Soccer

Soccer

Men's soccer topples Amherst

September 15

The soccer team continued the winning ways it displayed last season in its first NESCAC game on Saturday, an away match against the Amherst Lord Jeffs. With the victory, the Jumbos now stand in a four-way tie with Colby, Wesleyan and Williams for first place in the conference. Down early in the game, the Jumbos felt the pressure of their opponents, yet rebounded quickly to seal the win. The victory moved Tufts to 2-0 on the young season while spoiling the Jeff's season opener, sending them away with a 0-1 record. Amherst is traditionally one of the tough opponents, and the Jumbos wanted to test their strength against a NESCAC opponent. The game began ominously when Amherst nearly scored twice in the first few minutes of the game. The Lord Jeffs were the first to draw blood, as senior midfielder Chris Kane took a pass from freshman Joe Gannon for a goal in the game's 17th minute. "In the first 15 minutes we were really playing poorly," sophomore goalkeeper Scott Conroy said. The Jeffs' goal sent out a wake-up call to the Jumbos. Almost immediately afterwards, Tufts responded with a goal of its own. Senior co-captain Matt MacGregor scored his first goal of the season unassisted to tie the game 1-1 1:49 minutes later. "We reacted well to the goal. We didn't get down and we stuck it out," MacGregor said. MacGregor's goal brought about a shift in the game's momentum, bringing the Jumbos back into their playing style. "It was pretty much a feeling of relief when he scored. Up until that point we had been getting dominated by Amherst," freshmen Todd Gilbert said. Deflating the Jeffs' hopes with the first goal, the Jumbos were able to regain control and score again before going into the half. Nearly ten minutes off of MacGregor's first goal, the Jumbos netted what turned out to be the game-winning goal, as junior co-captain Mike Blea scored on a rebound off of freshmen Mike Guilgi's deflected shot. The Jumbos had been looking to score on rebounds, as Amherst freshmen goalie Greg Lockwood was susceptible to allowing goals off of rebound shots. Going into the half up 2-1, the Jumbos felt confident that the win would be theirs. "The second goal pretty much took them out of their game," Gilbert said. The Jeffs did not give in easily, though, as they came out strong in the second half, putting pressure once again on the Jumbos defense. But late into the regulation period, Gilbert added an insurance goal, putting the Jumbos up 3-1 and securing the victory. Despite their poor performance early in the game, the Jumbos were pleased with the game. After failing to move the ball well and convert on opportunities in their previous game against Lasell, the team moves onto their next match-up with a more solid victory under their belts. "What we needed against a team like this was for everyone to give 100 percent and I think we did," MacGregor said. "We took advantages of the opportunities we had better than we did against Lasell." Offensively, the team was able to take 14 shots on goal. While Amherst had the opportunity to take 25, Conroy played well and had eight saves. Most of the Jeff's goal attempts occurred in the first half, when their pressure was strong. The men remain busy this week, with an out of conference game against MIT on Wednesday and then return to their NESCAC schedule on Saturday against Connecticut College. Both games will be played on the road. "This is the first game in a lot of games and while we're excited about the way we've played we need to stay level headed. We can't get ahead of ourselves," MacGregor said

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Soccer

Men's soccer has high goals for 2001 season

August 31

While spending much of last season in the shadow of its female counterparts, who came seconds away from winning the Division III national championship, the men's soccer team managed to have a successful season its own right. Despite not qualifying for the national tournament, the Jumbos won the 2001 ECAC New England Championship and made their seventh straight postseason appearances. The team returns mostly intact from last year's campaign, minus only two starters - forward David Drucker and goalie Steve McDermid - who graduated last spring. Despite these key losses it appears likely that under the leadership of senior tri-captains Brad Stitchberry and Mike Prindiville and junior Matt MacGregor, the Jumbos can continue where they left off in 2000. Featuring a 4-4-2 set, the team should be one of the more interesting teams to watch. "Any logical goal for a team that won the ECAC tournament would be to go farther," MacGregor said. "That is what we are going to shoot for. We want to put ourselves in contention for the NCAA's. We want to get a high seed in NESCAC tournament. I'm looking forward to the season."Forwards Much of the Jumbos' strength lies upfront in the form of MacGregor, the leading scorer on last year's team with 23 points and junior Patrick Brophy, the sixth leading scorer. For much of last season MacGregor played midfield, but this season's move to the forward line is more conducive to his natural scoring ability. With the loss Drucker, who ranked second in scoring for the Jumbos in 2000, it would appear that MacGregor will have to increase his already prolific scoring totals from last year. "We lost Dave Drucker, who was one of our key players and scorers," MacGregor said. "On paper it would seem like there is a lot of pressure on me to be the big scorer. But I see goals coming from an assortment of people. We don't really have a go-to person. We are looking for a few people to score goals and make assists here and there. I definitely want to help out but I don't think it's going to be a one man show." Joining MacGregor and Brophy in the mix upfront is sophomore Alex Berg.Midfield The midfield will feature a combination of youth and experience, a mix which has the potential to be potent. With MacGregor now upfront, the midfield will be controlled by junior Garrett Dale and sophomore Brian Mikel in the center spots. Dale and Mikel finished third and fourth in scoring for the Jumbos last year with 14 and 13 points, respectively. "[Dale] can really be the one to set up the team and Mike is a really talented player and really aggressive," MacGregor said. Sophomore John Vorrasi could find himself as the backup to this duo. While the inside seems set, both the left and right midfield slots are up in the air. Senior tri-captain Brad Stitchberry is expected to play left midfield, assuming that he has recovered from a knee injury, which he suffered during a summer tournament in Europe. An extended absence by Stitchberry could prove impossible to overcome for the Jumbos, as the senior provides all around outstanding play and leadership. The tri-captain also has the most career games played among current Jumbo players. For the time being, two freshmen, Jesse Lessinger and Noah Rosenberg, and junior Nate Fash are competing for the other outside spot. "[Fash] had a really good preseason and is playing on the right outside midfield," MacGregor said. "He has been playing really well. Hopefully Brad will be back - he played the best in Europe. [His injury] is something that he can definitely come back from."Defense Just as the team appears set in the front and in the midfield, the Jumbos defense appears to be nearly settled as well. Sophomore Jesse Dinner and senior co-captain Mike Prindiville anchor the defense from the center and sophomore Mike Blea along with junior Rupak Datta are expected to start on the right and left sides, respectively. Sophomore Andy Wood is being counted on to provide competition for the four starters. "I expect [Wood] to pressure the backs," MacGregor said. "To keep them on their toes. Those are probably the five you will see."Goalkeeper The stability which seems to be a staple for the team appears completely lost at the keeper position. The Jumbos will sorely miss goalkeeper Steve McDermid, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the ECAC Tournament last year. McDermid started 17 games for the team last year and had an excellent save percentage of .865 to go along with a goals against average of .99. With no seasoned goalies on the roster, a trio of youngsters have been competing for the starting spot. The group includes freshmen Scott Conroy and Mark Frost along with sophomore Joseph Coletti, who competed for the junior varsity squad last year. "It has kind of looked in practice that Scott will be the starter," MacGregor said. "He has been practicing with the first team, but both other goalies are putting pressure on him and we could see any of those three in goal."Coach Ralph Ferrigno enters his 12th season as the Jumbos' head coach. With a 100-58-13 career record for a 62.3 winning percentage, Ferrigno is the most successful men's soccer coach in Tufts' history. He was the NCAA New England Coach of the Year, New England Intercollegiate Soccer League Coach of the Year, and Massachusetts College Coach of the Year in 1994 when the Jumbos won the NCAA New England Championship.

