WALTHAM, Mass. – The 2025 campaign came to an end for Penn State Harrisburg's men's soccer team with a 5-0 setback in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against the nation's top-ranked program in Tufts at Brandeis' Gordon Field on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 15.


The Lions (11-7-3) managed seven total shots and a pair of shots on goal from Dillon Gough and Alexander Benbatoul, while goalkeeper Erik Rodriguez made six saves on the day.


Penn State Harrisburg held off the top-ranked Jumbos (15-1-3) for 20 minutes before Danie Yanez broke the scoreless drought with a penalty kick conversion in the 21st minute. Tufts kept the pressure on and doubled the advantage little more than two minutes later when Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das found the back of the net for the first time off a Ben Pensky feed. Akhtarzandi pushed the lead to 3-0 heading into halftime with his second strike of the game with 4:11 left before the break.


Tufts tacked on another goal early in the second half when Xavier Canfin finished off a find from Pensky in the 52nd minute. The Jumbos put the finishing touches on their victory with a late goal from Luke Randolph off a Will Nicholas assist with just 57 seconds remaining.


The Lions' two best opportunities came late in the first half when Benbatoul got off a shot on frame in the 33rd minute and Gough put his attempt on target early in the second half. Each time, however, Tufts' goalkeeper Nikola Antic made the save.


NOTABLES
- The Jumbos outshot Penn State Harrisburg 23-7 overall and 11-2 in shots on goal.
- Tufts earned five corner kicks, while the Lions managed four.
- Rodriguez made six stops in net for Penn State Harrisburg.
- Benbatoul and Gough were the lone Penn State Harrisburg players to manage a shot on frame.
- Saturday's contest was Penn State Harrisburg's fourth NCAA Tournament game in program history.


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