Abington Edged by Tufts in NCAA First Round

Box Score

Photo Courtesy of Stockton Photo, Inc.

Penn St.-Abington PENN (13-5-4, 8-0-0)

Tufts TUFTS (11-3-5, 5-3-2)

Penn St.-Abington PENN

(13-5-4, 8-0-0)

Final

Nov. 14, 2026

Tufts TUFTS

(11-3-5, 5-3-2)

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Penn St.-Abington PENN	0	0	0
Tufts TUFTS	0	1	1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | 11/14/2026 12:00:00 AM

Medford, Mass. – The Penn State Abington men's soccer team gave nationally ranked No. 1 Tufts University everything they had but the Jumbos managed to sneak by the Nittany Lions, 1-0, in the First Round of the NCAA Division III tournament on Saturday morning at Bello Field. Abington, appearing in its third-ever NCAA Tournament, concludes its season with a 13-5-4 overall record.

Score: Tufts 1, Penn State Abington 0
Records: Penn State Abington (13-5-4, 8-0-0 UEC) | Tufts (11-3-5, 5-3-2 NESCAC)
Location: Medford, Mass. (Bello Field)

Goal Scorers
Alex Johnson – TU (80')

How It Happened

* Abington pressured Tufts throughout the first half firing off nine shots and attempting all six of its corner attempts in the first 45 minutes. The Nittany Lions nearly scored the game's first goal in the opening minutes when junior Rael Halim ripped a shot from the top of the box but Tuft's Nikola Antic was able to make the save. Later in the half, Halim fired another shot on-goal off a corner kick attempt but was denied once again by Antic.

* Freshman goalkeeper Hector Ortiz kept the nation's top team off the scoreboard in the opening have with a pair of saves. The first coming in the 13^th minute when Alex Johnson fired a shot towards the net and in the 37^th minute Ortiz denied Ellis Denby to preserve the scoreless tie.

* In the second half, Tufts came out firing as the Jumbos recorded 24 shots in the half. Ortiz came up clutch stopping three shots in the first 10 minutes of the half. Ortiz made five of his seven saves in the second half.

* The Tufts offense produced 10 corner kick opportunities, including two in the 80^th minute. The Jumbos second of the two attempts turned out successful as Alex Johnson came through with a header shot scoring the game's first and only goal.

* Down the stretch Abington was able to get off four shots in the final 10 minutes in attempt to tie the game. Junior Amerr Yagoub had a shot on-goal in the 82^nd minute but was stopped by Antic.

Inside the Box Score

* Ortiz finished the game with seven saves as he tied his season-high for the third time this season. He finished the postseason with 25 saves and allowed just two goals in four games. Ortiz finished his rookie season with 71 saves which is the fifth most in a single season, while setting new single season records in save percentage (.888) and goals against average (0.58).

* Yagoub wrapped up the season with 15 assists setting a new single season record. He's currently tied for second among the Division III leaders.

* Senior Hugh Nungessor, a four-time All-United East selection, concluded his career with the ninth most points in program history with 50. Nungessor totaled 20 goals and 10 assists in his career. In addition, Nungessor appeared in 81 games; the most by any player in program history.

All-Time Series
Abington and Tufts were facing one another for the first time.

What a Run!
Abington entered the NCAA Tournament riding the momentum of a 16-game unbeaten streak that featured a 13-0-3 record. The team's previous setback was back on Sept. 12 against nationally ranked Rowan University (L, 1-0).

Abington in the NCAA Tournament
The Nittany Lions were making its third-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Abington previously appeared in 2017 and 2018 after winning the then NEAC title.

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