Men's Soccer Wraps Up Spring Season with 2-0 Win over Alums

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Greg Balicki scores both Rhody goals

Greg Balicki

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April 25, 2009

KINGSTON, R.I. - Sophomore forward Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, Mass.) scored two goals in the first five minutes and Peyton Warwick (Prairie Village, Kan.) and Anthony Tavares (East Providence, R.I.) combined for the shutout to pace the URI men's soccer team over its' alumni, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon.

It was a beautiful day at the URI soccer complex setting up a perfect setting for the last competitive game of the 2009 spring non-traditional season. The alums gathered in packs, renewing friendships and ribbing each other as teammates always do. Led by URI Director of Soccer Operations/Gaffer Frank Bergren, "Bergs" put the alums through their pre-game paces while Co-captains Gareth Elliott '02 and Pat McGuire '92 selected the starting team from a pool of 22 former players who were eager to get on the field. The match was set for three thirty-minute periods, allowing the alums to rest and get oxygen while another set of players took their place. Unfortunately the first few minutes of the match caught the alums by surprise. Balicki scored two quick goals, one off a defensive miscue and another on an assist from Jonathan Pereira (Barrington, RI) that had the alums in a hole quickly and chasing the game the rest of the way.

The alums found their rhythm as the game went on as both teams played some very nice stretches of play. The veterans got outstanding performances by Gabe Toro '99 with some clever moves, Aidan Byrne '99 with dangerous switches of play, and goalkeeper Pat Maguire who made several outstanding saves to keep the game within reach. The central defensive pair of Dwayne Williams (Westmoreland, Jamaica) and Eric Hutson (St. Louis, MO) kept things solid at the back for the young guy's while Cody Zane (Freedom, Maine) exhibited inspired play from a defensive midfield position. It looked like Dom Petrarca (Providence, RI) would give the home team a bigger cushion when he dribbled into the box but put it just over the bar. It was a very competitive match but in the end the alums couldn't crack the goal and the final whistle blew for the 2-0 score.

URI LINE-UP: Warwick (Tavares 45), Petrarca, Williams, Hutson, LoPresti, Markman, Gonsalves (Zane), Crooks, Tanke, Balicki (Sousa), Pereira.

URI ALUMNI: Kevin Algozer '07, Michael Bradley '97, Dan Brownridge '01, Aidan Byrne '99, Ryan Chmielweski '00, Kedan Crosby '09, Gareth Elliott '02, Paul Fanning '01, Kevin Hamill '09, Kevin Kennedy '03, Pat Maguire '92, Ahmad Manning '02, Steve Mellen, Steve Pickman '01, Dennis Richards '02, Chris Simon '92, Jesse Simmons '00, Ross Smith '03, Joe Spofford '07, Gabe Toro '99, Anthony Ward-Smith '06, David Ward-Smith `06

Following the game the teams as well as family and friends enjoyed a BBQ courtesy of Taste-Rite and URI alumnus Wes Lessard. The teams mingled together swapping stories from the match and the mutual respect that goes with being a part of the Rhody Ram family.

The Rams open up the fall campaign on Tuesday September 1st when they take on defending 2008 ACC Tournament Champion Boston College in Kingston at 7:00 pm.