August 18, 2009

Friends,

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the dog days of summer. After a July where the temperature never reached 90 degrees we have moved into the heat and humidity just in time for pre-season training to begin. The players have begun to come in today with the rest arriving in the morning and then it is off to the races.

Before I go on just a quick note to say thanks to all our alums who attended the 13th Annual URI Men's Soccer Golf Outing on August 10th at Fenner Hill Country Club in Hope Valley, RI. It was a beautiful day as opposed to the Monsoon we had last year that cancelled the tourney. We had a great group of people along and it seems everyone enjoyed themselves. I surely did getting my money's worth (and swings in). To no surprise TEAM KENNEDY (fincluding Kevin Kennedy '03) took home top honors in this best ball scramble for I believe their 3rd championship in 4 years. Many thanks to our corporate sponsors Rams Football Club, The Tanke Family (Michael Tanke '11), Wadsworth Publishing (Valerie Tanke) and Joint Ventures Physical Therapy (Dan Brownridge '01). Of course we would be no where without our tee sponsors Charlie O’s Tavern, Lebron James & Shaquille O’Neal (The Pryess Family & Matt Preyss '11), Kingston Pizza, Herf Jones, The United Way, Rhode Island Elite Soccer Academies, URI Women’s Rowing Team (Associate Head Coach Jessica Lizzi), URI Men’s Golf (Coach Tom Drennan), Russell Blank ’77, Goal-4-Rams 6 v 6 Soccer (Ed & Brian Bradley '92) and our friends at University Spirit in the Kingston Emporium. Thanks for all your support of the tournament and program.

Anyway, I just returned from a short vacation with the family in Iowa and Minnesota where Sheila, the kids and I visited her folks in Iowa and sister in Minnesota. It was a short stay but good one since I feel like things have been buzzing and the summer just got away from me. Between our very successful camps those I worked at Notre Dame and Georgetown as well as recruiting it was a whirlwind. I'm sure it really came down to the excitement and anticipation of pre-season and the fall campaign. Time does fly when you are anxious to get at something...

We are so looking forward to what lies ahead and it all begins with the home opener versus DEFENDING ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPION BOSTON COLLEGE on Tuesday September 1st at 7:00 pm here at the URI Soccer Complex. It is not one to be missed! You can check out the rest of the schedule at www.gorhody.com but the season highlights include our A-10 play which begins on October 3rd and includes our usual interstate Darby with Brown University on Saturday September 19th at 7:00 pm which is also our Grassroot Soccer Fundraiser game. Last year we raised over $1,000 ourselves for this aids education through soccer organization and hope to raise even more in 2009 with the help of the Brown Bears. We've made this an annual event between the two schools and you can get more information and find out how you can help by going to www.grassrootsoccer.org.

One of the biggest highlights of the fall will be HOMECOMING WEEKEND which is October 16th-18th. The weekend kicks off with an Atlantic-10 match versus St. Joseph's at 7:00 pm followed by a pep rally in Keaney Gym and fireworks. Saturday we have an Alumni vs Alumni game at 10:00 am, a luncheon at 11:00 am and football against Hofstra University at Noon. The weekend is complete with the back end of our A-10 doubleheader versus Temple University at 1:00 pm. We will send you more information and a registration form in the coming weeks but MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW and join us in Kingston!

Finally, keep an eye on the our web page on the URI athletic website (www.gorhody.com) for your chance to procure a URI "Vintage" game jerseys. Alums and friends will have the chance to get their hands on jerseys filled with memories and worn by some of Rhody's best back when the team wore Kappa, Nike and Diadora game kits. We'll be posting photo's of the memorabilia soon and give you your chance to pull on the URI colors again.

Well, tomorrow cannot come any sooner. Keep us up to date with what is going on in your neck of the woods and make sure you follow the team through the 2009 season. All the best...

July 18, 2009

Dear Alums & Friends of URI Soccer,

Hope you are all enjoying the summer months. We’ve been having some beautiful weather in Rhode Island as of late and look forward to more down the road. Campus has been bustling with activity including the annual South County Balloon Festival this weekend. We have our overnight camp coming up July 26-29 and then pre-season will be here before we know it. Where did the summer go?

