Sports

Inside MLB | Hits record adds statistical legitimacy to Jeter's great career

There are very few people who would dare call New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter underrated.

Field Hockey | Jumbos pummel Panthers 3-1 in opener

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Volleyball | Jumbos pick up where they left off, start year 3-1

It didn't take long for the Tufts volleyball team to recapture the winning form that carried it to a record-breaking season last year.

Men's Soccer | Jumbos shut out in season opener

Entering the 2009 season with high hopes, the Tufts men's soccer team took the field for its first game this weekend facing a formidable foe in the Middlebury Panthers. And despite suffering a 1-0 defeat, the Jumbos nonetheless emerged from the contest with confidence.

Field Hockey | Loaded roster looks to be national championship contender

    One year ago, the field hockey team enjoyed not only the greatest season in program history, but arguably one of the best in the recent history of Tufts Athletics. So what could the team possibly do for an encore? If the talent on the squad's preseason roster is any indication, the Jumbos have the potential to rewrite the history books all over again in 2009.     Nationally ranked No. 2, Tufts will enter its season opener against No. 7 Middlebury on Saturday as a legitimate national title contender. Sixteen players will return from a 2008 team that went 19-2, recorded an undefeated regular season and finished as both the national and conference runner-up.     "We're returning a big chunk of our team, and just having players who have the experience of going to the national championship game is definitely going to be a benefit," senior co-captain Margi Scholtes said. "The girls that we have now know what it takes to win a national championship or a NESCAC championship. Having that experience already is going to be a plus for us."     With Scholtes, junior forward Tamara Brown and junior defender Amanda Roberts, the Jumbos are returning more All-Americans than any team in the nation. Last season, Brown paced the best offense in the NESCAC with 28 goals and 61 points, both single-season school records. She'll be joined on what promises to be a dominating forward line by senior co-captain Amanda Russo and senior Michelle Kelly, both of whom were among the top 10 scorers in the conference last year.     Scholtes and Roberts, meanwhile, will help anchor a defense that yielded a total of just 21 goals in 21 games in 2008. In addition to two All-Americans the Jumbos' defensive unit boasts a wealth of experience, with lineup mainstays Jess Perkins and Taylor Dyer back in the mix and sophomore Marianna Zak entering her second full season as the starting goalkeeper.     "I've already seen [the defensive returnees] helping to coach the younger players," coach Tina McDavitt said. "Where last year, I was the one explaining to them what to do, now they're explaining to the other players what they need to do. It's almost better because they're learning the positions now like a coach. That's a difference; they know what to do now."     Seven freshmen, many of whom have already begun to make their presence felt, will strengthen the team this season. During scrimmages against NESCAC rivals Trinity, Wesleyan and Conn. College in Hartford, Conn. last weekend, the first-years accounted for much of the offense and made solid contributions to all-around play.     "They were just taught the new system on Friday, and they were already playing it really well," Scholtes said. "[Forward] Kayla Murphy had two or three goals, [midfielder] Lia Sagerman had a couple goals, and a couple of the defenders made some really good tackles. They're already stepping up and playing Tufts field hockey."     With four schools ranked in the top 12 of the preseason national poll, the NESCAC once again appears to be stocked with talent. With their combination of a potent offense, an experienced defense and tremendous depth, the Jumbos are perhaps as strong as any of the conference's elite teams. Still, the team is avoiding the temptation to guess what it could potentially accomplish this season.     "We're just focusing on one game at a time," Scholtes said. "Our record right now is 0-0, and we're not focusing that much on winning NESCACs or winning the national championship. We're just worried about the next game, so the game that we're all focusing on right now is Middlebury."     "Our expectations are high because we're really excited about the prospects of how well we can do," McDavitt added, "But I think we're being really smart about realizing that the season hasn't started yet and that we need to earn everything we get. We've talked about that and just making sure that we take it game by game."

Inside NCAA Football | Cougars could crash the BCS party after weekend upset

    Last Friday, the talk of college football was the 12th-ranked Boise State Broncos and how their easy dispatching of the Oregon Ducks could lead to an undefeated season and a potential Bowl Championship Series berth.     By the end of the weekend, though, the Broncos were an afterthought due to the BYU Cougars, a small-conference compatriot who took down a perennial Big 12 giant.     Led by senior quarterback Max Hall, who threw for 329 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the then-20th-ranked Cougars scored the biggest upset of college football's first weekend with their 14-13 win over the nation's No. 3 squad, the Oklahoma Sooners.     Though Hall and the BYU offense will garner most of the accolades thanks to their game-winning touchdown drive with three minutes left in the game, the Cougars' defense was the driving force behind their victory. BYU knocked out the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, quarterback Sam Bradford, with a shoulder sprain and held the vaunted Sooners offense to just 265 total yards on the day.     The victory was BYU's first over a top-10 opponent since 1990, and also their first over any ranked non-conference team since a 26-6 win over Arizona State in 1998. The win moved the Cougars all the way up to ninth in the Associated Press poll this week and could be the highlight win they need to pin their BCS berth hopes on.     However, the Cougars' postseason hopes may hinge on whether or not the victory looks as good as it does now by the end of the year. If the Sooners can weather the storm of injuries that has led to the loss of its two top offensive players, Bradford and tight end Jermaine Gresham, they could maintain their status as a top-25 team and consequently boost BYU's status.     Even if Oklahoma falters again and does not give BYU that one defining win, the Cougars have a few more chances to show that they are deserving of a spot among the country's elite.     The Florida State Seminoles will come to Provo, Utah in two weeks, and despite a close loss to Miami last week, they could still be at the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference at the end of the season. In addition, the Mountain West Conference also contains two other top-25 teams in the TCU Horned Frogs and the Utah Utes, both of whom the Cougars will face at home.     The potential for victories over quality teams makes BYU a realistic contender for a trip to one of this year's marquee postseason sites. While Boise State is expected to coast through the rest of its schedule and finish without a loss, the rest of its games do not feature single noteworthy team. And with Oregon's sloppy play last Thursday, particularly on the offensive end, there is no telling how good the Broncos actually are.     Even if the Cougars slip up and drop a game to one of the better teams on their schedule, they could still have a more complete resume than the Broncos. Regardless, an undefeated BYU team should be playing in January, even if that means Boise State is on the outside looking in.     It is still too early to jump to such conclusions — masked by the magnitude of the Cougars' win was a multitude of mistakes, including four turnovers and 10 penalties. But if coach Bronco Mendenhall can help remedy the errors, the Cougars could follow in the footsteps of fellow Mountain West member Utah and break through the major-conference barrier generally associated with the BCS.

