A cruel April Fool's Day

Rhode Island really isn't known for much. You would think that such a small state would have a massive Napoleon complex. But we don't - unless you confuse us with Long Island. We like being small time. We drink coffee-flavored milk, eat quahogs, but not together. And when we find the time, we send a few of our best residents to various reality shows. Richard Hatch, you did us proud.

Right now, you've probably heard on CNN or MSNBC that we got a bit of rain. Not alot. Just enough to turn Warwick into a lake and surrounding streets into raging rapids. Our governor called it "the worst flooding the state has seen in 100-500 years." Lucky us.

And while that sucks more than the wet vacs we'll need to clean this mess up, I just found out some news that makes the week even worse. But before I get into that, the backstory.

As I've said many times, I didn't grow up surrounded by soccer. There was no major pro league when I was growing up, so the only soccer player I knew at the time was my best friend Nate. He played AYSO at Hull Street Park across the interstate, and had a tan team shirt that read "Nate" over his number - you guessed it - eight.

However, there are traces of soccer-related memories from my childhood. I remember Tatu, the insanely-talented indoor player who showed up on a couple of my "ESPN's Amazing Plays" videos that I always seemed to get at Christmas. I also remember watching Benfica matches on RTP with my VoVo and not understanding what the heck the announcers were saying. And of course, I remember USA '94.*

(*USA '94 afforded me the very first opportunity to watch soccer with an English-speaking announcer behind the mic. Benfica matches, obviously, were hard to follow. But once I was told what was happening in crystal-clear English - wait, they call games in English? - I got into it pretty quickly. In fact, I watched the 0-0 Brazil-Italy final in its entirety, and distinctly remember a few cars beeping by my window with shouts of "Viva BRAZIL!" echoing through my neighborhood and wondering where I could watch more.)

It's amazing what the human mind can recall. Events that were once inconsequential not only remain, but can be vividly recalled should they achieve greater consequence.

In saying that, I can tell you about the time I discovered the Rhode Island Stingrays. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school. Per the routine of a sports-obsessed adolescent, I woke up every morning and performed the following:

1. Retrieved the newspaper
2. Plucked the sports section out
3. Poured a bowl of cereal
4. Carried said sports section and cereal to the living room
5. Carefully placed the bowl and paper on the living room carpet,
6. Grabbed the remote, flipped the station to Sportscenter
7. Crawled down on my stomach, read the paper, ate my cereal, and listened to Keith Olberman and Dan Patrick talk about the O.J. Trial.

Listening and reading at the same time isn't hard. I read about the Red Sox. The Patriots. I always read the transactions section, of course. And once in awhile, the local sports short grabbed my attention.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Hoping to ride the heels of the most successful World Cup to date, professional soccer has returned to Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Stringrays Football Club has announced that they will compete in this year's United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues Pro Division. The club will play its home matches at a location to be determined.

The state previously hosted professional soccer back in 1977, when the Rhode Island Oceaneers of the American Soccer League called East Providence their home.*

(*Note: I created this short. I don't actually know how the Providence Journal reported it, but only that, if my memory hasn't completely failed me, it wasn't a majestic 750-word write-up. Two, I want to say that the club started off playing in my hometown - East Providence - but I've received conflicting reports on that. Three, I also want to say that the original name of the team was "the Rays", but again, I can't corroborate that, either. Four, I love the name of the league: United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues. United, yet independent. American pro soccer, circa 1995: where oxymorons live.)

My initial interest piqued to the point that I asked some friends about it. Mind you, this was before I knew what an internet was. So word of mouth, local television, and the newspaper was how I learned about anything that happened outside the parameters of the wiffleball field in my backyard.

Sadly, nothing materialized, and the interest fell into abeyance for years.

But, it pulled a Santino Quaranta and came back in 2006. Spinning the clock ahead eleven years, I was driving up 95 North from a then-dry Warwick and glanced ahead of me at the light hovering above Pierce Field. It was June. It couldn't have been football. And it was definitely too early for Heritage Days.

My curiosity steered me two exits early and a brisk ride along Veterans Memorial Parkway before taking me left onto Mercer Street. I pulled my car into the parking lot. The large, lush field could be seen through my windshield. Should I get out and see what all the fuss is about? Then, I had one of those inner deliberations where you try to decide what to do even though it's clear you should just do it because the situation completely low-risk.*

(*When I was in college, I used to do this quite often at the Taco Bell drive-thru. I would literally repeat, out loud, with people in the car, "cheesy gordita crunch or big beef burrito?" until my I reached the speaker. Both were equal in taste, value, and caloric content. In hindsight, ordering one over the other would obviously not redirect my path in life. But my stubborn, 19-year-old mind would've argued that it did. Everything had consequence, including a side of nachos.)

Then, it began to pour. Decision made.

I went home, checked out the schedule, and returned a week later for my first taste of Rhode Island's lone pro soccer team.

"Hooked" is too mild a term. Spellbound? Maybe, I guess. But whatever I was, it began a love affair with the club.

A year later, I bought season tickets - the first and only time I’ve ever bought season tickets for any club.* And a year after that, I asked Manager of Operations Liz Balasco if I, as a writer, could do anything to help.

(*Rhode Island Stingrays eason tickets: $50. Hot dog: $1. Watching pro soccer in your hometown: Priceless.)

"Sure - do you want to be the media director?"

It's pretty obvious what my answer was. So, every match, I arrived an hour early, bantered with Chuck, our animated PA guy*, Liz and her daughter, Chelsea, and her cousin Liz in the pressbox. Then, I got to watch free soccer and then write about it. I know. I'm a total soccer dork.

(*One of my regrets: I never found out Chuck's last name. He was on a first name basis with everyone, so it's possible I simply forgot.)

Last year, same situation, but a different stadium. The club stationed itself at my alma mater - Rhode Island College - for the 2009 season. There were whispers that Pierce Field had become too expensive. Toward the end of the season, there were more disturbing whispers: the club was losing alot of money. It probably wouldn't survive next year. Yeah, right.

