October 18, 2010

Dear Alumni & Friends,

Saturday night turned out to be a great night for soccer, even though it began as a cold and blustery day here in South County. The wind died down and the temperature stabilized as the UMass Minutemen rolled into town for our annual neighborly Atlantic 10 battle between travel partners. Everything was looking good as we also had our friends at Ocean State Youth Soccer on hand for some half-time games as well as the Richmond Cub Scouts (including a snappy dressed and proud as a peacock Michael O’Connor) there for the pre-game introductions. But at the end of the day a goal in the 87th minute brought back the chills and gave the game to UMass.

It’s hard to describe the game but I can assure you it was a very good performance, one that was entertaining and competitive as every URI versus UMass game always is. As in the Xavier game, we started out very well and nearly got a superb goal from Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA) on a right-footed volley that looked from our vantage point on the bench, destined for the side netting. But the UMass goalkeeper came out of nowhere to swat it away. We kept the momentum and controlled the tempo of the game going into the intermission deadlocked 0-0.

In the second half we again came out storming creating quality chances but the UM keeper again rose to the task snuffing out a point blank shot by sophomore Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL), a skim header by redshirt freshmen Joey Haught (Brecksville, OH) off a free kick and shot at an angle by senior Matt Preyss (Chagrin Falls, OH) that got deflected off the face of the goal going through as well as another attempt which was cleared off the line by a Massachusetts defender.

Nonetheless, it seemed it would be just a matter of time before we would get the game winner when lightning struck. A 25 yard shot by UM midfielder Chris Stoker (a transfer from Providence) knuckled, dipped and skipped into the corner just 4 minutes from time. As one of the UMass was heard exclaiming after the game “Thank God for the Jubulani” referring to the game ball that we use - the match ball used at the 2010 World Cup that was widely criticized for its “movement” at the altitude of South Africa.

It was quite a disappointment for everyone but as many of you have experienced, funny things happen in the Atlantic 10 so we know that the season is not over. Although it was made a little more difficult with this loss, the boys are keeping their heads up and will begin to prepare for our trip next weekend to Philadelphia where we will meet Saint Joseph’s University on Friday and Temple University on Sunday. Every game from now till the end of the season is an important one but we are not going to get ahead of ourselves but taking one game at a time.

Before I sign off, I want to send out an open invitation to all of our friends, families and alumni to the last home games of the season on Halloween weekend. La Salle and Fordham come to town with SENIOR DAY on Sunday October 31st. It is a great chance to honor our senior class so we hope we will see you there.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C