It has been a busy July for me with our very successful day camp, the 4th of July holiday followed by a week at Notre Dame Soccer working their camp. Over this time we also had some great news as my Assistant Rob Czlonka and his wife Lisa welcomed their first child Gabriel (8 lbs., 8 oz, 21 inches) into the Rhody family. It was very exciting news and mom, dad and Gabe are doing well abet getting a little less sleep these days…for mom & dad that is!

Have had some great alumni news over the past couple of weeks, the latest being that former Ram Geoff Cameron (Attleboro, MA) was named as a starter as a central defender in the MLS All-Star Game on July 29 versus English Premier League club Everton. Geoff is having another great year for the Houston Dynamo after finishing 3rd in the voting for Rookie of the year in 2008. We have also heard from Mike Hoffer ‘61 who was pleased about the news of Andy Williams wife Marcia finding a bone marrow donor. Mike and his wife have been passionately involved in raising money for cancer through their marathon training.

On the playing side Peter Dos Santos ’94 wrote to tell us his over 30 men’s team qualified again National Final Four for the second consecutive year. Steve Demoura ‘01 is also on the team (just turned 30 this year) and they are off to Sanford, Florida in late July where they will play a team from North Texas in the opening round. Prior to heading to FL they had to beat some good teams including one from NY, which had former MLS players Richie Williams (DC United) and Mark Semoli (MetroStars) on it.

Present URI player Michael Tanke ’11 (Niles, MI) is also chasing his own national championship as he is off to Lancaster, MA to vie for the coveted McGuire Cup (U19 Championships) at the USYSA Tournament of Champions. His Indy Burn Eagles won their first Midwest Regional Soccer Championship beginning July 21st after being a bridesmaid several times over the past few years. We are certainly going to get up to watch him play and you can see Michael in action at http://championships.usyouthsoccer.org/regionII/. Michael hopes to add to the list of former Youth National Champions who play for the Rams as rising sophomore Reece Markman (Dallas, TX) won a U17 and U18 title with his Andromeda SC and incoming freshmen Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) and Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL) also raised their own cups with their Chicago Magic U16 squad.

Finally, a reminder that the 2009 URI Men’s Soccer Golf Outing is just around the corner on Monday August 10th at Fenner Hill Golf Club in Hope Valley, RI. The cost is $125 per player with opportunities to sponsor a hole/tee ($100), a foursome ($500) or as a corporate sponsor ($500). Registration for the beat ball foursome includes 18 holes, cart, post round meal and golf favors. There will be a raffle and silent auction for an autographed Geoff Cameron Houston Dynamo jersey among other prizes. For more information or to sign-up as an individual or register a group contact Assistant Coach Mitch Stone at (401) 874-2560 or at stone@mail.uri.edu.

ALL THE BEST & GO RAMS!
Coach O'C

June 18, 2009

The semester is over and summer is just about here in Rhode Island. We have been off recruiting and getting things ready for the fall. Our day camp is just around the corner and my assistant Rob Czlonka's wife is just about to give birth to their first child. So, it never stops. But, we have had some tremendous news over the past couple of weeks, none more important then that A BONE MARROW DONOR MATCH HAS BEEN FOUND FOR URI ALUM AND REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER ANDY WILLIAMS WIFE MARCIA!

See the story HERE.

This is GREAT news as many of you know Marcia has been battling Leukemia which she was diagnosed with over a year ago. We found this out when my assistant Mitch Stone contacted Soccer Unites Utah concerning a $500 donation our players made through a juggle-a-thon fund-raiser this past spring. Soccer Unites Utah has been in the forefront helping Andy and Marcia raise money for her treatments. We are so happy for their whole family and our thoughts and prayers continue to stay with them.

In other news from the alumni front, Houston Dynamo Central Defender Geoff Cameron... yes I said central defender... has been quite the story of late being named to consecutive MLS Teams of the Week for his stellar play.

We've seen a lot of Geoff on television and he has been doing so well that ESPN commentator and former MLS/US National Team Captain John Harkes has been promoting him as a MLS All-Star candidate. It would be great to see him on that stage!

