Former Stingray Cameron in camp with USMNT

(**I know, I know...I'm just like a week late on this. I'm sorry...Wait...what's this? SWEET! A Holiday Bustle Free Pass! Wooo-hooo! Woooo! Woooo....woo....ahem.**)

I'm sure I'm only like the 1,349,789th person to say this, but isn't it just awesome to see someone you frequently crossed paths with in a smaller arena really make it on the bigger stage?*

(*Feel free to answer that semi-rhetorical question in the comments section.)

The awesome-ness scale reaches even higher when that person is 1. from the same geographic area as you and, 2. is, by many accounts, a good guy, and 3. friends with some of your friends.*

(*Seriously, it's like two degrees of separation.)

So when the news of Geoffrey Cameron - formerly of the Rhode Island Stingrays, currently of the Houston Dynamo - getting called into Bob Bradley's first MNT camp of the year, I couldn't help but flash a dumb grin while after I read the one-graph blurb in the Providence Journal sports section.

Not that I had anything to do with his development. He absolutely did not need the help of a smalltime soccer journalist to make the leap. But in a way, it's as if his success is validation for what I do for the Stingrays.

Why? Because even though the Stingrays are about as smalltown as it can get in the US Soccer universe, I really believe that the club is great springboard for many young players. Geoff is certainly one of them. He's not the only one, either. Guys like Nico Colaluca, Danleigh Borman and Lukasz Tumicz, all sported the Stingray royal blue. All are playing first division soccer (Tumicz in his native Poland) as I punch the keys.

Don't get me wrong - I love covering the Revolution, the men's and women's national teams, and any other brands of big time soccer here in the States. But when it comes to the Stingrays, there's a greater satisfaction because I'm often the only one covering their efforts.*

(*During my first season covering the Stingrays, circa 2007, the team's director of operations mentioned Geoff was a potential MLS prospect, and an interview might be a good idea. I agreed. Unfortunately, Geoff got hurt like three days later, and it completely slipped my mind. I know: I suck.)

And that's fine. It's really a joy writing about these guys. They all have stories to tell.* Finding those stories is what makes journalism so rewarding.

(*Speaking of which...I've actually got one such story in the works.)

Sure, it also affords me a host of "I knew them when..." stories and anecdotes when some move on and play for bigger clubs. I love telling those kinds of stories. But even better than that is seeing how hard alot of these guys work on these proving grounds. They're hungry. Determined. It's borderline Clearasil clear, even from the press box. For me, it's actually a bit of thrill to watch.

And when a Stingray player, after paying his dues with hours of practice and training, "makes it" and jumps to the bigger stage?

Well, that just makes the matches ahead a bit more thrilling.

Pair of Stingrays caught in MLS SuperDraft net

For the second year in a row, two former Rhode Island Stingrays (Premier Development League) were selected – in back-to-back order, no less – in the MLS SuperDraft.

Defender Matthew Britner (Brown University) was drafted in the third round (41st overall) by the New England Revolution. Less than five minutes after the selection, his former Rhode Island teammate, midfielder Geoffrey Cameron (University of Rhode Island) was selected with the final pick in the third round (42nd overall) by 2007 MLS Champion Houston Dynamo.

In their lone campaign together (2006), Britner and Cameron played for a talented ‘Rays squad that included two other MLS prospects: Jeffrey Gonsalves and Ryan McCormick. During that season, Britner played in all 16 of the club’s matches and recorded his lone offensive statistic on an assist. Cameron appeared in all 16 club matches as well, scored four goals, and led the team with 27 shots.

Britner may have a tough hill to climb in finding a starting spot in the rear with the Revolution this season. The club drafted a defender ahead of him (Rob Valentino) and acquired fullback Chris Albright in a draft day trade with Los Angeles. Yet, the former Brown Bear may have a few things working in his favor: his height (6-1) and a stellar recommendation (presumably) from Brown coach Mike Noonan, who is often seen chatting with Revolution manager Steve Nicol during reserve matches.

