Aug. 31, 2005

2005 URI/Sheraton Soccer Classic
Presented by Nike

Friday, Sept. 2: Providence vs. Maine (5:00 p.m.), URI vs. UAB 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 4: UAB vs. Maine (12:00 p.m.), URI vs. Providence (2:30 p.m.)

KINGSTON, R.I. - Last season the Rhode Island men's soccer team had no problem scoring goals. The Rams led the Atlantic 10 with 44 goals and ranked 25th in the nation in goals per game.

With the loss of Sasha Gotsmanov, the nation's leader in goals and points last season, the Rams might not score as much this fall. However, as the Rams prepare to take on Alabama-Birmingham in their season opener this Friday (Sep. 2) at 7:30 p.m. in the first round of the URI/Shereton Soccer Classic, they plan to give up less too.

"I don't know if we're going to score as many goals this year, Sasha was a big time player so we're going to have to rely on more of a balanced attack," said head coach Ed Bradley said. "The goal is going to be to give up a lot less goals. The focus is to be more disciplined in the back. We won't attack as much from the back this year."

Last fall Rhode Island earned a national ranking on three different occasions, reaching as high as No. 21 in the nation, but finished the season with a 12-8-1 record. Of the Rams eight losses, seven were by one goal and Rhody was winless in five overtime contests, losing four and tying another.

"We had trouble closing out games last year, we cost ourselves several games by playing undisciplined," Bradley said. "With everyone a year older, we should cut down on the mistakes that hurt us last year."

Bradley is impressed with the overall team speed that the 2005 Rams possess.

"This should be the quickest we've been in terms of team speed in several years," Bradley said. "The strength should be at midfield, we should be strong down the spine of the team."

Forward
The Rams won't be able to replace Gotsmanov, a second-team All-American, who led the entire country with 19 regular-season goals and 46 points last season. But Rhody does return the rest of its offense that combined for 25 goals in 2004, and the Rams should be able to piece together a potent balanced attack this fall.

Junior Jeffrey Gonsalves (Markham, Ontario), a second-team All-Atlantic 10 selection last fall, returns after finishing second on the team and second in the Atlantic 10 in scoring with 26 points, coming on nine goals and eight assists. Sophomore Lukasz Tumicz (Bisztynek, Poland) is also back after scoring three goals - all game-winners - and dishing out four assist for 10 points as a freshman in 2004. Tumicz scored four goals in four games during the spring season.

Bradley expects sophomore Steve Mellen (North Kingstown, R.I.) to contribute after having a strong spring season, scoring a goal and notching an assist.

Freshman Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad) and freshman Jeff Guntzviller (Elk Rapids, Mich.) will both step in and should make an immediate impact.

Midfield
Senior captain Simon Gatti (Welland, Ontario), a second-team All-Atlantic 10 selection for the past two seasons, is back for his fourth year as a starter. Gatti scored two goals and collected three assists for seven points last fall, but it's his role as the team's quarterback that is most valuable.

"Simon will run the show once again," Bradley said. "He changes the pace of the game, he makes us go, but he did look to score more in the spring season."

Senior Brian Mazza (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) returns as the right attacking midfielder after dishing out seven assists to go with one goal in 2004. Mazza is one of the fastest players on the team and is always a threat with his speed and great deliveries. Sophomore Danleigh Borman (Cape Town, South Africa) was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2004 and will remain a force as a left midfielder. Borman scored three goals and had one assist last fall.

Sophomore Dawid Badecki (Jelenia Gora, Poland) joined Borman on the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team last fall and will anchor the Rams as the defensive midfielder, along with taking most set pieces. Badecki scored two goals and dished out three assists last year.

Junior Joe Spofford (Waterville, Maine) scored two goals and dished out one assist last year as a forward, but will be used more at midfield this season. Senior David Ward-Smith (Smithfield, R.I.) and red-shirt freshman James Quaih (Providence, R.I.) will also look to get playing time in the defensive midfield.

Back
Bradley's goal for the Rams' defense is quite simply to be the best in the Atlantic 10. Last year the Rams were ravaged by injuries and had a habit of suffering brief lapses that always seemed to cost them.

With another year of experience under their belts, the Rams look to take a lot of pressure of Rhody's offense.

Sophomore Callum Bissett (Pencaitland, Scotland) was selected as a team captain and should play a pivotal role in organizing the defense as the team's sweeper. Red-shirt senior Reuben Ray (Missouri City, Texas) returns as the right back and senior Anthony Ward-Smith (Smithfield, R.I.) will play left back.

Hard-nosed junior James Goetter (Marlborough, Conn.), a two-year starter for the Rams, will help out in the back. Freshmen Adam Howarth (East Cowes, England), Kevin Hamill (Easton, Conn.) and Brett Reels (South Kingstown, R.I.) will assist with the defense, while red-shirt sophomore Kevin Algozer (Northport, N.Y.) and red-shirt junior Steve Scalzo (Plymouth, Minn.) will both push for playing time.

Goalkeeper
Red-shirt senior Dean Ruddy (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) is back for his third year as the Rams' starting goalkeeper. Ruddy helped lead the Rams to the 2003 Atlantic 10 Championship, earning all-tournament honors. He had a 1.36 goals against average in 2004 and a .746 save percentage.

"Dean has matured into being a very intelligent goalkeeper," Bradley said. "He's quick, athletic and experienced. I don't think you will see him give up an easy goal this year."

Red-shirt sophomore Mark Sauter (Columbus, Ohio) looks to have the back-up spot heading into preseason practice, but red-shirt junior Matt Lorie (Ringwood, N.J.) and freshman Kyle Murphy (Columbia, Conn.) will both fight for playing time in net.

Schedule
The Rams will face a very difficult non-conference schedule to prepare for a new-look Atlantic 10 with the addition of Charlotte and perennial national power Saint Louis. Rhode Island's schedule includes four teams that played in the NCAA Tournament: Old Dominion, Boston University, Dartmouth and George Washington; and three teams that won their conference championship: George Washington (A-10), Boston University (America East) and Dartmouth (Ivy League).

Rhode Island will face UAB, William & Mary, along with Ivy League powers Harvard and Yale in the non-conference portion of the schedule. With the Atlantic 10 moving to 14 teams with the addition of Charlotte and Saint Louis, the conference schedule will include only nine games, down from 11 last season. The expansion also means there are 14 teams fighting for six spots in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, which Rhode Island has made in eight of the last 10 years.

"This is the lowest RPI schedule we've had in the last five years," Bradley said. "It should pay dividends for us."