March 15, 2012

Dear Alums & Friends,
We’re in the middle of Spring Break in Kingston and it is a quiet yet beautiful day. In fact besides a little rain yesterday our unseasonably warm weather has been a constant. It’s been a good time for Callum, Chris, Mitch and I to get things ready for the spring non-traditional season that begins next week when the players return. Here is the spring schedule:

Sunday – March 25 - New England Revolution U18 USSDA - East Greenwich, R.I. – Noon

Sunday – April 1 – Siena Spring Invite – Loudonville, N.Y.
Noon – URI vs. Siena
1:10 p.m. – URI vs. Masters Football Academy (CN)
2:20 p.m. – Siena vs. Masters Football Academy (CN)

Friday – April 6 – Blue vs. White Scrimmage – Kingston, R.I. – 7 p.m.

Saturday – April 14 – Rams Spring Triad – Kingston, R.I.
11 a.m. - URI vs. AIC
12:10 p.m. – AIC vs. Assumption
1:20 p.m. – URI vs. Assumption

Saturday - April 21 – McCully Memorial Tournament - Nauset, Mass.
Noon – URI vs. Brandeis
2:30 p.m. – URI vs. Wheaton/Bentley

Saturday - April 28 - URI Spring Quadrangle - Kingston, R.I.
11 a.m. - URI vs. Holy Cross
12:10 p.m. - Brown vs. Vermont
1:20 p.m. - URI vs. Vermont
2:30 p.m. - Brown vs. Holy Cross

Sunday – April 29 – Alumni Game – Kingston, R.I. – 1 p.m.

The spring schedule is a good one and chock full of good matches to test our guy’s. Of course the highlight is the Annual Alumni Game on Sunday April 29th at 1:00 pm at the URI Soccer Complex. The match will be preceded by the women’s alumni game and followed by a BBQ for all alumni, their families, parents and friends of the program. This year all alums in attendance will receive a GAME JERSEY. BUT, in order to receive one when you get here we need to know you are coming! So, please RSVP to Callum Bissett (cbissett@my.uri.edu) or via the URI Soccer Alumni Facebook page BY APRIL 1st as we need to put in the order so we have enough on hand. WE WILL NOT BE ORDERING EXTRA’S SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU LET US KNOW....

Speaking of alumni we have quite a bit to report. First and foremost congratulations to Aidan Byrne and his wife on the birth of their daughter Kyra Teresa Byrne (6 lbs., 14 oz.) on March 2nd. The Byrnes are playing 2 v 2 now so the game has changed…It’s been very exciting to see Houston Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron ‘07 training and playing recently with the US National Team 1-0 win over Venezuela and more recently travelling with the USMNT for their historic win over Italy. US National Team Coach Jurgen Klinsmann seems to like what Cam brings to the table…Former NY Red Bull and Toronto FC defender Danleigh Borman signed recently with Supersport United FC (www.sufc.co.za) in ABSA Premiership (South African National Soccer League). Danleigh was selected in February by the New England Revolution in the MLS Supplemental Draft but chose to head home to play…Rhody standout and skipper Simon Gatti ‘06 recently announced his retirement from the Montreal Impact who this year moved into Major League Soccer. Simon had an outstanding 5 year career for his home countries side and we wish him the best in his endeavors down the road….I was recently contacted by URI alumni Derek Chapman ‘83 who is looking to put together an alumni team in the New York Collegiate Alumni Soccer League (http://www.nycasl.com). The NYCASL is comprised of Alumni from NCAA Division I, II, and III soccer teams like Long Island University, Colgate, Cornell, Tufts, Carnegie Mellon, Williams, Wesleyan and Holy Cross. For more information or questions you can contact Derek at 612-834-0203 or dchap888@gmail.com.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C