March 26, 2012

Dear Alumni & Friends,

The spring season is now in full stride as we finally got to our first non-traditional game yesterday. The boy’s have been training hard since getting outside before spring break but they are certainly happy to play against someone else besides themselves.

Our first opponent of the spring was the New England Revolution US Development Academy U18 team. It was a home game of sorts as we played it just up the road at East Greenwich High School. They have a beautiful new turf field facility and we were thankful EG youth soccer and the recreation department for being allowed to use it. The venue was a perfect to begin the spring season as we assumed the URI Soccer Complex wouldn’t be ready. Who figured we’d have had such a mild winter and beautiful weather last week...

Although rain was in the forecast it turned out to be a great day to play. The Revs featured a couple of RI high school standouts as well as a familiar face on their bench in URI alum Jonathon Pereira ’10. JP works coaching for the Revolution in their Academy program. So, it was a bittersweet day for him as his Rams defeated his Revs 2-1.

The first half began well but the hosts got on the board first with a superbly bent ball from 20 yards out to the left of the goal that snuck over freshmen goalkeeper Thomas Spenser (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) into the side netting. It was a beautiful shot and was on the only way it could have happened with Robby Gargaro (Naperville, IL) denying other options. Our guy’s created some chances of their own including a couple of nifty combinations that provided crossing opportunities and a rocket from Jon Cloutier (Honolulu, HI) from 35 yards out that hit the upright of the football goal post just over the crossbar. The half ended with the visitors up 1-0.

In the second half the tempo changed for our squad and with that the results followed. Freshmen forward Ross Morison (Linlithgow, Scotland) made an immediate impact in the game when he volleyed home a deflected ball for the equalizer. Morison's goal was set up by classmate Matt Sykes (Nottingham, England) who flicked a ball that skimmed off one of the Revs central defenders, right to the big Scotsman who made the best of the opportunity.

Sykes also had his hand in the game winner as he turned a pass in the central midfield and paced a perfectly timed pass behind the Revs defense on the left side to Jamie Eckmayer (Harrington Park, NJ) who slotted it past their goalkeeper and off the far right post for his first of the spring. It was a well-deserved goal as Sykes and Eckmayer had been working on the same connection all afternoon but had received little joy until their last and most important chance. Here is the line-up for the match:

STARTING LINE-UP: Spenser, Cloutier, Gargaro, Hernandez, Dragon, Haught, Sykes, Moran, Tetzlaff, Eckmayer, Casey. Substitutes: Blanchard, Janiszewski, Kuklinski, Lindroos, Morison, Ribbens.

It was a good result and excellent way to begin the spring season. Next week we travel to Albany, NY to face Siena College and old friend Gareth Elliott ’01 and his Saints. Along with the Siena match we will also face Master Football Academy from Canada who is coached by Junior Groves who daughter Jerusalem transferred to URI from the University of Houston this winter to play for Rams women’s coach Mike Needham ’96.

Before I sign off, I have to send along congratulations to URI men’s soccer academic advisor Nicole Poloski and her husband John on the birth of their second child Ryan Roy Polosky. Mother and baby are doing well and big brother Dylan is delighted to have a playmate.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

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

January 23, 2012

Dear Alums & Friends,

Hope you are all doing well and for those in New England, have dug out from our first significant snow of the winter. Classes began for the spring semester today and this morning we meet with the team in preparation for our winter training to begin tomorrow morning. We’ll have 2 hours per week with the ball and another 6 hours of fitness training which should get the boy’s ready for the spring season. The spring non-traditional season will be upon us before you know it but we’ll send along our schedule when the dates and times are confirmed.

Speaking of the spring the Annual URI Alumni Game will be held on Sunday April 29th at 1:00 pm at the URI Soccer Complex. Assistant Coach Callum Bissett ‘07 has already began his recruiting his squad via Facebook as the alums are looking to follow up last years win with the a repeat performance. Will see if the boy’s have something to say about that! Following the game there will be a BBQ for all alums, friends and families. Callum and Chris Pennock ‘10 are looking into getting alumni replica game jerseys for their squad so if you are planning on coming/playing please let us know asap.