Volleyball | Jumbos look to atone for 2008's abrupt ending

    While success in most walks of life is measured by results, for NESCAC Coach of the Year Cora Thompson and her team, it's all about the process.     "We're coming off of a great season, but we try not to focus on the results," Thompson said. "With this team we want to take it one point at a time and focus on the process of what we're doing, and that will ultimately decide what kind of team we are."     Last year's Jumbos certainly demonstrated good progress, rising to the top spot in the New England rankings and running the table in conference play. The Jumbos hosted the NESCAC Tournament and NCAA Tournament Regionals, but they were bounced in the second round from both tournaments in five-set matches against teams that they had swept in previous matches that season.     Tufts graduated four seniors last year, and with just two left — co-captains Dena Feiger and Brogie Helgeson — the team will be more youth-based this go around. The Jumbos began their preseason two weeks ago with the task of acclimating five incoming freshmen to Thompson's system.     "Obviously our team is younger this year," Feiger said. "We graduated a bunch of seniors last year, but I still think that we have the potential to be better than we were last year."     "We didn't start practicing too long ago, so we've just been working on getting comfortable, playing with each other, and getting the basics down," Feiger continued. "We're hoping to put it all together in our first game this weekend."     While Tufts will rely heavily on the newcomers, the team does have a plethora of returning talent from last season. In addition to the captains Feiger and Helgeson, Thompson will count on five juniors to make an impact.     "Co-captains Brogie [Helgeson] and Dena [Feiger] came back in phenomenal shape," she said. "Both worked very, very hard this summer. And we have a big junior class. Every one of them busted their butts this summer and made great strides."     Thompson also made a point to mention sophomore libero Audrey Kuan, who will need to fill the shoes of graduate Natalie Goldstein. Goldstein was a four-year starter who perennially ranked as one of the NESCAC's top defensive players.     "I would say that Audrey Kuan is going to play a bigger role this year," Thompson said. "Last year she was a defensive player who subbed in here and there. Now that she's a sophomore, I'm excited to see her step in and be our primary passer. She's absolutely capable."     Thompson recruited five freshmen to replace the departed seniors, and though she indicated that the lineup would be mostly comprised of returning players, she said that she would not be afraid to "mix it up."     "We needed an outside hitter, a middle hitter, a defensive player, a libero — Kuan is going to be sliding into libero — but from our freshmen we've got one of every position." Thompson said. "And the exciting thing is that they're versatile. They can do a lot of different things, and I'm confident in their abilities to step in."     On the offensive side of the ball, the Jumbos will rely on a couple of juniors for their hitting ability: Dawson Joyce-Mendive and Caitlin Updike, who returns from a shortened season last year due to injury.     Perhaps the biggest change from last year has been to the team's home court. The Cousens Gymnasium renovations add a new dynamic to this season.     "We're loving it," Thompson said. "We feel lucky to have a brand new floor and so much more space. The lighting is better, the sound system is way better. We're fortunate to have such a supportive administration … I'm excited to play in it, but won't get to see what it looks like, until the 18th."     The Jumbos get their first taste of the action this weekend at the Brandeis Invitational. Thompson said that she hopes to see the team execute what they've been working on in practice, mainly aggressive serving and sound serve-receiving.     "I want to see aggressive and smart serving, and I want to see some great serve receive and great defense," Thompson said. "I think that we've always been a very athletic team, and strategically we can always be better, focus on blocking technique and what we've been doing in practice transfer to games."     Last year, the Jumbos started the season 15-0 on their way to the top ranking in New England but lost three of their final eight matches in disappointing five-set fashion.     "I think if you look at the last five or six years of our volleyball program, there have been records broken, we've had great wins, we've been able to host tournaments and be the Region's top seed," Thompson said. "But once again, we don't go into it trying to compare ourselves to the previous year."     "Each year, you go through the process of trying to figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are and how to use those to your advantage," she continued. "While the game plan and process might change and we might have a much different look, we still have that goal that we want to win NESCACs and be in the NCAAs again."