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Soccer

Women's soccer team has feeding frenzy on Simmons Sharks

August 31

In its most lopsided victory of the year, the women's soccer team decimated Simmons College 5-0 yesterday, building confidence for its important NESCAC game against Trinity tomorrow. Tufts outshot Simmons 53-2 in the contest, controlling play from the opening kick until the closing whistle. With the win, Tufts improved its record to 7-4, while Simmons slipped to 5-6. "I thought today was great," coach Martha Whiting said after the game. "We played hard and capitalized on our chances - something we didn't do against Brandeis last week." The first half of the game resembled earlier non-conference matches for Tufts, with a barrage of shots but very few goals on the board. The Jumbos put up 28 shots in the first half but scored only once, as many shots ricocheted off of the crossbar. The second half was a different story, though, as Tufts went on a scoring rampage, led by midfielder Becky Mann. The senior had a goal and two assists, while freshman midfielder Becky Greenstein notched two goals and an assist. "It's great that we finally had this huge burst of scoring and were able to finish shots," Mann said. "It's really good for morale, and it shows us that we will be able to finish shots in big games where we don't have as many scoring opportunities." Simmons only posed one threat in the game. Early in the second half, the team had a clear look at the goal, but could not convert. The squad also produced three straight corner kicks, but the Jumbo defense was able to subdue any possible attack. Tufts was able to maintain its level of intensity for the entire 90 minutes of the contest - a feat which has been absent in the majority of outings this year. Case in point: Greenstein broke through two lackadaisical defenders on a botched clear with less than two minutes left to net the final goal of the game. "That is what we need," Whiting said. "Players playing to the last whistle is something that you love to see as a coach." With the team running up the score, Whiting was also able to rest some of her work-weary starters, who are in the middle of an eight-day stretch with four games. Freshman Lindsey Wolejko scored her second goal of the season off of the bench. "It shows that anyone on the team can produce when called upon," Mann said of the bench players' contributions. Also appearing on the score sheet were sophomore Jess Trombly, who netted her team-leading fourth goal of the year, and sophomore Alle Sharlip, who had an assist. The Jumbos will now have to channel their confidence into a more important NESCAC match-up with Trinity (6-5, 2-4) tomorrow at home. Tufts, 4-3 in conference play, has lost three of its last four games in NESCAC play but could clinch a spot in the conference tournament with a win tomorrow. Trinity has won five of its last seven games and should provide a much higher level of competition than Simmons. "I'm really excited about coming off of this win, and playing Trinity," Whiting said. "If we go into the tournament as we are peaking, that will be a great thing."@s:Women's soccer psyched for Saturday's Trinity game

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Soccer

Women's soccer to butt heads with Conn. College Camels today

August 31

The women's soccer team, which is coming off a 3-1 win over the Middlebury Panthers on Saturday, will look to extend its winning streak at home this afternoon at 4 p.m. against the Connecticut College Camels. The Jumbos (2-1, 2-0 NESCAC) beat the Camels (2-1, 1-1 NESCAC) by a 1-0 score in their only meeting last year. Tufts has picked up considerable momentum after dropping the season opener to Babson, 4-1. The team responded to the loss with two straight conference wins, including Saturday's comeback over Middlebury. That win was especially important for the Jumbos because the Panthers were the only NESCAC opponents they did not beat last year. "Saturday was a great confidence builder for our team. It was really a pivotal game," coach Martha Whiting said. "We've got some momentum. [The players] are feeling confident as a group, and are starting to believe in each other and trust each other and the decisions they make on the field. Something just clicked for us, and I think it'll carry over." In addition to momentum, the win enabled the team to establish a new identity and separate itself from last season's NCAA runner-up squad. "Now we can dismiss last year's team. We don't have to look back anymore," assistant coach Andrea Licari said. "This team is unique and just as great. This team beat Middlebury and can do so much. They are capable of everything last year's team accomplished and more, and now they can see that." The Jumbos may be on a hot streak, but it is still important to improve both mentally and physically, the coaches say. "We have to not settle for how we played [Saturday]," Licari said. "We still have a lot to work on, and we have to push ourselves more and expect more. The only way to succeed is to keep your goals up." Conn. College finished just 6-8 last season, and its 2-7 record in the NESCAC failed to qualify the team for the conference tournament. But Whiting insists that the Camels are not a team to be taken lightly. "There's a fine line between every team. Conn. has always played us tough," she said. "We didn't beat them for the first three or four years I was here, and since then it's been back and forth. They're not a team we consistently beat. Last year was a tough game, but I like that we're playing at home. It really works in our favor." The Jumbos have lost just one contest on their home field - the NCAA Championship match against the College of New Jersey - in 13 games since the start of the 2000 season. The Camels will be led by a trio of senior captains: forward Lena Eckhoff, who has scored two goals this season, midfielder Sara Molina, and goalkeeper Laura Knisely, who has a 1.58 goals against average. With her two-goal performance in Saturday's win, Tufts midfielder Alle Sharlip earned NESCAC Player of the Week and Tufts Athlete of the Week honors. She is the team's leading scorer with four points, and is followed by sophomore Becca Doigan, who has three. Doigan, however, is questionable for today's game after suffering a lower-leg injury against Middlebury. Senior co-captain Katie Ruddy will also miss her second consecutive match because of a hip injury. However, she is expected back for this weekend's game at Colby. Today's contest is the third of four consecutive conference games for the Jumbos in an 11-day span.

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Soccer

Men's soccer game hold serious playoff significance

August 31

A single day remains in the men's soccer regular season, and NESCAC playoff spots are still up for grabs. One thing is certain, though - with a 4-1 blowout of Tufts last Saturday, Williams clinched the top seed, meaning the road to the conference crown will run through Williamstown. And with that much set in stone, the Jumbos cannot seem to get off their minds a potential rematch with the Ephmen in the NESCAC Tournament, when the stakes are higher. "We've all been talking about it a lot," junior Rupak Datta said. "It was a tough loss [last week] but we got a lot out of it and we just want to play them in the NESCAC tournament."In addition to Williams, which owns an unblemished 8-0 NESCAC record and has outscored its opponents 28-4, Bowdoin, Tufts and Amherst have all clinched spots for the seven-team tournament. Wesleyan, Bates, and Trinity will fight on Saturday for a chance to occupy the final two spots in the tournament's first round on Sunday.In conference play this weekend, the Jumbos host Connecticut College, a team standing at 0-8 in the NESCAC, having been outscored 23-3 in league games. Tufts had won its previous three NESCAC games, sweeping Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Trinity in one whirlwind week, until Williams upended the team 4-1 on Saturday. The Ephmen scored three first half goals and never looked back, ending the Jumbos' five-game winning streak and perfect October.Against Conn. College, Tufts must try to recapture some of the momentum lost after last Saturday's thumping. The Jumbos entered play last week with a national ranking of #23, the team's first appearance on the national radar this season. They were also ranked third in New England."All I can say a victory would best help our chances of getting an at large bid NCAA bid, and help our chances in the NESCAC tournament," Datta said.And an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, a milestone not achieved by a Tufts team since 1994, seems to be the treasure on which the Jumbos' eyes are set. "It would be great," senior tri-captain Brad Stitchberry said. "Its kind of what you play for, to go to the big tournament. Hopefully all the players are dreaming about it. To get a chance to go play teams against in different areas, it's definitely in the back of our minds. There is talk in the locker about how it would be really cool."Tufts takes the field tomorrow tied for fourth place in the conference with Amherst. The Lord Jeffs battle Trinity, a team currently tied with Bates for seventh. Bates, though only 2-4-2 in the NESCAC, should have an easy time with conference bottom-dweller Colby, which has been outscored 16-6 by opponents.Wesleyan will travel north to Brunswick, ME to take on Bowdoin in an important match-up for both teams. The Cardinals need a win to ensure a playoff berth, while Bowdoin could drop from third to fifth place with a loss. Williams will be at Middlebury in a clash of the league's two top-rated teams. Middlebury is 5-1-2 in the NESCAC, and a Panthers loss, coupled with a Bowdoin win, would give the Polar Bears the second seed.It should be a wild Saturday, with several teams' destinies still in the air. If the playoffs did start today, however, Tufts would battle Amherst, Middlebury would play Bates, Bowdoin would play Wesleyan, and Williams would earn a much-deserved bye, awaiting the winner of the #4 vs. #5 game.