On the alumni front hopefully many of you saw or heard about Geoff Cameron making his first start for the United States National Team against Venezuela which was shown live on ESPN3 (you can see the replay there now). Cam played central defender alongside Rhode Island native Michael Parkhurst and in front for Brown alum Jeff Larentowicz. That’s three players with RI ties! He had a great match, nearly scored on a header and helped the US to a thrilling and well deserved last minute 1-0 victory. New US Coach Jurgen Klinsman’s and his boy’s next match will be January 25th against Panama. Here’s a nice article about the game and Geoff courtesy of Michael Tanke ‘11.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/usa/story/united-states-mens-national-team-geoff-cameron-jermaine-jones-012212

I spoke to Michael the other night just before the US game. He is back in Rochester after spending the fall as a volunteer assistant coach at Indiana University-Perdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI), a NCAA Division I program in the Summit League that is coached by his former club coach Isang Jacob.

In other alumni news Peyton Warwick ‘11 and Adam Howarth ‘07 recently participated in the InfoSport Combine in FL. Adam had been training with the NE Revolution this fall but wasn’t able to catch on. InfoSport was the combine which allowed Danleigh Borman and Michael Tanke to be seen and eventually picked up by their respective MLS and USL teams. Peyton also travelled back home to Kansas to be a part of a Sporting KC combine which be all accounts went well.

FEBRUARY 1ST is right around the corner and with that the National Signing Date for NCAA Division I men’s soccer programs. We will be posting and sending out a press release announcing our class as it is one that we are VERY, VERY excited about. I can’t go into detail as of yet as it is against NCAA rules to do so but it includes several internationals, players from high profile USSF Academy programs, two URI Centennial Scholars as well as a couple of home grown Rhode Island transfers. The Class of 2012 will follow up our 2011 group which we all saw made a great impact on the program last fall.

Before I sign off we got some sad news to report in the untimely death of Atlantic 10 Referee Assignor Nick Cinquanto. Nick was a great person, a consummate professional guy and a fan of Rhody soccer. Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and friends in their loss.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

November 21, 2011

Dear Alums & Friends,

Things here on campus are pretty quiet as many students are getting ready or have already headed home for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our guy’s have been busy since the end of the season with lifting three days a week as well as meeting individually with the coaching staff. They’ve been working hard at it and have quite a determined look in their eyes. In addition they started donating their time to help with our Rams FC Fall Technical Training Academy in Keaney Gym. We have well over 50 kids attending with nearly 30 on the waiting list. It’s a great chance for the guy’s to get some coaching experience while demonstrating for the kids.

Anyway, we had some good news as a follow up to the season as freshmen midfielder Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) was named to 2011 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. Being recognized by the conference coaches as one of the top newcomers is certainly great for the future of the team.

Here is some alumni news that has come along the wire as of late...Well done to Dom Petrarca ‘10 led the South Kingstown Junior Varsity team to the RIIL State Championship. He also serves as the Varsity Assistant Coach under Scott Rollins who coaches in the Rams FC program…. Congratulations are in order for Steve Mellen ’08 who recently became engaged to longtime girlfriend Christine Puleo who is also a URI graduate. Steve has had his coaching shoes on too helping at North Kingstown High School....On the national front, if you were scanning through the channels the other morning and stopped on CNNMoney, yes that was Barry Knapp ‘84, Head of U.S. Equity-portfolio strategy for Barclay’s Capital. Barry has been a regular guest analyst...Gareth Elliott ‘02 and his Siena College Saints made a late run at the MAAC Championship in Lake Buena Vista, FL by knocking off 7th seeded St. Peter’s 5-1 before losing to #2 seed and nationally ranked Iona in a PK shootout....Hope everyone stayed up to see MLS Cup where Geoff Cameron ‘08 was playing in his second championship game with his Houston Dynamo team. Geoff was a key to the Dynamo’s success down the stretch, moving to central defender in order to anchor the Houston defense and help the team go undefeated in their last 9 games of the season. Unfortunately they dropped a 1-0 decision to David Beckham and Landon Donovan’s LA Galaxy on a Donovan goal. Any other news? Pass it along...

