September 27, 2012

Dear Alums & Friends,


The day after a hard fought and disappointing game result is always tough. Everyone does a little soul searching on the bus ride home and some of us are up in the middle of the night thinking and plotting the next move....luckily my wife Sheila is a former college coach and understands it all. Our 4-2 loss to Boston College was not what we were looking for but as we have told the players, the season is a process and in our minds one that should peak in the Atlantic 10 season which begins in a short two weeks.

Coming off the thrilling 4-3 overtime victory against UNH, we recovered and prepared for the always tough Eagles of Boston College of the ACC. BC had some up and down results and we felt as if we stuck to our game plan we could get the result we wanted. A year earlier hear in Kingston we conceded a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game and proceeded to dominate them after that so we were confident going into the game.

The team came out a little slow and flat and with that came the worst case scenario, BC scoring the first 10 minutes of the game. We had short stretches of good play after that wake up, picking up lose balls and trying to get at their back four and threaten which we did but with no results. Unfortunately individual mistakes led to 2 more goals against the run of play and at the half we had dug ourselves a deep hole.

We came out of the interval with guns a blazing, pressing the hosts and were rewarded with sophomore Michael Casey’s (Wakefield, RI) 4th goal of the year.  Senior Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) cut a ball back on the left flank and delivered a cross that sophomore forward Ross Morison (Linlithgow, Scotland) headed down for the finish. It looked like we were on our way but another errant pass led to a man down goal to put a cushion on the home team lead. We kept pressing and competing and again found joy when super senior Brett Uttley (Jamestown, RI) clipped a ball over the Eagle right back to a streaking Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) who volleyed an angled ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to cut their lead in half.

We again kept pressing as the game got more physical with time ticking down and we were not able to get any closer when the final whistle blew. It was certainly a tale of two halves as our performance in the second half clearly exceeded that in the first. It was nice to have Mikey Welsh (Dalgety Bay, Scotland), Joey Haught (Brecksville, OH) and Ross Morison making their first appearances back from injury. We are nearly back at full strength as A10’s approach. Keep your fingers crossed that we also have Bryce Naples (Edinburgh, Scotland) and Ryan Oakley (Norwich, England) who have been patiently waiting on the NCAA to rule on their NCAA eligibility status. They have yet to be able to play this season and will be eligible for sure next but we would love to have them now.

As always we had a great fan turnout at the game with our steadfast parents of the Eckmayers, Micheletti’s, Uttley’s, Hess’, Bob Gargaro, Debbie Ribbens, Trevor Peter Moran as well as Dan Brownridge ‘01 who was there for the first half with his wife who is due in March. Pat McGuire ‘92, who firm designed and built the BC soccer complex, was scheduled to be there but was held up with another project scheduling issue.

On to the final game of the non-conference season as we travel to the Fairfield University at 7:00 pm on Saturday September 29th.  Both my father and brother are graduates of Fairfield so I’m sure their will be a little Stagg versus Ram and who has the strongest horns/antlers ribbing going on this week.

Finally, following the FU game we open our Atlantic 10 Conference season when we host the University of Massachusetts on Saturday October 6th at 7:00 pm here at the URI Soccer Complex. That night is also our Annual Grassroot Soccer fundraiser. Donations for entry will be taken at the gate with all proceeds going to this global aids education through soccer organization. Hope to see you all there!

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

September 19, 2012

Dear Alumni & Friends,


It sure was an exciting one last night and another step forward in our development as a team. We gritted out a 4-3 overtime victory over the University of New Hampshire on a blustery night here in Kingston. Rain was forecasted earlier in the day but what little precipitation that came in overtime didn’t damper our supporters, our effort and ultimately the result.

The game couldn’t have started out better for us as crisp passing combined with well timed runs got us into great scoring positions. We were dominating and our speed of play paid off in the 10th minute when Brett Uttley (Jamestown, RI) fired a shot on the face of the goal that deflected off a Wildcat defender and past his own GK into the side netting. We kept up our tempo and increased the lead to 2-0 when Michael Casey (Wakefield, RI) rifled a left footed shot off a miss-cleared ball for his second goal of the season. We continued to look dangerous while holding UNH’s counter attack to a minimal number of chances.