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Soccer

Men's soccer set for battle with cross-town rivals MIT

August 31

Four days after Saturday's heartbreaking loss to Middlebury - in the third minute of double overtime - the men's soccer team will have an opportunity to rebuild its confidence in a non-conference, home game against the MIT Engineers today at 4 p.m. The game should help boost the team's esteem - Tufts has beaten MIT by a combined 18-2 score over the past three seasons. "It was a tough loss [on Saturday] but we have to regroup and come out strong," senior forward Pat Brophy said. "It's tough, but Middlebury is a good team and we know we played fairly solidly." While the Engineers showed improvement when the teams met last September - Tufts won 3-0 - historically the Jumbos have dominated MIT and have won the last eight contests against their cross-town rivals. In the victory last September, midfielder Garrett Dale took seven shots and scored the game-winning goal in the 34th minute. Matt MacGregor and forward/midfielder Adam Lorenzetti also chipped in goals. Tufts clearly outplayed the Engineers, out-shooting them by a 19-4 margin. Jumbo goalie Steve McDermid, since graduated, was barely tested, had to make only three saves in the 90-minute contest. Despite the imposing statistics, team members insist their opponent was drastically improved. "They were a good team last year but we played really well against them," Brophy said. "We have to go out and play hard and take them seriously." Going into Wednesday's matchup, the Engineers should be confident, having started the season with four straight victories by a combined 9-1 margin. The team notched three consecutive shutouts before giving up its first goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Rhode Island College. The Engineers' recent success, along with their position as Boston-area rivals, has the Jumbos fired up for the game. "We take this game just as seriously even though they aren't a NESCAC team," Brophy said. "Just because of the Boston rivalry alone we take this game seriously. I think [when] playing any Boston team you just want to have some hometown pride." In the wake of Saturday's loss to Middlebury, the Jumbos have been working to improve their offense, which has looked lethargic the first two games of the season. Coach Ralph Ferrigno has been emphasizing offense in recent practices in the hopes of increasing the team's productivity. "We have to work the ball more as a unit and start finishing goals," Brophy said. "It was especially a problem in the first game. We have been working at moving and shifting as a unit and doing finishing drills." Following Wednesday's game against MIT, the Jumbos will embark on a tough week. Beginning Saturday, they will play three NESCAC rivals - Colby, Amherst and Bates - over the course of seven days. To make matters more difficult, all three games will be played on the road.

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Soccer

Men's soccer playoff race heats up

August 31

The men's soccer team is preparing to battle Johnson and Wales tomorrow following a successful weekend in which it defeated Trinity 1-0 on senior tri-captain Mike Prindiville's third goal of the season. The win pushed Tufts into a tie for second place in the NESCAC with the Middlebury Panthers, two games behind the Williams Ephs. The victory was Tufts' fourth consecutive win since a loss to Bates on Sept. 29. Against non-conference Johnson and Wales, the Jumbos hope to continue the success that has engulfed the team for the past three weeks. Tufts moved into second place in the NESCAC following Middlebury's Sunday's matchup with the Bates Bobcats. Had Middlebury pulled out a victory, the Panthers would have moved into sole possession of second place, but the teams battled to a 1-1 tie. While the tie hurt the Panthers pursuit for second place, it was a step in the right direction for the Bobcats. It marked their second consecutive tie, as they battled Wesleyan to a 1-1 stalemate on Saturday. The Bobcats' senior goaltender Dan Spector made a combined 14 saves in his team's two NESCAC ties. Spector's success should not come as a surprise, as the keeper ranks fourth in the NESCAC with a 1.19 G.A.A. The two ties put Bates half a game behind Wesleyan in competition for the final NESCAC tournament berth. In more important NESCAC news, Williams remained perfect, posting a 2-1 victory over the Amherst Lord Jeffs. However, unlike many of Williams' victories this season, the win over Amherst did not come easy. The Jeff's jumped out to an early lead in the 22nd minute when Chris Kane drilled a goal from 20 yards out. The Ephs were unable to respond in the remaining 23 minutes of the half and went into halftime trailing for the first time this season. In fact, the situation was even more unfamiliar for Williams, as it had never previously been held scoreless in the first half of a contest. Although they found themselves in an unusual situation, the Ephs recovered to score the tying goal in the 52nd minute on Alex Blake's first goal of the game and then in the 71st minute, Blake's second score of the day won the game for the Ephs. Blake's heroics should not have been surprising, as he currently leads the NESCAC in scoring with 49 points, 20 points ahead of Bowdoin's David Bulow and Williams' Josef Powell. With Amherst's loss, the Bowdoin Polar Bears moved into fourth place in week six of NESCAC action by defeating the Conn. College Camels 2-0 at home. The Polar Bears' Bulow scored one of the two goals raising his career total to 28 - four shy of the school's all-time record. One of the season's more exciting games will take place next Saturday when Tufts travels to Williams in a matchup of the number one and two teams in the NESCAC. With a 5-2 record as compared to the Ephs 7-0 mark, the Jumbos will not move into first with a victory. However, a Tufts win will go a long way towards setting the tone for a potential face off in the NESCAC tournament.

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Soccer

Men's soccer ends shutout streak, loses to Bates 2-1

August 31

The men's soccer team saw its three game winning streak come to a conclusion on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to the Bates Bobcats. The defeat came after the Jumbos held their opponents scoreless for more than 270 minutes over the course of three games. With the loss, Tufts drops to 4-2 on the season including 2-2 in the NESCAC, good for a share of fifth place in the conference alongside Trinity. The Jumbos' shutout streak came to an end nine minutes into the game on Saturday when Bates' senior forward Drew Weymouth crossed a pass in front of the Tufts' goal that junior forward Brian Luoma headed into the net. The goal marked the first score that freshman goalie Scott Conroy had allowed since his second collegiate game, a 3-2 loss to Middlebury. "[The goal] was kind of a shock," sophomore midfielder Brian Mikel said. "The ball was bouncing around and they got a head on to it and it went in. It took a few minutes for us to regain our composure and start playing again." Following the goal, the Jumbos were eventually able to regroup and battled the Bobcats to a draw for the remainder of the half. Junior forward Garrett Dale put Tufts on the scoreboard in the 12th minute of the second half when he drilled a penalty kick past Bates' goalie, Dan Spector. While a goal often changes the momentum of a match, Dale's shot, like Luoma's in the first half, did not signal the beginning of a big run. "I played a ball through to Pat Brophy and the goalie bobbled it and then the goalie fouled Pat," Mikel said. After the foul, Dale took the penalty shot that equalized the score. "I thought that was definitely going to be a turning point," Mikel said about Dale's goal. "From then on we were really the better team." Although it seemingly gained control of the game after the goal, Tufts was unable to mount a substantial run. Instead the game proceeded much like it had in the first half, with both teams having scoring chances yet failing to capitalize. After Dale's goal, the two well-matched squads battled for another twenty minutes without scoring. "We had a lot of good opportunities," Mikel said. "Garret had a few good chances that he created but couldn't quite put in." Finally, in the 77th minute of regulation Bates broke the stalemate when Weymouth booted a shot past Conroy into the lower left corner of the goal, putting the Bantums on top by a 2-1 margin. Despite nearly 15 minutes remaining, the Jumbos were unable to retaliate. In a game where neither team was ever able to capitalize on momentum, it is not surprising that the squads fought to a near statistical draw. The Bobcats out-shot the Jumbos 11-9, but the Jumbos had a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks. The outcome of the game was a variance from recent previous meetings between the two teams, as Tufts has gone 4-0 against Bates since 1998. "Traditionally Bates isn't a very good team, and they aren't really that good this year," Mikel said. "To come off a big win against Amherst and then to lose to Bates is embarrassing. But the season is definitely not over. Hopefully we can learn from this but this was really an embarrassing loss." The Jumbos will have little time to lament the loss, as the they jump right back into action with a road game on Tuesday afternoon against Salve Regina. Though it is a non-conference game, the matchup should give the Jumbos a chance to regain their confidence before embarking on a difficult period in which the team will play three NESCAC games over a seven-day period, beginning next Saturday at home against Bowdoin. "It's definitely going to be a game that we are really pumped up for," Mikel said about the contest against Salve Regina. "We know we have to play well. We will come together. [The loss to Bates] is not a downturn in our season. We have played really well. Its just a little speed bump."@s:Team looks to bounce back against Salve Regina