Well, my skepticism croaked this morning when I asked Liz about the upcoming season. The following reply, for all intents and purposes, obliterated my morning:

"There is no longer a Stingray team."

Liz went on to say that it was too expensive to run the club and the return (or lack thereof) wasn't enough. And I understood. They didn't draw much. There were times where the players literally outnumbered the fans. Coach Pereira sometimes granted kids free admission. And for a few games, the Stingrays had a makeshift supporters section composed entirely of sugar-riddled (I hope) pre-teens loudly cheering the club on.

From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense to close shop. Stadium rentals are expensive. So are the kits, food service, and travel accommodations. I suspect the gate receipts and sponsors barely covered basic expenses. If someone told me today they actually made a profit, I would've thought it was an April Fool's Joke.

I wrote earlier this year how hard it was to swallow the LA Sol folding. And it was. They were a great team.

But this one hurts alot more. It hurts for a host of reasons. The first being that they played a short bike ride away. Of course, it wasn't just that. They were a Rhode Island team, even if 90% of the state didn't even know they even existed. Good players came though. You've probably heard about few of them: Geoff Cameron, Danleigh Borman, and Nico Colaluca.

It's true: Rhode Island isn't known for much. We may be the smallest state in the union, but we have a rich soccer tradition. To me, the Stingrays were more than what you could see on the pitch. Way more.

Despite their won-loss records, the nearly-empty stadiums, and the financial losses incurred, they were the baton holders of that tradition. It was handed to them by the Oceaneers, who grabbed it from Punta Delgada, who grabbed it from the Pawtucket Rangers, who grabbed it from the Howard & Bullough, who grabbed it from J & P Coats.

You have to understand: the Stringrays were more than just another club in PDL. They were a part of a legacy.

Same day, different blog

I just took a look at the archive list for the month. Wow. Two posts in seven days? Really? For shame.

I think an explanation seems in order. So, here it is.

Based upon my previous post, the big news in Rhode Island Stingray Land - of which I am an official citizen due to my title as the club's director of media relations - is that one of our own, Geoff Cameron, was recently called up to the U.S. Men's National Team Camp. I could be very wrong - and pardon me if I am - but I believe he is the first former Stingray to be called into a National Team camp.

Wonderful news, right? Naturally, it's my job to spread that news. I did, with my previous post. But I also felt that something should come from the organization stating how proud we were that a former player had ascended to that level, one in which he has gained the attention from the National Team.

So what did I do? After consulting with Stingrays president Mario Pereira, we decided to start an official Rhode Island Stingrays blog.

In short, the blog will be regularly updated to keep the fans, friends, and local media apprised of the latest news concerning the club. We hope to get some feedback to really make the blog a one-stop shop for all things Stingray soccer. I'm still fine tuning it as the week progresses, so what you see today, tomorrow or Friday may not be the finished product.

Interestingly enough, the idea was actually inspired by Josh Hakala, a fellow journalist/public relations man himself, who recommended a live match blog back in July. I tried to do just that, but you know how I can be with this technology stuff.*

(*I STILL can't figure out how to add an enclosure link. It's 2009. Jeez, am I inept or what?)

It's likely that the Stingray blog, paired with the Spring semester (which starts on January 20th) may prevent me from posting here as much as I have during the past four months. I hope it doesn't by much. I really like it here. I like the comments, the feedback, and the freedom of writing about whatever the heck I feel like.

So, check out the Stingray blog. It may not be as witty as it is here, but I hope it's informative and engaging. Tell me what you think here, or there.

A completely irrelevant story

With New Year's nearly upon us, I figured I'd chronicle one of the crazier events I found myself in the midst of this season.

It was my first year as Director of Media Relations for the PDL Rhode Island Stingrays. At the suggestion of my buddy Josh Hakala (who runs the excellent USOpenCup.com website), I figured I'd lend my services to the local side, who, in my estimation, weren't exactly the most promoted club this side of the Seekonk River.

At first, the job wasn't too much of a deviation from my previous work as a beat writer. That was until I got my inbox flooded with hundreds of unsolicited offers from product manufacturers. Some were pretty standard. Scarves, patches, pennants. The good stuff kids nag their parents for. I got a sample soccer toothbrush. My teeth were aglow for weeks.

I also got player resumes. Lots of resumes. Soccer players from - allegedly- as far as Nigeria. They just wanted to play here in the States. Even for a small-time PDL side. If anyone ever doubts that this country has lost its title as "the Land of Opportunity," I can, for a small fee, recover about a dozen of those resumes from my trash bin to comprehensively destroy that argument.

Of course, one of the most interesting moments was when the Reading Rage came to Rhode Island for the July 16th match. Because the home pitch at Pierce Field was being occupied by the city's annual Heritage Days Festival, the location for the game was - wouldn't you guess it - Rhode Island College.

So, about 48 hours prior to the match, the general manager shot me an e-mail requesting directions. I replied with a Mapquest link to the field. Because the field isn't the easiest to get to, I provided additional directions within the campus. In other words, I absolutely helped them get there.

And how do they reward me, the poor fellow who has to craft the match report? With white numbers. On white jerseys. Absolutely brilliant.

It wasn't an issue while I was on the sideline talking to Coach Pereira during warmups. You can spot a white number on a white jersey from three yards away. But a good 25 feet above and 50 feet away from center circle, which, wouldn't you know, is precisely where the press box sits at RIC Soccer Field? Not so much.

Making matters just a bit more challenging was the permanent bug screen affixed to the windows of the press box. The only thing missing was a slow, thick wave of fog parking itself on the pitch and, perhaps, both of my contact lenses simultaneously falling out to really make things difficult.

And so it was up to Chuck, our announcer, Chelsea, our statistician, and myself to discern those guilty of Reading fouls, assists, and goals. Substitutions? Oh, that was real fun, especially because the benches were on the opposite sides of the field. Chelsea had a direct line to her mom, Liz Balasco (director of operations) on the sideline, which helped somewhat, but did prevent the not-so-rhetorical "who was that?" dialogue that ran for good ninety minutes.