Our other MLS guy Danleigh Borman '08 has also been on the tube a lot, starting for Red Bull New York at either left back or left mid-field. Although NY has struggled a bit of late, Danleigh has been applauded for his defending and intelligent play. I was proud of the fact that he takes so much pride in his defending during a time when some of his peers in the league do not... in my opinion anyway.

Got an e-mail from Lukasz Tumicz '08 in Poland who is recovering from surgery and hopes to be back on the pitch for his club Jagellonia Bialstyok soon. Our most recent signee Adam Howarth '08 is still in Finland with AC Kajaani but we haven't heard much from the "Big Goat".

Got a nice e-mail the other day from Callum Bissett '08 who is back at home working for FirstPoint USA, which is a college recruiting service which he went through to come to URI. He is keeping an eye out for us and is enjoying his job but misses Rhode Island.

On the further update front "Big Ginger" Ross Smith '03 went through successful heart surgery a bit ago and is working his way back to health. Ross was playing with the USL's Rochester Rhinos and set up to sign with the Colorado Rapids of MLS when it was discovered in a routine physical that he had a faulty heart valve. Surgery has fixed that and we look forward to having him here this summer working our camp.

Speaking of making recoveries, best wishes to Dan McCrudden '78 who I heard through is brother is recovering from a little heart scare of his own this spring. Heard from brother Vince McCrudden that he is doing well and should be back on the field scoring goals like in the old days. By the way I would be remiss if I didn't recognize Vin for his recent and VERY GENEROUS donation to the program.

NEWS FLASH....SAVE THE DATE:
The weekend of October 16-18 it is HOMECOMING 2009. It will be a jam packed weekend with men's soccer games on Friday night and Sunday afternoon against St. Joe's (7:00 pm) and Temple (1:00 pm) sandwiched around an Alumni v Alumni game Saturday morning at 10:00 am and Alumni & Friend BBQ to follow. Football is home versus Hofstra so there is plenty to do for everyone. So, if you haven't been back in a few years JOIN US. More information to follow...

Finally, don't forget the University of Rhode Island Men's Soccer 13th Annual Golf Outing on Monday August 10, 2009 at Fenner Hill Golf Club in Hope Valley, RI. it is a fun event and for $125.00 per golfer you get 18 holes of golf, golf favors, a cart, and post-round meal. We also have a putting contest, longest drive, closest to the pin, a raffle later and silent auction.

If you can't be there in person you can be there in spirit as a tee/hole, corporate, foursome or tournament sponsor. You can get details in the attached brochure. We of course welcome any level of support because we realize its' because of you that we are able to do these events and others.

Well, that is about it from here. If you have any news that is fit to print let me know and I will be sure to include it in our next e-mail blast. Take care and enjoy the remainder of the spring.

GO RAMS!
Coach O'C

May 5, 2009

Exams are off and running this week and will go on for the boy's until the 13th. We had a team BBQ on Friday at the O'Connor ranch complete with some exciting games of Mario Kart on Megan and Michael's Wii as well as a rousing game of whiffle ball home run derby in the front yard. It was a nice way to finish off the spring and relax before hitting the books. After two days of "Reading Period" and the weekend the guy's are ready to get the semester finished.

Hopefully you picked up through our weekly e-mails that the spring non-traditional season ended up as a productive one. I'm having individual meetings this week with each of the players and then they will be off for the summer. It's hard to believe that another academic year is almost done. It's even harder to comprehend that another class of guy's are moving on. Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad) and Kevin Hamill (Easton, CT) go through graduation ceremonies on the 17th while James Quiah (Providence, RI) and Andres Perdomo (Pawtucket, RI) will do the same next December. I'm sure you all join me in wishing them the best for their futures.

One thing I wanted to bring to everyone's attention first and foremost to keep Ross Smith '03 in your prayers as he undergoes heart corrective surgery today. Ross who has had a very successful professional career with Gravesend & Northfleet and with the Rochester Rhino's this past year, was discovered with a heart condition while undergoing a physical for Major League Soccers Colorado Rapids. The surgery is corrective but as with any dealings with the heart, there are dangers. Think positive for the Big Canadian Ginger!