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Soccer

Men's soccer steals second straight in squeaker

August 31

On an unseasonably warm autumn day, the Tufts men's soccer team overcame a second half breakdown to defeat NESCAC rival Wesleyan on a sudden death overtime goal by Matt MacGregor. The win improved the Jumbos' record to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in NESCAC play. After beating Bowdoin 2-1 on Saturday, yesterday's victory was the Jumbos' second crucial NESCAC win this week. "We've been playing really well as a team since the letdown against Bates," MacGregor said. "Our defense as a unit is playing well, and people are starting to step up." Tufts came out strong in the first half. In the 24th minute, sophomore midfielder Alex Berg fed MacGregor, who grounded a goal past Wesleyan keeper Dan Penrod. "Alex gave me a perfect ball along the left side, and I just one-touched it," MacGregor said. "I sent it to the far right of the goal, their keeper got a little piece of it, but luckily it had enough strength to get by him." The Jumbos took the 1-0 lead into halftime, after playing perhaps their best half of the season, dominating play in all aspects. "We played a great first half," said tri-captain Mike Prindiville. "We were calm and composed. We were battling well and getting to every ball." But as the second half began, it looked as if a different Jumbo squad had come on the field. Wesleyan controlled the entire half. In the 59th minute of play, the Cardinals tied the game, when Tufts freshman goalie Scott Conroy dropped to his right to save a blast from Wesleyan freshman Michael Ryan, and senior R.T. Treveloni deposited the rebound. For the duration of regulation, the two teams battled to no avail. Wesleyan dominated play, but was unable to gain the lead. The game became very physical, with both teams receiving yellow cards. "Everything really fell apart for us in the second half," Prindiville said. "It wasn't so much a let-down of skill, but it was mental," he said. "We very easily could have won this game 4-1. There's no way we can play like that and expect wins." "We totally lost our composure after halftime," said coach Ralph Ferrigno. "I give Wesleyan some credit. They could have been dead and buried after the first half, but they came out with some intensity. But there's no excusing how we played." But the Jumbos responded in overtime and were able to ground the Cardinals. In the 97th minute, MacGregor and leading scorer Garrett Dale completed a beautiful give-and-go. After winning a midfield ball, Macgregor fed Dale in the middle. MacGregor darted up the left side, beating his defender, and creating an open passing lane. Dale fed the ball perfectly back to the streaking MacGregor who grounded it by the Wesleyan keeper. The entire Tufts squad piled on MacGregor, who fell to the ground more in relief than in celebration. "It was a beautiful ball from Garrett," MacGregor said. "He made it easy for me." Tufts next sets its sights on Trinity, which visits Medford on Saturday afternoon. The Jumbos will attempt to complete a three-game sweep of NESCAC opponents this week, but Trinity will be no pushover. "Every game in this league is a battle," MacGregor said. "But Trinity always plays us tough." "I've seen Trinity play, and they play good soccer," Ferrigno said. "If we play like we did today, we certainly won't get results.

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Soccer

Women's soccer team wins emotional 2-1 victory

August 31

Saturday's victory over Trinity was important to the women's soccer team for two reasons - for six seniors, it was the last regular-season home game, and it guaranteed the teem a berth in the NESCAC playoffs. Kraft Field has been a successful stomping ground for the Jumbo seniors, and the dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 victory watched by over 1,000 fans added icing to the cake. In the past two years, the team has only dropped two home games, compared to 18 wins. "We just wanted to go out and play hard," said senior midfielder Katie Kehrberger. "I love our field and the home crowds. We definitely wanted to play well for all of our friends and families." And appropriately, it was a pair of seniors who combined for the winning goal of the game. Midway through the second half, Kehrberger sent a corner kick to midfielder Sara Standish, who was waiting unmarked near the right goalpost. The goal capped the comeback win, which moved Tufts into a tie for third place in the NESCAC and guaranteed it spot in the conference postseason tournament. "It felt good, especially to come from behind," senior co-captain Lynn Cooper said. "Everyone worked really hard, which is good to see. The huge crowd definitely added a lot. It was nice to get the sure spot in the tournament and not have to depend on anyone else getting us in." The six seniors - Cooper, Standish, Kehberger, Becky Mann, Katie Ruddy, and Mara Schanfield - have all been integral to the team's success this season. "The seniors all had a really important part in the game, and that made me really happy that they could fight so hard," coach Martha Whiting said. Aside from Standish's goal, the other standout senior performer was Schanfield, the goalkeeper, who continued her intense level of play. Although she only made four saves, most of them were difficult point blank shots, which Schanfield played perfectly. "There is a point during your senior year when it dawns on you that this is the end of the line," Whiting said. "Basically you and your team are in control of how far you want to take it, or how quickly you're going to let it stop. I know the seniors were playing for their lives out there, and it showed." The emotion-filled victory moved Tufts to 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the NESCAC, behind only Bates (5-2) and Williams (7-0). "We knew we had to come out and win today to secure a position in the playoffs," Kehrberger said. "We didn't want to go into next week with a big question mark hanging over our heads."With one game to play, Tufts could still finish as high as second in the conference and possibly host the playoffs, which begin on Oct. 21. The process for determining who hosts the first round of the playoffs is slightly arbitrary as it takes location, number of available playing fields, and team records into consideration. Since Williams will receive a first round bye, Tufts has a legitimate shot of hosting the first round of games. For the seniors, the post-season is familiar territory, as two of the past three years have yielded a New England champion team. The team appears to be peaking both emotionally and physically heading into the final week of the season, so another playoff run seems imminent. "The seniors are actually the only people on the team who have been to the NCAA's twice, so two out of their three years have been phenomenal," Whiting said. "We're trying to make it three out of four years for them. I know they're excited."

