Teams: Men's Soccer: Press Releases

Thursday, November 9, 2006

MEN'S SOCCER ALL-NESCAC TEAM FEATURES THREE JUMBOS

MEDFORD -- The 2006 Tufts University men's soccer team placed three players on the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) All-Conference teams announced today. Senior Mattia Chason (Rome, Italy/Lycee Chauteaubriand), junior Dan Jozwiak (Boulder, CO/Fairview) and junior tri-captain Greg O'Connell (Cohasset, MA/Belmont Hill) were all voted onto the Second Team by the conference's coaches.

With three honorees, Tufts joined Middlebury and Amherst, while 2006 league champion Williams College and Wesleyan University both had four players selected. Chason and O'Connell were both All-NESCAC Second Team picks last year. With three player recognized, head coach Ralph Ferrigno's team had its most since four Jumbos were named in 2002.

Chason led Tufts in scoring for the second straight year with eight goals and two assists for 18 points. Three of his goals were game-winners. Through November 5, he was ranked fifth in NESCAC scoring with 1.20 points per game and fourth in goals per game with a 0.53 average. Four of his goals, including two game-winners, came in conference matches. With nine goals as a junior last fall and four in 2004, he finishes his Jumbo career with 21 tallies in three seasons.

Jozwiak first emerged as an offensive force in NESCAC last fall, and he continued that progress this year to earn his first All-Conference nod. The 6'4", 210-pound striker scored seven goals with an assist for 15 points, second on the team. Those numbers accounted for a fifth-place NESCAC ranking in goals per game (0.50) and seventh place in points per game (1.07). Of his goals, three were in conference games and two were game-winners. Jozwiak missed two games with a hip flexor strain.

O'Connell's selection came despite playing through a muscle strain of his knee this season. He missed four games and finished with a modest one goal and one assist, but his overall presence on the field has gained respect from the rest of the conference. His leadership on the field, as well as his ability to control the pace of the game and play both midfield and forward positions, has earned him regard as one of the best players in NESCAC.

Tufts finished 7-6-2. They started winless in their first five, but then won seven of nine. The Jumbos were eliminated from the NESCAC Tournament on penalty kicks by second seed Amherst.

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