record, Tufts remains firmly in fifth place as they prepare for the end of the regular season. Maintaining this position is essential for the team to avoid falling out of the top half of the NESCAC standings.
The takeaway
The Jumbos successfully utilized a high-scoring weekend to put their previous loss to Middlebury behind them. Maintaining this offensive rhythm will be the primary factor in determining their path through the remainder of the regular season.
Further reading
For more on collegiate athletic developments, visit Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tufts Daily.