Meanwhile, I became a cuckoo bird, running out of the box and down near field level once every, oh, seven minutes to better ascertain which Rage player did what. "Who was that?" "I'll go check." Luckily, I keep myself in good enough shape to where I wasn't huffing and puffing like a big bad wolf. But, after awhile, I did feel like Grover from Sesame Street.*

(This is near....This is FAR! This is Near...This is FAAARRRRR!)

When it was all said and done, the soccer gods made it abundantly clear that they did not approve of these white number/white kit shenanigans: the mighty Rage, with 11 wins at the time, lost to a 1-win club.

Trifle not with the soccer gods.

Pierce Memorial Stadium memories

During my last post, I alluded to the fact that the Rhode Island Stingrays will not call Pierce Memorial Stadium their home ground in 2009,but rather, move across the Seekonk and Providence Rivers to play in Providence.

As a lifelong resident of East Providence, it saddens me to learn that pro soccer, which has endured such a rich history here, will once again abandon the same pitch where so many memorable players have plied their craft.

For anyone to truly appreciate soccer's legacy in East Providence, let's start at square one. Pierce Memorial Stadium was constructed as part of a WPA project back in the 1930s. Unfortunately, its completion coincided with the decline of soccer football's popularity due to the Depression.

Nonetheless, the field didn't search long for tenants - it hosted numerous amateur sides and games during its infancy.

While the stadium played host to many of the city's ethnic Portuguese sides, the park's heyday in the soccer realm arrived in the 1970s.

The Rhode Island Oceaneers, and its star-filled squad that included Arnie Mausser, Carmelo D'Anzi, and the great Eusebio, drew thousands to the compact 8,000 seat concrete stadium a full year before Pele's arrival in the Big Apple. They were coached by Manny Schellscheidt, who guided them to an American Soccer League championship in 1974 after compiling a sterling 16-0-2 (34 pts.) record. Indeed, it was soccer that coursed through the city's veins.

Unfortunately, the excitement wouldn't last. Within three years, the Oceaneers sailed to Indiana, leaving a soccer-loving community starved for pro soccer.

But for those who followed the sport closely, there was always soccer at Pierce Stadium. Thousands of high school, college, and amateur games were played during pro soccer's absence, as the light towers cast a glow above the center of the city on many a match night.

But the pro game would return. After an 17-year absence, the Rhode Island Stingrays set up shop via the United States International Soccer League in 1995. Pro soccer was back.

Over the years, the Stingrays have produced first-division talent, with Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Nico Colaluca (Colorado Rapids), Danleigh Borman (New York Red Bulls) and Lukasz Tumicz (Poland) among the most recent alumni who played in the cozy confines of Pierce Stadium.

In addition to the pro game, the stadium, which is beautifully tucked inside a residential neighborhood, has hosted each of Portugal's "Big 3" - Benfica, FC Porto, and Sporting - for friendlies with local sides.

I'm sure I've left huge, gaping holes in this very brief timeline. Volumes could be written on the the stadium's soccer past, as well as present. In any event, it's my hope that even with the Stingrays' departure, the stadium's rich history is never lost.

Breakers roll back into Boston April 11

I rarely get excited about press releases. I suppose it's because 95% of my inbox is filled by them. That, and heck, how often are releases in general that exciting?*

(*Granted, I haven't been a journalist for that many years, but is there such thing as an "exciting" press release? I can't think of one. However, I have a nagging feeling that there are many examples of exciting press releases. Feel free to dispel the above premise in the comments section.)

But last night, I opened my inbox to find a release from the Boston Breakers announcing their home opener, which has been set for April 11, 2009.

YAAAAYYY!

Why do I find this exciting?

Well, I've actually been looking forward to the Breakers home opener since the announcement of Women's Professional Soccer was made back in early-2007. This is largely due to the fact that the very first soccer game I attended was a U.S. Women's National Team match in Foxboro in 1999. Ever since, I've always held women's soccer dear to my heart.

Unfortunately, that sentiment wasn't enough for me to take the train to Boston for a Breakers match. Thus, I missed the first Breakers run back in the early-2000s. I have excuses. None of them are good. So, I never got to see Kristine Lilly and Angela Hucles don the Breakers kit and scurry around Nickerson Field.

After WUSA folded in 2003, my time machine began to malfunction. A missed the opportunity. Sigh.

Luckily, the Breakers returned. They came back in the recently-formed Women's Professional Soccer. Not only were players like Lilly, Hucles, Abby Wambach and Shannon Boxx given a second chance to help women's pro soccer succeed, but I was given the opportunity to cover them this time around.

At first, 2008 was the projected timetable for WPS' inaugural season. But eventually, it was pushed back to 2009, presumably to grow stronger roots and build better infrastructure. That move seems to have paid off, as WPS just announced a $10 million partnership with Puma this week.

I've already calculated the number of days (114) until Opening Day. It'll be a thrill for me to see Lilly, Hucles and, this time around, Heather Mitts in Breakers blue. The fact that they're all sticking around New England, rather than the occasional, once-every-three-years World Cup Qualifier or friendly that the WNT plays in Foxboro is just awesome. I love covering the WNT. Now, I get to cover many of them throughout the summer.

Exciting? You bet.

***

This story is worth more than a passing comment, but I figured something is better than nothing.

How the heck did Toronto get Dwayne DeRosario, one of the league's best offensive weapons, for a rookie defender and allocation money? Moreover, how - why - did Houston allow this? 01010101!!!!

I understand that the league's single-entity structure played a role in this. I also understand that DeRosario, who hails from Canada, likely expressed a desire to play in his home country.

But come on. Trades in MLS are often about as fair as Rod Blagojevich. Rarely does a trade occur in which both sides truly benefit. In this case, Houston got twenty cents on the dollar in this trade - unless, of course, the allocation money approached seven figures.*

(*It probably didn't.)

How fair was this trade? Let's disregard the allocation money and look at what we know: the stats.