In the second half with the wind across us and UNH pressing the tide changed and the visitors got one back in the 55th minute and tied it in the 74th minute on a rebound after a good save by goalkeeper Thomas Spenser (Hasting on Hudson, NY). The Wildcats had climbed back into the game by their direct style of play combined with some untimely errors. Things looked dreary when in the 84th minute UNH would score what appeared to be the game winner. Our boy’s plugged along and we inserted goalkeeper Adam Blanchard (Scarborough, ME) in order to use his weapon of a leg to put pressure on the UNH back line in the final minutes. It paid off and with only 6 TICS OF THE CLOCK, Michael Casey scored his second of the night off a Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL) cross to send it to extra time.

We took the wind in the overtime and continued to push for the golden goal....and we got it! Freshmen midfielder Oscar Soons (Breda, Netherlands) slipped and fantastic pass through 2 UNH defenders to senior Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) who went in all alone from the right, shot, had it initially saved but slotted home his own rebound for the winner.

It was a great team effort and the kind of never say die attitude we needed at this point in the season. The boy’s stepped up to the challenge of a tough game considering some key players were out with injuries (Mikey Welsh – Plantar Fasciitis, Joey Haught – quad strain, Ross Morison – quad strain, Jamie Eckmayer – broken nose).

Before I sign off I got a chance to see my college coach Jim Dyer this past Sunday at the URI vs. Maine women’s game (he is a volunteer assistant for the Black Bear women in his retirement). We had a chance to catch up and the next day he sent me an email with some nice reflections on his career. In it he wrote:

“One of the things that my return to coaching has taught me is that you can coach 'til the cows come home', but sometimes the players have to just go thru the process and learn from the experience of games (sometimes with unsuccessful results) in order to learn what you were trying to coach all along.”

This has certainly held true for our boy’s and it will not surprise me how a game like last night could be the springboard for the future success of the team.

We now have a week off until we travel to Chestnut Hill to face the Boston College Eagles on Tuesday September 25th at 4:00 pm. Hope to see you there as it is another great challenge.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

September 17, 2012

Dear Friends & Alumni,

It’s a beautiful here in Rhode Island today after a gloomy evening last night at Holy Cross were we dropped a tough 2-1 decision to the Crusaders. We went into the game with 6 players out and unable to play facing a team that was desperate for a win.

We started the game well and were firing on all cylinders but after some successful attack forward but the lost our way after HC weathered the storm. The hosts scored off a full volley that was miss cleared onto the top of the box. Freshmen redshirt goalkeeper Thomas Spenser (Hasting on Hudson, NY) kept the game close with several excellent saves including one of a free kick and another shot from distance he guided around the post.

After a couple of adjustments including bringing on speedy junior forward Andy Hess (North Kingstown, RI) the changes paid off as he earned himself the first goal of his career off an assist from Alan Hernandez (Pearland, TX) knotting the score at 1-1 going into the half.

The second half started as well as the first but again we couldn’t sustain pressure on the Crusaders enough to be able to capitalize. Again “Spense” kept the game tied which included a fantastic double save from point plank range. In the 79th minute several breakdowns led to the hosts getting getting the lead and after furious attack in the final 10 minutes we found no joy.

As I said to the players following the game, we are close but it is going to take the sum of our parts to get us into the victory column. Our brains have to be as strong as our legs and we’ll get that chance again on Tuesday September 18th when we face the University of New Hampshire at the URI Soccer Complex at 7:00 pm. It is South County Youth Soccer Night and we need everyone’s support in getting us moving in the right direction.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

September 11, 2012

Dear Alums & Friends,

We got back late last night from our trip to the Windy City. It was a homecoming of sorts for our Chicagoland seniors Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) and Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL) as well as for me, as I spent 11 years coaching at the University of Chicago prior to arriving in Kingston. We were there for the NIU adidas Invitational, where we played two 2011 NCAA Tournament participants; the Big Ten’s Northwestern and our hosts from Northern Illinois of the Mid-American Conference. Although we came away with a disappointing 0-1-1 record, I know we learned valuable lessons against good opponents that will make us better down the road.