Field Hockey | Heads are held high for Tufts' upcoming season

    The field hockey team has had ample time to learn from the successes and shortfalls of its momentous 2008 season. And after a nine-month hiatus from Bello Field the Jumbos are raring to get back on the track that led them so close to national glory last fall.     Despite the Jumbos' devastating double-overtime loss in their first NCAA championship appearance against the defending champion Bowdoin Polar Bears, Tufts rewrote the record books last fall. The team's 19-2 overall record — the most wins ever in a season — and 16 straight wins, the longest winning streak in team history, propelled the program to new heights while also raising expectations.     Ranked at No. 2 in the nation in the Kookaburra/NFHCA preseason poll, the Jumbos find themselves in a considerably different position from last year, when they were in the shadows of higher-ranked NESCAC opponents like Bowdoin and Middlebury. While this newfound prestige might indicate a change in attitude, the team insists that keeping its composure may be more important now than ever before.     "I definitely think it's going to force us to work harder because now we're one of the teams to beat instead of a good team that's going to compete," coach Tina McDavitt said. "A lot of teams are going to be gunning for us and looking to beat us."     "I think the fact that we have three other NESCAC teams in the Top 20 poll — Bowdoin, Middlebury and Trinity — means that we can't take any match lightly," senior Michelle Kelly added. "We are just trying to not let it get to us by keeping our eye on the big picture and improving our play."     The Jumbos had the luxury of facing off against the NESCAC's bottom-feeders in the beginning of the 2008 season, including the 6-8 Conn. College Camels and the 3-11 Wesleyan Cardinals. The easy early season games may have helped the Jumbos prepare for the tougher stretch of games later and ultimately may have contributed to their ability to go an impressive 9-0 in conference play last season. This year, however, Tufts' 2009 schedule could be a rude awakening for an adjusting team. Of the team's first seven matchups, four are against NESCAC opponents — including a season-opening match against the nationally ranked No. 7 Middlebury Panthers on the road.     Last year, Tufts' 3-2 overtime decision over Middlebury was one of the closest of the season. The memory of that game has put the Jumbo squad into an intense mode of preparation for what could be one of the toughest — and most important — contests on their schedule.     "I think Middlebury is one of the toughest games of the season, and that put us on alert," junior Tamara Brown said. "Everyone came back in shape and prepared to play. The fact that we had a close game against Middlebury last year definitely played a part, but we are keeping the same outlook that each and every game matters if we are to be successful."     As the team adjusts to a more competitive schedule, the Jumbos also face the task of integrating both veteran players and newly minted freshman recruits into the synthesized squad that brought the team success in prior seasons. Last year, a mix of play from upperclassmen and newcomers like sophomore goalie Marianna Zak, who posted an impressive 18 wins in her rookie year, worked to the Jumbos' advantage. This year, the Jumbos hope for similar results.     "I think we're returning 16 girls, which is a big chunk of our team," senior co-captain Margi Scholtes said. "We also are returning a number of starters who have the knowledge and skill of playing. It's amazing that we have a good core of our returning team, and we also have some really good freshmen coming in that will make our team stronger.     "The freshmen are definitely going to be getting some more playing time," Scholtes added. "It'll be really interesting to see them develop over the next month as they learn our new system."     While the Tufts squad is not the only NESCAC team to undergo significant roster changes this season, the Jumbos are not letting their guard down against teams like NCAA champion Bowdoin. Under the stress of playing in one of the nation's premier field hockey conferences, Tufts is keeping an offensive perspective against all of its opponents.     "I'm not taking anybody lightly," McDavitt said. "All of [the NESCAC] teams have excellent coaches, and they have returning kids that have been successful and who have been there for the ride. All of those coaches are so strong that I don't think there's going to be a big letdown. I think there's going to be other kids that step right in for them."     "We play non-conference teams like Babson in a week, and they have always been strong," Brown said. "Just the fact that we are in the NESCAC means that we are constantly preparing for any opponent, and that includes non-conference teams as well. The only way to do well in November is to treat every game as important as the next."     Rather than reveling in their past success, the Jumbos seem to be on the road to building a disciplined squad in the calm before the storm.     "I think it's great because we're returning a lot of starters, so we have a lot of experience," McDavitt explained. "I've seen it in their play in practice — just more composure. There's a calmness and kind of a sense that we've been here and we know what to expect. There's just an overall maturity about the team." Sapna Bansil contributed reporting to this article.

Women's Cross Country | Team opens season minus McNamara

    Last season, the women's cross country team had to deal with the departure of two All-American runners from the top of its lineup. This year they will have to do the same — albeit unexpectedly.     The Jumbos' No. 1 runner, junior All-American Steph McNamara, suffered an injury due to overuse last year and likely will miss this season. It is a devastating loss for a Tufts team that was on the cusp of earning a berth to Nationals and was supposed to be returning its top five runners from the Div. III New England Regionals.     "Losing Steph is a blow to the strength of our team, but now that we know what is going on the team is more than ready to step up," junior Amy Wilfert said. "I think it will be harder, but we can probably pull together and still have a really great season."     "Right now we are not counting on having Steph back," sophomore Anya Price added. "She may be gone for so long she might redshirt this season. We are not counting on her coming back so we aren't going to rely on that."     The absence of McNamara, who placed 11th at the NCAA meet last fall, will mean that the Jumbos will be counting on some of their returning runners to improve their times this season. The team graduated only one runner who regularly scored points — Amy Hopkins — so there are a number of options for coach Kristen Morwick to look at.     At the top of that list should be Wilfert, who was consistently Tufts' No. 2 runner last fall. The junior finished roughly 15 seconds outside of an All-American spot at the NCAA Championships last November in Hanover, Ind., but she will now be looked to as the backbone of the Jumbos' squad.     In addition, Tufts will enjoy added experience coming from some of last year's younger contributors. Price was on the cusp of breaking 24 minutes in the 6k at the end of her inaugural season, as she finished 40th in the New England Championships in 24:05.9. Fellow sophomore Bryn Kass, who was in the top seven last year, could also move up into the top five without McNamara and Hopkins in the fold.     The Jumbos have been working over the course of the preseason to make sure that they have the endurance for the 6k races later in the year. They will test their training for the first time on Saturday at the Trinity Invitational.     "The summer is a really good time for building up mileage," Wilfert said. "It is basically just working on getting in some good-quality, longer-mileage runs and some good workouts. We are mostly focused on just coming back in shape and healthy and excited for the season."     The Jumbos hope that their hard work will earn them the trip to Nationals that has eluded them for the last few years. Tufts has not made it out of the New England Regionals as a team since the 2006 season, when it finished as the fifth best team in the nation.     "Our team has put in a lot of hard work this summer," Wilfert said. "The upperclassmen especially have the goal of making it to Nationals since we have been sixth the last two years."     If Tufts is going to make good on that goal, finding a replacement at the top might not be as important as shoring up the gaps at the bottom of the varsity lineup. At last year's NCAA New England Championships, the Jumbos had 26 places separating their third- and fourth-best runners and 33 between their third- and fifth-best runners, a deciding factor in denying the team a bid to Nationals.     "I think we are hoping that some of the freshmen can fill in the gaps," Price said. "Some of the returning runners have really put in solid summers. So the returning runners are coming back with that passion since we were denied it last year."     If runners such as senior captain Lisa Picascia and junior Elana Davidowitz can jump up a few more spots, the Jumbos might be able to take their whole team to the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio in November.     "Our captain, Lisa, is definitely working hard to be pushing the pace and pushing everybody," Price said. "I have noticed that a lot. She has put in a really good summer, so I think Lisa is really ready to step up to the plate."     This weekend's race will give the team the opportunity to see what newcomers can contribute and how the top seven will be shaped. And with the added incentive of Trinity also playing host to the NESCAC Championship this season, the Jumbos are ready to see what this year's team has.     "This weekend seems to be more about scoping out the team dynamic," Price said. "We haven't seen the freshmen race yet, so this weekend is about seeing how everyone fits in with everyone else."

