Sept. 27, 2006
KINGSTON, R.I. -
RHODE ISLAND (3-6-0 OVERALL/ 0-0-0 ATLANTIC 10): On Wednesday, September 27, the University of Rhode Island women's soccer hosts Harvard at 7:00 p.m., after spending exactly a month on the road. The Rams were last in Kingston for their home-opener on August 27. In that game, URI notched a 2-0 win over Siena. Since then, Rhody has posted a 2-6 record on the road. Three of URI's six losses have come to teams that are ranked among the top in the nation, according to this week's NSCAA/adidas poll. The Rams fell to reigning national champion Portland, 8-0, in Seattle on 9/3. The Pilots currently are ranked No. 7. On 9/17, Rhody traveled to No. 22 Maine and was handed a 2-0 loss by the still-undefeated Black Bears. Three days later, URI dropped a 4-2 decision to Boston College. The Eagles have received votes throughout the season but just broke into the top-25 this week with a 25th ranking.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: #13 Deb Nelson, #16 Amy Cochran, #6 Thorunn Jonsdottir, #4 Kassandra Spitler... Nelson and Cochran are tied for the team lead, each with nine points on four goals and an assist. Nelson has had two game-winners this season and also leads the Rams with 31 shots. Cochran has tallied one game-winner this season and most recently, scored both URI goals in a 4-2 loss at Boston College. Jonsdottir and Spitler have recorded two assists each. Jonsdottir also netted the Rams' lone goal in a 2-1 loss at Providence.
GOALKEEPER: Freshman Amanda Thomas, who came to Rhode Island as a defender, took on the goalkeeping role after classmate and starting keeper Jackie Fede suffered an injury in the season-opener. In her first outing against UW-Milwaukee, Thomas allowed just one goal on a penalty kick. She backstopped URI's next two wins, including shutting out Northern Arizona on 9/10. To date, Thomas has made 32 saves for a 1.60 goals against average.
HARVARD (1-6-1 OVERALL/ 1-0 IVY LEAGUE): Harvard comes to Rhode Island fresh off their first victory of the season, a 2-1 win at Pennsylvania on 9/24. The Crimson have a 1-3 record on the road this season and have been 0-3-1 at home. Four of Harvard's six losses have been against top-20 teams, as the Crimson have fallen to Santa Clara (currently No. 4), Boston College (currently No. 25), Penn State (currently No. 9) and Boston University (currently No. 10). Harvard also lost to Southern California, which at the time held a No. 19 ranking. In these five games, Harvard has been outscored by a 13-2 margin.
CRIMSON vs. RAMS: Last season, Rhode Island traveled to Cambridge, Mass. to take on Harvard on October 5. In that game, the Rams and the Crimson battled to a scoreless double-overtime tie.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: #5 Erin Wylie, #13 Christine Hagner, #18 Lizzy Nichols, #9 Megan Merritt... Wylie, Hagner and Nichols have four points each. Wylie leads the team in goals scored (two) and shots (17). Hagner and Nichols each have a goal and two assists. Merrit has one of each, entering tonight's game with three points.
GOALKEEPER: Freshman Lauren Mann has played every minute of every game for the Crimson. She has totaled 37 saves and has a 1.79 goals against average. Most recently, she received Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors on 9/25.