In our first game on Friday night, a stiff wind became a major factor in the match. NIU was a good squad and they came out with some quality sequences and possession in the opening 30 minutes but were not able to capitalize. The boys settled down and from that point on it became a test of wills… or rather who could survive playing against the wind.

Statistically, NIU was the lead team in shots and corners but their percentages revealed less than a dominant result as freshmen redshirt goalkeeper Thomas Spenser (Hastings on Hudson, NY), starting the first game of his career, handling the Huskies' few dangerous chances. “Spense” had good night handling crosses well and making two big saves when needed; one on a semi breakaway and another on a diving stop off a free kick. Regulation ended 0-0 and in the overtime was not much different as neither team could find the deciding chance. It was far from our best soccer to date but it was a gutsy performance on a night when we had to grind out a result.

On Saturday we had a light training session and then were treated to a relaxing lunch at the home of Robby Gargaro’s house hosted by his parents Bob and Geri and attended by a slew of our Rhody parents including Terry Casey, the Cloutiers, Eckmayers and Ribben’s. We had quite a crowd at both games as in addition to our parents the supporters group included Luann & Jim Ruddy (parents of Dean ’05) and John & Valerie Tanke (parents of Michael ’10) as well as the extended family (grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins) of Andy Hess (N. Kingstown, RI) who hail from the South Side of Chicago.

Sunday, we were provided with a great opportunity in the form of an skillful Northwestern Wildcat team who had beaten Drake 2-1 in OT in the other match-up on Friday night. They were small up front but a very quick and technical team that we felt we could match up well against. The game was all that we thought it would be and statistically even in the end but it had its’ ebbs and flows with NW counting on possession to our counter attack and pockets of soccer.

NWU got on the board first with a scrappy goal it the 15th minute but we continued to battle and 2 minutes from the interval Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) curled a cross from the flank into the back post space where Andrew Tetzlaff (Livingston, NJ) volleyed it home for the equalizer.

In the opening minutes of the second half we found ourselves behind in the score line again on a controversial “yes/no” offside call that led to a Wildcat goal. We now had to chase the game and with that take chances that could expose us. A lapse in concentration off a short restart led to third NWU goal and the game seemed to be slipping away.

But, the guy’s persevered until Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) slipped a pass wide to Michael Casey (Wakefield, RI) and he hit a swerving left footed drive from a tough angle that hit off the far post and into the near post side netting for his first goal of the year. We had 11 minutes to go and that is all we could ask for at this juncture. We continued to press to create chances and when Brett Uttley (Jamestown, RI) shot was saved by the Wildcat GK we had ran out of time. Matt Sykes and Michael Casey earned All-Tournament honors for their work on the weekend but I’m sure they would gladly turn in their individual honors for another result.

Now we have a full week of preparation for our next match at Holy Cross on Saturday September 15th at 7:00 pm. It will be nice to get the guy’s in our regular training rhythm with recovery, rest and training.

By the way following the Brown game I received an email from David Stephenson ’64 who commented: “Fifty years ago I made 48 saves against Brown University at Meade Field. Unfortunately there were five shots I did not stop! And just to rub in their triumph against our hapless Rams, their coach, Cliff Stevenson made his team run wind sprints after the game”. Shows you how deep the roots of the Brown/URI rivalry are in the end.

Also got a nice email from Bob Sauter, father of former goalkeeper Mark Sauter ’07. He wanted to let everyone know that Mark got married in Boston the weekend of September 2nd to Leah Marani ‘07, his URI classmate and college sweetheart. Mark is a graduate of University of Cincinnati Law School and works as an Attorney for the Department of Homeland Security in Boston where he deals with immigration cases in federal District Court. Congrats and best wishes to Mark & Leah!

Don’t forget Homecoming Weekend 2012, October 26th – 28th. Hope to see you all then…

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

September 4, 2012

Dear Friends & Alums,


WOW! What an exciting night! We had a crowd of over 2500 on hand and they got two exciting games in the 3rd Annual Ocean State Soccer Classic. Thanks to our Rams FC families as well as all our alums, parents and supporters who were in attendance. It was overwhelming...

