Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2002
MEDFORD – After a 2-1 victory over Connecticut College on Saturday, the recognition rolled in for the undefeated Tufts University men's soccer team on Monday. Senior forward Garrett Dale (Upper Montclair, NJ/Montclair) was named the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week for his part in two victories. Then the new National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) polls were released and the Jumbos were #1 in New England and #6 in the nation.
Head Coach Ralph Ferrigno's Jumbos are 4-0, the program's best start since winning five straight to start the 1999 season. They have three 2-1 victories, over Connecticut, earlier last week against local rival MIT, and in the season opener versus Lasell in overtime. They also knocked off NESCAC rival Amherst College, 3-1. They moved up in the polls this week from #14 nationally and #2 regionally last week.
"We have a very good group of guys who play for each other," Ferrigno said. "We haven't played our best necessarily, but we've had the results, and our team chemistry has a lot to do with that."
Dale, the team's leading scorer with eight goals and eight assists last season, warmed up after being held scoreless in the first two games. He gave Tufts a 1-0 lead at unbeaten MIT on Wednesday, then assisted on the game-winning goal to teammate Matt MacGregor (Little Compton, RI/Middletown) early in the second half. Against Camels of Connecticut College, he scored on a break-away to even the game at 1-1 late in the first half. An All-NESCAC Second Team pick last fall, he has 19 goals and 11 assists for 49 points in 47 career games at Tufts.
The Jumbos are no stranger to the national soccer scene. They played in the NCAA Tournament in 1996 and in 1994 when they won the regional championship. Members of the competitive NESCAC, which includes six of the region's top 10 teams this week – including the top three – the Jumbos won the 2000 ECAC New England Championship.
They play next on Homecoming Day at Tufts this Saturday (Sept. 28) versus NESCAC foe Bates College. Game time is 1:30 pm.
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