Pair of Stingrays caught in MLS SuperDraft net

For the second year in a row, two former Rhode Island Stingrays (Premier Development League) were selected – in back-to-back order, no less – in the MLS SuperDraft.

Defender Matthew Britner (Brown University) was drafted in the third round (41st overall) by the New England Revolution. Less than five minutes after the selection, his former Rhode Island teammate, midfielder Geoffrey Cameron (University of Rhode Island) was selected with the final pick in the third round (42nd overall) by 2007 MLS Champion Houston Dynamo.

In their lone campaign together (2006), Britner and Cameron played for a talented ‘Rays squad that included two other MLS prospects: Jeffrey Gonsalves and Ryan McCormick. During that season, Britner played in all 16 of the club’s matches and recorded his lone offensive statistic on an assist. Cameron appeared in all 16 club matches as well, scored four goals, and led the team with 27 shots.

Britner may have a tough hill to climb in finding a starting spot in the rear with the Revolution this season. The club drafted a defender ahead of him (Rob Valentino) and acquired fullback Chris Albright in a draft day trade with Los Angeles. Yet, the former Brown Bear may have a few things working in his favor: his height (6-1) and a stellar recommendation (presumably) from Brown coach Mike Noonan, who is often seen chatting with Revolution manager Steve Nicol during reserve matches.

Cameron is in a similar position with Houston, where the championship club is, unsurprisingly, loaded with talent front to back. Although he can play up front and has an attacking midfielder pedigree, he has a few guys named Dwayne DeRosario, Brian Ching and Joseph Ngwenya ahead of him in the front, while Ricardo Clark, Corey Ashe, and Brad Davis already occupy spots in the midfield.

Last year, two of Mario Pereira’s boys were taken by MLS clubs during SuperDraft. Midfielder Nico Colaluca (Virginia) was taken sixth overall by Colorado, while striker Jeffrey Gonsalves (University of Rhode Island) was taken in the fourth round (40th overall) by Toronto FC. Colaluca went on to see the bulk of his action with the reserve club, though he saw action in four first team matches. Gonsalves, snakebitten by injury throughout the 2007 preseason, was let go by Toronto prior to the regular season, never given the chance to don the red and white kit for the expansion side. In an attempt to catch the attention of nearby scouts, he landed back on his feet with the Stingrays in 2007, where went on to lead the club with ten goals on the season.

The 2008 MLS Supplemental draft will take place via conference call on Thursday, January 24th. Among the hopefuls is another former Stingray – Lukasz Tumicz (University of Rhode Island), who was invited to the MLS Combine in January.

Three former Stingrays among MLS Combine participants

Major League Soccer announced its 2008 Player Combine Invitation List last month, and among the players selected to participate in this week’s combine are three former Rhode Island Stingrays. Matthew Britner (Brown University), Geoffrey Cameron (University of Rhode Island) and Lukasz Tumicz (University of Rhode Island) have all made the cut for the league’s annual showcase of college talent.

All three players certainly made an impact during their stays with the ‘Rays. Britner, who played for the Stingrays in 2006, was a solid defender during his time with the squad, where he played in all of the club’s 16 matches and recorded an assist. He was the anchor of a defending corps that finished third in the Northeast Division of the Premier Development League in goals allowed (29).

Cameron starred for the Stingrays for three seasons, beginning in 2005. In his first year with the club, he recorded four goals and an assist in 13 games. Although his stats were nearly identical in 2006 (4 goals, 1 assist in 16 games), he looked primed to have a breakout year in 2007. Unfortunately, injuries hampered him for the better part of the season, and limited him to only four games all season.

Tumicz was also felled by injuries in 2007, yet still managed to get on the scoresheet twice with the blue and gold by adding a pair of goals in five matches. The year before, in his first season with the club, the Rhody Ram displayed the goalscorer’s touch by blasting four goals in four games with the Stingrays in 2006.

The Stingrays have an impressive history of former players making the grade in MLS. During the 2007 MLS SuperDraft alone, two former Stingrays were selected: Nico Colaluca (6th overall, by Colorado) and Jeffrey Gonsalves (40th overall, by Toronto). Additionally, midfielder Rui Fortes, who was discovered during an open tryout with the Los Angeles Galaxy last February, accompanied the club during the 2007 preseason before failing to make the final cut just before the start of the regular season.

