Monday, November 15, 2004
Written by Lee Kellogg

CASTELLOT NAMED ALL-NESCAC FIRST TEAM IN MEN'S SOCCER

MEDFORD -- After a season in which he helped his team reach the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament, sophomore Ben Castellot (Newton, MA/Loomis-Chaffee) has been recognized by the conference as one of this season's top performers.  On a vote by the league's 11 coaches, Castellot was placed on the All-Conference First Team among the best that NESCAC has to offer. The only Jumbo honored, he is one of three sophomores selected to the First Team.

The sophomore forward contributed four goals and one assist to Tufts' 8-6-1 campaign this season, placing him tied for second in team scoring with nine points.  Despite relatively modest stats, opponents were always aware of his presence on the Jumbo offense. One of the most athletic players on the field, he has professional potential according to Tufts' 14^th-year head coach Ralph Ferrigno.

Conference recognition is nothing new to Castellot.  Earlier in the season he was named NESCAC Player of the Week.  This came after a game against Bowdoin in which Castellot scored two of the team's three goals in a 3-2 upset victory.  His first put the Jumbos up 2-1, and the other sealed the deal in overtime. Bowdoin was tied for first place in the conference entering the game. Castellot also put one in against #2 seed Middlebury during the team's first round match in the NESCAC Tournament, a 4-3 loss in overtime.

The Jumbos finished seventh in NESCAC with a 4-5 record. They were ranked in the same spot for goals per game with 25 in 15 contests (1.67 average).

Castellot let Tufts in scoring as a freshman last fall with five goals for 10 points. As a returning junior, he will be looking to put up even greater numbers next year and help lead his team to bigger and better things.

Williams College junior midfielder Josh Bolton was named the conference's Player of the Year. David Larocca of Middlebury was the Rookie of the Year and George Purgavie of Bates College was Coach of the Year.

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