Oct. 30, 2008

KINGSTON, R.I. -- The Rhode Island women's soccer team held their annual Cow Chip Bingo fundraiser this year on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008. Eighty-three parties participated in this year's bingo, including community, family and athletic staff members, as well as other supporters of the program.

The weather was typical for mid-October - a little chilly with a cold wind. At Noon, the players gathered beside a fence separating the women's soccer practice field from a grassland neighboring Plains Road, to view the bingo grid.

They were mostly clad in URI soccer sweats, jackets and winter hats, and like last year, brought footballs, blankets and hot cups of coffee, hoping for another 7 minute "job," but expecting a lengthy wait. Agnes Arnadottir, a freshman center back/goalkeeper from Iceland, was chosen to don the cow costume in celebration of the fundraiser.

Everyone was in good spirits as Edwin Laprise, commonly known as "Scooter," arrived a little after noon with his daughter Maggie and their 6 year-old, dairy cow named Molly.

Molly was released onto the grid, led by Scooter and began grazing while the players joked, threw footballs and took pictures. Agnes, in her cow costume, offered free rides to her teammates as well as onlookers while Molly roamed around the grid continuing to graze.

Various members of the athletic staff stopped by to view the event, and family members of current players stopped for a peek as well. Even Scooter's wife, Cynthia, and his other daughter, Alex stopped by to show their support. But after about an hour and a half, Molly decided it was time to take a break, and she lied down in the grid between squares held by Ernie Fair and Lance Spitler. Then Scooter announced that cows usually go to the bathroom after they stand up, so the crowd eagerly anticipated Ernie or Lance as the winner.

After another thirty minutes, junior, center midfielder, Colleen Dowd, prematurely roused Molly and upon standing decided she wasn't ready for the show to be over. So the suspense continued!

Shortly after her rest there, Molly stood up and began to "choose the winner." However, the winner this year was not so clear, as Molly left her droppings on the line between the Shaws and the Januarys. The group gathered around to get a closer look and by eye sight it was clear that a heftier amount lay in the square of the Long Island team. Therefore, this year's winners of the $1000 prize are April, Felicia, and Thelma January. Congratulations to the three lucky winners!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's fundraiser! Your support for our program is extremely appreciated; as the annual proceeds of Cow Chip Bingo go towards improving facilities, software, and recruiting budgets for the women's soccer team as well as other improvements that will contribute to the overall success of our program.

With last year's proceeds we were able to put a fence around parts of our practice field, purchase a large net for behind our goal area, and we were able to supplement our recruiting budget to attend nationally prestigious tournaments to recruit the players we have currently on the team as well as on the way in 2009. We are very thankful for your contributions and continued support of the Rhode Island Women's Soccer Program.

We'd also like to send a big thank you to Scooter and his family for providing their beautifully helpful dairy cow, Molly. Our thank you is not only for providing Molly; it is also for their time, effort and support of our program.

Their farm, Emma Acres, is located in Exeter, Rhode Island. They are part of the Rhody Fresh Farm community, are great supporters of the community and we look forward to working with them in the future.

Once again thanks to everyone for another successful Cow Chip Bingo Fundraiser!

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• 2009 Roster

• 2009 Schedule

• 2008 Statistics

• Prospective Student-Athletes 

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HEAD COACH: ZAC SHAW

• 401-874-5233

• zshaw@mail.uri.edu

ASST. COACH JEN FRISCH

• 401-874-4840

• jenfrisch@uri.edu

ASST. COACH: EMILY SHAW

• 401-874-5233

• emily@uri.edu