NCAA Tournament 2025

[rdanie03]

Please do yourself a favor and watch this incredibly special interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDwF57K2N04

I promise you won't regret it, no matter your affiliations.

As someone who knows this team very well, it actually shows things that almost no one knows

[Coach.myers]

Not really sure how this Tufts team is in the final, the level of play couldn't be farther apart

That physical, more direct style has reaped rewards year after year in D-3, as evidenced by the NESCAC's dominance. Personally, I prefer the more technical style of Trinity, but you simply can't argue with that style's success.

[Coach.myers]

NESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

[camosfan]

Just got back to NJ from Salem, what a weekend!

[Newenglander]

NESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

May be biased but Conn plays a possession oriented style.....

[d3_fanatic]

Has Tufts just completed the greatest season in program history?

2014:
- 16-2-4
- National champs
- NESCAC regular season champs (1 seed)

2016:
- 15-5-2
- National champs
- 2nd place NESCAC regular season finish

2018:
- 18-0-3
- National champs
- NESCAC regular season champs (1 seed)

2019:
- 20-2-2
- National champs
- NESCAC champs
- 2nd place NESCAC regular season finish

2025:
- 20-1-3
- National champs
- NESCAC champs
- NESCAC regular season champs (1 seed)

[flyingdutchman]

Think it has to be the greatest season in program history. Which is hard to do at a historic program like Tufts. That Tufts team won every single achievement they could have possibly won.

NESCAC Regular Season Champs
Moe-Zeidan trophy (the cup given to the winner of Amherst Tufts regular season game)
NESCAC tournament Champs
#1 team in the country (in every ranking)
National Champions

As a supporter of the program, happy to see Bargagna score what might go down as one of the most historic goals in D3 soccer history. What a strike from a player who is arguably the most talented player on that Tufts team. It's crazy that he never won any NESCAC awards or national recognition as I'm sure any of the coaches or players would argue he's the best outside back in the country.

[ItsATuftSituation]

Don't post on here a lot but I was at the game yesterday and that was quite possibly one of the best sporting events I've ever seen in person. Both teams controlling the game at time, punch counter punch, drama, passion, the atmosphere was unlike anything I've seen before.

To have that composure with the announcer counting down and knowing your career is seconds from being over and to connect on a shot like that to beat a keeper who had been so good. One of the best sporting moments in my lifetime.

On my drive home, I did really start to feel for Coach Paul and his kids. They were far clear of Tufts in the first 45 minutes. Trinity did about as much as you can do to win it, and to have it taken like that. I can't imagine what the five minute intermission was like going into OT. How do you refocus after that?

Just drama to a degree I've never seen before.

[camosfan]

 Bargagna should have been all NESCAC from last year, was really glad for him yesterday, saw him after the St. Olaf game and he was in good mood, was named to all-tournament team!

[Ron Boerger]

As possibly the only Trinity(TX) supporter that ever posts here, I can't imagine how those kids felt when that shot went in.  This was a team virtually nobody gave a chance to even make the final four and for 89:55 a championship was right there.  Kudos to Tufts for pushing to the end and literally pulling it out in the final seconds, but kudos as well to McGinlay and everyone on that team for making it there. 

And yes, my wife did ask me if everything was OK after I screamed in frustration and despair myself. 

[camosfan]

You guys have a great team congratulations, I have nothing but respect for the way they played!

[kevdog]

NESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

If memory serves me correct, I think Tufts played a possession style with some of those championship teams before.

[blue_jays]

NESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

Apparently you don't watch enough soccer. University of Chicago put together one of the greatest seasons in D3 history in 2022 en route to an undefeated title where they beat a NESCAC team in the final 2-0. UChicago has been possession oriented and technical since Mike Babst arrived in 2013 and brought the program to new heights.

[SimpleCoach]

NESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

Apparently you don't watch enough soccer. University of Chicago put together one of the greatest seasons in D3 history in 2022 en route to an undefeated title where they beat a NESCAC team in the final 2-0. UChicago has been possession oriented and technical since Mike Babst arrived in 2013 and brought the program to new heights.

I would also add St. Olaf to that list in 2023 ...

SC.

[kevdog]

NESCAC soccer isn't pretty, but they have won 8 of the last 11 tournaments and have had a team in 10 of 11 semis. Last possession oriented team to win was Messiah.

Apparently you don't watch enough soccer. University of Chicago put together one of the greatest seasons in D3 history in 2022 en route to an undefeated title where they beat a NESCAC team in the final 2-0. UChicago has been possession oriented and technical since Mike Babst arrived in 2013 and brought the program to new heights.

I would also add St. Olaf to that list in 2023 ...

SC.

This correct. They played a possession style on route to their championship over Amherst more direct style. Whatever style one team plays it is up to them. If it makes them successful than go with it. As one person said, you don't get style points for looking pretty. You get points for winning. Personally I prefer the possession style but with a purpose.