After the Thanksgiving holiday the players will be getting ready for exams but before that we will be holding our 2011 Team Banquet at Charlie O’s Tavern in Narragansett. Soccer alum and owner Chris Simon has hosted us the last 2 seasons in the upstairs (Simon’s Place) which is a great venue. All alums, parents and friends are invited to attend. Tickets are $10 per person and reservations can be made by contacting assistant coach Mitch Stone at (401) 874-2560 or stone@mail.uri.edu.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

October 31, 2011

Dear Friends & Alumni,

In any given year a split on an Atlantic 10 weekend would be a welcome result but this time it was a disappointment. Going into this doubleheader we had our A10 Tournament fate in our hands as winning our last three conference games would almost certainly guarantee us a spot in the A10 tournament especially considering some of the strange results. We finished it still with a chance but now we have to rely on other results to make our goal a reality.

On Friday night we finally had the offensive explosion we have been waiting for with a 4-1 domination of the University of Richmond. We got balanced scoring as 5 different players tallied points and goalkeeper Adam Blanchard (Scarborough, ME) filled in well for Peyton Warwick (Prairie Village, KS) who was out with a concussion. It was quite a night, and weekend, for junior midfielder Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) who led the way with 2 goals and 1 assist. He started us off an opening strike for 22 yards reminiscent of his game winner against Fordham last year off a pass from Thomas Lindroos (Espoo, Finland) in the 23rd minute. Just before the half freshmen midfielder Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) took a Mike Casey (Wakefield, RI) pass and spanked it, hitting a Spiders defender and deflecting past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead.

It took only 7 minutes into the second stanza for Jamie Eckmayer (Harrington Park, NJ) to get on the scoreboard with an athletic goal off a Matt Ribbens cross. Ribby hit a bending cross that looked like it was destined for the Richmond goalkeepers hands but Jamie leapt like a Gazelle to skim it by him for the tally. Ribbens and Casey hooked up for the final goal which capped off a well deserved offensive burst. It was a great start to the weekend and our quest to sweep our last three.

Sunday, was a busy day with snow overnight initially threatening the game and the emotion of the final home game of the season. Prior to the match we honored our four seniors Franco LoPresti (Markham, Ontario), Reece Markman (Dallas, TX), Peyton Warwick and Oscar Zorrilla (Providence, RI). It was great to have their families there to share the day.

We started the game with a different look as unfortunately Franco was unable to play due to yellow card accumulation so junior Tim Dragon (Flemington, NJ) and Oscar Zorilla were called upon to fill in on the day. The first half was very, very sluggish and George Washington took advantage building a 2-0 lead. It was an extremely disappointing 45 minutes as we just did not play with the energy and enthusiasm we have been with a combination of unforced turnovers combined with some players looking out of sync. It was hard to get a grasp on exactly what was happening out there but it was not our best moments and in the end it cut us deep.

During the interval we regrouped and came out to all but dominate the next 45 minutes going against a stiff wind. In the 57th minute the man of the weekend Matt Ribbens combined with Jamie Eckmayer and Matt Sykes for a fantastic blast from the top of the box to cut the lead in half. We continued the pressure and handled GW’s counterattacking play including a big breakaway save by Peyton Warwick in the final 10 minutes that could have sealed the game then and there. We were on the verge of getting the tying goal when we just ran out of time.

So, as the standings look we still have an outside change to get in but we do not hold destiny in our own hands as we did going into the game against GW. We need to win at UMass next weekend and have some other teams in the league lose in order into the tournament via the backdoor. By kickoff next Saturday we should have a pretty good idea of where we are and if the soccer gods are kind, will steal a slot in the A10 tournament. Keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers as it would be a shame to have this team miss it.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C

Sad News...

Dear Alums & Friends,

It is with a heavy heart I write to let you know of the death of former URI player Winston Griffiths this past Saturday October 23rd in Kingston, Jamaica. At this point the details and cause of death are unknown. He was 33 years old.

Winston came to the University of Rhode Island in the fall of 1999 as part of a long line of successful Jamaican players of his time to wear Rhody Blue including Andy Williams, Nicholas McCreath, Dennis Richards, Conrad Hibbert and Anthony Curtis just to name a few.

Although Winston played only one season at URI he made his mark in 1999 scoring 9 goals and 8 assists in 19 games. That year Rhody finished the regular season 15-2-1 (10-1-1 in the Atlantic 10 Conference) while winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship with identical 7-0 shutouts of UMass and Duquesne in the semi-final and final. Winston was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament team along with 6 other teammates. The 1999 squad went on to win an NCAA play-in game over Mercer before bowing out to intra-state rival Brown in the NCAA first round.