Rays lose 1-0 heartbreaker to Crusaders

Under overcast and misty skies, the Rhode Island Stingrays dropped their final home match of the 2007 season to the Cape Cod Crusaders Wednesday night, losing in heartbreaking fashion on a Dwight Barnett header in the 68th minute.

The match, played at the Stingrays home away from home, Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, pitted the PDL rivals on a fast artificial surface made even quicker by the misty conditions engulfing the region.

Early on, it was clear that the Crusaders looked to acquire goal number one, as they set their offensive tempo rather quickly, forcing the Rays defenders to keep the potent offense (30 goals all season) at bay in the opening minutes.

The Crusaders delivered their first threatening shot in the 10th minute, when Dan Stratford, who hounded the Rays back line all night, went one-on-one down the right flank with defender Derek Puerta before deflecting a shot that Rays keeper Josh Ford harnessed for the stop.

As the Cape Cod kept the home club on its toes, the Rays managed to find daylight of their own in the 25th minute. Marlon Giraldo took a dangerous free kick from 25 yards out, and rocketed the ball mere inches above the crossbar. Though the shot missed, it put the Crusaders on notice that the Rays were not content with simply stifling their attack.

Another chance developed in the 36th minute on a Stingray counterattack, as Giraldo sidestepped his defender, and launched a missile on Crusader keeper James Thorpe, who dismantled the heat-seeker.

With the final seconds of the first half ticking away, the Crusaders feverishly counterattacked in the 45th minute, when the menacing Stratford sailed a free kick to Barnett, who wildly headed the ball wide of the intended target, as the half expired soon thereafter.

After the second half kicked off, the Rays continued their stellar defense by stifling an attack that nearly counterattacked at will. Cape Cod wasted no time in reclaiming the attack less than two minutes in, as Stratford delivered a dangerous cross from the left that forced Ford airborne to intercept the pass.

The slick surface continued to wreak havoc in early minutes of the second frame, as the ball unnaturally skipped and slid along the multi-lined, all-purpose turf at Bryant University Stadium.

A promising chance materialized in the 54th minute, when the Rays forcefully reclaimed possession on a clever steal by Jeff Gonsalves off a developing Crusader counterattack. The striker then proceeded down the right wing, before sending in a beautiful cross to an open Lukasz Tumicz, who side-volleyed a screamer over the crossbar.

The clubs traded possessions thereafter until the fateful 68th minute. Stratford took a free kick and delivered a fantastic bending ball into the mixer. Amid the rush of players crashing the box, Barnett rose to the occasion, and powerfully headed the pass into the back of the net, giving the Crusaders the all-important first goal.

Attempting to kick start the attack again, the Rays reassembled the troops down the pitch in the 72nd minute kick started by defender John Nolan. He blazed right into the teeth of the Cape Cod back line before sending a feed to Gonsalves, who fired a wild shot well wide of the net.

After a frustrating night of near-misses, the Rays launched one more push toward net in the 89th minute. From the left edge of the box, Giraldo swept a slick, devilishly skipping grounder that met its untimely demise in the mitts of Thorpe, thus snuffing out the last chance at finding the equalizer.

Gonsalves performs the hat trick in 4-2 demolition of Long Island

Despite the calendar indicating a twenty-four hour period of unluckiness, Friday the 13th proved to be a wildly lucky day for Stingray striker Jeff Gonsalves. The former URI Ram played without curse or hijinx, as he netted an astounding three goals for the Rays in a resounding 4-2 victory over Long Island last night.

Gonsalves first took residence in Long Island territory in the 7th minute, when he raced right into the heart of the Long Island back line and launched a rocket that deflected off a hapless Rider defender before the box. Despite the slight redirection, ball arched perfectly into the upper right shelf for the opening salvo, and gave the home side the early one-goal advantage.

Soon after, a scary scene occurred at the 8th minute mark, when Riders midfielder Paul Roderick galloped into goalkeeper Joshua Ford, which left the Stingray down for a few tense moments before he came back to his feet.

