With sophomores making up nearly half of its roster, second-year players are making noise on both sides of the center circle for the men's soccer team this fall.
Starting striker Dan Jozwiak and midfielders Bob Kastoff and Greg O'Connell have combined for four of the team's eleven goals in the first six matches of the 2005 campaign. On the defensive end, Andrew Drucker, Alex Bedig, Derek Engelking and Matt Maloney have helped hold together a young back four that became even younger when junior tri-captain Jon Glass went down with an ankle injury against Middlebury.
Though only in their second year of collegiate soccer, many of the players from the Class of 2008 contributed to the Jumbo cause during their rookie seasons last year.
"There was a time last year when we had six freshmen starting; it was pretty crazy," Jozwiak said. "We all grew a lot last year, and grew up together as far as playing college soccer."
Last year, Kastoff led the way for freshmen, notching a goal and three assists in 15 games played. Jozwiak and O'Connell also saw significant playing time, appearing in 12 and 11 games, respectively, and Drucker started all 15 times he took the field.
This season's sophomore standouts reflect a trend the team has seen over the past few seasons. Current junior strikers Mattia Chason and Ben Castellot each scored four goals and tallied an assist during their sophomore seasons. Defenders Aaron Nass and Jon Glass both recorded 14 starts in the back for the 2004 Jumbos as well. In 2003, this year's senior tri-captains Todd Gilbert and Mike Guigli combined for four goals and four assists in their second season at Tufts.
"I think sophomore year is the time when you have the most confidence," Jozwiak said. "You haven't felt all the wares of being in college for four years."
This year's large sophomore class has been the bridge in the lineup between small groups of upperclassmen and freshmen. In yesterday's 3-0 win over Rhode Island College, it was a Jozwiak header that allowed Chason to get fouled, setting up Gilbert's penalty kick goal. Along with "Jaws," second-years Drucker, Kastoff, Bedig, Engleking and Maloney saw time on the field, while O'Connell remained sidelined by injury.
"I feel like the guys in the back don't get as much credit, but they do all the dirty work," Jozwiak said. "O'Connell is definitely a factor holding play in the midfield and [Kastoff] and I are more on the attacking side."
With this strong core of second year players gaining valuable NESCAC experience early in their careers, the Class of 2008 will likely remain the heart of the Jumbos for years to come. For now, however, the sophomores are focused on the matters at hand.
"Our main goal right now is trying to win, but we are also just trying to have the best time and just keep getting better," Jozwiak said. "It's nice to know we still have a few years to keep going."
