BACK TO HAMILTON; EX-RAIDER TO SEE HER NUMBER RETIRED.(Sports) - The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)

Byline: Matt Michael Staff writer

Former Colgate University soccer star Jennifer Hughes did not wear uniform No. 2 because that's the number worn by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter.

'I had it first,' Hughes said, laughing. 'He took my number.'

Indeed, Hughes took uniform No. 2 in her freshman year at Colgate in 1993 because her favorite number, 13, was already taken. Jeter starting wearing No. 2 in 1996, his rookie year with the Yankees.

In the end, No. 2 will never be worn again by another Yankee or another Colgate women's soccer player. The Yankees will surely retire Jeter's number one day, and Colgate will retire Hughes' number during a ceremony before Friday's 7 p.m. game between the Raiders and Navy at Van Doren Field.

'It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and certainly an honor,' said Hughes, a Minoa native who is attending graduate school at the University of Massachusetts.

Not a superstitious sort, Hughes wore No. 13 at East Syracuse-Minoa High School, where she led the Spartans to three Section 3 championships and was a scholastic All-American. She wanted No. 13 at Colgate, but it was already worn by a junior player. So Hughes took No. 2, one of only two numbers remaining when it came time for her to pick.

Hughes, the Raiders' all-time leading scorer with 106 points (40 goals and 26 assists), is just the second player in the 21-year history of the Colgate's women's soccer program to have her number retired. The other is Jessica Tuthill, a first-team All-American who wore No. 17 and graduated in 1995 - one year ahead of Hughes.

'She's the best player to go through Colgate soccer,' Hughes said of Tuthill. 'To be mentioned with her as the two people to have their number retired is pretty special.'

Hughes helped Colgate capture three consecutive Patriot League titles from 1994-96, and three Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association championships in 1993, 1995 and 1996. In her senior season she won several awards, including Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, NCAA Division I Soccer Buzz All-American and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

'People don't always associate Colgate and soccer,' Hughes said. 'For the team to be so successful my four years at Colgate, I can't think of any other word than special to adequately describe it.'

Following Colgate, Hughes played for the New York Magic of the United States Independent Soccer League in 1998 and a professional team in Sweden in 1999. She returned to Colgate as an assistant coach for the women's soccer team in 2000-01, and she's now pursuing a dual graduate degree (MBA and sports management) at UMass.

Hughes, 27, does not have any classes on Fridays, so she'll be free to travel to Hamilton for Friday night's ceremony. She'll be joined by her parents, Robert and Judith Hughes of Fayetteville, other family members and friends from East Syracuse-Minoa High School.

'Going to Colgate was such a special experience. I wouldn't change a thing,' Hughes said. 'To have your number retired is simply icing on the cake.'

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File photo/Jim Commentucci, 1996

JENNIFER HUGHES is Colgate University's all-time leading scorer in women's soccer with 106 points (40 goals and 26 assists). She's the second player in the 21-year history of the program to have her number retired. The other is Jessica Tuthill.