However, a few minutes later, Ford was immediately tested, and made beautiful stop on a Rider shot that left him vulnerable on the rebound. Said rebound found the foot of Roderick, who rifled the shot from the right flank for the equalizer in the 11th minute.

As the game drew toward the halfway point of the first half, tempers on both sides flared, as Rays midfielder Jonathan Pereira was awarded a yellow card by referee Guido Gonzalez for a questionable violation. Soon after, the Riders began to unleash a flurry of rather unsportsmanlike shots at various Stingray players, which drew the ire of a visibly upset Mario Pereira.

The school of hard knocks continued for the remainder of the frame, as both club’s players traded more late tackles and high elbows than offensive chances.

As the first frame neared conclusion, the Riders looked to be taking the offensive advantage, as the Rays began to find themselves in reverse more than drive .Then, in the 44th minute, the Stingrays quickly counterattacked, as Dawid Badecki fed a gluttonous Gonsalves, who beautifully samba’ed through the right flank, cut inside, and took an impossibly-angled shot on goal that magically found a home in the top left shelf of the net for the go-ahead goal minutes before the curtain fell on the first half.

When the second half kicked off, the Riders sought to locate the equalizer and wasted no time in doings so. Two minutes into Act Two Mike Grella took a fortuitous rebound off the far post and tapped in the easy goal at the edge of the goal mouth in the 47th minute.

Just after the hour mark, the Rays broke through the Rider back line when Badecki delivered a perfect ball on net that was batted away by Riders keeper Jason Landers, but the sequence turned out empty handed, as the both club battled at midfielder for most of the second half.
Tempers went wild again in the 72nd minute, when Gonzalez gave Rider coach Dave Fisher an untimely ejection, after the manager continued to hurl disparaging comments regarding the quality of the officiating.

With the score level, it was the Riders that found themselves in better position to attain the go-ahead score. However, a black cat must have been lurking near the Long Island bench when, in the 77th minute, Grella went one on one with Rays defender Darren Howerton deep into the Stingray box, before the shifty midfielder sidestepped Howerton, paused, and launched a clear shot on goal that flailed high over the crossbar. Less than a minute later, Grella, in a reprisal of his recent performance, once again crashed the box, and yet again faked out his defender, before firing a shot that unluckily went off the back heel of an oblivious John Nolan, who was simply marking his man before the goal mouth.

Then, with less than ten minutes remaining in regular time, Marlon Giraldo found Evan Unger in wide open pasture. Unger took two touches, and launched a hard shot on net deflected wide of the Rider net. On the ensuing corner kick, the ball was headed by Ryan McCormick tantalizingly close to the goal before Gonsalves followed up with another header and directed it past Landers for the go-ahead in the 83rdminute.

Uncontent with a one-goal advantage, an-all out Stingray assault culminated on a McCormick screamer from the right flank in the 86th minute, which gave the Rays the insurance goal with time quickly dwindling.

As the leaderless Riders struggled to re-assemble their attack in the slim hopes of closing the two-goal gap, the Rays stonewalled the flailing Long Island attack, and the home club preserved the much-needed 4-2 victory on home soil.

Stingrays draw even to Fury, 1-1

Like a pair of mixed martial arts fighters, the Rhode Island Stingrays and Ottawa Fury punched, kicked and grappled their way to a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at Pierce Memorial Field before an enthusiastic ringside crowd.

The Fury kicked off for the first half under cloudy skies and cool temperatures, as both teams attempted to find their pace in the opening minutes. Both teams struggled to muster any quality chances until the 8th minute, when Jeff Gonsalves crashed the box but narrowly missed net, hitting the side of the goal as the ball harmlessly bounced out of play.

As both clubs continued to scratch and claw at each other, it wasn’t until the 13th minute that Rays midfielder Lukasz Tumicz charged down the Fury end of the field before unleashing a speculative shot that went well over the Fury net.

Less than a minute later, Peter Wise effectively ended dangerous Fury sequence when he stopped a Phil Amahazion point blank shot in the box, keeping the score 0-0.

The Rays caught the Fury completely off guard in the 19th, when Gonsalves streaked down the left flank with nothing but wide open real estate ahead and sent the ball toward a hard charging Tumicz on the right, who took the pass and drew the lone Fury defender before he crossed it right back to his teammate for the easy goal. 1-0, and the Rays took control.

