There are a few moments in sports history that are so memorable that every fan can pinpoint where they were when it happened. Bobby Thomson’s shot heard ‘round the world, Malcolm Butler’s goal-line interception in Super Bowl XLIX and, for Tufts fans, Xavier Canfin’s overtime goal that crowned the Jumbos men’s soccer team as 2025 National Champions, their fifth such Division III crown.
The most difficult part about winning a National Championship, though, is the pressure to replicate the feat the following year. That is the tall task that faces Head Coach Kyle Dezotell and his squad this fall.
This year’s team features many returning faces, including fifth-year central midfielder Ben Pensky, who started 23 out of the Jumbos’ 24 games last year and had two assists against Penn State Harrisburg in the NCAA Tournament, and senior midfielder Ben Brown, who formed one half of the team’s center back pairing last year. The two Bens will serve as this year’s captains.
“Being a captain pushes me even more to work hard and keep my cool in chaotic moments. My fellow captain Ben Pensky does an incredible job with this on the field and it is something I will continue to do my best to replicate,” Ben Brown wrote in a message to the Daily.
Other key returnees include fifth-year goalkeeper Nikola Antic, who started all 24 of the Jumbos’ games last year and is entering his fourth season as the team’s number one, and senior centerback Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das, who started every game alongside Ben Brown at center back. Going forward, junior midfielder Ellis Denby, who played 83 minutes in the title game and has become a true midfield dynamo for the Jumbos, senior defender Ethan Jett, who tallied three goals last term, senior striker Henry Brown, who posted seven goals last fall and senior winger Canfin, who led the team and the NESCAC in goals and co-led the team in assists last year, have all returned with an eye on bringing the Jumbos back to the promised land.
“Returning three full classes plus two 5th year leaders from that 2025 team is huge. Everyone has been exposed to those big pressure moments, […] and now it’s about everyone stepping up […] into more leadership roles,” Ben Brown remarked.
In addition to relying on proven quantities, Dezotell has also enlisted first-year recruits and transfer players to bolster the Jumbo ranks. Among the first-years, tricky winger Oscar Suarez, left midfielder Curtis Fitzgerald and commanding midfielder Theo Behe could be ones to watch.
“The fresh[men] and transfers immediately fit in with the guys and seeing their talent has been super exciting. […] If someone came into our locker room, they wouldn’t be able to pick out who were fresh[men] or transfers; everyone is super comfortable and having fun,” Ben Brown wrote.
As for the schedule, the home-away ratio heavily favors the Jumbos. 10 of their 15 regular-season games will be played on Bello Field. Five of their opponents have been ranked in the United Soccer Coaches pre-season poll, including No. 5-ranked Bowdoin. Other dates that Coach Dezotell and his staff will have circled on their calendar include the Sept. 19 match against No. 9 Connecticut College, whom the Jumbos beat in last year’s NESCAC Championship Game and the Oct. 24 match against No. 10 Williams, the only team to beat the Jumbos last year.
“The [NESCAC] is always very tough so all those games will be a battle and we are going to take it one game at a time,” Brown said.
Besides the major looming question concerning whether the Jumbos can repeat as champions, other, more imminent matters currently concern Coach Dezotell. Foremost amongst those considerations is goalscoring. Midfielder Henry Perkins (LA’25) was the team’s co-leader in assists last term, while midfielder Daniel Yanez (LA’25) also tacked on five goals. Following their graduation, the pressure now falls on Canfin and Henry Brown to pick up the goalscoring burden. Additionally, 10 out of the 57 goals scored by the Jumbos last year were penalty kicks, meaning creativity from open play will be integral to winning matches.
Another concern Dezotell will need to address entering the season is replacing stalwarts in his backline. Antic, Akhtarzandi-Das and Ben Brown have returned, though other crucial defenders, such as center back Taylor Feinberg (LA’25) and full-back Mateo Bargagna (LA’25), have departed. Players such as Jett and right-back Alex Johnson, a sophomore, will be tasked with ensuring that the rock-solid defensive front refrains from faltering after losing many of its mainstays.
Despite all the expectations and questions, the Jumbos understand what it takes to win and are confident in their abilities. While it is often said that the sequel never tops the original, the 2026 Jumbos will put that wisdom to the test.
“We honestly feel no pressure. The guys carry a sense of pride and confidence from last season but we have all moved on and know we are going to get every team’s best shot at us which is just more motivating,” Ben Brown wrote.
