Hey football fans, welcome back! This is Year 2 of Roster Rundown, and I’m so excited to bring you week-to-week fantasy content once again. Let’s face it: A lot has happened since the end of last year. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56 — in Los Angeles. The Deshaun Watson saga finally ended in an 11-game suspension. Tom Brady retired — and unretired.
The men’s soccer team picked up a win on the road this past weekend against the Amherst Mammoths, while also earning its second NESCAC tie of the season in its match against the Williams Ephs.
The Tufts Jumbos suffered a heartbreaking loss after a valiant fight against the Trinity College Bantams this past weekend, just barely losing 26-23. In their last 10 meetings, Tufts has been 1–9 against Trinity. The Bantams came in second place in the NESCAC in the 2021 season with a record of 8–1. Their only loss was to the NESCAC champion, Williams. In last season’s matchup between the Bantams and the Jumbos, Trinity dominated throughout the game and only a late surge of scoring from Tufts made the game more competitive. The final score was 42–28.
Volleyball split its first weekend of NESCAC play this past weekend, falling short to Wesleyan and getting their first conference win against Trinity. These matches bring the team’s overall record to 4–2 and their NESCAC record to 1–1. In the 2021 season, the Wesleyan Cardinals consistently posed a serious threat, giving the Jumbos two of six losses for the year. Additionally, the Cardinals knocked the Jumbos out of the NESCAC tournament in the semifinals, before eventually losing to the top-seeded hosts, the Bowdoin Polar Bears, in the NESCAC championship. In 2021, both matches were hard-fought battles that went to five sets. This year’s contest was no different. Despite losing in three sets, each set was within single digit points, with the Jumbos and Cardinals trading off the lead frequently (21–25, 23–25, 24–26). The Cardinals improved their record to 5–0, positioning themselves as tough competition and big targets for their next matchup with the Jumbos. Junior middle hitter Brittany Bennet said the speed of game against Wesleyan challenged the team.
The field hockey team burst onto Ounjian Field last weekend, displaying fire and preparation in their home opener against Connecticut College and securing a dominant 5–1 victory over the Camels. The Jumbos made a statement to the entire NESCAC, scoring early and often via creative pass plays and consistent defense.
Robert Sarver and Donald Sterling are both despicable people, each credibly accused of uniquely reprehensible actions that spanned years and sometimes decades. Only Sterling, former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was truly reprimanded permanently. Sarver, the still-owner of the Phoenix Suns, got the equivalent of a parking ticket and a timeout. Both admit no wrongdoing, lost essentially no money, and the NBA seems just fine with that.
Tufts volleyball took on three high-level competitors this past weekend to earn mixed results at the East-West Classic. The games were hosted by Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, bringing together some of the top competition in Div. III volleyball. Teams included some of the nation’s elite competition, including this year’s No. 1 seed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and last year’s No. 1 seeded team, the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays. The Jumbos upset the Blue Jays in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. The trip to Georgia is the team’s second away trip of many to start its season.Junior outside hitter Rileigh Farragher commented on the schedule.
Saturday’s game between the Tufts University Jumbos and the Connecticut College Camels was highly contested in a close matchup. This was the second game of both teams’ seasons as they played out-of-conference openers to start the year.
The Tufts women’s soccer program hosted the Connecticut College Camels on Saturday for each team’s first NESCAC game of the 2022 season. The Jumbos and Camels entered Saturday’s contest each having already dominated a non-conference opponent at home during the week — Tufts defeated Emerson College 4–1 and Conn. College defeated the University of Saint Joseph 6–0.
Some fans might recall the days when rumors of a young Argentine talent began emerging from southern Italy. Clad in the flamingo pink and black of Palermo, Paulo Dybala regularly dazzled defenders with his relentless pace, close control in tight areas and lethal left foot. Dubbed the “new Sergio Augero” by his club president in reference to the famous Argentine soccer player, the young forward quickly made headlines for his match-winning performances. The newly promoted Sicilian side had clearly landed a gem.
The soccer program is one of the most successful and storied athletic programs at Tufts. The women’s team consistently has winning records and places highly in the NESCAC, while the men’s team has won four national championships, two of which have been in the last five years. This year looks to be no different as both teams gear up for an exciting season ahead.
After a historic run last year, the Tufts volleyball team sets sights on its upcoming competitive season with excitement. Despite graduating three pivotal seniors, the team maintains high hopes with the introduction of five new first-years and the return of the remaining roster members. Newly elected captains, junior setter Maddie Yu, senior middle hitter Grace Legris and senior outside hitter and defensive specialist Anna Nachmanoff shared their insights on the team and the season they are eagerly anticipating.
In America, summer means baseball. While players from the NFL, NBA and NHL enjoy their offseason, Major League Baseball is in full swing, with ballparks in major cities across the country hosting games every night. The same can be said for more than 100 Minor League Baseball teams across five different levels of play that take the field on an almost nightly basis from April to September. The market for summer baseball is so big in the U.S. that it’s no surprise that there are opportunities for the best players in college baseball, including those from the Tufts baseball program, to showcase their talents after the spring college baseball season is finished.
It may be hard to believe that the Class of 2022 is enjoying its last weeks as Tufts students. Such a time is due for reminiscing on the memories made over these past four years in Medford. For senior basketball Captain Molly Ryan, her time at Tufts has forged long-lasting friendships and memories that will not be soon forgotten.
Eight seconds left. Tufts up by one against the best team in the nation with a final free position opportunity for Middlebury’s Hope Shue versus senior Molly Laliberty in goal. The whistle blows, and the ball is blocked out of bounds by the Jumbos’ defense. Game over — Jumbos win the NESCAC Championship.
“Everyone on our team knows Isaac has the best forehand in the country.”
The first ever Strength Staff Sufferfest commenced at 9 a.m. on April 14. Three members of the Tufts Strength and Conditioning staff — Dan Kopsco, Alex O'Keefe and Ethan Bare — participated in a 24-hour long fundraiser to increase the number of people of color entering into the strength and conditioning field.
The 2021 season was a pivotal one for the Tufts men’s soccer program. It was the first season played under Head Coach Kyle Dezotell, who was hired in March 2020 after the Jumbos won their second consecutive Division III National Championship ― their fourth in six seasons ― under former Head Coach Josh Shapiro.
Two-sport star athlete Mac Bredahl graduates this spring after leaving his mark on the Tufts athletics world. Bredahl, a senior from Chatham, New Jersey, is an attacker and captain of the Tufts men’s lacrosse team as well as a top player for the Tufts golf team in the fall. Despite his seasons as a Jumbo being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bredahl has made the most of every second on the field.
Playing rugby takes guts. It takes getting up after big hits, playing through painful injuries and making the right decision in high-pressure situations. Senior Adam Pidedjian came into Tufts with barely any rugby experience. He played soccer in high school but joined the rugby team as a first-year at Tufts and quickly fell in love with the sport.