Women's Tennis | Talent, depth give Bayard high hopes as Jumbos open

    With three impact freshmen joining an experienced squad led by a pair of All-Americans, it's no wonder that women's tennis coach Kate Bayard is optimistic about the roster she has assembled this year.     "I am anticipating that our team will be the strongest that we've had in a number of years," she said.     Bayard will get her first look at a talent-laden squad today, when the nationally ranked No. 16 Jumbos hold their first practice of the 2009-10 season. It will mark the beginning of the abbreviated fall portion of Tufts' schedule, which includes the International Tennis Association Regional Championships later this month and out-of-conference dual matches against MIT and Babson in October.     Junior tri-captain Julia Browne and senior tri-captain Meghan McCooey are expected to once again anchor the Jumbos' lineup. Combining to go 26-4 in dual matches out of the first and second singles spots, Browne and McCooey also teamed to form one of the best doubles tandems in the country, capturing a national title together last fall.     But the added depth behind the Jumbos' All-American duo will be key for the team this season. Entering the mix are three first-year recruits — Lauren Hollender, Lindsay Katz and Janice Lam — who are expected to make immediate contributions.     "I obviously won't know how they're playing right now until I actually see them, but based on my estimate of where I think they are, they'll definitely help us a lot," Bayard said. "All three of them are very strong players, and I'm anticipating they'll all get some good opportunities this year."     Despite losing junior Hillary Rosen, who is studying abroad this fall, and graduating Mari Homma (LA '09), the Jumbos' roster is hardly short on experience. Senior Erica Miller returns after a strong season at third singles, including a thrilling three-set win over Bowdoin's Rachel Waldman to clinch a come-from-behind victory for Tufts in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Two mainstays of last year's singles lineup, junior Edwina Stewart and sophomore Jennifer LaCara, are also back, along with senior tri-captain Laura Hoguet and sophomore Nathalie Schils.     The combination of experienced veterans and promising freshmen gives Bayard a lot to consider as she fills out her lineup behind Browne and McCooey.     "With so many returning players and with three very solid freshmen coming in, I think we'll have more options in both singles and doubles, and also I feel we'll be a lot stronger depth-wise," Bayard said. "Last year, we proved that in the top half the lineup, we could beat anyone. This year, with the returning players having more experience and the incoming freshmen mixing things up, I think we'll be stronger."     How best to utilize the team's talent remains to be seen. In the process of establishing a stable lineup this fall, Bayard likely will mix and match much as she did last year, when eight different players were used in the fourth, fifth and sixth singles spots and 16 different combinations were used at second and third doubles.     "Last year we did mix it up more than normal, and sometimes, that's just what we have to do to find a lineup to win a match," Hoguet said. "Our team has been raised under the mentality that you go out there every day ready to go — it doesn't matter where you play. Wherever you are, you try your hardest and trust that the coaches are making the right decision."     Even Tufts' prolific first doubles pairing could be reshuffled. Bayard said that while Browne and McCooey most likely will play together at the upcoming ITA Regional Championships, she is not opposed to splitting them up later this season if it strengthens the Jumbos' overall doubles lineup.     "I loved playing with Meghan all year last year — we did really well, and our games matched up well," Browne said. "But we do have three new freshmen this year, so we have to see if we can get an even better combination — we might even get two better combinations by splitting us up. I'm very confident that whatever Coach picks will be the best thing for the team."

Men's Cross Country | With full roster returning, Tufts sets sights on bounce-back campaign

    Last season, following the graduation of all three of its captains, Tufts turned to a relatively youthful cast to propel the cross country squad to a respectable fourth-place finish at the NESCAC Championships. But this year, with all seven of Tufts' top runners returning, the bar has been set even higher.     Leading the charge is senior Jesse Faller, back for the final year of his prolific career. Faller placed third in last year's NESCACs, 36 seconds behind eventual NCAA champion Peter Kosgei and just one tick after the first runner-up.     Yet individual success in lieu of team performance is not satisfactory for Tufts. The Jumbos are hoping to build on last year's success at the conference meet and 11th-place finish at the NCAA New England Championships.     "Finishing as poorly as we did at Regionals and that being our last race, it puts a thorn inside of you and you want to avenge yourself," Faller said. "I don't think it's an issue of proving ourselves, but I think that we want to improve. With that drive and determination, all the guys have been training really hard."     For a season that started out well — Tufts won the 5K race at its own invitational and finished second out of 17 teams at the Codfish Bowl in Boston — injuries and sickness plagued the Jumbos down the stretch, leading to what senior captain Nick Welch referred to as a "disappointment."     "When things go well, it's great, but when things go poorly, you have to find the lesson in it and make adjustments," he said. "I don't think we need to make huge adjustments and come up with something new. The growth and making small adjustments and being smarter about our training will help us. Our best needs to be in November, not October."     Anticipation is a feeling consistent throughout this year's roster.     "Any time when you come back from a really successful season, there's an excitement of hoping to defend a title," Welch said. "When you come away from one that didn't go well, you almost have more fire to get it back on track. I think, without a doubt, this is the most fit, top to bottom, in the four years I've been here."     Aside from Faller, who earned All-American status for the second straight year by placing 35th in the NCAA Championship at Hanover College last November, the Jumbos turn to Welch, a two-time All-New England runner, and senior Ryan Lena, who placed 19th at NESCACs.     Tufts also will welcome numerous freshmen to the team, many of whom should have an impact immediately, according to Welch.     "We have a really strong freshman class, a few guys I definitely expect to make a big contribution," he said. "Freshmen always add the heart to the team and they are a good class this year."     But members of the Class of 2013 are not the only new Jumbos; the team recently added assistant coach Mark Coogan, who is more than familiar with the world of long-distance racing. Coogan represented the United States in the marathon at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games and coached the Phillips Exeter Academy boys' cross country squad to three New England prep school team championships.     "He's going to bring a lot of experience to the team," Faller said. "That's going to pay off a lot. He's a really helpful coach when it comes to training and also race strategy because he's been through a lot."     With the squad's vast experience, the team hopes to repeat and build upon the success of recent years. In 2007, the squad garnered an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and in 2008, it improved one place at NESCACs.     In late August, the Jumbos took a training trip to Maine, practicing together and focusing on becoming more united.     "For camp, it's just the returners, so it's our chance to get back together and spend four whole days together, like a retreat," Welch said. "It sets the tone for what the team will be like this year. I think us going away to camp and re-collecting ourselves helps."     Tufts will turn its attention to the Trinity Invitational this Saturday. Unlike past years, the Jumbos have only two meets before the All-New England Championships on Oct. 10, but its importance is minimal when compared with the championship races later in the season. And with months before the NESCAC meet, the earlier races provide ample opportunity for runners to distinguish themselves.     "These first few weeks, the freshmen can benefit the most from them," Welch said "The first races are like friendlies, a chance to shake the cobwebs out, get back in the swing of racing."     All told, the Jumbos have the ingredients for a stellar season, according to Faller.     "We have our top runners all coming back, and I think we're all going to be stronger with an extra year of training," he said. "Also, we have some solid freshmen that can be in the mix to run on the varsity squad. All of those things breed success for our team."