Winston began his professional career with the Connecticut Wolves in the United Soccer Leagues First Division. In 2002 he was drafted by the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer and sent to the NY/NJ Metrostars before the season began. Later that season he was traded to the LA Galaxy and then to the New England Revolution where he reached the 2002 MLS Cup. Following his stint in MLS he played for Portmore United (2003) and the Vancouver Whitecaps (2004) before returning to Jamaica to sign with Arnett Gardens of the Jamaican National Premier League (NPL). He also played professionally in the Canadian Soccer League for Toronto Supra before returning to Jamaica in 2007, signing with Sporting Central in the NPL.

On the international stage Winston made his debut for the Jamaican National Team against Guatemala and earned 28 caps from 1998-2002, scoring 2 goals for the Reggae Boyz.

The entire URI soccer family is saddened by this news and I know you join me in sending our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and former teammates.

God Bless you Winston,
Coach O’C

October 24, 2011

Back-to-back away weekends in the league can be tough but they can also be an opportunity to earn some points back in the race to the Atlantic 10 Tournament. They can also be very cruel as we found out this weekend in our A-10 split.

The front of this trip was away at St. Bonaventure in Olean, NY. The game, originally scheduled as an afternoon tilt was moved to 7 pm on a turf field at a high school in Bradford, PA, about 20 minutes from St. Bonnie’s campus. The game started off with a bang as just 38 seconds in junior forward Jamie Eckmayer (Harrington Park, NJ) laid a first time ball out to classmate/roommate Matt Ribbens (Tinley Park, IL) who whipped in a low cross in penalty spot high where Matt Sykes (Sheffield, England) one timed it in for the fastest goal recorded since my time at URI. The early goal was great but there was a long time to go. The teams traded play with thing getting fairly direct. We seemed to be getting the best chances but the hosts were able to equalize with 7 minutes before the half.

In the second half we made some adjustments and again came out of the gates fast. Just under 10 minutes in we saw a near duplication of our first goal but this time it was Eckmayer to midfielder Joey Haught (Brecksville, OH) who played Matt Ribbens wide and through on the right. Matt again hit a driven ball to Sykes who ran on and re-directed a rocket off the far post and back across to the opposite side netting for his second goal of the game. As the game trickled down we got hold of the ball more and more to seal the victory.

Sunday couldn’t come sooner as the buy’s were anxious to get back on the field to try and sweep the weekend. A game that started out as an evening matched affair turned into a rout for the hosts…their second of the weekend as they had beat UMass 4-1 on Friday night.

The game started off as any competitive A10 game does. We created a couple of very good chances including a redirect from Jamie Eckmayer and a volley that just went over the bar from Michael Casey (Wakefield, RI). Duquense tallied first and held a 1-0 advantage going into half time. Their lead quickly turned to a 1-1 tie when Reece Markman (Dallas, TX) scored his 2nd goal of the season off an assist from Joey Haught. It looked as though we were on our way and building momentum when then the wheels began to fall off the cart beginning with senior goalkeeper Peyton Warwick (Prairie Village, KS) suffering a concussion after a scramble in the 18 yard box. He was ably replaced by back-up Adam Blanchard (Scarborough, ME) who, to be fair, didn’t have to make a save by the end of the game. But he was the victim of the Dukes onslaught as scored the eventual game winner on a re-directed corner as well as three others in the last five minutes that included a PK.

The most disappointing part was not in the loss but that in the final minutes and for numerous reasons the play did not reflect what URI soccer is to our alums, families and friends. Win, lose or draw we have an expectation that we must live up to and it became a lesson learned for our young team.

Next weekend we return home for the final doubleheader weekend and a big task at hand. To get a chance at an Atlantic 10 Tournament berth we need to win out. I am confident we can do it but this week will be a time to refocus our energy and commitment to our goal of getting to St. Louis. It will be an exciting weekend with Friday’s game versus Richmond followed by our Sunday tilt against George Washington on Senior Day. That afternoon we will honor our four seniors Franco LoPresti (Markham, Ontario), Reece Markman, Oscar Zorrilla (Providence, RI) and Peyton Warwick in pre-game ceremonies. It could be a wild ride and hope that you will join us.

GO RAMS!
Coach O’C