The goal sparked the Rays attack, and they dominated possession in the following minutes, while Ottawa defenders charged and chased the ball all in vain for a large chunk of the first half.

In the 32nd minute, Danleigh Borman crossed a beautiful ball from the left to a sliding Gonsalves, who narrowly missed the connection, as the ball sailed inches away from the threatening boot of the former Toronto FC prospect.

As the Rays kicked off for the second frame, Ottawa came out attacking like the proverbial bat out of hell before the patient Rays dense neutralized the rather sloppy attack in the opening minutes. The Rays proceeded to launch counterattacks almost at will, as the Fury attack often disintegrated before the ball even reached the box.

In the 50th minute, Borman flicked a well-placed pass to Jeff Cameron, who broke down the left flank toward the Fury goal and cracked a shot that clanked off the right post.

The Rays continued to stymie the Ottawa defense, and the only answer provided to the patient and methodical attack was undisciplined aggression that displayed Ottawa’s unorganized defending tactics, leading to numerous fouls and three yellow cards issued before the 60 minute mark.

Quality scoring bids for the Fury were kept to minimum for most of the match until
the 85th minute, when an Ottawa corner kick flew into the box, prompting Wise to make an attempt at the ball. However, he was caught out of position and fell to the ground, as three Fury attackers battled for the loose ball before Fury forward William Beauge easily tapped the equalizer into the net with less than ten minutes left to play.

Any hope for the Rays to attain the game-winner came a minute into extra time, when midfielder Alonso Villasenor sent an immaculate feed to a gate-crashing Gonsalves before the striker knocked home the apparent go-ahead goal. But soon after celebrations commenced, the referee’s assistant waved his flag offside, thus stifling the last true chance the blue and gold had at earning three points at home, as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Gonsalves looks to latch on in MLS

Eighteen goals during any soccer season, on any level -recreational, amateur, or pro- is impressive. It was certainly impressive enough for Jeffrey Gonsalves to earn NCAA Third Team All- American honors in 2006, after leading the University of Rhode Island men’s team to the NCAA tournament last fall.

After his remarkable year, the native of Markham, Ontario was rated by MLS SuperDraft guru, Buzz Carrick, as one of the best collegiate forwards in the country. Toronto FC, the expansion MLS team located in his home country, took notice and drafted the Rhody Ram with the 40th overall pick in this winter’s SuperDraft.“When I first got drafted, it was exciting because it was the hometown team and it was a chance to play as a professional,” said Gonsalves.

But, before he could even sport the Toronto kit before a true home crowd, it all came to a screeching halt.

Gonsalves pulled his hamstring early on in Toronto’s preseason camp, and due to his prolonged convalescence, was never truly given the opportunity to flash the raw ability that aided him in his goal-scoring adventures in 2006.

“I went down there and got injured, and things didn’t work out,” said Gonsalves. Toronto subsequently released him without ever being to gauge the hometown prospect’s true MLS potential. “Now I’m back with RI.”

Today, Gonsalves plays mere minutes away from his alma mater as a forward for Rhode Island Stingrays (PDL), a club he honed his skills with last year, prior to his breakthrough colleague campaign. He played in seven matches for the Rays in 2006, and tallied a team-leading four assists, as well as a goal, for the blue and gold. Through four games this season, he has already recorded a goal, but more importantly, he has played in every minute of every Rays’ match thus far.

Although one would think that the former All-American is better served playing in a more competitive league, Gonsalves has benefited from playing with a familiar group of players from last year in his attempt to get back to MLS.

“Yeah, as well as playing with some of the players with at URI (who also play for the Stingrays). It’s almost like being back at school (playing) with most of these guys. It’s really not much of a change, it’s almost like a homecoming almost. So it’s been pretty good.”

Additionally, Gonsalves came back to Rhode Island to earn something more valuable than just minutes on the pitch: earlier this month, he graduated from URI.

Nevertheless, the goal for Gonsalves is to find his way back into MLS – a goal he is hoping to achieve by refining his goal-scoring skills with the Rays in the meantime. The close geographical proximity of the Stingrays to the New England Revolution – a mere 25 miles- has Gonsalves hoping to catch the eye of Revolution manager Steve Nicol.Working in Gonsalves favor is that the system which Rays manager Mario Pereira employs – the 3-5-2 – is the same system used by Nicol with his Revs.