I also wanted to pass along a link to a really great article by Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal about the URI football teams recent Bone Marrow Registration Drive. It was a project which the team was glad to get involved in as it was an issue that hit close to home with the plight of Andy Williams '90 and his wife Marcia, who is looking for a bone marrow match right now. The reason I mention this is that we found out through our involvement in the registration that freshmen Erkko Puranen (Viitasaari, Finland) had Leukemia when he was 12 which is amazing considering where he is as a player today. Paul included his story in his article so take a look!

Before I sign off start getting your foursomes together for the annual URI MEN'S SOCCER ALUMNI & FRIENDS GOLF OUTING ON MONDAY AUGUST 10TH AT FENNER HILL GOLF CLUB in Hope Valley, RI. Last years event got rained out so I know people are ready to get back to RI to play. We will be sending specific information on times and such but get your foursomes together NOW.

All the best and GO RHODY!
Coach O'C

April 17, 2009

It's been a crazy few days here in the URI soccer office between our game on Wednesday night with Holy Cross and getting some distressing news on tax day. As you may or may not have heard, on Wednesday the University of Maine dropped their men's soccer program (as well as women's volleyball). A terrible thing professionally, as a Maine alum and as a close friend of Pat Laughlin the coach who is a former assistant here at URI. We have had to do some scrambling to replace our home game with Maine as well as the games which were supposed to play at Maine's Tournament to open our season. Fortunately we have been able to add Boston College, Binghamton University and arrange to go to Siena College. We unfortunately had to drop the Sacred Heart game to avoid a two week gap in the schedule mid-season but the 2009 schedule is set now and attached.

As you can imagine it I have a heavy heart for a program which fueled my passion for the game and is a part of why I am in this position at URI today. I am terribly disappointed in the administration at the University of Maine for the timing of the decision. Their is no god time to drop intercollegiate sports but as we all know decisions like these are not made overnight. The failure to notify the coaches, players and recruits earlier is un-excusable as far as I am concerned because now these kids are 2 weeks from exams with a slim chance of being able to find a spot on a team via transfer or such. The worse of it all is that Pat Laughlin is without a job come June 30th when his contract expires. No severance pay...no "we will pay you and cover your benefits through December"...NOTHING! No matter what the reasons, you just don't treat people that way. It is very disheartening and has made me re-think my association to an institution which game me so much. Keep Pat and the players at Maine in your thoughts that things will work out. I know we would love to have Pat back here on the Rhody side-lines as a volunteer this fall to keep in the game so don't be surprised if you see him.

Well, as far as the game on Wednesday night we went to Worcester with a small squad of only 14 healthy players. Chris Pennock, Andres Ruiz, Kevin Shaw and Dom Petrarca were nursing injuries while Josh Sousa was sick with the flu. Although the bench was thin, we had a good squad to put out and tremendous chance for players to get in a full 90 minutes of action as we get close to the end of the spring campaign.

The game started out very well for the visitors, as we were able to move the ball and create some good chances. The ball movement paid off when Michael Tanke (Niles, MI), who was just returning from a sickness himself, combined with Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA) to dribble through the Crusader central defense and finish a hard low shot into the corner. The lead was short lived as the Crusaders stormed back with two goals of their own on counter attacks which we didn't react to well. The second half showed a renewed spirit and play which produced results when Erkko Puranen (Viitasaari, Finland) got fouled in the box for a penalty. Jonathan Pereira (Barrington, RI) finished the PK well to equalize the game. Holy Cross kept plugging away and eventually netted the game winner on a free-kick, making the end result 3-2 to the home team.

HOLY CROSS LINE-UP: Warwick (Tavares 60), Zane, Williams, Hutson, LoPresti, Preyss, Crooks, Tanke (Gonsalves), Markman, Balicki (Pereira), Puranen.

Finally, the ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME is only a week away on SATURDAY APRIL 25th at 11:00 am here at the URI Soccer Complex. The following guy's have either committed or told skipper Gareth Elliott they are coming:

Michael Bradley, Dan Brownridge, Aidan Byrne, Ryan Chmielweski, Kedan Crosby, Gareth Elliott, Paul Fanning, Kevin Hamill, Kevin Kennedy, Pat Maguire, Ahmad Manning, Steve Mellen, Andres Perdomo, James Quiah, Dennis Richards, Jesse Simmons, Joe Spofford, Gabe Toro.

