The fall season may be long over, but the accolades just keep on coming for the Tufts men's and women's soccer teams. Coach Martha Whiting of the women's squad was named Division III Coach of the Year by the New England Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) in December, while senior tri-captains Sarah Yeatman and Randee McArdle each garnered All-American honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Yeatman and McArdle were joined by junior Lynn Cooper and freshman Jess Trombly on the NSCAA All-New England roster, announced last month.
For the men, senior tri-captain David Drucker earned himself a place on the NSCAA All-New England First Team.
In her second season as head coach, Whiting directed the women's soccer team to a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship game in November, having already led it to the best record in the program's history.
When the season began, Tufts was not even ranked among the top teams in New England. But on the day it ended, the Jumbos ranked second in the nation with an 18-3-1 mark, which included a 10-1 record at Kraft Field. The team's lone home loss came in the championship game on Nov. 19, when a powerful College of New Jersey squad scored the game winner just three seconds away from overtime for the 2-1 win.
Despite the team's success, Whiting was not expecting to receive the award.
"I was surprised," she said. "When it's you, winning an award, it's different. You don't expect it. But when it's someone else, then you can expect it."
Yeatman became the first Jumbo to make the NSCAA All-American First Team since the Tufts women's program was incepted in 1979. The midfielder, a three-time All-NESCAC selection and four-year starter, ranked second on the team scoring list this fall with 25 points (11 goals, three assists). For her career, Yeatman chalked up 21 goals and 11 assists for a total of 53 points.
"I feel like she definitely deserved to be a First Team All American," Whiting said. "From the time she was a freshman, Yeaty just had something about her. You could almost just tell that she was going to do great things. And what a way to go out."
McArdle, the team's goalie, was named to the NSCAA All-American Third Team after finishing her career as the Jumbos' all-time leader with 24 shutouts. She posted nine shutouts on the year, including three in NCAA Tournament play, to go along with a 0.76 goals against average.
"Good quality female college goalkeepers are hard to come by," Whiting said. "And 'Tex' is one of the best...she probably will be one of the best to ever play here. Not only for her playing ability, but also for her personality. She's a great athlete, and also a tremendous person."
Yeatman, McArdle, and Cooper, Tufts' leading scorer, were all recognized on the NSCAA All-New England First team. NESCAC Rookie of the Year Trombly, a forward, achieved NSCAA All-New England Second Team honors. Yeatman and McArdle were also placed on the NEWISA First Team, and Cooper was named to the Second Team.
According to Whiting, the Jumbos' success in the NCAA tournament, coupled with the overflow of postseason praise, will benefit the soccer program at Tufts.
"I feel like in terms of the recruiting, it definitely is going to attract many more players...hopefully higher caliber players," Whiting said. "When you get recognition like that on a national level, people are going to see it. It promotes Tufts on another level. Just since the tournament, I've gotten more phone calls. Now players who were interested before are very interested."
Drucker was an integral part of the men's postseason run, as the Jumbos marched to their first ever ECAC New England Championship. A midfielder, he racked up 20 points (six goals, eight assists) and ended up eighth overall on the NESCAC scoring list. He was also named to the All-NESCAC first team for the second time in four years.