Although the MLS squad already has a plethora of young talent on its developmental roster, a strong performance during a reserve match guest appearance or tryout could certainly open some eyes among a coaching squad that has a proven track record of developing talented young players.

Yet, the former All-American is ready to showcase his talents on any professional stage, and hopes that his play for the Rays this season attracts the attention of scouts and opens the door to some playing opportunities, stateside or abroad.

“Hopefully (there will be opportunities) either in North America or overseas. I’m not entirely sure. I’ll see what happens.”

Rays blank Volts, 4-0

The Rhode Island Stingrays exploded for four goals during their victory versus divisional rival Vermont Voltage on Saturday night, in a PDL match up that pitted two teams each searching for their first win of the 2007 season.

Early on, the Stingrays set the tempo by stringing precise passing sequences that thoroughly frustrated the Volts for much of the match.

Just how frustrated the Volts became with the passing clinic exhibited by the Rays was exemplified in the 27th minute, when James McCarron hard tackled Jonathan Pereira from behind, earning the Volt midfielder a red card and subsequent ejection.

Forced to play a man down, the Volts had their hands full with a Stingray attack that took advantage and dominated with several scoring opportunities soon after.

However, it wasn’t until the 44th minute that the Rays were able to put a point on the board. On a sudden break toward goal, Pereira sent a quick feed to Lukasz Tumicz, who streaked down the right flank before unleashing a scorching shot past Volt goalkeeper Steve Hennessey that gave the Rays the 1-0 advantage before the end of the half.

It was an uphill battle for the Volts to keep the Rays at bay in the second half. Volt manager Bo Vuckovic tried his best to hedge the potent Rays attack with fresh-legged substitutes.

Nonetheless, the Volts only had their backs pressed further to the wall in the 50th minute, when Marlon Giraldo aimed and fired shot from 25 yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar, momentarily depriving the home side of goal number two.

Another opportunity materialized in the 55th minute, when Jeffrey Gonsalves crashed through an exasperated Volt defense and flicked a quick shot into the back of the net, giving the home side their second goal of the game.

Minutes later, in the 58th minute, Jimmy Hernandez raced down the right flank before sending in a looping cross to a wide open Giraldo, who sat comfortably at the top of the box completely unmarked. After clinking the crossbar minutes earlier, Giraldo did not miss this time around, as he took a touch and fired the shot into the Voltage goal for the 3-0 lead.

The Rays continued their relentless siege of the Voltage end of the field, and continually poked and prodded through a back line that had been dismantled by an aggressive attack.

During the 72nd minute, Rays manager Mario Pereira made an unorthodox goalkeeper substitution when he replaced Joshua Ford with Peter Wise. Yet, the unconventional swap would pay dividends later on in the closing minutes.

As if to reward the home crowd for braving through the damp and cold conditions, the Rays capped off their goal scoring exhibition in the 76th minute, when Tumicz planted himself in the box and spun two defenders before cracking shot into the upper reaches of the Voltage goal for his second goal of the game, and the 4-0 lead for the Rays.

With the Rays clutching to the shutout during the waning minutes of the match, the Volts were awarded a penalty kick in the 83rd minute after some aggressive tackling on the part of the Rays defenders.

After electing to take the kick, Volt forward Matt Stedman launched the dead ball to the left of Wise, who soared to make an incredible two-handed stop on the point-blank missile, thus preserving the 4-0 shutout win for the home team.

Stingrays speared by Crusaders, 4-0

The Stingrays season-opening road trip made a stop on the Cape Wednesday night, as the club looked for its first win of the infant season. Instead, they were handily beaten by the Cape Cod Crusaders, 4-0, at Barnstable High School Stadium in Hyannis, MA.

In addition to seeking their first win, the Rays were also looking to register their first goal of the season as well, after being shut out by Long Island four days before. Last year’s club scored a remarkable 39 total goals last year (2.43 per game), and their anemic output thus far may be a testament to the challenges of opening on the road.