If you are not on this list and planning on coming, know someone who is not on this list who is coming or if you THINK you are coming PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let us know. This includes friends and family as their will be a BBQ following the game which is FREE for all those alumni who attend and $10 per person for friends and family. Donations to help cover the cost of the t-shirts and food are always welcome.

Well, we have our second to last spring game tomorrow at 2:00 pm versus Southern New Hampshire here at the URI Soccer Complex (re-scheduled from the Maine Spring Invite in Cape Elizabeth, ME). If you are in the area then we hope to see you play.

TAKE CARE & GO RHODY!
Coach O'C

April 10, 2009

The week is at and end and it was a busy one. We had three matches this week which made it for a short one. Last weekend we were up to UMass for their spring invitational. We arrived in Amherst a little short in personnel as we still had goalkeepers Chris Pennock (Middlesborough, England), Anthony Tavares (E. Proivdence, RI), midfielder Josh Gonsalves (Markham, Ontario), who is back practicing after his ACL surgery, nursing previous injuries as well as Michael Tanke (Niles, MI) and Dom Petrarca (Providence, RI) who were now part of the walking wounded. Add to that Franco LoPresti (Whitby, Ontario) who was feeling under the weather and we had a very small bench. But, like any good team we used the weekend well, earning a 1-0 win over Army on a Gary Crooks (Falkirk, Scotland) goal, assisted by Andres Ruiz (Providence, RI) as well as a 0-0 draw with the host in a classic A-10 battle. The weather was quite windy and cold and the UM practice field bumpy (which some say they planned...LOL) but I was happy in the end with how we handled it all.

ARMY LINE-UP: Warwick, McCormick, Williams, Hutson, Zane, Crooks, Shaw, Ruiz, Markman, Balicki, (Sousa), Puranen (Pereira)

UMASS LINE-UP: Warwick, McCormick (Zane), Zane (Hutson), Williams, Preyss, Markman (Sousa), Shaw, Ruiz (Crooks), Pereira, Balicki, Puranen (Pereira).

Training was light for Monday and Tuesday as we headed in Bryant College on Wednesday night for a 7:00 pm tilt on their field turf. We were nearly back to full strength (minus Dom Petrarca and Anthony Tavares who should be back next week) so it was be a good chance to see the nearly the whole squad operating. The pace of the game was a little crazy in the first of three 30 minute periods and we were spared relinquishing a goal only by a fantastic diving stop by Peyton Warwick (Prairie Village, KS) down to his right. The field was long (120 yards) but narrow (65 yards) but the guy's adjusted and managed to get on track in latter parts of that period getting goals in quick succession. The first on a nifty back heel assist from Michael Tanke to Andres Ruiz on a one touch finish after Michael beat a player in the box. The second started from a Kevin Shaw (Denny, Scotland) corner to the back post where Dwayne Williams (Westmoreland, Jamaica) headed it across to Errko Puranen (Viitassari, Finland) who nodded it in. It was great for Erkko as his parents and 3 sisters were here in the states visiting for the week. We almost got a third when Ruiz was through on a breakaway and just barely missed chipping it over a sliding Bryant goalkeeper.

The game the rest of the way was a bit of a pin pong match but the squad got good chances out of Jonathan Pereira (Barrington, RI), Reece Markman (Dallas, TX) as well as Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA). In the final 15 minutes of the game Josh Gonsalves got on for his first action in Rhody Blue after being cleared for full contact a few days earlier. He has a bit of catching up to do but it was nice to have the big man on the field.

BRYANT LINE-UP: Warwick, LoPresti, Williams, Hutson, Zane, Tanke (Markman), Crooks (Preyss), Shaw, Ruiz (Crooks, Gonsalves), Balicki (Sousa), Puranen (Pereira)

Don't forget to RSVP about the ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME on SATURDAY APRIL 25th at 11:00 am at the URI Soccer Complex. Following the game their will be a BBQ which is FREE for all alumni and $10 per person for friends and family. Donations to help cover the cost of the t-shirts and food are always welcome. Please RSVP with your t-shirt size and that you are coming (as well as significant others in attendance) so we have enough food. The t-shirt size ordering deadline is Friday April 17th. After that there is no guarantee for the correct size or a shirt so make sure you let me know...