Women's Soccer | Jumbos, Cadigan eager for fresh start

    After a season of disarray that featured myriad injuries and a first-round exit in the NESCAC Tournament, the women's soccer team is ready to bounce back.     With a healthy squad in tow, the Jumbos have their sights set on improving from their 2008 season, in which they started out 5-0 but ended 8-5-1, thanks in part to a slew of injuries that, at its low point, forced a midfielder to play goalie. Assuming the Jumbos stay out of the trainer's office, they could very well compete for their second NESCAC championship and their third trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2005.     "We all need to stay healthy during the season," senior co-captain Cara Cadigan said. "We need to take care of ourselves, because it got to the point last year where people had to play through injuries. We want to make sure we do everything we can so we minimize those injuries that are preventable."     "We're really excited to get the season started after everything that happened last year," junior midfielder Geneva DeGregorio said. "Everyone came into preseason in great shape, and we've hit the ground running."     Having graduated just one senior, Tufts will rely on experience as an asset. Though only five players started every game last season, that allowed an unexpected handful of others to receive meaningful playing time. Every player that started a game in 2008 is set to return.     "Our experience is going to be really big for us," DeGregorio said. "We have so many players that can play in so many positions and have played them at this level. And when we go to the bench, there is no drop off. There is definitely a consistency in the talent level."     "We have a very deep bench," Cadigan added. "The way we play doesn't change, no matter who is in. We are constantly playing at our best because everyone is that good right now."     The backline, which limited opponents to just over one goal per game last year, will once again include junior defenders Audrey Almy and Sarah Nolet. Having started all but one game in her college career, Nolet was first-team All-NESCAC in 2008, and, at 6-foot-0, she controls the game in the air and on the ground.     The midfield features Tufts' other returning All-NESCAC selection, senior Fanna Gamal, who had two goals and three assists last year. Joining her in the midfield, among others, will be DeGregorio and sophomores Lauren O'Connor and Olivia Rowse, all players who made at least nine starts last year.     Ultimately, the Jumbos' fate will rest on the shoulders of Cadigan's comeback from an ACL injury. Two years ago, she took the NESCAC by storm, using blazing speed and a deft touch to score 19 goals and shatter the Tufts single-season mark. With Cadigan back on the field, the Jumbo attack is sure to be more dangerous.     "I feel ready to play," Cadigan said. "It feels good to be back on the field again."     Joining Cadigan up top will be senior Ali Maxwell, who led the team last year with five goals. Cadigan's absence forced Maxwell to take a more important role in the team's offensive schemes and often be the team's target player. Her presence means that Tufts has two proven, legitimate threats playing forward.     The Jumbos' season begins this Saturday with a trip to Middlebury to face the Panthers, who beat Tufts 3-1 last year.     "We're ready to go up there and have a challenge for our first game," DeGregorio said. "We had a tough time up there last year, and we definitely are looking forward to getting a better result."     But, as is usually the case, Amherst and Williams will be Tufts' two biggest in-conference competitors this season. The Ephs are the two-time defending NESCAC champions, while the Jeffs finished second in both the regular season and tournament play.     "Amherst and Williams are always going to be very tough, but I think our team is definitely good enough to compete and beat them," DeGregorio said.

