October 1, 2010

Dear Alumni & Friends,

I just arrived back on campus yesterday after an early morning departure for us all on our 7:55 am flight back to Rhode Island. The 2-0 loss at South Florida was a disappointment as two early goals off of corner kicks gave the Bulls a cushion that we just couldn’t get past.

It was a bit of a tale of two halves with the second more our way but not enough to tickle the back of the net. After being on our heels for a bit, we were able to find our way into the game, out cornering the hosts in the second half as well as creating some good chances that put USF under pressure and uncomfortable.

Defensively, we stayed organized and although the stats look as though USF were shooting at will, only a few chances were truly dangerous and, even then, goalkeeper Peyton Warwick (Prairie Village, KS) kept us in the game with a couple of key stops including a semi-breakaway. We got some encouraging wide play from sophomore Jamie Eckmayer (Harrison Park, NJ) and freshmen Tom Palmer (Hummelstown, PA) as well as couple of surging runs from sophomore forward Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) who is just returning from injury.

As you know, the past three matches have been tough on us as we have played three very good teams away from home and haven’t come away with a result. Getting ourselves more chances in attack is going to be key as we move towards the A-10 season. The old adage is true, “if you don’t shoot you can’t score”.

The trip to South Florida was not one without its’ rewards as we received late news in the afternoon before the game that former URI head coach Geza Henni would be attending the game. As the team was warming up, I looked up into the stands and there he was sitting there with his sons Geza Jr. ‘83 and Chris. The folks at the University of South Florida were gracious enough to rope off some seats in the front row of the stands so he could get a good view of the game.

It was a wonderful sight to see the man who put University of Rhode Island soccer on the map. I remember travelling to Kingston as a college player at the University of Maine for the final game of the season and taking a 7-0 drubbing led by Geza Jr’s hat trick. I came away from that game thinking that these were the first real complete soccer players I had played against. The UConn and Boston University teams of that era were big strong athletic kids who played the soccer but Coach Henni’s squad was filled with skillful and smooth players with some ethnic flare and a better feel for the game. They were a team way ahead of their time.

Anyway, I was really happy he attended and our players got to meet a real Rhody legend and Hall of Famer. Attached is a photo of Coach Henni and his sons as well as some of our parents/friends with the team after the game. Geza Jr. said in an email of the evening:

"It was a wonderful evening for my dad, me and Chris. I can’t thank you enough. In the midst of getting ready for kickoff and right after a tough match, you and the players so gracefully and warmly took the time to visit with us. I could tell it really touched my dad to have this outpouring of affection."



As I said we had a nice little following in the stands as also attending the game were Pat Maguire ’92, Nancy & Matt Eckmayer, Bob Gargaro, Angie & Hadley Warwick, Bob & Anne Kuklinski and URI track & field alum & former assistant coach Sarah Thornton.

Well, no rest for the weary as we finish off the non-conference part of the schedule by hosting Fairfield this Saturday evening, October 2nd, 7:00 pm at the URI Soccer Complex. The last time we were there it was an exciting 2-1 overtime win over Siena College.

The following weekend, the Atlantic 10 Conference schedule is under way with defending A-10 regular season champion Dayton coming to town (Friday October 8th at 7:00 pm) followed by a Sunday afternoon match against Xavier (at 12 Noon…THIS IS A CHANGE IN START TIME). ADMISSION IS FREE so come one come all.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C