To say the men's soccer team's 2009 season was a disappointment would be a massive understatement.
With high hopes and a roster that blended a core of experienced players with a talented group of freshmen, the Jumbos expected to contend for the NESCAC title. Instead, they went winless in conference play and sported a dismal 2−10−2 overall record.
But with a new coach on the sideline, a renewed focus on the field and, most importantly, a clean slate, the Jumbos believe a much better campaign is in store this fall.
First−year head coach Josh Shapiro, who helped guide Georgetown University to a 9−8−2 record in the Big East as an assistant in '09, brings a pedigree of success at the Div. I level to Tufts. The Jumbos are certain that he'll be an excellent successor to longtime coach Ralph Ferrigno, who left Tufts after 20 seasons at the helm.
"[Coach Shapiro] has come to Tufts with a realistic vision and given us the confidence we need to restore the program," senior quad−captain Ron Coleman said. "He's going to help transform us into one of the top teams not only in the NESCAC, but also in the country and really improve the future of soccer at Tufts."
In addition to implementing a new system and style of play, Shapiro has already influenced the way the Jumbos approach their practices.
"We've come to the field with a lot more passion and excitement this summer," senior quad−captain midfielder Chris Flaherty said. "[Shapiro] has been very direct about his expectations, and made us confident that we can play with the top teams in our conference."
The Jumbos will have to show it early on, as their season starts on Saturday with a home match against Middlebury. The Panthers reached the championship game of the NESCAC tournament last year before losing a fiercely contested 2−1 decision to Williams in overtime.
Tufts will look to atone for its 1−0 loss to Middlebury in last season's opener, when the Jumbos did not manage a single shot on goal, setting the tone for an unproductive season. A positive result against the Panthers would mark the first step toward a rebound campaign.
"We need to take one game at a time because the start of the season is going to be hard," Flaherty said. "After Middlebury, we play Amherst on the road [on Sept. 17], and whatever happens, we can't put our heads down like we did at times last year. We have to stay confident."
"We have a great opportunity for a fresh start," Coleman, a midfielder, added. "If we believe in the new system and stay focused, the sky is the limit."
It will be up to the team's four senior captains to maintain the passion and mentality that the Jumbos have shown in practice. Coleman and Flaherty, as well as fellow senior midfielder Naji Muakkassa and senior defenseman Josh Molofsky, should be up to the task.
"We need to show our commitment to the younger players and really keep the team together through our leadership," Coleman said. "We have veteran players throughout the field, and it's our job to make sure we don't get down after a slow start, because we have a chance to win every game on our schedule."
The Jumbos hope to at least post a winning record in their nine NESCAC matches, which likely would earn them one of the top four seeds in the postseason tournament; that competition is operating under a new ranking system put in place by the conference.
Rather than seeding the teams based on winning percentage, the NESCAC will now determine its standings based on points — a system similar to the one that is currently used in professional leagues such as Major League Soccer. Teams will earn three points for a conference win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss.
If the Jumbos finish in the top four, they would earn the right to host their first−round match in the NESCAC tournament for the first time since 2001.
Hope springs eternal at the beginning of a new season, but the Jumbos truly believe they have all the pieces in place for a terrific year. And they also know that it is time for them to turn potential into progress and rebuild Tufts' reputation as a formidable force in NESCAC men's soccer.