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Soccer

Men's soccer contains Camels

August 31

The men's soccer team dominated the Conn. College Camels, 4-1 on Saturday, in its final regular season game - a tune-up for the NESCAC tourney which began yesterday. With the win, the Jumbos clinched the third seed in the NESCAC Playoffs and guaranteed a match up with the sixth-seed Wesleyan Cardinals. "We obviously didn't play the best that we could have, but we escaped without injury," junior tri-captain midfielder Matt MacGregor said. "We knew we had to go get the job done." Senior tri-captain midfielder Brad Stitchberry said the win helped the team remained confident. "It was a good team to beat, a team we were supposed to beat," Stitchberry said. "And it keeps our confidence going into the tournament." Tufts did not take long to get on the scoreboard as sophomore defender Jesse Dinner notched his first goal of the season at the 14-minute mark. Dinner scored after recovering a rebound off a corner kick and proceeded to knock the ball past Trinity goalie Sean LeBrie. Less than ten minutes later, MacGregor gave the Jumbos a 2-0 advantage, scoring on a pass from junior forward Garrett Dale, which Dale threaded through the defense giving MacGregor an opportunity for a breakaway goal. With Tufts controlling the game, the team went into halftime up 2-0. "We just played well as a team," MacGregor said. "We got some goals and put them away like we should have." Finally, just about five minutes into the second half, Conn. College was able to generate some offense. The Camel's leading scorer, Justin Provost, collected the ball off a corner kick and put one past freshman keeper Scott Conroy. Interestingly, Provost's goal was one of only five Conn. College shots on the day. The shot was one of only three balls that Conroy had the opportunity to save, and the rookie goalie recorded only two saves in the contest. Tufts' offense completely controlled the flow of the game. It took nineteen shots on the afternoon and, for the most part, the shots were accurate, with Conn. College goalie Sean LeBrie recording ten saves on the afternoon. Fourteen of 19 Jumbo shots either were saved by LeBrie or went past him. "We created a lot of chances," senior forward Pat Brophy said. "We had a little trouble finishing in the beginning." The Jumbos regained their two-goal lead at the 61:32 mark when Brophy set up junior forward Garrett Dale with a through-ball giving him his eighth goal of the season. The scoring concluded with less than five minutes remaining when freshman Jesse Lessinger, in the first collegiate varsity game of his career, scored off a pass from sophomore Adam Lorenzetti. The wide margin of victory allowed coach Ralph Ferrigno to rest some of his veterans while giving playing time to the less experienced players on the team. Senior tri-captain and defender Mike Prindiville, the anchor of the Jumbo defense, missed the final regular season game of his career with a pulled hamstring that he suffered last Tuesday against Gordon. The defense, however, was solid in his absence. "The defense played a good game," MacGregor said. "The new guys did a great job so it was good." The victory puts the Jumbos in a strong position for the NESCAC Tournament, having won seven of their past eight games, including two straight after a loss to Williams on Oct. 20. "This is something to keep us in the rhythm [as we] move into tomorrow," MacGregor said. While Tufts clearly has momentum, players realize there are six other teams in the tournament, all of which could end the squad's season. "No matter who we play, its gonna be tough," Brophy said. "Everyone wants to win."

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Soccer

Women's soccer up to the challenge

August 31

With a talented core of returning players and eight promising freshman joining the roster, the largest obstacle for the women's soccer team this year will be pressure. That pressure will come from within, as the defending national runner-ups attempt to fill the gaps left by its three departed captains, two of whom were All-Americans. Pressure will also come from every opponent - teams that once regarded Tufts as an underdog but now consider it the team to beat in New England. Coach Martha Whiting will have her first opportunity to continue last year's success today, when Tufts plays its first NESCAC game at Wesleyan. Although the Cardinals finished at the bottom of the league last year, Whiting says they are a strong opponent. "Every team that we play will be extremely pumped up to play us," Whiting said. "We have no control over that. We just have to forget about it and play." While the starting lineup has not been determined, Whiting will employ a 4-4-2 formation, with four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. Forwards Senior co-captain Lynn Cooper and sophomore Jess Trombly established themselves as team leaders last year and will start in the forward positions this fall. Cooper, who has led the team in scoring in each of her three seasons as a Jumbo and has 76 career points, was named to last year's All New England First Team. Trombly came off the bench last season to provide a speedy scoring threat and ended up third on the team with 20 points. At season's end, she earned NESCAC Rookie of the Year honors. Sophomore Becca Doigan, who Whiting said is in good physical shape, will back up the two starters. Midfielders Returning to the outside midfield positions will be senior Becky Mann and junior Elizabeth Tooley. The center positions will be filled by an array of returnees, including seniors Katie Kehrberger and Sara Standish and juniors Alle Sharlip and Brenna O'Rourke. "I think we have strong and smart midfielders, which is always a plus," Whiting said. "Our wide players are fast and that's a really important aspect of our game. Becky Mann will suddenly turn it on, and she can surprisingly score a lot of goals. Elizabeth came off the bench last year and did a great job."Defense Easily the most inexperienced unit for the women's soccer team, the defense will rely on the leadership and skill of co-captain Katie Ruddy to hold itself intact. "[Ruddy] is a good communicator on the field," Whiting said. "She's a veteran player. She's been out in the trenches for three years, and she will be there to step up and lead." In the backfield with Ruddy will be junior Cara Glassanos and sophomores Abby Herzberg and Jess Lovitz. Glassanos and Lovitz saw significant playing time last year, while Herzberg only played in five games. Defenders will have to adjust to a diamond formation, consisting of a sweeper, stopper, and two outside backs, instead of the flat back four set-up. "People are more comfortable," said senior Katie Kehrberger. "This type of defense suits the players better this year."Goalkeepers In goal, senior Mara Schanfield will have the daunting task of replacing second team All-American Randee McArdle, who graduated last year. While Schanfield's playing time has been limited, she has a career 87.5 save percentage in the nine games she has played. "Mara's confidence has gone up and up since we have been practicing," Whiting said. "I have nothing but good things to say about her." But Schanfield, who received a red card in Saturday's loss to Babson for interfering with an opposing player, is suspended for today's game. Backup goalkeeper Meg McCourt, a freshman, will start instead. "Meg did a nice job Saturday," Whiting said. "I think she's confident and she's a good communicator."Bench While the starting lineup is not completely set, Whiting will have a few dependable returning players on the bench. Aside from McCourt, no other freshmen will start games early on. "You never know who is going to shine and deserve to start," Whiting said. But, she added, "we are at a point now where we don't need any of the freshmen to start." While the bench will be relatively inexperienced, there are a handful of players who can step on the field and get the job done. Coach Although she is in only her third season as head coach, Whiting has received numerous accolades, including National Coach of the Year recognition last season. Whiting was a goalkeeper for Tufts women's soccer team from 1989-92, and holds the University records for career saves and fewest goals allowed in a season.