2008
James: 13 G, 1 G, 0 A, 1 SOG

DeRosario: 24 G, 7 G, 2 A, 34 SOG

I know what what you're saying: James is a defender. Obviously, the disparity in offensive output is going to favor D-Ro. I'm cognizant of that. Even so, why would Houston trade one of its best players - nevermind, one of the league's best players - for a rookie defender and some cash?

Why? Because that's how MLS rolls.

***

Contrary to what many of my friends think, I had absolutely nothing to do with the Rhode Island Stingrays change of home venue next season (scroll to the bottom half of the page).

Trust me. I've got alot more people to pay off before I can even imagine wielding that kind of influence.

A tale of two seasons

Within the course of one calendar year, University of Connecticut goalkeeper Joshua Ford has experienced two very different soccer seasons.

The first - which began in the late-summer months of 2007 - was a charmed one. As a redshirt freshman at UConn, Ford stepped up and amazingly manned the Huskies net for the eventual Big East champions, posting an incredible 0.53 goals against average and recording clean sheets in 14 of his 24 matches. The Huskies coasted into the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament before eventually falling to Virginia Tech 0-1 in early December.

The second began in mid-Spring of this year, and was, for all intents and purposes, the exact opposite of the one he enjoyed months prior. Ford returned to his Premier Development League club, the Rhode Island Stingrays, intent on carrying the success he saw with Storrs, CT to East Providence, RI.

Instead, the Stingrays struggled mightily throughout the PDL season. Ford registered an unimpressive 2.29 goal against average, though he was often the victim of porous defending unit that often turned the Stingrays end of the pitch into a one-sided Pong match.

But the personable and team-oriented 20-year-old refused to point fingers or place the blame on his compatriots.

“The hardest part going through this season was that we were so close to reaching our goals and winning matches,” said Ford.

It was those close matches that doomed an otherwise talented bunch. The club nearly captured victories against formidable Cape Cod and Ocean City sides, but was thwarted each time after conceding a last-minute goal. Grouped with a heart-wrenching 4-5 loss to Vermont – one in which their opponents scored four unanswered goals – it seemed that the Stingrays were snakebitten all season.

“Being so close in some games then having that one mental break down that costs us to tie a match or to lose the match was difficult,” said Ford. But the Liverpool, NY native failed to dwell on the negatives of such a season.

In fact, he’s thankful for the opportunity to play in the PDL for the Stingrays. “My experience with the Stingrays has only been positive. (Head coach) Mario Pereira has allowed me to play with his team, and so far, being with this team has led me to become a better and well rounded player,” said Ford. “I am very grateful to (him).”

It wasn’t long ago that Ford was just another newcomer to the Rhode Island squad. After redshirting his first season at UConn, Ford looked to the Stingrays to help prepare him for his first collegiate season between the sticks.

“I got on board with the Stingrays first by talking to my University of Connecticut coaches to help set up a tryout for a team in the summer,” said Ford. “They had set up for Mario to come watch me play during our spring season to see if I would be helpful to his team.”

Ford proved to be more than just helpful. He quickly became the club keep’s primary keeper, playing in twelve of the club’s 12 of 16 matches in 2007. Much like this season, Ford was tested often, requiring him to make 78 saves in those 12 games as a PDL rookie. But the amount of action unquestionably aided Ford’s development as a young player.

“Playing in the PDL has allowed me to play against great competition,” said Ford“Playing with the Stingrays has allowed me to play with and against great individuals - that alone has brought new light to how the game can be played.”

Even though his 2007 numbers (3-9, 2.14 GAA) didn’t reflect it, Ford’s experience in PDL certainly prepared him to take the stage as his school’s primary keeper the following fall.

“The benefits to playing in the PDL in the summer helps collegiate players to stay sharp, match fit and helps with preparation for the upcoming (NCAA) season,” said Ford. “It makes me personally feel that I am a step ahead of the competition.”

Judging by his freshman performance, Ford was more than just a step ahead of the competition during the 2007 NCCA season. He played every minute of his Huskies’ memorable season, and was awarded All-Big East Third Team honors after his remarkable campaign.

Like many young players, Ford cites some of the best in the business as his soccer role models. Matt Reis and Tim Howard as well as Italian Gianluigi Buffon as fellow keepers he patterns his game on.

“(They) are amazing to watch,” said Ford. “Seeing some of the big saves they make, it makes me want to be able to play like them.”

Despite the polar-opposite pair of seasons, Ford only has one goal in mind.

“To become better,” said Ford. “There has been no solution for me besides doing extra work to get better.”

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.

Rays lose 1-0 heartbreaker to Crusaders

Under overcast and misty skies, the Rhode Island Stingrays dropped their final home match of the 2007 season to the Cape Cod Crusaders Wednesday night, losing in heartbreaking fashion on a Dwight Barnett header in the 68th minute.

The match, played at the Stingrays home away from home, Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, pitted the PDL rivals on a fast artificial surface made even quicker by the misty conditions engulfing the region.

Early on, it was clear that the Crusaders looked to acquire goal number one, as they set their offensive tempo rather quickly, forcing the Rays defenders to keep the potent offense (30 goals all season) at bay in the opening minutes.

The Crusaders delivered their first threatening shot in the 10th minute, when Dan Stratford, who hounded the Rays back line all night, went one-on-one down the right flank with defender Derek Puerta before deflecting a shot that Rays keeper Josh Ford harnessed for the stop.

As the Cape Cod kept the home club on its toes, the Rays managed to find daylight of their own in the 25th minute. Marlon Giraldo took a dangerous free kick from 25 yards out, and rocketed the ball mere inches above the crossbar. Though the shot missed, it put the Crusaders on notice that the Rays were not content with simply stifling their attack.

Another chance developed in the 36th minute on a Stingray counterattack, as Giraldo sidestepped his defender, and launched a missile on Crusader keeper James Thorpe, who dismantled the heat-seeker.

