September 30, 2008

Dear Alums & Friends,

It was a very good weekend for the Rams as we traveled to Amherst, MA to take part in the UMass Invitational Soccer Tournament. It was excellent few days as we met up with America East Conference foes the University of Vermont on Friday and the University of Hartford on Sunday. These would be the 4th and 5th America East opponents the team faced in the early part of the season so we felt it was a great test for us building towards the A-10 part of the schedule.

We had a strange start to the weekend as the weather almost put a wet blanket on the tourney with torrential rain predicted for Friday. The UMass administration was worried about field conditions - not only because of the incoming weather - but also the fact there would be three games on Rudd Field that day. The UMass women were playing their A-10 opener at Noon, followed by the UMass men vs. Hartford at 2:30 pm and our match against Vermont at 4:00 pm. But in the end, the call was made for "game on" and off we went after training on Thursday.

It seemed like a long wait for the game on Friday... We filled the time with study hall in the morning and then our pre-game meal in the early afternoon. We were ready to go and the timing was right but the "best laid plans of mice and men often go astray"... the Minutewomen went to OT in their match as did their male counterparts versus Hartford (which won on a "golden goal" after a goalkeeping error). So, this left our game beginning at 5:15 pm, which was not good on a dreary, cloudy and rainy afternoon. The downpours and intermittent rain contributed to a rather sloppy game as well as the eventual suspension of the game after 70 minutes - due to darkness. Because we got that far the game was official and ended as a 0-0 tie. To be very honest, with the conditions and play it was a fair result.

After a good day off filled with morning training, some college football (and nap) in the afternoon and a great dinner at the home of sophomore midfielder Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA), the boys were ready to get back on the field for the second game of the weekend.

By the way, special thanks to the Balicki, Tanke and Preyss families for creating such relaxing atmosphere Saturday night as well as for the AWESOME food!!!

Sunday couldn't have come sooner... the weather broke and it was amazing how well Rudd Field had held up, considering all the rain we had received over the weekend. It would be an interesting game as junior transfer Kevin Shaw (Denny, Scotland) was facing his old team and friends. The game kicked off on time and both squads came out with some fire. Our Rams started off well, dominating play in the first 15 minutes but Hartford, coming off their overtime win over UMass, found their way and created some chances of their own.

The guys battled back and held serve, getting some good chances from freshman Errko Puranen (Visitasaari, Finland) and senior co-captain Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad). Junior goalkeeper Chris Pennock (Middlesborough, England) managed the game well and even got a little help from the cross bar in the second half to keep it 0-0.

Regulation ended and overtime began with neither team getting any clear chances. In between the first and second OT periods, the boys were reminded by assistant coach Mitch Stone that this moment was the reason why "Coach Bergs" (Director of Soccer Operations Frank Bergren) works them so hard during fitness sessions - to be able to get to this point in the game and have enough left to finish it.

Well, "Finish" it we did... in more ways than one. Less than a minute into the second overtime Kedan Crosby fought for a loose ball on the right side off the kick off, dribbled past a Hawks defender and delivered a driven cross which Erkko "the Finnish Flash/the Sniper" Puranen got on the end of, headed down and the game was ours. It was well deserved and the result earned the guys the tournament championship as Vermont and the hosts tied 0-0 later that afternoon.

Although we were looking for two wins this weekend, we are happy with the results over the past 4 matches. We've done well only conceding 1 goal but need to work this week to create more clear cut chances for ourselves.

Our next game will be a special one as we welcome back former Ram and assistant coach Gareth Elliott to the URI complex - wearing the green and gold of his new Siena College squad. The match kicks off on Friday, October 3rd at 7:00 pm and will mark the end of our non-conference slate for this fall.

Hope to see you all there supporting URI men's soccer!

GO RAMS!
Coach O'C

September 19, 2008

Dear Alums & Friends,

Hopefully by now you have seen the tremendous 1-0 overtime result during our midweek game versus Harvard University here at the URI Soccer Complex. I was very proud of the guy's for the way they came out and handled themselves after the disappointing game at BU. Wednesday nights tilt was an exciting match and a night which included a doubleheader with the URI women's program who finished off the night with a 2-0 shutout of Vermont. In our match we got a great overtime goal from Erkko Puranen (Visitasaari, Finland) on a "no look" pass from Gary Crooks (Falkirk, Scotland) that sent the "Finnish Flash" on a breakaway. He took it well and the win was a good one over a very talented Harvard squad which includes two players on the Herman Trophy (College Player of the Year) watch list. If not for a couple of Chris Pennock (Middlesborough, England) saves and the organization of our defense led by Kevin Shaw (Denny, Scotland) and Dom Petrarca (Providence, RI) we could have been on the short end of that result so we are happy it went our way in the end.

Well, it is on to the next match which will be another big one for the Rams as we take on intra-state rival Brown University at 7:00 pm tomorrow at Stevenson Field. It is a big night as not only is it Soccer Rhode Island Night (the youth soccer organization in the state of Rhode Island) but is also the culmination of a joint fundraiser for Grassroot Soccer.

As you may or may not know, Grassroots Soccer is a global AIDS prevention organization works to deliver prevention messages to children in the world's most HIV affected countries. ALL youth soccer players wearing a soccer jersey will be admitted FREE to the game. Our players as well as the players will be wearing limited edition jerseys (yellow for URI and red for Brown) during the match to bring attention and raise awareness to our cause.

