Kyle Dezotell, will join Inside the Game 211 Tomorrow January 20, 2026

Jan 19, 2026 61 Views INSIDE THE GAME

Kyle Dezotell, head coach of the Tufts University men’s soccer program, is joining Inside the Game tomorrow for Episode #211, and his story is one built on belief, resilience, and one of the most dramatic finishes in NCAA Division III men’s soccer history.

On December 7, 2025, at Kerr Stadium in Salem, Virginia, Dezotell and the No. 1-ranked Tufts Jumbos captured the NCAA Division III National Championship, defeating Trinity University of Texas 2–1 in overtime—a match that seemed lost until the final seconds.

A Finish for the History Books

With Trinity leading late in regulation, Tufts earned a corner kick in the final minute. Multiple shots were blocked inside the box before the ball rolled to senior Mateo Bargagna at the top of the area with fewer than 10 seconds remaining.

Bargagna unleashed a left-footed strike that ripped into the upper-left corner of the net with four seconds left, tying the match in what became the latest regulation goal ever scored in a Division III men’s soccer title game.

Just 4:52 into overtime, the moment arrived again.

After clearing a Trinity corner kick, Mason Shultz carried the ball down the right flank and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of junior forward Xavier Canfin. Canfin outran the lone defender and calmly slotted the game-winner into the right side of the net—delivering the national title and the biggest goal of his career.

“It Was Over… But They Believed”

“How did we win? It was over,” Dezotell said. “But these guys just keep believing, have so much trust in themselves, and so much quality.”

The championship marked Tufts’ fifth national title in program history—and the first since 2019—giving the Jumbos the second-most NCAA Division III men’s soccer championships of all time.

Battling from the Start

Trinity controlled much of the first half, outshooting Tufts 8–2 and scoring in the 27th minute when Luke Chandler finished a rebound to give the Tigers a 1–0 lead.

The second half belonged to Tufts, but Trinity goalkeeper Jayden Schell was exceptional, denying chance after chance from Canfin, Ellis Denby, and Henry Brown. Even with an open-net opportunity in the 85th minute, Tufts was turned away—until Bargagna’s miracle strike changed everything.

Championship Numbers

Shots: Tufts 19, Trinity 15
Second-half shots: Tufts 16, Trinity 7
Corner kicks: Tufts 7, Trinity 4
Overtime shots: Tufts 1 (the game-winner)

Canfin was named Offensive Most Outstanding Player, while Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das earned Defensive Most Outstanding Player honors. Bargagna, Akhtarzandi-Das, Taylor Feinberg, and James Gunn were all named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.

Dezotell’s First NCAA Title—and a Program Built to Last

The national championship is the first NCAA title for Kyle Dezotell since taking over the Tufts program in March 2020—just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut sports down nationwide.

Since then, Dezotell has compiled:

37-9-14 overall record at Tufts
15-5-10 NESCAC record
Three NCAA Tournament appearances
2022 NESCAC Championship
Multiple All-Americans and Scholar All-Americans

Beyond the field, the Jumbos have become a model program, including their partnership with Team IMPACT, welcoming Aiden, a 13-year-old diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, into the Tufts soccer family.

Inside the Game Tomorrow

Kyle Dezotell’s journey—from Derby, Vermont, to national champion—will be featured tomorrow on Inside the Game, Episode #211, where he’ll reflect on leadership, belief, building culture, and a championship that came down to the final four seconds.

One goal. One belief. One championship.

Inside the Game #211 — Tomorrow on NSN.