Cameron is in a similar position with Houston, where the championship club is, unsurprisingly, loaded with talent front to back. Although he can play up front and has an attacking midfielder pedigree, he has a few guys named Dwayne DeRosario, Brian Ching and Joseph Ngwenya ahead of him in the front, while Ricardo Clark, Corey Ashe, and Brad Davis already occupy spots in the midfield.

Last year, two of Mario Pereira’s boys were taken by MLS clubs during SuperDraft. Midfielder Nico Colaluca (Virginia) was taken sixth overall by Colorado, while striker Jeffrey Gonsalves (University of Rhode Island) was taken in the fourth round (40th overall) by Toronto FC. Colaluca went on to see the bulk of his action with the reserve club, though he saw action in four first team matches. Gonsalves, snakebitten by injury throughout the 2007 preseason, was let go by Toronto prior to the regular season, never given the chance to don the red and white kit for the expansion side. In an attempt to catch the attention of nearby scouts, he landed back on his feet with the Stingrays in 2007, where went on to lead the club with ten goals on the season.

The 2008 MLS Supplemental draft will take place via conference call on Thursday, January 24th. Among the hopefuls is another former Stingray – Lukasz Tumicz (University of Rhode Island), who was invited to the MLS Combine in January.

Three former Stingrays among MLS Combine participants

Major League Soccer announced its 2008 Player Combine Invitation List last month, and among the players selected to participate in this week’s combine are three former Rhode Island Stingrays. Matthew Britner (Brown University), Geoffrey Cameron (University of Rhode Island) and Lukasz Tumicz (University of Rhode Island) have all made the cut for the league’s annual showcase of college talent.


All three players certainly made an impact during their stays with the ‘Rays. Britner, who played for the Stingrays in 2006, was a solid defender during his time with the squad, where he played in all of the club’s 16 matches and recorded an assist. He was the anchor of a defending corps that finished third in the Northeast Division of the Premier Development League in goals allowed (29).


Cameron starred for the Stingrays for three seasons, beginning in 2005. In his first year with the club, he recorded four goals and an assist in 13 games. Although his stats were nearly identical in 2006 (4 goals, 1 assist in 16 games), he looked primed to have a breakout year in 2007. Unfortunately, injuries hampered him for the better part of the season, and limited him to only four games all season.


Tumicz was also felled by injuries in 2007, yet still managed to get on the scoresheet twice with the blue and gold by adding a pair of goals in five matches. The year before, in his first season with the club, the Rhody Ram displayed the goalscorer’s touch by blasting four goals in four games with the Stingrays in 2006.


The Stingrays have an impressive history of former players making the grade in MLS. During the 2007 MLS SuperDraft alone, two former Stingrays were selected: Nico Colaluca (6th overall, by Colorado) and Jeffrey Gonsalves (40th overall, by Toronto). Additionally, midfielder Rui Fortes, who was discovered during an open tryout with the Los Angeles Galaxy last February, accompanied the club during the 2007 preseason before failing to make the final cut just before the start of the regular season.

Stingrays Drop Season-opener, 1-0, to Long Island

The RI Stingrays surrendered an early goal and were unable to to climb themselves out of the hole, as they fell to Long Island, 1-0 Saturday Night in New Hyde Park, NY.

In the 4th minute, Rough Rider defender Gary Sullivan gave the home club the early lead, forcing the Rays to play from behind for the remainder of the match.

Rays midfielder Geoffrey Cameron tried to spark an equalizer, leading the club with four shots on the evening, but none were able to find the back of the net, as the Rays dropped their season-opening PDL match before 963 fans at Michael
Tully Field.

The Rays continue their early-season roadstand on Wednesday, when they will face off against the Cape Cod Crusaders at Barnstable High School Stadium at 7:00pm. The Rays will begin their home schedule on Saturday, May 19 vs. Vermont at 7:30pm at Pierce Field in East Providence.