October is here, and no group is happier about the changing of the calendar page than the men's soccer team.
Just as they did last year, the Jumbos were winless in their first five September games this season, dropping to 0-4-1 in a hurry. But in 2006, the team responded with a five-game winning streak, and now, this year's squad is threatening to do the same.
Tufts won its second game in a row on Wednesday, defeating Plymouth State 5-0, a non-conference victory that gives the squad confidence heading into Saturday's pivotal Homecoming matchup with Bowdoin.
"A lot of guys are on form and are executing well," senior tri-captain Greg O'Connell said. "The team is coming together, and our confidence is high. We have good spirits in practice. We had scored five goals this season [heading into Wednesday night's game], and we scored five tonight."
For the Jumbos, it was the second year in a row that they defeated Plymouth State 5-0. Yet despite the large margin of victory, many of the players claimed that the Panthers provided a solid test for Saturday.
"They played well in the first half, and their attack was pretty good," senior midfielder Kevin Anglin said.
"They weren't a big team," junior midfielder Peter DeGregorio added. "But they moved the ball around well and made a lot of long passes."
The game was tight in the first half, as each team attempted six shots. Only one, a free kick in the 10th minute off the foot of Anglin, found the back of the net. Meanwhile, junior goalkeeper David McKeon kept the Owls at bay, stopping five shots for the Jumbos, well on the way to his second straight shutout.
Early in the second half, Tufts broke the game open when Anglin scored off another direct kick, bending the ball over a wall of Plymouth State defenders in the 54th minute.
"After Kevin's second goal, we started to dominate, and they became demoralized," DeGregorio said. "Then we just kept it going."
Senior forward Dan Jozwiak added to the Jumbos' tally by scoring on a rebound after a shot by DeGregorio hit the crossbar in the 63rd minute. Twenty-one minutes later, O'Connell grabbed a pass from freshman forward Alex Lach and chipped the ball over Owls goalkeeper Tyler Shute to make it 4-0.
Lach, seeing action for only the second time in his young career, contributed the game's final goal off an assist from classmate Naji Muakkassa. Muakkassa, playing right midfield, hit a low hard cross into the middle. Sophomore midfielder Dan Schoening allowed the ball to go through his legs, setting up Lach to kick the ball into the back of the net.
"Scoring felt good," Lach said. "I've been working hard in practice. I just try to stay focused and contribute when Coach [Ralph Ferrigno] calls on me. We have a very strong freshman class. We hang out with each other off the field, and that bonding has helped us on the field."
For Tufts, the focus turns to Saturday's game against NESCAC rival Bowdoin (5-2-0). In 2006, the Jumbos dominated Bowdoin 5-0 en route to their fourth win in a row.
"Last year, we gave [Bowdoin] a whooping," Anglin said. "So they'll want revenge this year."
Bowdoin, 2-2-0 in league play, features two of the NESCAC's top four point scorers in senior midfielder Nick Figueiredo and senior forward Brendan Egan. But if history is any indication, Tufts' Homecoming crowd will surely give the Jumbos an advantage.
"Homecoming is probably the most exciting game of the year," Anglin said. "Tons of fans come to the game."
Despite the current winning streak, the squad is in no way satisfied with its current record.
"To get the first win was huge for us, because winning becomes infectious," O'Connell said. "You want more of it."
