Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2000

RALPH FERRIGNO WINS 100^th WITH MEN'S SOCCER TEAM

MEDFORD – As it turns out, the Tufts University men's soccer team's 3-1 victory over Bowdoin in the ECAC Championship Game was also the 100^th win during head coach Ralph Ferrigno's 11 years at the university.

The all-time leader in coaching victories at Tufts, Ferrigno finished the 2000 season with a 100-58-13 record. That's a winning percentage of 62.3 that is also tops among Tufts coaches. Since arriving at Tufts in 1990 after five years as an assistant at Dartmouth, Ferrigno has established the program as one of the best in New England.

The ECAC title was Tufts' first. Seeded seventh in the tournament, they beat Babson and Keene State to reach the final. For the title against Bowdoin, a team they hadn't beaten since 1995, the Jumbos went up 3-0 in the first half and were guided to the victory by tournament MVP Steve McDermid in goal.

Tufts has made seven straight post-season appearances under Ferrigno. Originally from Liverpool, England, the coach has guided Tufts into two NCAA Tournaments. The 1994 team won the NCAA New England Championship and hosted a National Quarterfinal game. Only one of Ferrigno's 11 seasons has finished with a losing record.

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