We hope those who are in the area will be able to attend not only to support URI Men's Soccer during this VERY important match but also to help us help the children of these African nations as all proceeds from the game go to Grassroot Soccer. I feel it is a VERY worthwhile cause and one I have close ties to with as two of the founders, Methembe Ndlovu (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe) and Dr. Tommy Clark (Hanover, NH) are former players from Dartmouth College who played there when I was an assistant coach there from 1990-1995. I also have one of my former players from the University of Chicago Stuart Phelps who is in South Africa right now training in preparation for his work with Grassroot Soccer. They have worked hard to bring attention to this global problem and we hope that you will join me in supporting their cause.

Anyway, it will be a great night and one which everyone will be a winner in the end...hopefully our Rams more so then not. On behalf of Grassroot Soccer and the University of Rhode Island men's soccer program we thank you in advance for your support! Hope to see you there...

GO RAMS!
Coach O'C

September 4, 2008

Dear Alumni & Friends,

Hope you all had a good labor day and have been enjoying weather as beautiful as what we have had here in Kingston. We just returned from the first games of the 2008 season, coming away with a win and a loss in the 19th Annual UNH Nike Fall Classic hosted by the University of New Hampshire. It was a great setting to begin the season after 15 days of pre-season training. It was nice to get away on our own and begin the fall campaign.

In the first game of the weekend, we came up against former URI Assistant Coach Pat Laughlin and his University of Maine Black Bears. As many may know, I am a Maine graduate (Pat is too) so it was a doubly special game for both of us. Maine is a much improved team from a year ago and that is something I expected considering Pat's knowledge and experience. The guys were excited to get things going but also nervous at the same time. The Black Bears were the better team the first 30 minutes and earned a great goal on a 25 yard strike. It came from a corner that we defended well, but the ball bounced out to Maine center midfielder Niko Bogdonovic who drove it through a crowd into the corner of the goal. Ironically, Niko worked at our camp this past summer so I told him after the game he was "fired"...LOL. The half ended 0-1 to the other guys in blue.

In the second, after re-organizing and a spirited speech by junior transfer Kevin Shaw (Denny, Scotland), the boys came out with a fury. Their hard work and resolve paid off when sophomore Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA) drove a diagonal cross over everyone, from the left side to the back post, where sophomore Josh Sousa (Cumberland, RI) headed it in. Maine would not back down and only a great save on a mini break-a-way by junior goalkeeper Chris Pennock (Middlesborough, England) would keep the score even at 1-1. The boys continued the pressure earning the game winner, this time off a corner. Junior transfer Gary Crooks (Falkirk, Scotland) bent a left footer to the back post where freshmen defender Franco LoPresti (Whitby, Ontario) headed it back into the 6 yard box. Sophomore defender Dwayne Williams (Westmoreland, Jamaica) connected with it, glancing the ball off a Maine defender and in to put us up 2-1. The score remained the same and we got our first win of the season.

After a day off on Saturday, we moved onto Sunday's tournament final versus host New Hampshire who had beaten Adelphi University 2-1 in the first game on Friday. The Wildcats were a big crew so not only did we have to match their size but also playing against a stiff wind in the first half. The game started out well for our boys with the ball moving crisply on UNH's new field turf. Greg Balicki came out on fire getting several quality crosses into the box while Josh Sousa and senior forward Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad) nearly put us on the board early. Unfortunately, UNH would find the net first on a 45-yard driven free kick. We had hoped to withstand the wind without any damage on the scoreboard and nearly did it.

The second half saw the Rams getting several very good chances and only a big save by the Wildcat GK kept us from equalizing. With 5 minutes to go, we pushed forward in an attempt to tie the game but with 47 seconds left on the clock, UNH broke on a 3 v 1 and only after Chris Pennock saved an initial shot did the home team tally to make the final score 2-0. It was a disappointing result in a game we felt good about, but kudos to the champions. Kedan Crosby, Greg Balicki and sophomore defender Ryan McCormick (Cranston, RI) were named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.

All in all, I thought we learned a lot about ourselves over the weekend. At this point in the season we are not the finished product and continue to work together to develop the squad. We began the Maine game with 1 freshman, 5 sophomores , 3 juniors and 2 seniors on the field with a deep bench of contributors who could be starters behind them. We are young and still looking for the best in each and every one of us. So, I'm confident we will find the consistency that will carry us through the season.

Today classes begin and we will now prepare for in-state rival Providence College next Tuesday. The Friars upset Boston College (which was ranked No. 4 at the time) 1-0 on Labor Day so this will just add to the already intense atmosphere that comes with this rivalry. The match - which is scheduled for a 3 PM start on Tuesday September 9th, will air locally on Cox Sports (via tape delay) on September 11th at 7:00 pm. We really hope that all of our local alums and friends will be there to cheers us on!

And don't forget... our HOME OPENER is Friday, September 12th at 7:00 pm at the URI Soccer Complex!

Follow the RAMS at www.gorhody.com and for an inside look at the team/season, check out Kedan's Korner - senior co-captain Kedan Crosby's season-long blog.

GO RAMS!

P.S. Click here to watch Lukasz Tumicz `08 scoring two goals this past weekend as his club Jagellonia Bialystok picked up a 2-0 win!