Men's Soccer | Returning experienced squad, Jumbos hope to join NESCAC's elite

    After consistently finishing in the lower half of the NESCAC standings over the past few seasons, including a sixth-place finish last year, the men's soccer team is determined to break into the conference's upper echelon this fall. An experienced squad, Tufts hopes that its savvy and depth will help the team achieve its preseason goal.     Coach Ralph Ferrigno returns nearly his entire 2008 roster, minus graduated seniors Dave McKeon (E '09) and Peter DeGregorio (LA '09). Tri-captain Bear Duker will be one of eight seniors on this year's team, as well as forward Dan Schoening, who last year paced the team in scoring with eight goals, good for fifth in the conference. With the wealth of experience comes a familiarity with each other's abilities, resulting in a more cohesive squad on the field.     "Over the past few practices, we've had a much closer unit than in previous years," junior tri-captain Naji Muakkassa said. "There have been a lot of tough position battles, but we're all rooting for each other, and the team has looked great in scrimmages."     Conversely, NESCAC powerhouses Middlebury, Amherst and Williams graduated many of their top contributors from last year, opening the door for a potential changing of the guard in the conference standings. Still, the Jumbos know that toppling the traditional heavyweights will not be easy.     "We want to take things in steps," junior midfielder Josh Molofsky said. "Our goal is to finish in the top four and to get that playoff game on our home field, but that won't happen right away."     To achieve that goal, the Jumbos will need to have a winning in-conference record for the first time since 2001. The Jumbos showed themselves capable of withstanding the fierce NESCAC competition last year when they beat Williams for the first time in 14 years by the score of 3-1.     However, against the top three teams in the conference last year — Trinity, Amherst and Middlebury — Tufts was outscored 6-0. The Jumbos will get their first crack at reversing their fortunes again at the NESCAC's best on Saturday, when they open their season against the Panthers.     Middlebury has had Tufts' number in recent seasons, but an early-season meeting could actually be advantageous to the Jumbos because of the turnover in the Panthers' starting lineup. But despite graduating three First Team All-NESCAC players, Middlebury will still challenge a Jumbos attack that ranked in the bottom half of the conference last year in virtually every major offensive category.     "We don't treat [Middlebury] any different than we would any other team," Duker said. "We expect to win, and we see this as an opportunity to surprise teams in our conference by going up there and getting a victory."     Tufts will face a strong non-conference foe in Eastern Conn. State three days after their trip to Middlebury, before opening their home slate with a tilt against last year's conference champion, Amherst, on Sept. 19. Managing to earn even a single W in the opening weeks would indicate significant improvement for the Jumbos — the team has not escaped with a win against either Middlebury or Amherst since 2005 and has not scored upon either squad since 2006.     Nonetheless, Tufts is confident that a summer of hard work and countless hours on the practice field will guide it through that first trio of challenging matches and propel it into the NESCAC's elite.     "Our mix of experience and youth gives us a great chance to win the NESCAC championship and get to the NCAA Tournament," Duker said.

Banner 2008-09 season lands Tufts in Directors' Cup top 10

    Buoyed by historic seasons from its field hockey and softball teams, Tufts finished in 10th place out of 310 ranked Div. III programs in the final 2008-09 Directors' Cup standings. The finish was Tufts' second best in the 14-year history of the Directors' Cup, which awards points to a school when its teams qualify for NCAA championship events. In all, 13 Jumbo squads compiled a school-record 759.25 points last season.     In May, the softball team capped off a stellar 2009 campaign with a fourth-place showing at the College World Series, the culmination of a record-breaking 44-3 season that included NESCAC and Regional crowns. Coach Cheryl Milligan's squad picked up 80 points for Tufts, the second-highest total of any team on the Hill. Only field hockey earned more points, scoring 90 after making just the second NCAA title game appearance by any team in school history and finishing as the national runner-up last November.     Track and field also provided a major boon to Tufts in the standings, totaling 217.25 points across four teams in the winter and spring seasons. The highlight came from the women's indoor squad, whose fifth place finish at the NCAA championships in March, featuring a title-winning effort by the distance medley relay team, earned the Jumbos 75 Directors' Cup points. Women's lacrosse was not far behind, tallying 70 points after reaching the national quarterfinals in its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance.     Volleyball, men's and women's swimming, women's basketball, men's lacrosse and women's tennis also scored for Tufts, which was one of four NESCAC schools to finish inside the top 10. Williams, Middlebury and Amherst claimed the top three spots, with the Ephs capturing the Directors' Cup for the 11th consecutive year.     With at least a few squads expected to be in the postseason mix this fall, Tufts could get out to a fast start in the 2009-10 Directors' Cup race. Boasting three returning All-Americans on its roster, the field hockey team is ranked second in the preseason national polls and could once again compete for an NCAA title. In addition, women's soccer could be in for a bounce-back season after injuries derailed a team that started off 6-1 last year, and volleyball will look to return to the NCAA tournament after a program-best campaign in 2008.

Out with the old...

...in with the NCAA tournament? Recently completed renovations lengthened the court in Cousens Gym to 94 feet, allowing the home of the Tufts basketball teams to host postseason games as early as this season. The new-look facility will be on display for the first time when the Tufts volleyball team hosts Wesleyan on Sept. 18.

Inside Boston Sports | Jumbo Nation: A look at the mania of local sports at Tufts

