Oct. 30, 2005

Stats

KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island sophomore forward Steve Mellen was credited with a goal and an assist as the Rams closed out the home portion of its 2005 schedule with a 4-1 victory over Charlotte this afternoon in Atlantic 10 men's soccer action.

Six seniors - midfielder Reuben Ray, goalkeeper Dean Ruddy, midfielder Anthony Ward-Smith, back David Ward-Smith, midfielder Simon Gatti, and goalkeeper Mathew Lorie - all played in their final home game in a Rhode Island uniform.

URI (9-7-1, 5-2 A-10) jumped out to an early lead as sophomore forward Lukasz Tumicz took a pass from Mellen across the top of the Charlotte box and scored from 18 yards out to give the Rams a 1-0 lead at 7:42.

Charlotte (5-7-3, 2-2-3 A-10) answered 6:54 later as senior midfielder Floyd Franks took a pass from junior midfielder Evan Harding down the right side of the field and scored on a hard shot from 10 yards out to even the score, 1-1, at 14:36.

Mellen would score only 1:40 later with a five-yard drive of a deflected save by Charlotte sophomore goalkeeper Tim Seibert to put the Rams ahead, 2-1, at 16:16.

In the second half, Ray would elude two defensemen on the right side of the 49er box and tuck an unassisted tally in the far corner of the goal to give URI a 3-1 cushion at 64:26.

Ram sophomore midfielder Dawid Badecki would take a pass from junior forward Jeffrey Gonsalves and score on a 25-yard blast in front of the Charlotte goal at 79:53 for the 4-1 final.

Rhode Island wraps up the regular season on the road next weekend, taking on St. Bonaventure on Friday (Nov. 4) at 3:00 p.m. and Fordham on Sunday (Nov. 6) at 1:00 p.m.