As the women's soccer team earned a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Wesleyan on Saturday, they had the support of an exceptionally large crowd as a result of the inaugural Fan the Fire event, which proved to be an unquestionable success.
The day started out slowly, and the stands were not even half-full at the beginning of the game. As the early afternoon wore on, the crowd continued to grow, eventually reaching an estimated 800 people according to Paul Sweeney, Tufts' sports information director.
The Jumbos' spectators were particularly active right after the halftime break, with the men's swimming team leading the fans in a series of chants. Women's soccer senior co-captain midfielder Lauren O'Connor was quick to mention the role the crowd played.
"It's not all too often that we get a crowd like this," she said. "We definitely fed off of it and our energy was high right from the very beginning, which helped us carry it through."
Fans were more than rewarded for their attendance, with free pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs, drinks and make-your-own caramel apples — all available for free. But the biggest prize came at halftime, when a 30-yard goal into a net guarded by Jumbo himself was worth two midfield tickets to the Patriots' game against the Dolphins on Dec. 24.
In its inaugural edition, Fan the Fire was considered a great success by all in attendance. Those in charge hope that this will spur even more success in future events.
"It was exactly what we were hoping for; to get a lot of people out not only to support out teams but to do it together," Tufts' Director of Athletics Bill Gehling, said. "There was a lot of spirit here, and it is hopefully something we can build on."
