Ralph Ferrigno

		Ralph Ferrigno, NESCAC coach of the year

Ferrigno named NESCAC soccer coach of the year
by Paul Sweeney

The Tufts University men's soccer team finished its 2001 season on November 3 with a 1-0 loss in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament semi-finals against Middlebury. Head Coach Ralph Ferrigno's Jumbos were 11-4-1 overall and 6-3 in the conference to finish third. They outlasted Wesleyan in the first round of the NESCAC tournament on penalty kicks.

ECAC New England Champions in 2000, the Jumbos again received national and regional recognition during the season. They rose to as high as third in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) New England Division III poll and 23rd in the NSCAA national poll. The Jumbos were sixth in the November 5 regional poll. Their four losses overall are the team's fewest since 1996.

Ferrigno was named NESCAC Coach of the Year after leading Tufts to its best NESCAC showing since 1996. His side featured four All-NESCAC selections: senior back Mike Prindiville on the First Team, and junior Garrett Dale, junior Matt MacGregor and sophomore Brian Mikel on the Second Team. The Jumbos had clutch conference wins over Amherst, Bowdoin, Wesleyan and Trinity.

Ferrigno reached the 100-win milestone in the final game of the 2000 season. He is Tufts soccer's all-time leader with 111 victories and a 63.1 winning percentage (111-62-14) during 12 seasons at Tufts. Originally from Liverpool, England, Ferrigno also directs the very successful Lightning soccer camps in the area.

Paul Sweeney is Tufts' sports information director.