    Manic. Traditional. Intense. All words used to describe Boston's sports culture. But what does it mean to become a part of this atmosphere upon arriving in the area? For some, it can be a new annoyance along the lines of going to class; for others, it can develop into a new way to live, on par with breathing.     Like a toxic gas seeping through the cool Boston air into surrounding communities, the area's sports culture becomes infectious, even to the most halfhearted of fans. Sure, some exhibit innate immunity. But for the majority, setting foot in the region means instant exposure.     "Being around Boston sports in 2009 is to be around intelligence and a spirit that is really special," said Professor George Scarlett of the child development department, who moved to New England from Baltimore in 1963. "It's not just another sports town. I'm passionate about the Patriots but am neurotic about baseball and got caught up in Sox fever. I had experienced that city passion before in Baltimore with [Colts quarterback Johnny] Unitas, but gradually got converted when I started living on my own."     With a wave of championships flowing into the city, being a Boston sports fan has become increasingly easy for new students. The Boston Red Sox, for instance, have won two of the last five World Series and could be poised for another run this October.     The New England Patriots, likewise, are owners of three Super Bowl trophies this decade and have accumulated at least nine wins in every season since 2001. In 2007, the squad went 16-0 in the regular season. And with quarterback Tom Brady back from a knee injury, things are looking bright for the city's gridiron stars.     The Boston Celtics, who have won an NBA best 17 titles — including the 2008 championship — and the Boston Bruins, a five-time Stanley Cup-winning franchise, have made winning a way of life. The atmosphere of success can be contagious, especially to Tufts students.     "Once you live in this area, it becomes easier to jump on the bandwagon," said sophomore Jeff Prescott, who grew up in New York Yankee territory Wilton, Conn. "Collectively it's becoming easier and easier to support teams in Boston, because I think its beginning to compete for the sports capital of the nation."     Even for those Tufts students from far away, assimilating into Boston's sports atmosphere comes naturally.     "I feel like Red Sox fans are very accepting," said senior Brenna Heintz, a native of Alaska. "So I came here, where the Boston sports teams are really electrifying, and I got caught up in it. I'm sure that if you're a student who comes from far away and Boston has been losing a lot, you wouldn't be as likely to get caught up in it."     Just as it has no geographical boundaries, devotion in Boston has no age limit. For those accustomed to the city's recent success, like Prescott, or others who grew up watching the Red Sox in the 1940s, like Professor Sol Gittleman, the sports culture refuses to falter at the generational gap, appealing to all residents.     "If you're interested in sports and it's in your DNA, you get the sense that you're in a historic town," said Gittleman, who teaches a course on baseball history. "It's a little bit manic, a little bit crazy in such a small town. People take it extremely seriously."     Yet what attracts fans like Professor Scarlett to Gillette Stadium or Fenway Park is not the banners or the rings, but rather the constant support emanating from the seats in those hallowed grounds.     "What I fell in love with is this tradition," Scarlett said. "It was captured in ‘Fever Pitch,' this license to be nutty and to still have fun. If you keep an open mind and start to see the sports teams in Boston, I think you can still admit and enjoy the fact that there's something special here."     The fact that Boston houses hundreds of thousands of college-age sports fans only adds to the mania.     "College fans are some of the most driven fans because they're young, exuberant and are their own personalities," Jeff Prescott said. "New York is where business happens, not where fun happens. In Boston the fan base is so strong that it fosters a stronger and more tightly-knit community because it's the biggest college city."     Even for the most diehard of fans, Boston sports still offer rich opportunities each day. The consensus advice for any sports fan? Get to Fenway as soon as possible to experience the full effect of what the area has to offer.     "Fenway is one of the two great historic monuments left in pro baseball," Gittleman said. "If you got a sense of history, you'll want to see Fenway Park. You should get consumed, or at least involved, if you come and are interested in sports in general."     "Over the years, I realized that this [tradition] was something deeper than anything," Scarlett added. "Fenway Park is to Boston what Notre Dame is to Paris. It is the cathedral. It's this very positive community that links one generation to another. The tradition is unbelievable."

Inside the NFL | Rookies rising: Are first-years ready to fulfill their potential?

    Every year, several rookies perform at a level well beyond their age and transition smoothly from college to the fast-paced NFL game. Last season, newcomers such as Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons, Joe Flacco  of the Baltimore Ravens, Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears and Steve Slaton of the Houston Texans blazed onto the national stage. With Ryan and Flacco quarterbacking their teams into the playoffs and Forte and Slaton amassing 1,000-yard-rushing seasons, this year's crop of NFL's rookies class will face the weight of some high expectations.     Perhaps the first-year who has gained the most attention has been New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Fresh out of the University of Southern California, where he started just one season, Sanchez will take over under center in place of the mercurial, on-again off-again Brett Favre.     Coach Rex Ryan, also a rookie in New York, named Sanchez the starter despite an up-and-down preseason that included an impressive showing against the New York Giants but a shaky performance against the Ravens.     In the aftermath of Ryan's declaration, comparisons between Sanchez and Flacco quickly have become commonplace. Flacco last year became one of just eight rookie quarterbacks in league history to start a playoff game, while Sanchez hopes to follow suit after being handed the reins to the rebuilding Jets. But even though Flacco and Sanchez may seem similar on paper regarding their professional inexperience and strong defensive support, they are miles apart on the field.     Whereas Flacco was blessed with Derrick Mason to throw to, Sanchez has no true go-to receiver. Gone is deep-ball threat Laveranues Coles, leaving opposing defenses to key in on Jerricho Cotchery.     But it's undeniable that Sanchez has the potential to fill in admirably for Favre, as the former showed with a stellar performance in limited playing time against the cross-town Giants. He completed 65 percent of his passes for 149 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown pass to Chansi Stuckey.     Yet, in his opening contests, Sanchez looked more like a quarterback fresh out of college than one focused on leading the Jets to the playoffs. Against the Ravens Sanchez was shaky in the pocket in the face of one of the league's best defenses, throwing one interception in only eight attempts and accumulating a passer rating of 55.7.     When Sanchez takes the field on Sept. 13 at Houston, he will become the first Jets rookie quarterback since 1960 to start the opening game. How he performs remains to be seen, but the expectations are certainly high.     Still, while Sanchez is one of the only quarterbacks in line to make an immediate impact, he is certainly not the lone first-year to generate noise this preseason. Across the country, two running backs are making a storm in their respective West divisions, and the rushing attacks of the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals hinge squarely on their legs.     Broncos back Knowshon Moreno, a first-round draft pick out of the University of Georgia, recently sprained his MCL, and his status is up in the air for Week One. Denver has a history of turning rookie backs into immediate stars, but with pass-happy rookie coach Josh McDaniels at the helm, Moreno's role remains uncertain.     The hype surrounding Moreno would indicate that he is next in line to become the latest star in the Denver backfield. In just two years at Georgia, he averaged 5.5 yards-per-carry and rumbled for 2,736 yards and 30 touchdowns. That does not even include the aggregate 600-plus yards he accumulated in the receiving game.     Rumors have been circulating that Moreno's injury will hinder him from partaking in the opener, but he certainly possesses the physical tools to be an instant splash in the AFC West upon return.     Meanwhile, the Super Bowl runner-up Arizona Cardinals hope their rookie weapon, running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, will provide the missing ingredient for their potent offense — an established running game. Despite ranking second in the league in passing yardage, the Cardinals placed dead last on the ground, averaging just 73.6 yards per game.     Selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Ohio State, Wells brings an established résumé to the desert. He rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Buckeyes his sophomore year, including a 222-yard burst against Michigan, the most against the Wolverines by any one running back in rivalry history.     But performing in the NFL will be a different story. Like Moreno, Wells has the capability to make it big — he was the only back to run a faster 40-yard-dash than Moreno — and he has shown flashes this preseason. On Aug. 28 in his professional debut against the Green Bay Packers, Wells made a splash, rushing for 46 yards and two scores, including a 20-yard scamper in the second quarter.     Even with Pro Bowlers at quarterback in Kurt Warner and wide receiver in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, Wells should provide the necessary ground attack to keep opposing defenses from stacking the secondary.     While other first-years, such as Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, are high up on depth charts, the rookies will have a long climb to stardom. But Sanchez, Moreno and Wells all appear poised to make the leap sooner than expected.

