MEDFORD, MA (September 22, 2025) -- The Tufts University football squad posted a thrilling 22-20 win over defending New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) champion Wesleyan University Saturday evening, and sophomores
Cameron Pineda and
Dazer van Leeuwen had a huge impact as they were named as the NESCAC Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively.
Pineda had his best game as a Jumbo on Saturday in a 22-20 win over Wesleyan in Tufts' home opener. The cornerback had the most pivotal play of the game, returning an interception 64 yards for a touchdown to put the Jumbos up 14-7. He also added eight tackles, including a team-high seven solo stops. The interception was the first of his career
With the Jumbos leading 17-14, van Leeuwen blocked a punt out of the back of the end zone to make the score 19-14. Tufts would add another field goal and ended up winning by two as the safety on the blocked punt ended up being the difference in the game. The senior added three tackles as the special teams group was the determining factor in the win.
Pineda becomes the second Tufts defensive back to earn Defensive Player of the Week in the last two seasons, as
Ty Richardson also earned the award just over a year ago. Pineda joins Richardson and EJ Comerford as Defensive Player of the Week honorees for the Jumbos since 2021. The Jumbos have also seen a strong presence on the Special Teams Player of the Week, as van Leeuwen joined Vic Garza, Sam LoCoco and
Aundre Smith as honorees since the 2021 campaign.
Tufts is 2-0 for the first time since 2018 and will look to get to 3-0 this weekend as it travels to Amherst College at 1 p.m. at Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium.
--JUMBOS--