With the final seconds of the first half ticking away, the Crusaders feverishly counterattacked in the 45th minute, when the menacing Stratford sailed a free kick to Barnett, who wildly headed the ball wide of the intended target, as the half expired soon thereafter.

After the second half kicked off, the Rays continued their stellar defense by stifling an attack that nearly counterattacked at will. Cape Cod wasted no time in reclaiming the attack less than two minutes in, as Stratford delivered a dangerous cross from the left that forced Ford airborne to intercept the pass.

The slick surface continued to wreak havoc in early minutes of the second frame, as the ball unnaturally skipped and slid along the multi-lined, all-purpose turf at Bryant University Stadium.

A promising chance materialized in the 54th minute, when the Rays forcefully reclaimed possession on a clever steal by Jeff Gonsalves off a developing Crusader counterattack. The striker then proceeded down the right wing, before sending in a beautiful cross to an open Lukasz Tumicz, who side-volleyed a screamer over the crossbar.

The clubs traded possessions thereafter until the fateful 68th minute. Stratford took a free kick and delivered a fantastic bending ball into the mixer. Amid the rush of players crashing the box, Barnett rose to the occasion, and powerfully headed the pass into the back of the net, giving the Crusaders the all-important first goal.

Attempting to kick start the attack again, the Rays reassembled the troops down the pitch in the 72nd minute kick started by defender John Nolan. He blazed right into the teeth of the Cape Cod back line before sending a feed to Gonsalves, who fired a wild shot well wide of the net.

After a frustrating night of near-misses, the Rays launched one more push toward net in the 89th minute. From the left edge of the box, Giraldo swept a slick, devilishly skipping grounder that met its untimely demise in the mitts of Thorpe, thus snuffing out the last chance at finding the equalizer.

Gonsalves performs the hat trick in 4-2 demolition of Long Island

Despite the calendar indicating a twenty-four hour period of unluckiness, Friday the 13th proved to be a wildly lucky day for Stingray striker Jeff Gonsalves. The former URI Ram played without curse or hijinx, as he netted an astounding three goals for the Rays in a resounding 4-2 victory over Long Island last night.

Gonsalves first took residence in Long Island territory in the 7th minute, when he raced right into the heart of the Long Island back line and launched a rocket that deflected off a hapless Rider defender before the box. Despite the slight redirection, ball arched perfectly into the upper right shelf for the opening salvo, and gave the home side the early one-goal advantage.

Soon after, a scary scene occurred at the 8th minute mark, when Riders midfielder Paul Roderick galloped into goalkeeper Joshua Ford, which left the Stingray down for a few tense moments before he came back to his feet.

However, a few minutes later, Ford was immediately tested, and made beautiful stop on a Rider shot that left him vulnerable on the rebound. Said rebound found the foot of Roderick, who rifled the shot from the right flank for the equalizer in the 11th minute.

As the game drew toward the halfway point of the first half, tempers on both sides flared, as Rays midfielder Jonathan Pereira was awarded a yellow card by referee Guido Gonzalez for a questionable violation. Soon after, the Riders began to unleash a flurry of rather unsportsmanlike shots at various Stingray players, which drew the ire of a visibly upset Mario Pereira.

The school of hard knocks continued for the remainder of the frame, as both club’s players traded more late tackles and high elbows than offensive chances.

As the first frame neared conclusion, the Riders looked to be taking the offensive advantage, as the Rays began to find themselves in reverse more than drive .Then, in the 44th minute, the Stingrays quickly counterattacked, as Dawid Badecki fed a gluttonous Gonsalves, who beautifully samba’ed through the right flank, cut inside, and took an impossibly-angled shot on goal that magically found a home in the top left shelf of the net for the go-ahead goal minutes before the curtain fell on the first half.

When the second half kicked off, the Riders sought to locate the equalizer and wasted no time in doings so. Two minutes into Act Two Mike Grella took a fortuitous rebound off the far post and tapped in the easy goal at the edge of the goal mouth in the 47th minute.

Just after the hour mark, the Rays broke through the Rider back line when Badecki delivered a perfect ball on net that was batted away by Riders keeper Jason Landers, but the sequence turned out empty handed, as the both club battled at midfielder for most of the second half.
Tempers went wild again in the 72nd minute, when Gonzalez gave Rider coach Dave Fisher an untimely ejection, after the manager continued to hurl disparaging comments regarding the quality of the officiating.

With the score level, it was the Riders that found themselves in better position to attain the go-ahead score. However, a black cat must have been lurking near the Long Island bench when, in the 77th minute, Grella went one on one with Rays defender Darren Howerton deep into the Stingray box, before the shifty midfielder sidestepped Howerton, paused, and launched a clear shot on goal that flailed high over the crossbar. Less than a minute later, Grella, in a reprisal of his recent performance, once again crashed the box, and yet again faked out his defender, before firing a shot that unluckily went off the back heel of an oblivious John Nolan, who was simply marking his man before the goal mouth.

Then, with less than ten minutes remaining in regular time, Marlon Giraldo found Evan Unger in wide open pasture. Unger took two touches, and launched a hard shot on net deflected wide of the Rider net. On the ensuing corner kick, the ball was headed by Ryan McCormick tantalizingly close to the goal before Gonsalves followed up with another header and directed it past Landers for the go-ahead in the 83rdminute.

Uncontent with a one-goal advantage, an-all out Stingray assault culminated on a McCormick screamer from the right flank in the 86th minute, which gave the Rays the insurance goal with time quickly dwindling.

As the leaderless Riders struggled to re-assemble their attack in the slim hopes of closing the two-goal gap, the Rays stonewalled the flailing Long Island attack, and the home club preserved the much-needed 4-2 victory on home soil.

Stingrays draw even to Fury, 1-1

Like a pair of mixed martial arts fighters, the Rhode Island Stingrays and Ottawa Fury punched, kicked and grappled their way to a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at Pierce Memorial Field before an enthusiastic ringside crowd.

