October 16, 2012

Dear Alumni & Friends,


I apologize for not getting to you sooner but it was a busy Monday after the first Atlantic 10 doubleheader weekend of the season. It was also URI Family weekend so we had a great crowd of family and friends on hand for both games. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out as we wanted with a 0-0 draw to league leader Temple on Friday and a overtime loss to St. Joe’s on Sunday but we are still in the thick of things going into our first away doubleheader weekend of the year at George Washington and Charlotte.

It was a cold night on Friday but we came out on fire in the opening half of the first period. Temple got their legs under them and deserved a goal for their efforts but goalkeeper Thomas Spenser (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) thwarted their best attempt of the night. We went into half-time with no goals on the scoreboard.

The second half started out a bit slow but in the final 25 minutes and into overtime the game was really ours to win. We kept control of the ball and got forward creating chances for Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) as well as Mike Casey (Wakefield, RI) and Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) but got no joy in the end.

In the overtime we clearly dominated with 5 to 1 in corners and 8 to 2 in shots but just couldn’t get the game winner. Gaining a point was valuable but a win would have been nice if we had know the outcome of Sunday.

Sunday we came out again well scoring the first goal on a blast from Matt Ribbens into the left side netting on a Sykes assist. It looked as though we were on our way but a scrappy goal by a scrappy St. Joe’s team tied 1-1 going into the half.

Both teams started the second half with divergent tactics, our boy’s looking to possess and work the ball forward while SJU played longer and looked to counter. Their tactics worked first as they took advantage of a counter to go ahead 2-1. We got ourselves into a further hole when Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL) was sent off in the 68th minute for a foul forcing us to play down a man the rest of the way. The boy’s kept playing and were determined to bring the game even. And we did just that when sophomore forward Ross Morison (Linlithgow, Scotland) hammered a ball into the top left corner from 22 yards out. We kept fighting but luck just didn’t look to be on our side on the day as Jamie Eckmayer (Harrington Park, NJ), Matt Ribbens and Matt Skykes all hit the post on what would have been the equalizer or go ahead goal. A short time into the 1st OT the Hawks scored another determined yet scrappy goal for the game winner.

I would be lying to say we weren’t all disappointed but we are still in the thick of things going into this away weekend. We have fate in our own hands and have the ability to be able to carry it through. I am confident the boy’s know what is at stake and will come through. BTW, thanks to all our parents for the fantastic post game tailgate which helped at least a little to distract us from the disappointment of the afternoon.

Alums and friends don’t forget HOMECOMING WEEKEND OCTOBER 26-28 with games versus Duquesne and St. Bonaventure as well as an alumni v. alumni game on Saturday morning. Sunday is also our Senior Day so it is a weekend full of excitement. Please let us know if you will be coming.

Take care and GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

October 8, 2012

Dear Alums & Friends,


We got the conference schedule off to a great start with a convincing 3-1 win over New England rival the University of Massachusetts here at the URI Soccer Complex. It was the first time being home since playing UNH and only 3rd game on our pitch since the beginning of the season so the guys were excited to be on campus.

After a beautiful afternoon in Kingston the clouds rolled in and the skies opened up with an intense rain shower. It suited us well as we continued the storm at the kick-off, soaking the Minutemen with pressure and creating several good chances in the opening 20 minutes. We broke through in the 36th minute after Ross Morison (Linlithgow, Scotland) took a shot from 18 yards that the UMass GK was unable to hold. Sophomore Michael Casey (Wakefield, RI) scampered in and rebounded the ball for his team leading 5th goal of the season.

After the interval we came out buzzing again with some crisp passing and combination play which had us slicing through the Minutemen defense. In the 71st minute we gave ourselves a cushion on what will be a candidate for our goal of the year.

After an entry pass to Joey Haught (Brecksville, OH) 25 yards out, Alan Hernandez (Pearland, TX) overlapped on his left and Joey lifted the ball over the UMass back line and Alan drove a ball across the box where Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) one-timed it for his second goal of 2012.

We put the game out of reach in the 81st minute on a counter where Mike Casey and Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) combined for a nifty 1-2 on the top of the box that Syksey completed by curling it into the side netting. Only a PK on a hand ball in the final 6 seconds spoiled the clean sheet but more importantly it was a win and a great start to the Atlantic 10 season.

The evening turned out to be a wonderful one with our parents tailgating in the Ryan Center lot and Ocean State Youth Soccer on hand for our annual Grassroot Soccer Fundraiser. Even with initial rain that scared away some supporters we raised over $600 for GRS.

Next we turn our attention to our first A10 doubleheader weekend when Temple University comes to town on Friday October 12th at 7:00 pm followed by St. Joe’s on Sunday October 14th at 1:00 pm. It is family weekend here at URI so we hope to see you all here.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

October 1, 2012

Dear Alumni & Friends,


Believe it or not we’ve reachedthe mid-point of the season, completing the non-conference portion of our schedule. So, that means that Atlantic 10 play is right around the corner. The boy’s are excited about it as the first half of the season did not play out the way we all wanted. But it has taught us some lessons and showed as the areas we need to continue to work on in order to put us in the best position in the A-10.

Saturday night we travelled to Fairfield University for a single game before taking on the A-10. We came out of the gate very well with crisp passing and excellent movement off the ball. Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) was on his game and we got some great attacking play from the midfield of Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England), Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) and Michael Casey (Wakefield, RI) who was a target of some hard tackles. The Stags were a big team and playing fairly direct but our guy’s competed and the second ball was ours for most of the half. Mikey Welsh (Dalgety Bay, Scotland), who had his best match since coming bak from injury, and iron man Robbie Gargaro (Naperville, IL) thwarted what chances Fairfield had with excellent tactical play. Although I felt as though we had momentum as the first half ticked down, neither team was able to get on the board.

The second half began and Fairfield was now the aggressor. In retrospect it was a shame there had to be half-time as didn’t take long for Staggs to get on the board in the 51st minute. We began to push the pace again but as it can happen in games you are chasing, you can expose yourself and the home team capitalized putting an insurance goal on the board in the 74th minute. In the end we just didn’t have enough in our locker to overcome the deficit and a disappointing 2-0 loss.

It has been a difficult stretch as you can imagine but the boy’s continue to work hard and develop as the season progresses. We knew the first part of the schedule would be tough and frankly we all expected better. We are excited the Atlantic 10 season is upon us as this has always been what we have been preparing for since last fall.

After a recovery session yesterday and day off today we will be back at in preparation for the opening A-10 game versus our New England rivals University of Massachusetts on Saturday October 6th at 7:00 pm here at the URI Soccer complex. We have been the road warriors in the first half of the season with only 2 home games so we welcome playing 5 of our last 9 matches at our friendly confines here in Kingston.

At the UMass game we will be welcoming the Exeter-West Greenwich Youth Soccer program as our special guests. It is also our 6th Annual Grassroot Soccer fundraiser night too. As many of you already know Grassroot Soccer  is a global aids education organization that uses soccer to get the message of HIV/Aids to the youth of African countries like Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia. Over the past 5 years we have raised close to $8,000 through donations at the gate and in the stands during the game. So, I hope you can join us or if you can’t you will donate to this very worthy cause.

Don’t forget HOMECOMING WEEKEND 2012, October 26th – 28th. It’s a jam-packed three days of A-10 Soccer (Friday vs. Duquesne @7 pm, Sunday vs. St. Bonaventure @ 1 pm) as well as a Alumni vs. Alumni small sided game and pre-football game luncheon. More details will follow but make sure you get it on your calendar. Hope to see you all then…

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C