Slideshow | Your Boston sports primer

Tufts Sports | ABCs of Tufts Athletics

Ashes: After Jumbo the Elephant's stuffed hide burned in a 1975 fire, his remains were recovered and stored in a peanut butter jar that is kept in Athletic Director Bill Gehling's office. Rubbing the jar before a big game is said to bring good luck. Brown and blue: Our school colors make for some of the ugliest uniforms this side of the Oregon Ducks. Cousens Gym: The 77-year-old facility has charm, old-school appeal and — finally — a regulation-sized court. Recent renovations lengthened the court to 94 feet, allowing Tufts' basketball teams to host NCAA Tournament games as early as this season. DMR: Following a photo-finish victory at last year's indoor track championships, the women's distance medley relay (DMR) team became Tufts' first repeat national champion since Caitlin Murphy (LA '00) won back-to-back 800-meter crowns from 1999-2000. Ellis Oval: The site of the outdoor track and football field is named for Fred "Fish" Ellis (A '29), a four-sport star considered arguably the greatest male athlete in school history. Built in 1894, it is also the oldest sports complex on campus. Field turf: Bello Field's unique playing surface has given Tufts quite a home-field advantage. Including the postseason, the field hockey team is 38-8 all-time at the five-year-old facility. Gantcher Center: Completed in November 1999, the 66,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility houses an indoor track and tennis court. Hamilton Pool: The oldest swimming pool in the NESCAC is the home of Tufts' swimming and diving teams. The facility's poor air quality was blamed for the rash of respiratory illnesses seen on the men's squad last year. Intercollegiate football: Athletics Director Emeritus Rocky Carzo has long contended that Tufts and Harvard squared off in the first U.S. college football game in 1875. The history books, however, cite an 1869 Rutgers-Princeton game, played with a round ball under rugby-style rules, as the birth of intercollegiate football. JumboCast: The student-run webcasting group streams live coverage of several Tufts sporting events over the Internet free of charge. Kraft Field: The home of the men's and women's soccer team bears the name of Patriots owner Bob Kraft, who gave the field as a gift to Tufts in the 1980s. Larry Bird: The Celtics great once filmed a commercial for the defense technologies company Raytheon in Cousens Gym. Malden Forum: The hockey team's home is located roughly 15 minutes away in nearby Malden, Mass. That's right, we have a giant elephant statue on our campus, but not an ice hockey rink. NESCAC: Boasting the Directors' Cup's top three schools, six defending national champions and, of course, your Tufts Jumbos, the NESCAC is perhaps the strongest conference in Div. III. Objective Analysis of Baseball: An Ex-College course on sabermetrics for all the stats geeks out there. President's Marathon Challenge: Started by University President Lawrence Bacow in 2003, the PMC's squad of 200 runners is the largest known collegiate marathon team in the country. Quinsigamond: Located in Worcester, the lake hosts many of the men's and women's crew teams' regattas, including the New England Rowing Championships. Richardson, Bill: The New Mexico governor and one-time presidential hopeful pitched on the baseball team from 1968-1970 and ranks 15th on the program's career strikeouts list. Sailing: Trinity owns squash, Bowdoin had a stranglehold on field hockey in recent years and Williams is tops in just about everything else. But Jumbo fans can always hang their hats on the sailing team, easily the most decorated squad on campus, with 20 national titles since 1976. Tuftonia's Day: Maybe it's not as catchy as "Hail to the Victors," but Tufts' fight song, penned in 1913, is just as timeless. We still don't know what a "tuftonia" is, however. Ultimate frisbee: Thanks to the nationally-competitive E-Men and the Ewo, ultimate is perhaps the most visible club sport at Tufts. Voute Courts: Home to the men's and women's tennis teams by day and health-conscious townies by night. William Gehling: Tufts' Athletics Director since 1999. Gehling has spent a lifetime on the Jumbo sports scene, co-captaining the 1973 men's soccer team to a 10-2 mark before serving as the women's head coach for the first 20 years of its existence as a varsity program. X's and O's: Of the 22 varsity head coaches on campus, seven are Tufts alums, including 26-year coaching veteran John Casey of the baseball team and Mike Daly, who, after playing football and baseball at Tufts, was hired to coach the men's lacrosse team in 1999. Yoga: As if to compound the whole latte-sipping, left-leaning, NPR-listening stereotype, we at Tufts have taken a liking to yoga, among the most popular physical education courses on campus. Zero: The number of NCAA team national championships Tufts has won in its history (the NCAA does not sponsor sailing). That's not to say we haven't come close. Both the women's soccer and field hockey teams have reached the NCAA title game in the last decade, only to lose in one-goal heartbreakers.

Interactive Map | Welcome to the NESCAC

Tufts is a proud member of the NESCAC, which, contrary to popular belief, does not stand for Never Expect Sports Championships At Colby. In fact, the New England Small College Athletic Conference houses some of the most successful teams in all of Div. III, including six 2008-09 national champions — Williams women's tennis and rowing, Trinity squash, Middlebury women's cross country, Amherst women's ice hockey and Bowdoin field hockey — and the top three schools in the Director's Cup — Williams, Middlebury and Amherst. Now when someone asks you why you went to school in the Northeast (because don't lie, it wasn't the weather or the raging parties), you can inform them that Tufts belongs to the country's best Div. III conference. So take a trip through the 10 other schools that share a conference with the Jumbos — institutions you will come to know and hate in your time here. With all the success, we figure that the stands should be filled with more than eight fans.