The Fury kicked off for the first half under cloudy skies and cool temperatures, as both teams attempted to find their pace in the opening minutes. Both teams struggled to muster any quality chances until the 8th minute, when Jeff Gonsalves crashed the box but narrowly missed net, hitting the side of the goal as the ball harmlessly bounced out of play.

As both clubs continued to scratch and claw at each other, it wasn’t until the 13th minute that Rays midfielder Lukasz Tumicz charged down the Fury end of the field before unleashing a speculative shot that went well over the Fury net.

Less than a minute later, Peter Wise effectively ended dangerous Fury sequence when he stopped a Phil Amahazion point blank shot in the box, keeping the score 0-0.

The Rays caught the Fury completely off guard in the 19th, when Gonsalves streaked down the left flank with nothing but wide open real estate ahead and sent the ball toward a hard charging Tumicz on the right, who took the pass and drew the lone Fury defender before he crossed it right back to his teammate for the easy goal. 1-0, and the Rays took control.

The goal sparked the Rays attack, and they dominated possession in the following minutes, while Ottawa defenders charged and chased the ball all in vain for a large chunk of the first half.

In the 32nd minute, Danleigh Borman crossed a beautiful ball from the left to a sliding Gonsalves, who narrowly missed the connection, as the ball sailed inches away from the threatening boot of the former Toronto FC prospect.

As the Rays kicked off for the second frame, Ottawa came out attacking like the proverbial bat out of hell before the patient Rays dense neutralized the rather sloppy attack in the opening minutes. The Rays proceeded to launch counterattacks almost at will, as the Fury attack often disintegrated before the ball even reached the box.

In the 50th minute, Borman flicked a well-placed pass to Jeff Cameron, who broke down the left flank toward the Fury goal and cracked a shot that clanked off the right post.

The Rays continued to stymie the Ottawa defense, and the only answer provided to the patient and methodical attack was undisciplined aggression that displayed Ottawa’s unorganized defending tactics, leading to numerous fouls and three yellow cards issued before the 60 minute mark.

Quality scoring bids for the Fury were kept to minimum for most of the match until
the 85th minute, when an Ottawa corner kick flew into the box, prompting Wise to make an attempt at the ball. However, he was caught out of position and fell to the ground, as three Fury attackers battled for the loose ball before Fury forward William Beauge easily tapped the equalizer into the net with less than ten minutes left to play.

Any hope for the Rays to attain the game-winner came a minute into extra time, when midfielder Alonso Villasenor sent an immaculate feed to a gate-crashing Gonsalves before the striker knocked home the apparent go-ahead goal. But soon after celebrations commenced, the referee’s assistant waved his flag offside, thus stifling the last true chance the blue and gold had at earning three points at home, as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Gonsalves looks to latch on in MLS

Eighteen goals during any soccer season, on any level -recreational, amateur, or pro- is impressive. It was certainly impressive enough for Jeffrey Gonsalves to earn NCAA Third Team All- American honors in 2006, after leading the University of Rhode Island men's team to the NCAA tournament last fall.

After his remarkable year, the native of Markham, Ontario was rated by MLS SuperDraft guru, Buzz Carrick, as one of the best collegiate forwards in the country. Toronto FC, the expansion MLS team located in his home country, took notice and drafted the Rhody Ram with the 40th overall pick in this winter's SuperDraft.“When I first got drafted, it was exciting because it was the hometown team and it was a chance to play as a professional,” said Gonsalves.

But, before he could even sport the Toronto kit before a true home crowd, it all came to a screeching halt.

Gonsalves pulled his hamstring early on in Toronto's preseason camp, and due to his prolonged convalescence, was never truly given the opportunity to flash the raw ability that aided him in his goal-scoring adventures in 2006.

“I went down there and got injured, and things didn’t work out,” said Gonsalves. Toronto subsequently released him without ever being to gauge the hometown prospect's true MLS potential. “Now I’m back with RI.”

Today, Gonsalves plays mere minutes away from his alma mater as a forward for Rhode Island Stingrays (PDL), a club he honed his skills with last year, prior to his breakthrough colleague campaign. He played in seven matches for the Rays in 2006, and tallied a team-leading four assists, as well as a goal, for the blue and gold. Through four games this season, he has already recorded a goal, but more importantly, he has played in every minute of every Rays’ match thus far.

Although one would think that the former All-American is better served playing in a more competitive league, Gonsalves has benefited from playing with a familiar group of players from last year in his attempt to get back to MLS.

“Yeah, as well as playing with some of the players with at URI (who also play for the Stingrays). It’s almost like being back at school (playing) with most of these guys. It’s really not much of a change, it’s almost like a homecoming almost. So it’s been pretty good.”

Additionally, Gonsalves came back to Rhode Island to earn something more valuable than just minutes on the pitch: earlier this month, he graduated from URI.

Nevertheless, the goal for Gonsalves is to find his way back into MLS - a goal he is hoping to achieve by refining his goal-scoring skills with the Rays in the meantime. The close geographical proximity of the Stingrays to the New England Revolution - a mere 25 miles- has Gonsalves hoping to catch the eye of Revolution manager Steve Nicol.Working in Gonsalves favor is that the system which Rays manager Mario Pereira employs - the 3-5-2 – is the same system used by Nicol with his Revs.

Although the MLS squad already has a plethora of young talent on its developmental roster, a strong performance during a reserve match guest appearance or tryout could certainly open some eyes among a coaching squad that has a proven track record of developing talented young players.

Yet, the former All-American is ready to showcase his talents on any professional stage, and hopes that his play for the Rays this season attracts the attention of scouts and opens the door to some playing opportunities, stateside or abroad.

“Hopefully (there will be opportunities) either in North America or overseas. I’m not entirely sure. I’ll see what happens.”

Rays blank Volts, 4-0

The Rhode Island Stingrays exploded for four goals during their victory versus divisional rival Vermont Voltage on Saturday night, in a PDL match up that pitted two teams each searching for their first win of the 2007 season.

Early on, the Stingrays set the tempo by stringing precise passing sequences that thoroughly frustrated the Volts for much of the match.