In the first game of day Brown defeated Providence 1-0 to take home their first OSSC Tournament Championship. Then the fireworks went off in the consolation where we battled with Bryant University to a 4-4 draw. It was a great game for the fans as 8 tallies between the two teams squashes any soccer “newbies” thoughts that there are not a lot of goals scored in our game. It obviously wasn’t something we were necessarily looking for after conceding only 2 goals previously in two 0-1 defeats to open the season but it was exciting none the less.

The game was a seesaw battle with two of our guy’s getting their first career goals in the opening half. First, redshirt sophomore Trevor Moran (Willbraham, MA) banged home a missed clearance that went off the inside of the left post and into the right side netting to tie the game at 1-1. Senior captain Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL) got his tally 6 minutes later off sophomore midfielder Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) corner that classmate Mike Casey (Wakefield, RI) knocked down with his head. It put us up 2-1 and seemed like we had the momentum but Bryant equalized just before the half.

In the second half the teams traded penalty shots in less than a 2 minute span as Sykes got his first of two goals on the night. The Bulldogs would pull ahead in the 59th minute but “Syksey” scored on a long shot off a Adam Blanchard (Scarborough, ME) punt to bring it even again. Although we got several chances including a Robby Gargaro header that went off the post, crossbar and GK hands, we also got help of the soccer gods on a Bryant ball that hit the crossbar in overtime - neither team could find the winner.

For their performances on the weekend, Brett Uttley (Jamestown, RI) and Matt Sykes were named to the Ocean State Classic All-Tournament Team.

Classes begin tomorrow and we travel to DeKalb, IL for the weekend to play in the NIU adidas Invitational. We have the host Huskies on Friday at 6:00 pm and Northwestern University Wildcats of the Big Ten on Sunday at Noon (*both times are Eastern). It should be a great weekend of soccer as these two teams both played in the NCAA Division I Tournament last season.

Before I sign off congratulations to David Caetano ‘82 who was recently voted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame. He will be inducted later this fall and now be among several former Rhody players to be bestowed this honor, our most recent being Kevin Murphy ‘80 in 2011.

Take care and GO RHODY!
Coach O’C

September 1, 2012

Dear Alumni & Friends,


We took a disappointing loss at #24 Brown last night in the semi-final of the Ocean State Soccer Classic. The Bears scored on what most in attendance considered a dubious penalty in the first half but we put on quite a performance in the 2nd 45 minutes. I was very proud of the boy’s effort as we showed excellent pieces of play and progress forward to where we wanted to be down the road.

After taking some time in the first half to adjust to Brown’s direct style of play, the team settled in began to play football. We got several nice set ups for chances off of a couple of Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) crosses but no joy in the end. So, the score line held at 1-0 Brown at the half.

Out of the break we got a hold of the ball and were able to control the tempo of the game. Brett Uttley (Jamestown, RI) and Joey Haught (Brecksville, OH) orchestrated so superb combinations with Sykes and Jamie Eckmayer (Harrington Park, NJ) providing speed on the flanks. Goalkeeper Adam Blanchard (Scarborough, ME) and the back four saw some Brown counter attacking chances come their way as we pushed to get a goal. They turned them away and looked like we got the equalizer when Jamie Eckmayer got around the right flank and drove a cross back the Joey Haught slid and redirected in the net. But incredulously the off-side flag was up and the goal taken back. Our last gasp efforts pushing forward were cleared after a couple of blocked shots and the game ended with the Rams on the short end of the score.

It was a terrific performance that Rhody fans would be proud of as we got some key contributions from guy’s off the bench including freshmen Oscar Soons (Breda, Netherlands) and Ross Morison (Linlithgow, Scotland).

Next up is the Ocean State Soccer Classic consolation game which is Monday September 3rd at 7:30 pm. Due to freshmen orientation conflicts at Brown, the final between the Bears and Providence will be played at 5:00 pm. Both games are at the URI Soccer Complex. Admission is FREE so please come join us, see the improvements to the soccer stadium and cheer on the Rams to their first victory of the season.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend and GO RAMS!
Coach O’C