SALEM, VA - The No. 1 Tufts University men's soccer team fell behind 28:28 into the game in the NCAA Division III Semifinals, but as has been the story all season the Jumbos were able to rally and topped St. Olaf College, 2-1, to earn a spot in the NCAA Championship game.

The Jumbos (19-1-3) will now take on the winner of the second semifinal between Emory University and Trinity University on Sunday at Noon at Roanoke College's Kerr Stadium. Tufts will be looking for its fifth all-time national title. 

Tufts dominated the contest early and had good opportunities in the opening 10 minutes, but wouldn't be able to find the early tally despite good chances by juniors Xavier Canfin and Ethan Jett. 

In the 25th minute, Tufts nearly got on the board with a great look off of a corner kick but a header by Ben Brown flew over the cross bar. 

St. Olaf would get the game's first goal though in the 29th minute though against the run of play, as Ryan Wilson collected a ball in the box, created a little space and fired just under the cross bar for his fifth of the season. 

Tufts was never deterred though, as it needed a little under five minutes to find the equalizer thanks to the first goal of the season by senior James Gunn. Tufts got a free kick and Ellis Denby delivered the ball into the box from 45 yards out. The loose ball was headed around, and first-year Alex Johnson got a shoulder on the ball as it fell to Gunn, who popped it into the goal to make it 1-1. 

Neither team had a great chance through the rest of the first half as the game went to halftime tied at a goal apiece. 

The beginning of the second half saw Tufts possess the ball well, but couldn't get many great chances. The eventual game-winning goal would come in the 77th minute, as the Jumbos earned a corner after a blistering shot from Canfin was deflected out of bounds. 

On the next corner kick, Denby put a perfect ball into the box where graduate student Taylor Feinberg smashed his header home for the biggest goal of his Jumbos career. 

The last good chance of the game would come for the Oles in the 85 minute off of a loose ball on a free kick, but a shot from STO's Sean Elster was saved by senior Nikola Antic. The Jumbos did a good job of managing the ball down the stretch to lock down the victory. 

Tufts outshot St. Olaf 16-12 for the game, while holding a slight 5-4 edge in shots on target. The Jumbos also earned eight corner kicks to the three from St. Olaf. 

The game was very physical, as the two teams combined for 18 fouls and a total of 10 yellow cards including seven on the Jumbos. 

Tufts will be making its fifth appearance in the NCAA title game and first since its last championship in 2019.