Just how frustrated the Volts became with the passing clinic exhibited by the Rays was exemplified in the 27th minute, when James McCarron hard tackled Jonathan Pereira from behind, earning the Volt midfielder a red card and subsequent ejection.

Forced to play a man down, the Volts had their hands full with a Stingray attack that took advantage and dominated with several scoring opportunities soon after.

However, it wasn’t until the 44th minute that the Rays were able to put a point on the board. On a sudden break toward goal, Pereira sent a quick feed to Lukasz Tumicz, who streaked down the right flank before unleashing a scorching shot past Volt goalkeeper Steve Hennessey that gave the Rays the 1-0 advantage before the end of the half.

It was an uphill battle for the Volts to keep the Rays at bay in the second half. Volt manager Bo Vuckovic tried his best to hedge the potent Rays attack with fresh-legged substitutes.

Nonetheless, the Volts only had their backs pressed further to the wall in the 50th minute, when Marlon Giraldo aimed and fired shot from 25 yards out that ricocheted off the crossbar, momentarily depriving the home side of goal number two.

Another opportunity materialized in the 55th minute, when Jeffrey Gonsalves crashed through an exasperated Volt defense and flicked a quick shot into the back of the net, giving the home side their second goal of the game.

Minutes later, in the 58th minute, Jimmy Hernandez raced down the right flank before sending in a looping cross to a wide open Giraldo, who sat comfortably at the top of the box completely unmarked. After clinking the crossbar minutes earlier, Giraldo did not miss this time around, as he took a touch and fired the shot into the Voltage goal for the 3-0 lead.

The Rays continued their relentless siege of the Voltage end of the field, and continually poked and prodded through a back line that had been dismantled by an aggressive attack.

During the 72nd minute, Rays manager Mario Pereira made an unorthodox goalkeeper substitution when he replaced Joshua Ford with Peter Wise. Yet, the unconventional swap would pay dividends later on in the closing minutes.

As if to reward the home crowd for braving through the damp and cold conditions, the Rays capped off their goal scoring exhibition in the 76th minute, when Tumicz planted himself in the box and spun two defenders before cracking shot into the upper reaches of the Voltage goal for his second goal of the game, and the 4-0 lead for the Rays.

With the Rays clutching to the shutout during the waning minutes of the match, the Volts were awarded a penalty kick in the 83rd minute after some aggressive tackling on the part of the Rays defenders.

After electing to take the kick, Volt forward Matt Stedman launched the dead ball to the left of Wise, who soared to make an incredible two-handed stop on the point-blank missile, thus preserving the 4-0 shutout win for the home team.

Stingrays speared by Crusaders, 4-0

The Stingrays season-opening road trip made a stop on the Cape Wednesday night, as the club looked for its first win of the infant season. Instead, they were handily beaten by the Cape Cod Crusaders, 4-0, at Barnstable High School Stadium in Hyannis, MA.

In addition to seeking their first win, the Rays were also looking to register their first goal of the season as well, after being shut out by Long Island four days before. Last year's club scored a remarkable 39 total goals last year (2.43 per game), and their anemic output thus far may be a testament to the challenges of opening on the road.

The Crusaders received their first goal in the 11th minute from Dwight Barnett off a Stanley Nyzamba feed, giving the home side an early one-goal lead.

Undaunted, the Rays hunkered down, and limited the perennial PDL powerhouse to the one-goal advantage through the first three-quarters of the match, despite the home side unleashing 13 shots during the game.

However, the roof caved in completely for Mario Pereira's boys late in the second half, as the Crusaders scored three goals in the final 16 minutes of the match, and secured the 4-0 victory over the Rays.

The Rays will look to turn around their fortunates with some home cooking on Saturday night, as they face their divisional rival, the Vermont Voltage, at Pierce Field. The match will begin at 7:30pm. Great seats are still available!

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.

2007 Stingrays Season Preview

With warm weather finally upon us, spring (and by extension, soccer, of course) has indeed arrived.

Therefore, let us look ahead to the promise of warmer temps and later sunsets, as the following is a preview to the sunny days and warm summer nights of Stingrays soccer in ‘07.The ‘Rays, coming off a 6-8-2 record (20 points) in the New England Division of the Premier Development League, look to improve upon their 3rd place finish.

Despite narrowly missing the playoffs by four points last year, the team hopes to build on a foundation of returning veterans in an attempt to catapult the club to their first playoff appearance since 1998.

That being said, the team should have no problems finding the back of the net, after scoring 39 total goals (2nd-best in the division) in 2006.

Last year's goal scoring efforts, led by the Rhody Ram tandem of Dawid Badecki (7 G, 2 A) and Danleigh Borman (7 G, 2 A), will both be returning to the team this year. Although the club will be without the services of assist leader Jeffrey Gonsalves, (selected 40th overall by Toronto FC in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft), another Rhody Ram duo of Geoffrey Cameron (4 G, 1 A) and Lukasz Tumicz (4 G, 2 A) will be returning to the club's potent midfield corps. Steady veteran Alonso Villasenor (CCRI) will be returning as well, and should be able incorporate his leadership abilities into a team which has, by and large, little turnover from the 2006 season.

The defending corps will see the returns of their two primary players in Matthew Britner (Brown) and Callum Bissett (URI), with key contributors Mario Aceta (Iona) and Adam Howart (URI) returning as well. Last year's defenders did well to shut down opposing teams, as they helped the club post five shutout wins in '06.

The goalkeeping situation appears, on paper, to be a two-man duel of returning keepers. David Semenza (Brown) and Brendan Fitzgerald (Duke) will both be back in goal for the ‘Rays this season. Semenza saw the bulk of the goalkeeping chores for the ‘Rays last year, going 5-7-2 with an even 2.00 GAA in 14 appearances. However, look for his understudy to stoke the fire of the keeper competition after going 2-1-0 with a spectacular 0.80 GAA last year in limited action.

Of course, with the club recently conducting tryouts to scout additional local talent, there will, no doubt, be fresh faces sporting the royal blue and white on the Pierce Field pitch this season.

