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