I am proud to say during this Easter season we are ecstatic to announce that the team recently raised $1,000 in our winter "Juggle-a-thon" of which ALL proceeds will be donated towards a fund to help URI's all-time leading scorer Andy Williams '98 (Kingston, Jamaica) wife's Marcia fight with cancer. As many of you know already Marcia is in need of a bone marrow transplant and we just hope that this small gesture will help. Our thoughts and prayers are with Andy and we invite you to again join us in supporting their fight. You can get more information on how you can donate by visiting the RSL website.

As we head into the final two weeks of the spring season we are looking forward to our last three games. First, this Wednesday April 15th in Worcester, MA versus the Holy Cross Crusaders at 7:00 pm and then home in Kingston versus Southern New Hampshire at 2:00 pm on Saturday April 18th. The second match is a CHANGE as Maine had to cancel their invitation in Cape Elizabeth, ME due to lack of players from injury. We will then get plenty of rest in preparation for the MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF THE SPRING versus the alumni on the 25th to finish things up. We hope you can join us.

From my family and the URI soccer family we wish you all a Happy Easter!

GO RAMS!
Coach O'C

April 2, 2009

Sorry for the late e-mail concerning the first spring weekend but the flu is going through our house (i.e. Sheila had it) so I've been trying to catch up since the onslaught and recovery. Being Mr. Mom is TOUGH!

This past weekend we had a our first match at Northeastern University and it started with a bang...literally. In warm-ups sophomore Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, MA) managed to shatter a window in the NU team building which was located behind the goal. The Huskies coach Brian Ainscough was actually grateful as he has been asking NU for a net system behind that goal so Gregs fuax pas added fuel to the fire as far as he was concerned.

The game too got off to a great start with the first 30 minutes being an impressive one for our boy's. We put a good amount of pressure on NU creating chances from Erkko Puranen (Viitasaari, Finland) on a great pass over the top from Andres Ruiz (Providence, RI) which he used to almost chip the goalie. We got another couple of good chances off of interceptions by Kevin Shaw (Denny, Scotland) who was all over the place on the afternoon. The back four which included two new faces in Eric Hutston (St. Louis, MO) and Franco LoPresti (Whitby, Ontario) were solid in front of Peyton Warwick (Kansas City, KS) who had little to do in the first 45 minutes.

In the second stanza Northeastern changed their tactics a bit, playing very direct which caused some problems for our defense as they threatened the goal a few times. Rhody still generated some chances of their own including a ball cleared off the line by an NU defender, one that hit the post and a bicycle kick by Greg Balicki off of service from Reece Markman (Dallas, TX). In the end neither team could crack the seal and the match ended 0-0.

STARTING LINE-UP: Warwick, Petrarca, Williams, Hutson (Zane), LoPresti (McCormick), Tanke (Markman), Shaw, Ruiz, Crooks (Preyss), Puranen (Pereira), Balicki (Sousa).

The Saturday we head to Amherst, Massachusetts for the UMass Spring Invitational. We kick off at 12 Noon against Army and follow up with our second 70 minute game with the host Minutemen at approximately 2:30 pm. If you are in the area or are keen for a ride to Western, MA we hope to see you there.

Before I sign off just a quick reminder about the ANNUAL ALUMNI GAME on SATURDAY APRIL 25th at 11:00 am at the URI Soccer Complex. Following the game their will be a BBQ. The event is FREE for all those alumni who attend and $10 per person for friends and family. Donations to help cover the cost of the t-shirts and food are always welcome. Alumni are ask to RSVP with their t-shirt size (and significant others attending) so we have enough food and such. The t-shirt deadline is Friday April 17th. After that there is no guarantee for the correct size or a shirt so make sure you let me know...

Hope you will all be able to make it out to one of our spring games as well as the Alumni Game. The remaining spring schedule is as such:

April 3
@UMASS SPRING INVITATIONAL
12 Noon v Army
2:30 pm v UMass

April 8
@Bryant College, 7:00 pm

April 15
@Holy Cross, 7:00 pm

April 18
@MAINE SPRING INVITE
12:45 pm v Southern New Hampshire
2:00 pm v Maine

TAKE CARE & GO RHODY!