By any measure the Jumbos had a successful Spring Break. The team won all three of its games, outscoring its opponents 42 to 16, making their record 4-0 for the season. Tufts also moved up to fifth in the national polls, and just for good measure, senior tri-captain Bryan Griffin broke the school's all-time scoring record.
Now the hard part starts.
The Jumbos start their NESCAC season Wednesday night against Amherst, a game that Griffin describes as the team's "toughest match of the season." Amherst is currently ranked 14th in the nation. Amherst is also one of five NESCAC teams in the top 20, along with Tufts.
Tufts picked up its second win of the season last Friday, scoring 16-8 over Endicott. With a goal early in the first period, Griffin broke Dan Kollar's record of 191 career points. Griffin would go on to score two more goals and add three assists for the Jumbos.
"[The record] is four years of hard work and great teammates," Griffin said. "[It's due] just as much to Coach Daly, the defense and the midfielders getting me the ball. Obviously I didn't score 192 unassisted goals."
Needing just one point to break the record with at least 13 games left in his career, it really was not a question whether or not Griffin would set the mark, but it was still somewhat of a relief to finally break the record.
"I never really set a goal to break any records," Griffin said. "But it was something I was aware of, especially towards the end of last year. I knew it was there, but I wasn't going to focus on it. I wanted to just let the game come to me. That's when I play my best."
Sophomore Mark Warner also added six points for Tufts, while senior tri-captain Devin Clarke had five goals.
Most recently, the Jumbos blew out Nassau Community College 13-3 on Wednesday, playing at Hofstra University. Nine players scored goals and Griffin had another five points, ensuring Tufts' perfect record.
Previously, on last Monday, Tufts knocked off Eastern Connecticut 13-5. Griffin and Warner again had six points each for the Jumbos.
While the Jumbos' non-conference schedule was important for the team's confidence, both the coaches and the players know that they have to get ready for a higher level of competition once the conference season starts.
"It was good to get some games under our belt, and it's always nice to get off to a good start" Clarke said. "But we know that our tough games are coming up."
Griffin likewise acknowledged the benefits of Tufts' non-NESCAC schedule, but recognized that the talent level of the teams they have played so far is well below what they are used to in conference.
"We played two teams with NCAA tournament experience," Griffin said. "But we know that none of them could handle the NESCAC."
While much of the preseason attention was focused on Griffin, Clarke and the Jumbos' high powered offense, the defense has been the pleasant surprise of the non-conference schedule, holding all four opponents to single digits.
"It's the most important part of our team," Clarke said. "There was a lot of talk about our offense before the season, but our defense has shown that it's the most solid. It's great to have both sides playing so well."
Griffin was similarly enthusiastic about the defense's early accomplishments.
"There were a couple of quarters where we only scored a goal or two, and the defense really did the job and shut the other team down," he said. "That's a situation where any team, no matter how good they are, can get a couple of goals and build up their confidence. But when we've had a bad quarter, they've carried us. This is their first year playing together, and they've been great."
Moving into the NESCAC season, the Jumbos have their sights set on a pair of lofty goals.
"We want to win the NESCAC, and we want to win a national championship," Clarke said. "That's really been our style every year - setting our goals as high as possible."
Griffin did not hesitate in agreeing with Clarke's assessment.
"There isn't a kid on this team that doesn't think we can win the championship," Griffin said. "Every single team in this conference has a chance to win it. The NESCAC is the best in New England, and if you come out of New England you have a good chance of going all the way."
Tufts' quest for a NESCAC Championship starts this Wednesday at home against Amherst.