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Soccer

Men's soccer caps Polar Bears

August 31

The men's soccer team jumped into a tie with Trinity for fourth place in the NESCAC with a 2-1 win over the Bowdoin Polar Bears on a rain filled Saturday. The victory distanced the squad from the memory of its previous NESCAC game, a 2-1 loss to Bates on Sept. 29. Senior co-captain Mike Prindiville scored the second goal of his college career in the 78th minute of the contest to win it for the Jumbos. The goal came after Prindiville recovered a poorly cleared ball and drilled a shot from 25 yards out that dribbled past the Bowdoin goalie and into the left side of the net, setting off a raucous celebration. Following his score, Prindiville ripped his shirt off and ran over to the stands. "It was an absolutely brilliant goal," junior co-captain Matt MacGregor said. "It was great to see. He holds together the [defensive] backs and for him to be able to score was great." Prindiville's game-winner would have been impossible had it not been for MacGregor's play in the first half. In the 25th minute of play, MacGregor stole the ball from a Bowdoin midfielder and then junior forward Garrett Dale quickly gained control of the ball and sent it towards MacGregor and the goal. MacGregor beat the sliding goalie, sending a ball over the keeper and into the left side of the goal. "It was really a great way to start us off," MacGregor said. "The play had been kind of even and Garrett played a great ball. With the bad conditions it was really windy so you never know what could happen. So going up was a big advantage for the rest of play." Bowdoin was unable to score until the 71st minute of action when David Bulow converted a free kick from the top of the box. The free kick was called when sophomore defender Mike Blea tackled Bowdoin's Bobby Dislets and was whistled for a foul. Blea's foul was one of the few blemishes on Tufts' inspiring defensive performance. Sophomore Andy Wood replaced junior starting back Rupak Datta, who sat out the game due to a pulled quad muscle. But about ten minutes into the contest, Wood suffered a cut over his left eye that required stitches and forced him to sit out the remainder of the match. Coach Ralph Ferrigno brought in sophomore Craig Gelormini, who held his own despite little varsity game experience. "Gelormini played amazing in the back," MacGregor said. "It was his first really big game that he stepped into. It was great to see that he played like that," he said. "When Craig came into the game [the other defenders] brought him right in and they gave a great performance." Freshman keeper Scott Conroy maintained his string of solid performances, allowing only one goal while making seven saves. The win was significant for the Jumbos because had they lost, their NESCAC record would have fallen under .500 and could have severely hindered their chances of qualifying for the postseason NESCAC tournament. "Anytime you have a big NESAC win it's great but with this situation it's even better," MacGregor said. "We put ourselves in a good position to get a great playoff spot but we need to get a few more wins in the next few weeks," he said. "This sets things up for the rest of the season."

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Soccer

Women's soccer team hosts clinic for inner-city youths

August 31

While the season is over for the women's soccer team, its members helped enhance the future of the sport, hosting a soccer clinic last Friday for City Kicks, an organization designed to support middle-school aged girls from the inner-city. The event was an overwhelming success, with about 40 girls from Roxbury and Dorchester working on drills and playing various games run by the entire soccer team and its coach, Martha Whiting. Senior Sara Standish helped organize the event. After reading about City Kicks in the Boston Globe, Standish says she realized it would be a rewarding experience for her team and the girls they would be instructing. "When you see younger kids playing soccer, it makes you remember why you starting playing in the first place," Standish said. Standish contacted City Kicks coordinator Anne Strong, who agreed it would be a great experience for the girls and helped set up the event. This was the first time in City Kicks' three-year history that the organization worked directly with a complete college team. "We tried asking some colleges in the past, but they are too busy with their season during the fall," Strong said. "The event was perfect. It was magical. Every single player was great with the kids. At first some of the young girls were standoffish, but by the end they were all laughing and completely into it." The City Kicks' girls ranged widely in experience, anywhere from five years to less than one year, so the Tufts players had to revamp their itinerary to accommodate the disparate skill levels. "We worked on some basic drills with some girls, and we were able to show others some of the actual games that we play during practice," Standish said. "My teammates were great with changing around the drills and games to accommodate the girls." Whiting let her players to do the coaching on Friday, but left the City Kicks girls with some closing words about how soccer is more than just a sport - but rather also an activity that can lead to friendship and teamwork that will be valuable in high school and college. "The whole event turned out unbelievably well," Whiting said. "The Tufts girls were having just as much fun as the younger ones." The funding for the clinic was provided by the provost's office and was given without hesitation when Standish approached Sol Gittleman. "Women's soccer is a great sport," Gittleman said. "Somerville benefits from this, and if Somerville benefits, then the University benefits. Seeing the quality of players on our soccer team must have been great for those girls." Although this was its first time working with a college team, City Kicks has enjoyed success over the past three years and has thrived under the Strong's leadership. Strong, a non-practicing attorney, says she runs the City Kicks organization because she feels that inner-city children, especially girls, do not have enough opportunities to play organized sports. There are over 125 girls who participate in the after school program, which meets two or three times a week. Its primary goal is to focus on teamwork, self-esteem and physical fitness, while downplaying the competitive aspect of the sport. "I grew up in the '50s and was frustrated by not being able to play in sports because of my gender," Strong said. "When youth soccer became popular, I was drawn to it, but by the mid '90s, it was disproportionately white and upper-middle class. I wanted to get more lower income kids involved." Strong was impressed by the detail of instruction, as well as the rapport developed between the girls. Although none of the City Kicks girls were available for comment, Strong says they enjoyed their time at Tufts. "If the volume on the bus ride home was any indication, I'd say they loved it," Strong said. The two groups are already thinking ahead to another clinic in the spring and hope that Friday's success will be repeated in the future. And who knows, maybe one of the City Kicks girls will suit up in Brown and Blue one day.

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Soccer

Men's soccer hopes to go into NESCAC tourney on high note

August 31

The men's soccer team hosts the Conn. College Camels tomorrow at 2 p.m. in its regular season finale - otherwise known as a tune-up match for the NESCAC Tournament. While the game is important for both teams' conference records, unless the Jumbos (9-3, 5-3) completely flop, the end result should be Tufts' sixth NESCAC win of the season. "I expect it to be a good game," junior defender Rupak Datta said. "They are going to be trying to play for some respect in the NESCAC. Last year they gave us a good game, and we didn't win it until the last few minutes."Despite being heavy favorites, Tufts is determined to go at the Camels as if they are the best team in the league. "We are just going to come out hard, as usual," Datta said. "We will be looking to play a bit more cautiously because we have the NESCAC tournament on Sunday, but we are still going to play hard. Losing the game will probably stop us from playing as well as we could on Sunday."Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game, Tufts will move on to the NESCAC tournament beginning Sunday afternoon, while Conn. College will throw its cleats and shin guards into the closet and begin preparing for next season. But though Tufts has already clinched a spot in the tournament, its seeding is still up in the air. Additionally, a potential at-large bid to the NCAA tournament could be at stake, and a loss to the Camels would take the Jumbos out of the running for that spot. "Every game at this state is important for a few reasons," senior tri-captain and midfielder Brad Stitchberry said. "You want to go into the postseason having won, and there is still a possibility of an at-large bid in the NCAA." Currently, four teams have a chance to clinch the second spot in the conference. The Jumbos could conceivably finish anywhere between number two and number five. "It's a mess right now," Stitchberry said. "Let whatever happens with the other teams happen. Right now our focus is on Conn. College. It looks like we will be playing Amherst [in the first round], but we are not sure. We don't want to look too far ahead. Saturday's game is really important." Interestingly, both Conn. College and Tufts are coming off 4-1 losses to conference opponents last weekend. Bates, which handed Tufts its most recent NESCAC loss prior to last Saturday, whipped Conn. College in Maine, and the Jumbos fell to Williams in Williamstown. "[The match with Conn. College] is a NESCAC game, so its never gonna be easy," Stitchberry said. "The Williams team was just too good that day. If we meet again, will it be 4-1 again? I don't think so. It's a NESCAC game so it's going to be hard, but its not Williams." Statistically speaking, the Camels are not a formidable opponent. Their goals allowed to goals scored ratio, against NESCAC opponents is nearly 8-1, as they have given up a whopping 23 goals while scoring a mere three. The team's 23 goals allowed is six more than the Trinity, number two in the NESCAC in that category. While Tufts, which has knotted 12 goals on the season, may have a field day against a porous Camels defense, injuries could play a factor in the final score. Numerous Jumbos on both offense and defense are currently ailing. Senior tri-captain and sweeper Mike Prindiville pulled his hamstring in Tuesday's non-conference game against Gordon. Also hurting are senior Pat Brophy, who got cut above his eye during Tuesday's game and may need stitches; junior tri-captain Matt MacGregor, who has been playing with an injured toe all season; sophomore Brian Mikel, who has a pulled quad; and Datta, who has been battling an ankle injury. "There are some good players that have been in and out," Stitchberry said. "One good thing about the team is that we have some depth. Some guys haven't played [much this season] but they stepped in and did a good job. We can be confident that our bench players will do just as good a job."The Jumbos will kickoff at 2 pm on Kraft Field.

