November 14, 2009

Dear Alums & Friends,

It was a great run but it all ended too abruptly on a free kick by A-10 Defender of the Year Tim Ream with three minutes to go in the Atlantic 10 Semi-final versus St. Louis University. It was a heartbreaker as we fought back twice from 1 goal deficits and even generated two quality chances in the final ticks of the match. Until the final whistle sounded I thought we had it but it wasn't to be in Kingston.

Thursday night it was windy and cold but the URI students and Rhody faithful were out in droves to see the second quarterfinal match versus #18 Charlotte. The game started with a furious pace as Charlotte was flying around the field. The mayhem paid off as the 49ers drew first blood when a deflection off of one of our own found their feet and a 1-0 lead. Charlotte kept up the pressure and we did well to absorb the pressure as well as some outstanding saves from Chris Pennock (Spennymoor, England) as well as a goal saved off the line (his first of two on the weekend) by Michael Tanke (Niles, MI). We were on the ropes a bit like a boxer but did the famous Mohammed Ali "Rope a Dope" and wouldn't go down, getting into half just one goal down.

The second half was a different story as we got the wind and some momentum going our way. In the 67th minute freshmen forward Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) tracked down a ball behind the Charlotte defense and drove a ball to the back post where junior Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA) headed a laser beam past the 49er goalkeeper to knot it at one. The celebration, which can be seen here, is one for the ages as Greg runs to the sideline and tackles Rhody the Ram in front of the frenzied crowd of supporters. Both teams traded blows the rest of the way but Pennock and the Ram back four held tight.

Overtime came and again both teams traded chances but I think in everyone's mind we knew that this would be decided a the spot. In the shoot-out it didn't take long for your Rams to get out on top thanks to a Chris Pennock save on the second UNCC shooter. Our next guy unfortunately missed bringing the tally back even again. We traded successful goals in the next round but another break as the 49ers next kicker (their #10) hit the crossbar opening the door for the home squad. Our #10 Jon Pereira (Barrington, RI) drilled his home followed by UNCC's 5th kicker scoring and it was up to Andres Ruiz (Providence, RI) who calmly put his home to send us into the semi-final against #2 seed St. Louis University. After a quick soak in the pool and some food following the game, we had to get on to the next task. Classes on Friday would keep us busy during the day but I have a feeling the players were thinking about everything but books.

The semi-final began again not as we planned with SLU getting on the board in the 10th minute. But the boy's plugged away and final found the net when Domenic Petrarca (Johnston, RI) volleyed a ball past the Billiken GK after a Andres Ruiz cross and Erkko Puranen (Viitisaari, Finland) flick on. We knew it would be a quite a game as SLU responded two minutes later on an unassisted goal off a long punt which got behind the defense putting the score 2-1 going into half-time.

The second half which has been our best time all year proved to be it again as we knocked on the door several times early including some great combinations with sophomore defender Eric Hutson (St. Charles, MO) who had come on in the game for an injured Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL). Goalkeeper Chris Pennock was on the top of his game throughout the weekend, making 2 or 3 key saves with the help of classmate Kevin Shaw (Denny, Scotland) who has been the difference in the back line since he moved from the midfield.

The team kept grinding away and it all paid off when senior midfielder Gary Crooks (Falkirk, Scotland) slipped a great pass to Erkko Puranen who scored from an angle with a defender on his hip and the goalkeeper rushing out of the goal. It was a class finish and one which excited the Rhody faithful. The game continued at a furious pace and although fatigue from Friday nights overtime with Charlotte we knew it was going to take something special to win it and unfortunately SLU got it on a hard hit direct free kick which dove and curled into the side netting past a diving Pennock.

I will say that although we are all disappointed everything was put into perspective after I got a nice e-mail from Aidan Byrne '99. He said "I was at the game tonight and was proud of the Rhody performance. I know it was not the result we all wanted but the guys never gave up." I think that says if all about this team and their performance over the second half of the season, going 6-2-1 down the stretch to earn the 4th seed in the A10 Tournament. It was a sad end for our seniors Kevin, Gary, Dom and Chris but I as I told them and the team, I was never so proud as to see them perform at the level they did when it counted. They played with Rhody Pride in the manner which befitted there ability.

Before I sign off it was great to see a lot of our alums at the games including Simon Gatti (who just won a USL Championship with the Montreal Impact), Anthony and David Ward-Smith, Gareth Elliott, Kevin Kennedy, Brian Bradley, Steve Froberg, Terry Casey, Dennis Richards, Mike Rogers and Dawid Badecki who flew in from Poland for the Championships. Thanks so much for your support.

It will be hard to watch the Atlantic 10 Final tomorrow as we wish we were the ones playing. I'm sure after a few days of decompression we will look back at the special moments of the 2009 season. We have a lot to look forward to and I know the boy's will be back hard at work this winter and spring in preparation for their next chance at an Atlantic 10 Championship. My sincere thanks to all our alums an supporters who have been with us all season and particularly this weekend when the conditions would often scare people away. It says a lot about what this program means to them and I look forward to keeping the standard at the level we are all accustom.

GO RHODY!
Coach O'C