The Crusaders received their first goal in the 11th minute from Dwight Barnett off a Stanley Nyzamba feed, giving the home side an early one-goal lead.

Undaunted, the Rays hunkered down, and limited the perennial PDL powerhouse to the one-goal advantage through the first three-quarters of the match, despite the home side unleashing 13 shots during the game.

However, the roof caved in completely for Mario Pereira’s boys late in the second half, as the Crusaders scored three goals in the final 16 minutes of the match, and secured the 4-0 victory over the Rays.

The Rays will look to turn around their fortunates with some home cooking on Saturday night, as they face their divisional rival, the Vermont Voltage, at Pierce Field. The match will begin at 7:30pm. Great seats are still available!

Stingrays Drop Season-opener, 1-0, to Long Island

The RI Stingrays surrendered an early goal and were unable to to climb themselves out of the hole, as they fell to Long Island, 1-0 Saturday Night in New Hyde Park, NY.

In the 4th minute, Rough Rider defender Gary Sullivan gave the home club the early lead, forcing the Rays to play from behind for the remainder of the match.

Rays midfielder Geoffrey Cameron tried to spark an equalizer, leading the club with four shots on the evening, but none were able to find the back of the net, as the Rays dropped their season-opening PDL match before 963 fans at Michael
Tully Field.

The Rays continue their early-season roadstand on Wednesday, when they will face off against the Cape Cod Crusaders at Barnstable High School Stadium at 7:00pm. The Rays will begin their home schedule on Saturday, May 19 vs. Vermont at 7:30pm at Pierce Field in East Providence.

2007 Stingrays Season Preview

With warm weather finally upon us, spring (and by extension, soccer, of course) has indeed arrived.

Therefore, let us look ahead to the promise of warmer temps and later sunsets, as the following is a preview to the sunny days and warm summer nights of Stingrays soccer in ‘07.The ‘Rays, coming off a 6-8-2 record (20 points) in the New England Division of the Premier Development League, look to improve upon their 3rd place finish.

Despite narrowly missing the playoffs by four points last year, the team hopes to build on a foundation of returning veterans in an attempt to catapult the club to their first playoff appearance since 1998.

That being said, the team should have no problems finding the back of the net, after scoring 39 total goals (2nd-best in the division) in 2006.

Last year’s goal scoring efforts, led by the Rhody Ram tandem of Dawid Badecki (7 G, 2 A) and Danleigh Borman (7 G, 2 A), will both be returning to the team this year. Although the club will be without the services of assist leader Jeffrey Gonsalves, (selected 40th overall by Toronto FC in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft), another Rhody Ram duo of Geoffrey Cameron (4 G, 1 A) and Lukasz Tumicz (4 G, 2 A) will be returning to the club’s potent midfield corps. Steady veteran Alonso Villasenor (CCRI) will be returning as well, and should be able incorporate his leadership abilities into a team which has, by and large, little turnover from the 2006 season.

The defending corps will see the returns of their two primary players in Matthew Britner (Brown) and Callum Bissett (URI), with key contributors Mario Aceta (Iona) and Adam Howart (URI) returning as well. Last year’s defenders did well to shut down opposing teams, as they helped the club post five shutout wins in ’06.

The goalkeeping situation appears, on paper, to be a two-man duel of returning keepers. David Semenza (Brown) and Brendan Fitzgerald (Duke) will both be back in goal for the ‘Rays this season. Semenza saw the bulk of the goalkeeping chores for the ‘Rays last year, going 5-7-2 with an even 2.00 GAA in 14 appearances. However, look for his understudy to stoke the fire of the keeper competition after going 2-1-0 with a spectacular 0.80 GAA last year in limited action.

Of course, with the club recently conducting tryouts to scout additional local talent, there will, no doubt, be fresh faces sporting the royal blue and white on the Pierce Field pitch this season.

There is no question that manager Mario Pereira has an eye for such talent, as he has seen two recent ‘Rays (the aforementioned Gonsalves and Nico Colaluca in 2005) jump to the ranks of MLS during this offseason alone.

So fear not, Stingray fans – the Saturday night soccer at Pierce Field this summer will sure to be just as entertaining as years past, as the ‘Rays begin their quest to achieve playoff glory in a matter of days.