Aug. 31, 2008

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H.- The Rhode Island men's soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision to New Hampshire in the final game of the 19th Annual UNH Nike Classic, Sunday afternoon. Senior Kedan Crosby (St. James, Trinidad) and sophomores Greg Balicki (Wilbraham, Mass.) and Ryan McCormick (Cranston, R.I.) all were named to the All-Tournament team.

The loss earned URI (1-1) a second place finish while the Wildcats (2-0) took first. Maine (1-1) - which Rhody defeated 2-1 on Friday afternoon - placed third and Adelphi (0-2) finished fourth.

It appeared as though URI would open the scoring in the 22nd minute when sophomore Josh Sousa (Cumberland, R.I.) drew out Wildcat goalkeeper Colin O'Donnell off the goal line, for a wide-open look at the net. Sousa's shot, however, missed wide left.

New Hampshire's Kyle Urso then put the home team up, 1-0 , seven minutes later when he blasted a free kick into the lower left side of the net from about 45 yards out.

Crosby had a couple of chances to knot the score in the second half - once on a diving stop by O'Donnell and again with a shot that sailed just high of the crossbar - but the Rams were unable to find the back of the net through regulation.

"Kedan was great all weekend," said head coach John O'Connor. "They were all over him in both games and he took a lot of punishment, but he battled through it and created some great chances for us."

Urso went on to set up UNH's second goal of the game when he carried the ball up the right side of the field before crossing to Chris Banks who fired a shot on goal which Pennock stopped. The rebound, however, bounced back to Banks who beat Pennock on his second try, locking up the 2-0 win with 43 seconds left on the clock.

Rhode Island outshot New Hampshire, 14-13, but the Wildcats held a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. Pennock, who was credited with seven saves, took the loss whole O'Donnell earned the win.

"I think our back line played real well today," added O'Connor. "They were much improved from Friday's game."

The Rams return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 9 when they travel to the capital city to take on in-state rival Providence College at 3 p.m.