Well, there are some days where things just seem to click and then there are those where your luck seems to run out... and that's what ours did this weekend in Dayton...
We had lost only once in the past 11 games and were undefeated in the last 5 but we would have traded all that for just one more win on Friday night. Disappointment is the only way I can describe it. I feel disappointed not as much that we didn't advance in the Atlantic 10 tournament but more so because we were not afforded the chance to give this senior class one more game in their distinguished careers. It was very hard for all of us but particularly difficult for them - there was not a shortage of tears at the end of the game.
Our season came to a very abrupt end on Friday night, with a 1-0 loss to our travel partner the University of Massachusetts. Our only solace lies in the fact that the Minutemen went on to win the A-10 tournament - and received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. UMass beat UNC-Charlotte (2-0) after Charlotte eliminated Saint Louis University in a penalty kick shoot-out in their semifinal match (also on Friday night).
Our hats go off to UMass coach Sam Koch and his team - they found a way to get it done under tough conditions, a less-than-favorable playing surface and three games in four days. Our program had been their before, and accomplished the same feat, so through our disappointment, the boys could understand the excitement they felt. Good luck to them!
I know it was hard for the players to watch the game and celebration that followed. I wished we could have gotten a flight out on Saturday, but in the long run, I think it was an important experience for our young players - to see what they will begin to prepare for in a few short months.
At the end of the championship game, it was nice to see Callum Bissett (Pencaitland, Scotland), Geoffrey Cameron (Attleboro, MA) and Adam Howarth (Isle of Wight, England) be recognized as members of the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Tournament Team. It was a well deserved way to finish off their fantastic A-10 careers.
As my assistant Mitch Stone told all the seniors back at the hotel on Friday after the semifinal, you are all defined by the results tonight and the exciting thing is that you have much to look forward to in your future lives.
Well, you would think that we would be able to relax a bit but as they say - there is no rest for the weary. We have a lot to do between now and the end of the semester including organizing our recruiting schedule and trying to fill in the pieces of the class we are losing. They are so special!
So far, the only thing I can say is that we already have some commitments and are on the trail of some very good players who we think fit the URI men's soccer mold for success. People keep saying that we are going to have to re-build - but I just say we are re-loading! With the players we have returning, plus those we will have coming in, we will be ready to compete in "a manner we are accustomed to" once again.
By the way - exciting things are happening here at URI with the athletic department receiving an anonymous donation of 1 MILLION DOLLARS! Some of this will go towards the new Student-Athlete Development Center, but much will go to improving the baseball field with a new astro-grass infield and the installment of irrigation and new sod in the outfield. We are hoping that in the future we'll be able to finish up our own game facility with the completion of the press box/dugout project as well as resurfacing our practice field - which never seems to get much rest (except for during the winter months). So, if you know of anyone with a spare mil (or even a half or quarter) lying around tell them to go ahead and send it along! :)
Speaking of fundraising, its that time of the year and many of you will soon get a letter/e-mail from us with a request to join (or re-join) the "Friends of URI Soccer". Your donations are important to the lifeblood of the program so we hope you will be able to help.
We will also be in touch with a couple of announcements of "Friends" events including a reception on Thursday January 24th at the first home basketball game of the second semester. It was a fun event last year and we hope to make it even better this time around.
Another special project which our soccer "intern" Danleigh Borman (Cape Town, South Africa) has been working on is a 2008 URI Men's Soccer Calendar which will include photos from a various eras which have made URI men's soccer what it is today. We will be selling them to family, alumni and friends so keep your eyes peeled for the details!
Finally, don't forget that we have limited edition URI t-shirts for sale out of the soccer office which would make great holiday gifts. E-mail me for details or to have one sent along.
Before I sign off, I want to say thanks on behalf of the players and staff for all of the support you have shown us over the season. After a difficult start against some very good teams, I wasn't surprised to get the e-mails and phone calls of encouragement from all of you. Special thanks to Russell Blank, Terry Casey, Mike Hoffer, Lance Klima, Dan & Vince McCrudden and Mike Rogers (among others) who continually offered kind words, support and encouragement to the players and staff throughout this fall.
We didn't get to where we were ultimately heading, but you can trust me in the fact that you would have been proud at the way the guys represented URI soccer.
Have a great Thanksgiving Holiday and GO RAMS!
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