There is no question that manager Mario Pereira has an eye for such talent, as he has seen two recent ‘Rays (the aforementioned Gonsalves and Nico Colaluca in 2005) jump to the ranks of MLS during this offseason alone.

So fear not, Stingray fans – the Saturday night soccer at Pierce Field this summer will sure to be just as entertaining as years past, as the ‘Rays begin their quest to achieve playoff glory in a matter of days.

Discovering the "True" Hometown Team

It was a Saturday afternoon.

One of those late-afternoons/early-evenings where the cloudy skies begin to darken, as if Mother Nature can't decide on whther it should be late-day or early-night. Then, the clouds began to burst with rain.

A cloudy, rainy late-Spring afternoon, and as is protocol for such soggy Saturdays, I found myself going to the mall in an attempt to get myself out of the house.

After spotting a red and blue polo at The Gap, I headed onto 95 North from Warwick en route to my abode. Upon the interstate's Atwells Ave. bend, I spotted the bright beacons shining amid the dark gray backdrop of heavy rain clouds.

There, across Narragansett Bay, I could discern that these glowing light towers were that of Pierce Field, the all-purpose sports stadium in central East Providence. The field is locally known as the home of the high school football team, the Townies, but on this early evening, a different kind of football was being played.

As my curiosity took over and began to steer the wheel of my Acura toward Exit 4 in East Providence toward Pierce Field, I wondered whether the heavy showers were enough to postpone a soccer game I thought would have surely been called off.

I found myself in the field's parking lot, and peered through the corner chain-link fence. Both teams were most definitely playing, as I caught a glimpse of a soggy ball lazily bouncing and sliding on an equally soggy pitch. I couldn't believe that a game could be played in the middle of a driving rainstorm, on a field quickly turning into a virtual swamp before my eyes.

After being drenched in the rain for two minutes debating whether it was worth the $8.00 admission to become a human sponge, I raced back to the dry confines of my car, took one last glimpse of monsoon soccer, and drove back home. This was my quick and rain-soaked introduction to Stingrays soccer.

Naturally, I became curious to the idea of soccer in my own backyard. Whenever such curiosity strikes, my accomplice in crime is Google, and thus, I searched for the stingray site. There it was...along with the schedule, detailing the next game, which would take place the following Wednesday. Barring any other subtropical-like storms, I made it a point to at least show up and take in a match.

Much to my disappointment, under the omnipresent gray skies and wet weather of early-June, a sign posted on the entrance stated that the game was postponed until July 22. Argh! My curiosity would have to wait until a week later, June 14, before I could finally watch the local 11 take to the field.

Well, June 14 finally came, as I handed over a Hamilton, and made my way past the cozy souvenir and concession stand in the corner of the stadium. Along the concrete surroundings, I strolled down the concrete walkway, the game just underway, with a full view of the white and yellow jerseys scurrying for the ball. With almost the entire seating confines at my full viewing disposal, I took a seat on the upper-most bench, perfectly aligned with the center circle. There were maybe few dozen spectators there as well; enhancing the ambience of what is essentially small-town soccer. There were fans of the opposing team, the Vermont Voltage, there as well, imploring their squad to the ball forward on the counterattack.


The night, although somewhat cool, was far more perfect than the earlier rainstorm that had engulfed the region only 2 weeks prior.

The Rays took an early 2-0 advantage, only to see that seemingly insurmountable lead disappear in extra time. Two quick back-to-back goals within minutes and suddenly the game was tied, 2-2. With just over two minutes remaining, the Rays barely hung on and sweated out what should have been an easy win, and instead taking the one point for the tie. If this was the kind of action that normally took place, then I was in for quite a ride.

And an interesting ride it was indeed – although I only attended three more games that year, through the course of these matches, my sports heart grew especially fond of the squad.

This team, which had been playing right in my own hometown for 11 years prior to my discovery, increased my love for the game of soccer. This year, I will become a season ticket holder for the first time in my life, for any team in any sport. It’s the least I can do to show my appreciation to a team that absolutely deserves it.

The Mystery of Rui Fortes...SOLVED

It was reported a few odd weeks ago that former Rhode Island Stingrays midfielder Rui Fortes was given a trial with the Los Angeles Galaxy after surviving an invitiation-only tryout hosted by the club back in February. From what's been disseminated by MLS talking heads and media alike, he's seen action in at least one game, but beyond that...nothing else.

He's not listed on the Gals' roster, nor is there any mention of a release or wave goodbye. So with this information one can naturally assume the following:

1. He's still toiling in anonymity as a trial player.

2. He's been subsquently released.

3. He's changed his name to Rui Costa and joined SL Benfica

4. He discovered the dirty secret about the substance holding together David Beckham's hairdo, was repeatedly pistol-whipped, given hush money and now "lives" in a San Bernadino trailer park and goes by the name Jim Druckenmiller.

After an exhaustive investigation, I've whiddled out the last two theories, which leaves us with two options: he's either with the club, or he's been let go. One would figure this would be an easy situation to figure out. Hell, it ain't multiple choice (thank God) , but one does have to wonder where the Pawtucket native currently kicks around the soccer balls. Since the LA Galaxy site is about as updated as the playlist on a classic rock radio station, some crack research on a 37 cent budget is in order.

An interesting tidbit uncovered during my research: LAobserved.com reports that the participants of last month's Galaxy tryout each paid a $130 fee to be invited. Nothing like shutting out a talented, less fortunate player and in turn essentially taking bribes from players for them to even be considered. No money = no chance. I suppose the club had to pay Becks' somehow...

Anyway, though my list of "insiders" is about as long as a Johnny Damon throw from center, I did will do what I can, speak to some "associates", send various quantities of pilfered cigarettes and scratch tickets to the appropriate persons, and will try and solve this mystery of...Rui Fortes.

UPDATE: Acoording to LA Soccer News has reported that our Portugese Rudy has been cut by the Gals. Sniff, sniff.