Men’s soccer, which has allowed only one goal all season, hosts NESCAC tournament; volleyball, women’s soccer, and sailing in playoff action, too
Though the Tufts men’s soccer team has won two of the last three NCAA Division III championships, the Jumbos haven’t had much success in their own conference tournament. The team hopes to change that this weekend.
Tufts will host the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) semifinals and final this weekend at Bello Field. The Jumbos face Hamilton College in the first semifinal game on Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. Bowdoin and Middlebury will meet in the second semifinal starting at 1:30 p.m. Saturday’s winners will advance to the conference championship game on Sunday at noon.
The Jumbos’ 3-0 win over Bates at Bello Field in the NESCAC quarterfinals on October 28 was just the second victory in 18 conference tournament games for Tufts. Playing in the semifinal this year for the first time since 2012, Tufts has never won a NESCAC title or even played in a league championship game.
“Winning a conference championship would mean everything,” said senior co-captain Conor Coleman, A18. “We have had great success the past three years, but there is still work to do to get the program to the level we want it to be at. We have never been able to win a conference championship, and doing so would help establish this team’s legacy.”
The Jumbos earned the number-one seed in the conference this season with a 7-1-2 NESCAC record. Head coach Josh Shapiro’s team is 13-1-2 overall and ranked fourth in the United Soccer Coaches national poll. Tufts has allowed just one goal in its 16 games for a spectacular 0.06 goals against average. The team’s success has come from multiple factors, including team unity and the depth of their talent.
“We are a family and will fight for each other until the end,” said junior co-captain Sterling Weatherbie, A19. “We hold everyone to a standard and keep each other honest. We know going into the game that everyone will do their job and have each other’s backs.
“We also have 27 guys on our team that, frankly, all have the ability to be starters,” Weatherbie continued. “We don’t have a drop-off level between our first team and our subs. So we are able to continue to come at teams consistently, and not give them a break.”
The Jumbos will look to take advantage of playing on their home turf at Bello for the first time in a conference semifinal. Tufts is undefeated at home this season with a 7-0-2 record.
“It is a huge advantage,” Coleman said. “It is so much fun to be at home. The atmosphere and crowd are unbelievable. Not to mention the field is one of the bigger fields in the league, which allows us to get the ball down and play our game better.”
More Championship Action: Volleyball, Women’s Soccer, Sailing
Christina Nwankpa, A20, rips a shot across the net in the match against the University of Minnesota, Morris on September 9. Photo: Alonso NicholsVolleyball (20-5 overall) is also looking to add a conference title to its national success. The Jumbos are two-time NCAA regional champions, but have not won a conference title since 1996.
“I am incredibly proud of this group in particular for taking it one point, one set, and one match at a time,” said Coach Cora Thompson. “If there is one thing this group really understands, it’s that there is nothing more important than staying in and owning the present moment. They are all very aware of this program’s history, and they are all very excited for what the future might bring. But they also know that if they look back or look ahead they will lose sight of what's most important, the present moment.”
Midfielder Sarah Grubman, A19, attempts to clear the ball during Tufts women’s soccer game against Middlebury on October 7. Photo: Nicholas PfosiIn other championship action this weekend, sailors Alp Rodopman, A19, and Talia Toland, A21, will compete at the Intercollegiate Sailing Association’s singlehanded national championship in Florida. Toland was the runner-up and Rodopman was fourth at the New England singlehanded championships earlier this fall.
Sports Information Director Paul Sweeney can be reached at paul.sweeney@tufts.edu.
