After finishing outside the top four in the NESCAC for nine consecutive seasons, the men's soccer team finally believes that it is ready to not only compete with but also beat the conference's top squads.
"I think last season was a step in the right direction," senior tri−captain goalie Alan Bernstein said. "We're looking to be much more competitive this year and compete for the NESCAC championship."
The 2010 Jumbos went 3−4−2 in the league and finished sixth. The 2011 Jumbos, on the other hand, are a combination of 11 veterans who each appeared in at least 12 games this past season, and they have arguably the NESCAC's strongest class of incoming freshmen — a group of nine that has already made a strong impression during the preseason.
"I think there's more talent in this year's freshman class than any other class right now," junior midfielder Rafael Ramos−Meyer said. "They're our future."
One standout first−year has been midfielder Gus Santos.
In the Jumbos' Sept. 3 scrimmage at Wesleyan, Santos consistently made runs at Cardinals defenders on the left wing, putting pressure on an otherwise stingy Wesleyan back line. This assault finally paid off for Santos early in the second half, as he darted through defenders on the left side of the box, found an opening and scored the scrimmage's only goal.
Kento Nakamura is also likely to make an immediate impact in his freshman season. Despite his lack of collegiate soccer experience, he has shown a high level of maturity on the pitch.
"Kento is already very soccer smart and holds the ball well in tight spaces," Bernstein said.
During the summer, the Jumbos spent a lot of focusing on a major formation shift. After spending coach Josh Shapiro's first year at Tufts in a conventional 4−4−2, they will instead be playing with a lone striker in a 4−5−1 arrangement this season.
"We've been very focused on the new formation that we're going to be playing," senior tri−captain Matt Blumenthal said. "We also have worked on our defensive shape to make sure everyone knows where they have to cover when the ball is in certain areas."
This stress on the team's back line in practice and the height of Tufts' young and talented center backs are two reasons why the Jumbos have defended well in the preseason. They did not concede any goals in two games, adding a scoreless draw with Conn. College to their 1−0 victory over Wesleyan.
"We have two shutouts over 140 minutes, and our defense has looked really sharp," Blumenthal, a midfielder, said. "We haven't given up too many chances overall."
Anchoring the Tufts defense is Bernstein, the team's starting goalkeeper last season. In 2010, Bernstein topped the NESCAC leader boards for goalkeepers, finishing second in the conference in save percentage and first in saves per game. The Jumbos allowed seven fewer goals in 2010 than they did in 2009, despite playing one more game last season.
Although the Jumbos' new formation features only one forward, the Tufts coaches have implored midfielders and outside backs to take more offensive risks.
Last season, only Trinity scored fewer goals than Tufts in the NESCAC, a statistic the Jumbos are hoping to change with increased depth at many attacking positions.
"The style that Coach Shapiro wants to run is more attack−minded than before," senior defender Jesse Poon said. "The team is deeper than last year, so a lot of guys will be getting time and very few spots are set in stone."
A new formation is just one change that Shapiro has brought to Tufts this year. According to players, Shapiro has brought an attitude change to the entire men's soccer program by drawing on his experience as a Div. I assistant coach at Georgetown, and by forming a tight bond with his players.
"He's completely changed the mentality of the program and has challenged each player individually and as a team," Poon said.
Blumenthal credited Shapiro's youth and ability to play many different roles as reasons for his close relationship with the team.
"He's a young guy who can fool around with us, but when it comes down to it, we all respect him incredibly, and he knows how to make us work hard."
Tufts will be tested right away with a tough opening match at home against Middlebury on Sept. 10. The Panthers are ranked No. 12 in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and should be the favorites to repeat as NESCAC champions.
Although the Jumbos realize that a positive result will not come easily against Middlebury, the team feels that it is finally ready to compete in a conference that many consider the strongest in Div. III.
"We really think that we can make some noise and upset some of the top teams in the NESCAC," Blumenthal said. "We get a great chance to do that against Middlebury."
