URI Football Ready to Make Some Noise
Friday, September 16, 2011
It was almost a shocker heard ‘round the college football world.
Last Saturday, URI and Syracuse were tied at 14 in the 4th quarter at the Carrier Dome – already a far cry from the first meeting between the two schools back in 2002 (a 63-17 beat down by the Orange). Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib hit Mike Acchione from 12 yards for the go-ahead score with 8:34 to play…but there was still time to pull off a stunner.
The ensuing drive by the Rams’ offense died at midfield, and the Orange managed to hold on for a 21-14 final. However, the Rams’ season isn’t dead yet. Far from it. They held the ball longer than Syracuse, equaled their first down output and got stand out defensive performances from Warwick linebacker Doug Johnson (7 tackles, 2 sacks) and cornerback Devon Dace (interception).
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThey not only stayed in the game, they almost pulled it off against a team that beat Kansas State in a bowl game last season. Now – what to do with the newly-found confidence? "People in our locker room think we can play at the IA level, and I know we can," QB Steve Probst told gorhody.com. "We can definitely compete with anybody we play now."
URI will get that chance starting this Saturday, as they play at UMass in a 6:30 pm kickoff. UMass is making their last go-round in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly 1-AA) this year, moving up into the Bowl Subdivision (formerly 1-A) and the Mid-American Conference beginning next year.
University of Rhode Island:
Women’s soccer was off to a 3-0-1 start to their season, but dropped their last two matches to UNH and Maine. Next up is a road game at Northeastern Friday night, followed by a home game with Harvard on Sunday afternoon…prior to the start of last Saturday's volleyball match against Boston College, the volleyball team held an unveiling ceremony for their newly renovated locker room. Despite 11 kills and 11 digs from senior Kayla Wilson, Rhode Island was swept by Boston College in the finale of the third-annual Art Carmichael Invitational last Saturday night. Big Ten school Wisconsin was the class of the tournament, sweeping all three of its matches. This weekend, volleyball is in Philadelphia to play UMBC, Penn and William & Mary…URI freshman Ross Morison was named Atlantic 10 soccer co-rookie of the week, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Harvard on Sunday. Soccer kicks off with Holy Cross in a home match Saturday night at 7:00 pm…
Providence College:
Junior forward Keith Jecewiz matched a career high with two goals to lead the 23rd-ranked men's soccer team past Holy Cross, 2-0, Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference match played at Glay Field. It’s the fifth consecutive win for the Friars, who improved to 5-1-0 on the year. Red-shirt sophomore Wilder Arboleda (Pawtucket, RI) was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, September 12th…the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released the first week of national rankings Wednesday for the 2011 cross country season with both Friar cross country teams represented. The Providence women currently rank 3rd nationally, with the men currently ranked 17th in the country, up one spot from their preseason ranking of 18th. Both the men and the women are coming off strong performances at the Bryant Invitational on Saturday, September 10th. The teams swept their competition, with the men scoring first out of ten teams and the women scoring first out of eleven teams…field hockey sophomore Brittany Ross was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. Ross led the Friars to a 2-1 record last week as she paced the offense with eight points on four goals…
Brown:
Brown football is poised to make a run at the Ivy League title once again with the return of 10 All-Ivy players from last year's second place team that posted a 5-2 league mark. Pre-season picked for 4th, the Bears open their season Saturday night at Stony Brook, led by quarterback Kyle Newhall-Caballero. Newhall-Caballero was first team all-Ivy last season… men’s basketball has hired Ryan Schneider, a former player at the University of Vermont and Marist College, as an assistant under head coach Jesse Agel…Mike Souza has been named an assistant hockey coach, joining Brendan Whittet's staff for 2011. Souza comes to Brown after a successful professional playing career, having competed in both the AHL and internationally… freshman defender Alex Markes helped the men's soccer team to a 3-0 record last week en route to claiming their second straight Brown Soccer Classic title. Markes earned Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors for his efforts, and the team competes in South Carolina this weekend…women’s volleyball hosts the Brown Invitational this weekend, with Fordham, Maryland Eastern Shore and Bryant competing…
Bryant:
Football is under the Friday Night Lights this week, with the Bulldogs playing at Sacred Heart in their Northeast Conference opener. This will be the fourth meeting between the two schools in program history, with the Bulldogs looking for their first win in Fairfield. Sophomore quarterback Mike Westerhaus was named the Northeast Conference rookie of the week, after throwing for 106 yards and two touchdowns to help Bryant beat American International College 27-16 last Saturday…the Bryant softball team hosts the fall Ocean State Classic this weekend, with Providence and URI playing in the round robin event…
CCRI:
The men’s soccer team hosted Dean College on Monday, and dropped a 6-3 decision to fall to 0-2 on the season…women’s soccer traveled to Franklin, MA to play Dean as well, and won on the road 7-1. The Lady Knights are now 4-0 on the season…
Rhode Island College:
Athletic Hall of Famer John Veader (Class of ’57) passed away this week. Recently recognized by the State House of Representatives with the Rhode Island College Distinguished Alumnus award, Veader played four years of soccer as a goalkeeper, and four years of basketball as a guard at RIC. He earned all-New England honors three times as a soccer player, even though he was not experienced as a soccer player. After graduating from RIC, Veader taught in the East Providence school system for 35 years as a social studies teacher until he retired in 1992. He kept active in coaching, despite having Lou Gehrig’s disease, and was inducted into the RI Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997, and the RI College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005…
Roger Williams University:
Women’s volleyball improved to 8-2 on the season as they swept past Connecticut College this week 3-0…men’s soccer improved its unbeaten streak to five games, as they defeated Framingham State 4-1 Tuesday night on campus. RWU is now 5-0-1 on the year overall, and will host Nichols Saturday at 1:00 pm…women’s soccer is 2-2-1, after beating Clark 1-0 in overtime Tuesday night in Worcester…the sailing team opened their season with strong performances at four different regattas, including a win at the Mount Hope Bay Invitational…
Salve Regina University:
Salve football fell on the road to 11th ranked Montclair State 18-7 last Saturday, with Montclair State having to come from behind to win. The 1-1 Seahawks are home to face Framingham State Saturday in a 12 Noon kickoff...with an intrastate rivalry resuming for the first time since 2006, women's tennis defeated Rhode Island College, 8-1, Wednesday in Newport. The Anchorwomen (0-6) have completed their set of matches against the three other Division III institutions in Rhode Island, while the Seahawks are just getting started - Roger Williams on Friday and Johnson & Wales on Monday…senior Caroline Norton was honored as the Commonwealth Coast Conference female runner of the week, leading Salve to a 3rd place finish out of 16 teams at the Smith College Invitational last week…Hope junior Kaitlyn Birrell was named the CCC player of the week in volleyball for a second straight week, while Hope freshman Britt Blanchette was named rookie of the week. Volleyball went 2-0 on the week, with wins over UMass Dartmouth and Wentworth…
Johnson & Wales:
Freshman Kayla Sypek scored a hat trick to lead the women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory against Mount Ida in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest on the road on Wednesday afternoon. JWU is 2-3 on the season, 2-0 in GNAC play…women’s tennis beat RIC 8-1 on Tuesday evening in Providence. It was the Wildcats’ first win of the year, and they will travel to Newport to face Salve Regina on Saturday for the Seahawks Doubles Tournament…
