MEDFORD, MA (November 11, 2026) – The No. 4 ranked Tufts University men's soccer team, fresh off of their second consecutive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship victory on Sunday, was honored with five All-NESCAC selections in the announcement of the 2026 All-NESCAC teams this morning.
Senior forward
Xavier Canfin was the lone Jumbo to carve out a spot on the All-Conference First Team, while defenders
Bijan Akhtarzandi-Das and
Ben Brown as well as midfielder
William Cornog and forward
Henry Brown earned their way onto the All-NESCAC Second Team. This is the second straight season where five members of the squad earned All-NESCAC nods.
Canfin has put together a strong senior season in the Blue and Brown, as he leads the team in scoring with 16 points on five goals and six assists. Canfin has proved to be a vital offensive motor for the Jumbos all season, leading the Jumbos multiple offensive categories. The New York native paces Tufts with four game-winning goals this fall and 15 shots on goal.
The back line has been a pivotal piece in the Jumbos' success this season and Akhtarzandi-Das is a major part of the defensive core. The defender leads the entire team in minutes played, showing his work ethic and desire to do everything he can to help his team win. The Washington native has buried two goals his season and has been extremely disciplined, as he is yet to pick up a card this year.
Ben Brown is one of two captains on the Jumbos and has contributed heavily on both ends of the field. Brown uses his height to disrupt opposing attacks and create problems for defenders in the box on the offensive end. Brown leads all Jumbo defenders and ranks third on the team in scoring with 11 points on three goals and five assists. This defensive unit has helped Tufts collect nine total shutouts this season and held opponents to a 0.72 goals per game mark.
Cornog nabbed an All-NESCAC Second Team selection as a defensive minded midfielder. Cornog has been the PK specialist for Tufts all season as he capitalized on all three of his chances from the dot. The junior also leads all midfielders and ranks fourth on the Jumbos in minutes played with 1,379. The Dallas native brings energy and grit to this Tufts' squad that has helped them in big moments all season long. Cornog currently sits with seven points on three goals and one assist.
Henry Brown completes the powerful offensive striker duo of Canfin and Brown. This is the second straight year that Brown has found his way onto an All-NESCAC team, after earning First Team honors last season. The Florida native ranks second on the Jumbos in scoring with 12 points on five goals and five assists. Brown's five goals is tied for the most on the Jumbos with his forward partner, Canfin. The senior is second on Tufts with 14 shots on target and has buried one game-winning goal in 2026.
Connecticut's Marco Perugini was named as the NESCAC Player of the Year, while Max Haberman took home the Defensive Player of the Year award for the Camels for the second straight year. Edward Wilkey from Amherst captured NESCAC Rookie of the Year, while Hamilton and Middlebury were selected as Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year.
The Jumbos will host a the opening rounds of the DIII NCAA Tournament this weekend on Bello Field. Tufts will face Penn State-Abington at 11 AM on Saturday, while Babson will battle against SUNY Oneonta at 1:30 PM.
--JUMBOS--
