Happy New Year! Hope both you and your family had a great holiday season. Sheila, Megan, Michael and I had a great one...our first in Rhode Island. The only thing that was missing was a white Christmas but it was wonderful to wake up in our home with a fireplace where Santa could come down and leave presents for the kids. We video taped the whole thing so we will cherish that morning.
Anyway, I just returned from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) annual convention in Indianapolis where I attended our Atlantic 10 conference meetings as well as got to see clinics, presentations and even catch up with friends and colleagues.
The highlight of the convention for us was seeing Jeffrey Gonsalves (Markham, Ontario, Canada) selected in the Major League Soccer draft by the expansion Toronto FC. Jeff was nervous about his chances because, as you may or may not know, he came down with mononucleosis in December and was not able to participate in the MLS Combine in Florida. He is on the road to recovery now and we'll get to work getting him fit and ready for pre-season. We were all confident as we have seen what kind of player he is (and can be) so we are very, very happy for him!
It's been a busy 2007 so far with this travel to Indiana as well as to Florida before New Years to recruit at the Disney Showcase, one of the premier events in the country. It's a good start to the 2008 freshman class as we will wrap up the 2007 incoming class in the next couple of months. We'll be sending out an announcement of those student-athletes soon so keep your eyes peeled.
On January 24th, our team will be honored for it's accomplishments in 2006 at half-time of the men's basketball game versus UMass. Prior to the ceremony, we will host a "Friends of Soccer" reception for a cost of $20 per person. That price includes a ticket to the game as well as food and beverages prior to the start.
Well, the players return to campus in the next week or so and we're excited to get going with our winter training which will be comprised of 2 hours a week of technical training and 6 hours a week of fitness with Coaches Bergren and Stone. I know the guy's want to get back to work and begin to prepare for another run at the A-10 title and NCAA Tournament.
We have a great non-traditional game schedule set up for the spring, with games against Boston University, UMass, Army, Hartwick, UMass-Lowell and UConn. The spring will conclude with our annual alumni game on April 28th, followed (at night) by our first annual team banquet which will be open to parents, friends and alumni. We hope you will be able to join us... More details will follow.
Take care and enjoy the winter months...
GO RAMS!