In the wake of last year's uninspiring campaign, in which the Jumbos went 4-5 in NESCAC, 5-8-2 overall, and bowed out of the league tournament with a first-round loss, 2006 is a season of redemption for the men's soccer team.
The Jumbos will kick off their 2006 campaign with a home match on Kraft Field against Colby on Saturday.
"We're actually looking much better than last year," senior co-captain Jon Glass said. "I think that in the preseason everyone [arrived] in good shape, and the long week [of training] we've had only made things better."
The Tufts roster is relatively intact from 2005, as there were only three seniors on last year's squad. One big hit is the loss of Mike Guigli, captain of the 2005 squad and a NESCAC Second Team and Div. III All-New England East Region Second Team selection in his senior year.
Many experienced players are returning, including 2005 NESCAC Second Team selections Glass and senior Mattia Chason. The team returns three of its four multi-goal scorers in Chason and co-captain Greg O'Connell, Dan Jozwiak and Bob Kastoff, all juniors. The team expects a starting lineup similar to last year's but the exact positions of individual players will likely shift in the first few games.
"We have a lot of players who can play many positions," Glass said. "I think that's one of the good things about us. Last year we had a freshman who was very talented, Peter DeGregorio. He could have stepped into Guigli's spot [in the midfield], but I think this year he will be playing defense."
Coach Ralph Ferrigno has also used the preseason practice time to test different formations on the pitch.
"Coach has been experimenting with overloading the midfield in a 4-5-1 [formation]," Glass said. "We also play a 4-4-2. We like to keep a couple standard formations."
Though the Jumbos have a number of experienced players on the field this year, a wealth of new talent adds depth to the program.
"It's the biggest freshman class we've had yet," Glass said. "There are a few standouts, but overall everyone is looking good."
Junior co-captain Greg O'Connell feels that the new talent has increased the level of intensity in practice as players push each other competing for starting spots.
"We have a lot of freshmen this year," O'Connell said. "Coach is trying a lot of different players in a lot of different positions. There are definitely three or four guys vying for spots [on the lineup]. We need the best group of guys who can go out and get results."
As the Jumbos have not yet played a game with their new full squad, it is too soon to identify obvious flaws on the field.
"Every team has its weaknesses," O'Connell said. "Looking back at last year, sometimes we didn't play the full 90 minutes-sometimes we weren't balanced enough through the defense and the midfield. We'll have to tighten up our play, but so far, everything looks pretty good."
This is the third straight year that the team has opened at home against Colby, with both previous contests ending in narrow 1-0 Tufts victories.
"We've beaten them every time in the past, but they always give us a close game," Glass said. "It's always low-scoring."
When the opening whistle sounds on Saturday, the team will essentially be in its final form.
"[Ferrigno] has a pretty good idea of what he wants to see on Saturday," O'Connell said. "It's a pretty short season so we really don't want to be experimenting too much. What you'll see on Saturday is the team he wants to lead throughout the entire season, maybe a couple changes along the way. It's all business right now."
