October 3, 2006

It's been a fabulous week and just what the doctor ordered! It's hard to believe that we are at the midpoint of the season already, but I'm happy to report that the team is starting to hit its stride and the pieces are coming together. The beginning of our season was productive but frustrating as we were a team playing an attractive brand of soccer but just not getting the results we wanted. However, the tides have now changed and the team is brimming with confidence heading into the second A-10 conference weekend.

Last week began with a mid-week test versus Ivy League foe Harvard University on a beautiful Tuesday night. The atmosphere was electrifying with the Rams returning home for the first time since September 3rd. This, combined with "Soccer Rhode Island Night" at the URI Soccer Complex, had the stands jammed with youth players from around the Ocean State. Some were even recognized at half-time for their 2006 State Championship performances and appearances in the Regional Championships in Virginia Beach, Va. this past summer. Add in some give-a-ways (generously provided by US Youth Soccer and Soccer Rhode Island) and you've created quite an event! Our thank yous go out to Phyllis and Larry Fish as well as our own director of promotions, Kate Moore, for pulling things together for us.

The game itself was a very entertaining one as Harvard came into the match with quite a pedigree. We had seen them play while we were at their Harvard Invitational as well as when they participated in our own Sheraton/URI Soccer Classic so we knew they were very explosive and talented, especially up front. We got a great start and put pressure on the Crimson immediately, nearly getting a couple of goals within the first 10 minutes.

The game settled down and both teams exchanged blows until Dawid Badecki (Jelenia Gora, Poland) rifled a shot from 25 yards out which the Harvard goalkeeper could not handle. Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad) was "Johnny on the Spot" and finished the rebound for his first goal of the year and a 1-0 half-time lead. The Rams where excited and came out blazing again in the second half. Just 15 minutes in, midfielder Geoff Cameron (Attleboro, Mass.) connected with forward Lukasz Tumicz (Bisztynek, Poland) streaking down the left side. Tumicz took a touch inside the box and finished under the onrushing HU keeper.

Harvard scored on a broken play with about 10 minutes to go but our defense, backed by a couple of good saves by senior goalkeeper Mark Sauter (Columbus, Ohio), held strong for this important win. The victory alleviated a lot of the players' concerns and brought them the positive energy needed going into the opening Atlantic 10 weekend.

After a short break and a trip to the "City of Brotherly Love", a game with La Salle University was next for the Rams and the boy's were chomping at the bit to get back on the field. Friday night couldn't have come any sooner, but we filled the day with a walk through at La Salle in the morning and study hall in the afternoon. All throughout the day you could just tell in the eyes of our players that this would be URI's night.

If you missed the first half you would have missed quite the performance by senior forward Gonslaves, who scored a natural hat trick on assists from Tumicz (2), Cameron and outside back Kevin Algozer (Northport, N.Y.), who made a brilliant run down the left side and got into the box. The Explorers got on the board with a goal to make it 3-1 but that only made our lads more determined to put their stamp on the game.

Second-half goals by Steve Mellen (N. Kingston, RI), Badecki and Crosby sealed the deal. The last of the goals saw Crosby tally a clever goal after the LU goalkeeper dropped a ball, "Trini" flicked the ball over his head and tapped it in on the other side... It was a bit of magic which the team delighted in celebrating. Everyone on the trip got some playing time that night, including "Danger" Dan Lucas (N. Providence, RI) who nearly created a seventh goal for Rhody.

On Saturday, the squad travelled to Washington, D.C. in preparation for the final match of the weekend against George Washington University. It was a nice trip down to the nation's capital with our bus driver "Double D", who couldn't have been more accommodating to the boys and our staff. That's always a nice luxury to have as it keeps everyone loose and able to relax and prepare.

Morning came, the sun was out and it couldn't have been a better end to the weekend. The boys came put and picked up where they left off on Friday night, dominating GW from the start. Gonsalves continued his torrid scoring streak, kneeing a ball which was headed back across the net by Mellen off a Danleigh Borman (Cape Town, South Africa) cross.

In the second half, the Polish connection hooked up when Tumicz found Badecki for a volley from 8 yards out to pad the lead, 2-0. Chris Pennock (Middlesborough, England) handled every shot and cross with ease, earning the first shut out of his career.

We headed home with a great start to the A-10 season and the assuredness that we could do whatever we put our minds to in the game. It will be a short week for us as we are off to Ohio on Thursday for games against Xavier and Dayton... another great test and opportunity for our guys.

After this weekend, we return home for the remainder of the season including Homecoming Weekend October 13-15. If you are in the area come on by and see what the team is up to this year!

GO RAMS!