Teams: Men's Soccer: Team Overview

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As a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), the Tufts University Men's Soccer program is one of the most competitive in New England. Now in his 19th season as head coach, Ralph Ferrigno directs a team that annually competes for the conference title and the automatic NCAA Tournament berth that goes to the champion.

Fourteen of Ferrigno's Tufts teams have finished with winning records. Six times they have won 10 or more games. His career record of 151-102-23 represents both the most wins and the best winning percentage (.588) of any coach in the long history of the Jumbo program. From 1994-2002, the team posted a remarkable 91-41-12 record (.674). With seven conference tournament berths in the last eight seasons, the Jumbos look to climb in the competitive NESCAC standings for 2008.

As part of NESCAC, the Tufts program plays in the nation's most competitive small college conference academically and athletically. The Jumbos play at a post-season pace week after week against conference competition. Conference member Middlebury College, a team Tufts lost to 1-0 on a goal in the 59th minute, won the 2007 NCAA Division III Championship. Three NESCAC teams overall were selected for NCAA play. Jumbos Greg O'Connell and Alex Bedig were named to the All-Conference team last fall, with O'Connell earning the honor for the third time of his career.

The NESCAC is a group of highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities that share an academics-first philosophy for intercollegiate athletics. Jumbo players are recognized for their academic accomplishments as well. Bob Kastoff, a 2008 Tufts graduate, was named to the NESCAC All-Academic team last fall. Recent graduate Matt MacGregor, an international relations/history major with a grade point average over 3.8, was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's Collegiate Scholar All-America Team.

Located right outside of Boston, Tufts offers a well-rounded collegiate experience to student-athletes. Within its picturesque small-college campus, Tufts is a major university with "an unprecedented diversity of programs, exceptional faculty and staff, and bright and talented students," according to President Lawrence S. Bacow. The Athletics Department sponsors a varsity program of 28 sports that is among the most competitive in the NCAA's Division III. Tufts finished 15th in the 2008 U.S. Sports Academy Directors' Cup, the award presented annually to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country. The University's proximity to a world-class city renowned for its academic institutions is also a major draw.

Tufts Soccer enters each season with NCAA Tournament aspirations. Ferrigno's 1994 team won the NCAA New England Championship, defeating NESCAC rivals Williams and Middlebury to take the crown. The team hosted Johns Hopkins in the NCAA Quarter-finals in front of 4,000 fans that year. The 1996 Jumbos followed with another NCAA Tournament berth. In the regional Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships, Tufts advanced to the championship game in 1998 and won the title in 2000. NESCAC teams are no longer eligible for ECAC Tournament play.

Ferrigno earned his 150th win with the Tufts program last season. He was named NESCAC Coach of the Year in 2001 after guiding the team to an 11-4-1 overall record. Other recognition he's received includes NCAA New England Coach of the Year, New England Intercollegiate Soccer League Coach of the Year and Massachusetts College Coach of the Year. Previously an assistant at Dartmouth College, Ferrigno is also a veteran of over 10 years with the Olympic Development Program, a licensed coach in the USA, England & Wales, and founder of the Lightning Soccer program in 1986. In March 2007, he coached the Massachusetts Olympic Development Program's Boys Under-17 program to the national semi-finals.

The Jumbos have several starters from last season returning to this year's squad. Peter DeGregorio and Alex Lach are the top returning scorers, with Lach contributing two game-winning goals. Naji Muakkassa and Bear Duker are talented young players who will step into leadership roles this fall. Matt Maloney started every game on the backline last season, and starting keeper Dave McKeon is also back. The Jumbos had a 1.21 goals against average that was tied for fourth in NESCAC last season. Their five shutouts, including against NESCAC's Bates and Trinity, was also tied for fourth in the league.

The Tufts program fields a very competitive junior varsity program, which has fed the varsity line-up with young players throughout Ferrigno's tenure. With eight seniors graduated from last year's roster, the 2008 team will feature several new faces.

Kraft Field, home to the Jumbos, was a gift to the University made by New England Patriots and Revolution owner Robert Kraft and his family in the 1980s. Tufts also uses the Bello Field turf, opened in 2004, for games and practices during inclement weather. The Tufts team also regularly takes a pre-season tour to England, homeland of Coach Ferrigno.