November 21, 2011

Dear Alums & Friends,

Things here on campus are pretty quiet as many students are getting ready or have already headed home for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our guy’s have been busy since the end of the season with lifting three days a week as well as meeting individually with the coaching staff. They’ve been working hard at it and have quite a determined look in their eyes. In addition they started donating their time to help with our Rams FC Fall Technical Training Academy in Keaney Gym. We have well over 50 kids attending with nearly 30 on the waiting list. It’s a great chance for the guy’s to get some coaching experience while demonstrating for the kids.

Anyway, we had some good news as a follow up to the season as freshmen midfielder Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) was named to 2011 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. Being recognized by the conference coaches as one of the top newcomers is certainly great for the future of the team.

Here is some alumni news that has come along the wire as of late...Well done to Dom Petrarca ‘10 led the South Kingstown Junior Varsity team to the RIIL State Championship. He also serves as the Varsity Assistant Coach under Scott Rollins who coaches in the Rams FC program…. Congratulations are in order for Steve Mellen ’08 who recently became engaged to longtime girlfriend Christine Puleo who is also a URI graduate. Steve has had his coaching shoes on too helping at North Kingstown High School....On the national front, if you were scanning through the channels the other morning and stopped on CNNMoney, yes that was Barry Knapp ‘84, Head of U.S. Equity-portfolio strategy for Barclay’s Capital. Barry has been a regular guest analyst...Gareth Elliott ‘02 and his Siena College Saints made a late run at the MAAC Championship in Lake Buena Vista, FL by knocking off 7th seeded St. Peter’s 5-1 before losing to #2 seed and nationally ranked Iona in a PK shootout....Hope everyone stayed up to see MLS Cup where Geoff Cameron ‘08 was playing in his second championship game with his Houston Dynamo team. Geoff was a key to the Dynamo’s success down the stretch, moving to central defender in order to anchor the Houston defense and help the team go undefeated in their last 9 games of the season. Unfortunately they dropped a 1-0 decision to David Beckham and Landon Donovan’s LA Galaxy on a Donovan goal. Any other news? Pass it along...

After the Thanksgiving holiday the players will be getting ready for exams but before that we will be holding our 2011 Team Banquet at Charlie O’s Tavern in Narragansett. Soccer alum and owner Chris Simon has hosted us the last 2 seasons in the upstairs (Simon’s Place) which is a great venue. All alums, parents and friends are invited to attend. Tickets are $10 per person and reservations can be made by contacting assistant coach Mitch Stone at (401) 874-2560 or stone@mail.uri.edu.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C