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Soccer

Men's soccer nets first NESCAC victory, 2-0

August 31

The men's soccer team improved to 3-1 (1-1 in the NESCAC) after posting its second consecutive shutout in Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Colby White Mules in Waterville, Maine. Senior tri-captain and defender Mike Prindiville scored the eventual game-winning goal in the 36th minute off an assist from junior midfielder Garrett Dale. The score came off a routine set when Dale sent a free kick from 25 yards out directly in front of the goal, where the Prindiville was stationed. Prindiville leapt and headed the ball past Colby goalie Andy Danziger. Remarkably, Prindiville's score was the first of his four-year career and came in his 41st collegiate contest. "I guess I had waited a long time," Prindiville said. "It was a pretty normal set kick from from 25 or 30 yards out and Garrett just played a perfect ball that had a nice curve. I knew I shouldn't mess it up and I was able to knock it home. I was in complete and utter disbelief after it went in. I kind of stopped and doubled checked to make sure it went in." More than filling a void in Prindiville's personal stat sheet, the goal completely changed the game's momentum. The Jumbos began the game out-of-sync and did not seem comfortable until the midpoint of the first half. After Prindiville's goal, Tufts dominated for the remainder of the contest. "The first twenty minutes or so of the game we came out slow and kind of let them take it to us - which is never a good thing," Prindiville said. "Gradually we started to form more of an attack using the width of the field. They were overloading one side of the field and once we noticed that we changed. After we scored that goal in the first half we dominated the rest of the half and pretty much the rest of the game." Junior tri-captain Matt MacGregor secured the game in the 82nd minute when he scored off an assist from sophomore forward Alex Berg for the cushion run. Tufts' superiority was especially evident in shots on goal. The Jumbos took 23 shots, as compared to only ten for the White Mules. More important than the number of shots was the quality of the shots that the Jumbos took - 14 of the 23 shots were either saved by Danziger or went past him for goals. While the offense did its part to secure victory, Tufts' defense played an integral role as well. Freshman goalie Scott Conroy anchored the defense, posting his second consecutive shutout in only his fourth career game. Conroy made good on all five save opportunities, although none were particularly complex. "Every game Scott has gotten better," Prindiville said. "He has come out stronger and he is talking more. Little by little he is going to master the position. Yesterday there weren't any incredibly difficult saves to make - but that speaks well for him because it means he was directing well so shots couldn't occur. Scott is doing a great job." "It was tough coming in and being one of only [a few] freshman on the team and being a starter," Conroy said. "After a rough game against Middlebury [a 3-2 Tufts loss] I felt I stepped it up against MIT and that gave me some confidence. The guys are really helping me out. They are helping build my confidence and telling me that I'm a leader and that I need act like one even though I'm much younger than most of them." In addition to the play of Conroy, a strategic move by coach Ralph Ferrigno also paid dividends. Ferrigno decided to switch sophomore defenders Jesse Dinner and Mike Blea - Blea moved to the inside and Dinner slid over to the outside. The change allowed Dinner to get more involved in the offense while Blea and Prindiville were able to control the defense from the middle of the field. "In general [junior] Rupak Datta and Jesse were able to carry the ball a lot more than in the past, so they were able to participate in the offense," Prindiville said. "It seems to be working well. It seems to allow us to get a little more offense." The Jumbos continue their season on Tuesday when they travel to Amherst for the second of three consecutive away games against conference opponents. The contest will be a challenging one for Tufts; Amherst remains undefeated and currently stands in a tie atop the NESCAC with Williams. "They are 4-0 and cruising right along," Prindiville said. "Being at Amherst especially on a Tuesday, a school day, is going to be a tough game. If we can come out with a win there, it would set us right towards the top of the NESCAC." Echoing Prindiville's sentiments was Conroy. "This is the toughest week of the season," Conroy said. "After this [week] I think it will be pretty much smooth sailing, especially if we come out with a couple wins."

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Soccer

Men's soccer wins non-conference game

August 31

Yesterday, the men's soccer team edged out Gordon College 1-0 in a non-conference away game. The Jumbos improved their record to 10-3 (still 5-3 in the NESCAC) and are preparing for perhaps the biggest game of their season - Saturday's match against Connecticut College. The team was not too concerned going into the game. "I think that being a non-league game in the middle of the week, we were just looking to get through the game," senior tri-captain Mike Prindiville said. "We're really looking towards the weekend and they were really vying to win, while we were just looking to get through it." The team scored its lone goal of the game early in the second after senior tri-captain Brad Stichberry got taken down in the box, causing a penalty kick. Junior striker Garret Dale scored off the penalty for his seventh goal and 21st point on the season. "I don't think we played poorly, but it was a really physical game," Prindiville said. "They were one of those teams - the kind that has athletic kids that are really physical... They get psyched to play a NESCAC team with a good record. Coming from a non-competitive division, they have everything to play for, whereas we go to their small school up in the woods and don't really feel like playing them." The squad closes out its regular season against Conn. College during Saturday's Homecoming festivities. The next day, the currently fourth-ranked Jumbos will jump right into the first round of the NESCAC tournament at Middlebury College. Though Tufts has solidified a spot in the tournament, the results of Saturday's games will determine its final standings - and its Sunday opponent. "We're really focusing on getting healthy for the weekend," Prindiville said. "A lot of guys are carrying injuries and a few more picked up some today. I think that it's going to come down to the team that can field the healthiest team on Sunday will probably come through with the win." The team heads into the weekend after making its first appearance in the national poll this season. Last week, it was ranked 23rd in the nation and third in New England.

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Soccer

Women's sports sidelined by scheduling

August 31

Though women's teams traditionally compete at home on Homecoming day against a Tufts rival (typically Amherst or Williams), tradition will not be a part of homecoming for the women this year. Due to scheduling and playoff conflicts, the squads have already finished their seasons - a possibility that the players feel should have been considered when Tufts' 2001 Homecoming was scheduled. Players and alumni are disappointed in being excluded from what has historically been the biggest day for Tufts sports. "I was really disappointed when I heard there would be no field hockey game - especially since I didn't get a chance to see them play last year either," former field hockey player Rebecca Litt (LA '00) said. "As a player, I always loved having lots of fans turn out for the homecoming game; including lots of former teammates. Other than postseason games, homecoming was the most exciting. It's too bad that they don't have one this year." Former teammate Meredith LeRoux (LA '00) echoed her sentiments. "It is very disappointing to know that there won't be a field hockey game to watch," she said. "I'm disappointed because I like to be part of the whole homecoming atmosphere." The field hockey team foresaw the disappointment and exclusion that would be felt on homecoming day, and organized an alumni match that will take place Saturday afternoon instead of a game against Amherst. "It's good because we are going to have a really relaxed atmosphere and enjoy the other games," LeRoux said. Litt is also excited for the match, despite her disappointment over the fact that she can't watch her alma mater compete in seasonal play. "I haven't played in two years, so it should be interesting," she said. The women's soccer team might make an appearance at Kraft Field on Saturday afternoon - however, it too will be on the sidelines. The women's NCAA tournament got pushed up a week, which forced the NESCAC tournament up a week and resulted in a curtailed season. "It's really tough, because you train so hard all year, all of a sudden it ends and you're not expecting it, and your season ends," coach Martha Whiting said. "We really expected to be playing this weekend, one way or another."The women's soccer team did not plan an alumni game because it anticipated competing on Saturday. Following a stellar 2000 season, where the squad reached the final round of the Division III NCAA tournament, the Jumbos expected to play in the playoffs. But the team lost to Amherst in the first round of the NESCAC playoff tournament last weekend, and hopes of a repeat season were silenced. "The fact that we're not playing at home and not playing at all this weekend is very disappointing," Whiting said. "Our team has certain traditions surrounding homecoming. That we aren't able to do that is kind of sad."For Whiting, this weekend marks the first time in her 13 years at Tufts that the Jumbos have not had game on homecoming - an aspect of the season that she considers to be the most enjoyable."We've been fortunate to always have a game. It provides an opportunity for a number of our alumni to come back and see what we've been doing," Whiting said. "I'm sure that some will come back and be disappointed to not see our team play."Fortunately next year, the NCAA tournament will observe the usual calendar and the regular season will also resume its normal schedule. "I remember in the past that there were teams that had games on homecoming but they were away games. That was something I never understood," LeRoux said. "What is the point of having homecoming if not all of the teams are competing at home? Homecoming not only brings alumni back to watch the games but it brings the whole University together along with the players' parents and relatives to watch and cheer on their fellow Jumbos."@s:Women athletes will be on the sidelines

