The season came to an abrupt end Thursday night with a 3-2 loss to eventual Atlantic 10 Tournament Champion University of Dayton... I wish, for the boys, that it had continued longer. It was a heck of a game, very entertaining to watch as both teams fought for the prize of the championship and NCAA automatic bid. We just ended up on the short end of the stick.
The boys started the game very well - motivated, focused and organized. Their preparation paid off in the ninth minute when first-year forward Erkko Puranen (Viitasaari, Finland) took a pass from his fourth-year striking partner Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad) and got through the Dayton defense, scoring a classy bending goal around the Flyers' goalkeeper. The game would prove to be a teeter-totter affair as Dayton equalized at the 20 minute mark and then went ahead just before the half on a PK - after some confusion around the top of the box between one of the center backs and goalkeeper Peyton Warwick (Prairie Village, KS) who was filling in for Chris Pennock (Middlesborough, England) who was still not at full strength with a hip injury.
At half-time we regrouped and sorted out our challenges, coming out of the locker room with great energy and passion. The momentum of the game moved back and forth and just when things seemed to settle down the Finnish Sniper struck again. This time after a cross by Matt Pryess (Chagrin Falls, OH) found Gary Crooks (Falkirk, Scotland) who fed it to Erkko, which has he has done 8 previous times, scored to tie the game at 2-2. But, as statistics in soccer have shown, the most dangerous times are the 5 minutes after a scored or conceded goal. This proved true as just 31 seconds later after a dubious foul call, A-10 Tournament MVP Florian DeCamps - the Flyers 6'5" forward - got his head on a ball served in the box, breaking the stalemate again. The guy's did not give up and had the run of play in the last 20 minutes getting good chances from Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA), Reece Markman (Dallas, TX) and Andres Ruiz (Providence , RI) which were saved or just missed. It was not until a shot over the bar with 10 seconds to go that the game did not seem winnable. But, it was not to be.
Disappointed, yes... proud, yes sir! You would have been very happy of how hard the team played, in true Rhody style. Even in loss, there are a lot of great things to take out of the season. Our goal was always to make the A-10 tournament, which we accomplished. We found a bon-a-fide scorer to follow in the footsteps of great URI snipers such as Mercurio, McCrudden, Williams, McCreath, Crocker, Collis, Elliott, Henni, Gotsmanov and Gonsalves in freshmen Erkko Puranen, who was voted a member of the 2008 Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team. He will only get better with time. Our young players got tremendous experience and most importantly the team represented URI the way we all wanted, with class and dignity even in defeat.
As we move into the holidays and the off-season we say good-bye to seniors Kedan Crosby, Kevin Hamill (Easton, CT), Andres Perdomo (Pawtucket, RI) and James Quiah (Providence, RI). I can't say enough about them and the different roles they each played in the success of the program this season and during their careers. We are excited about next season's incoming class, which is ready to follow in the shadows of the Class of 2009. You'll get to know more about them soon but trust that they will look good in Rhody Blue!
Well, that is about it for now. Here is wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
I'll be in touch after the holiday about the team banquet in January as well as to update you on all the URI news.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON!
GO RHODY!
Coach O'C
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