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Soccer

Men's soccer faces must win vs. Bowdoin

August 31

The men's soccer team looked like it was ready to cross the bridge from mediocrity to serious NESCAC contender following a huge 1-0 double overtime win over the Amherst Lord Jeffs on Sept. 25, but the bridge suddenly collapsed during last Saturday's 2-1 loss to Bates. The team found itself at a crossroads - would it give up or try and rediscover the momentum that had vanished in wake of the unexpected defeat? "We just game out flat against Bates and as a result we lost," Conroy said. "We didn't really respect them as much as we should have, but in our league the teams are all good regardless of the standings." If Tuesday's 6-1 thrashing of non-conference Salve Regina is any indication, Tufts has chosen to refocus. Tomorrow at home at 12 p.m., the Jumbos hope to make a similar statement to NESCAC- rival Bowdoin, a team whose 2-1-1 conference record puts one spot above the Jumbos at fourth-place in the standings. The game is the most important to date for the Jumbos, as a loss would put them under .500 in the NESCAC and would severely hinder their postseason chances. "At the time, I thought Amherst was our biggest game because we would have a couple wins in a row if we had beaten Bates," freshman goalie Scott Conroy said. "But we didn't beat Bates so I would have to say this is our biggest game because we have to start off this stretch [of three straight games against NESCAC foes] with a win." Statistically speaking, it appears that Bowdoin and Tufts are well matched. Polar Bears have tallied 25 goals in eight games while allowing only 12 and has outscored opponents by more than a 2-1 margin. On the other hand, Tufts has outscored its competition 16 to 7 in seven games, which translates to more than a 2-1 goal scoring advantage for the Jumbos. "I think this is going to be one of those games that could go either way," Conroy said. "A couple of bounces here or there will get the win." Tufts will have an advantage on the defensive side of the ball, while Bowdoin is the more prolific offensively. Whether or not the Jumbos are able to put something together offensively will almost certainly determine the outcome of the game. "What we need to do is score early, because if we don't we get frustrated and start to miss our shots," Conroy said. "If we score we should be all set." The team cannot overlook defense, as Tufts will surely have their hands full trying to contain Bowdoin's David Bulow, who has accumulated 20 points on the season on nine goals and two assists. Bowdoin has three other viable offensive options in Chris Fuller, Bobby Desilits and Bart McMann who have eight, eight, and seven points respectively. A win would put the Jumbos right in the middle of the NESCAC playoff race - only the top seven teams qualify for the end of season NESCAC tournament. A loss and wins by Bates and Wesleyan would drop Tufts into a three-way tie for the last two spots in the race. "You've got to get yourself psyched up," Conroy said about the game. "This is a huge game."

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Soccer

Men's soccer earns first-ever NESCAC bid after weekend win

August 31

The men's soccer team will be looking for revenge today at Kraft Field when it takes on the Amherst Lord Jeffs in the first round of the first-ever NESCAC Tournament. Tufts qualified for the tournament by defeating the Connecticut College Camels 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. Saturday's win gave the Jumbos a final regular season record of 8-4-2, with a 4-3-2 record in the always-competitive NESCAC. While last season's regular season record (9-4-1) was slightly better, the Jumbos faced every team in the conference this year, one of the in Division III this season. Against a partial slate of conference foes last season, the Jumbos only managed a record of 3-4-1. The regular season may be over, but the playoffs will provide at least one chance to avenge a loss. "The guys have reasonable expectations for this game," coach Pat Marino said. "Our confidence has been building as the year has gone on." Saturday's game was scoreless until sophomore forward Matt MacGregor notched his seventh goal of the year off of a long pass from junior back Mike Prindiville, who booted a long free kick from deep in the Tufts zone. MacGregor corralled it before slipping it past Connecticut College keeper Zach Roth. The assist was Prindiville's fourth of the season. "Mike's been a steady center back," Marino said. "He's been instrumental in organizing that group all season. We've all been impressed by his work ethic and attitude." Jumbo keeper, senior Steve McDermid, made four saves en route to his fourth shutout of the season, as Tufts out shot the Camels 7-4. MacGregor's goal was his seventh of the season, and it moved his season point total to 21, fourth best in the NESCAC. Amherst will visit Medford for the second time this season on Saturday, after taking a 2-0 decision on the strength of two goals from junior David Michener in the teams' first meeting. The Jumbos were coming off of a disappointing tie against last-place Colby, and the loss to the Lord Jeffs dropped Tufts to 0-1-2 in the NESCAC. "We've really only played one bad game all year, and that was Amherst," coach Ralph Ferrigno said. "We could have performed better," sophomore back Rupak Datta agreed. "We came back in the second half and had a lot of good chances that we weren't able to take advantage of." Since that loss, Tufts is 6-3, and 4-2 in the NESCAC. One of those losses came in a hard-fought game against the undefeated and number-one seed Williams Ephmen in a game that saw Williams trail for the first time this season. "We're a young team, so improvement was inevitable," Marino said. "The team's confidence both as a group and individually has improved. Injuries and suspensions have forced us to play a lot of younger guys, and they have been forced to play in some tough situations. If we run into trouble against Amherst, then we should have plenty of options." The Lord Jeffs are 3-4-1 since that game against Tufts, and just managed to squeak into the playoffs on the strength of a 3-0 win over Trinity. The Amherst offense is led by freshman Franklin Perry who is tied for seventh in NESCAC scoring with Jumbo senior David Drucker, at 17 points. Goalkeeper Bill Orum is fifth in the NESCAC with a 1.01 GAA, and, like Jumbo keeper Steve McDermid, has four shutouts. This is the first ever NESCAC Tournament, and the winner will receive an automatic bid in the Division III NCAA Tournament. The Jumbos did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament last season, but reached the ECAC semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Bates. There, they dropped a 3-1 decision to Middlebury to end the season. All of the first round games will be played starting at 1 p.m. today. Connecticut College, which ended up with the number-seven seed in the tournament, will play number-two Bowdoin in New Brunswick, while number-six seed Wesleyan will play at number-three Middlebury. Williams received a bye in the first round, and will play the lowest remaining seed on Saturday in Williamstown. The winner of that game will play the winner of the two highest seeded of today's winners on Sunday, also in Williamstown. Against the six other teams in the tournament, Tufts is only 2-3-1, so the path to the NESCAC title and the automatic bid will likely require that Tufts avenge more than one regular season loss.

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