URI, UMass Ready for A-10 Tourney

URI Looking to Defend Title

November 12, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Local men’s soccer programs from UMass and the University of Rhode Island earned spots in next weekend’s Atlantic-10 Men’s Soccer Championship in Dayton, Ohio.

Two-time defending champs URI (9-7-2, 7-1-1) earned an opening round bye as this year's No. 2 seed while UMass (11-7-0, 6-3-0) finished third and is vying for its first Atlantic 10 Championship title since 2002.

Saint Louis (12-2-3, 8-1-0), ranked No. 22 nationally by the NSCAA, earned the top seed in the 2007 A-10 Tournament, which gets underway Thursday, Nov. 15, at Baujan Field on the campus of the University of Dayton.

UMass junior Mike DeSantis (Source: UMass Athletics)

URI is coming off a 4-2 victory at Saint Joseph’s Sunday. The Rams jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, after seniors Geoffrey Cameron (Attleboro, Mass.) and Callum Bissett tallied back-to-back goals less than two minutes apart. Cameron struck first, at the 24:04 mark, beating the Hawks’ Bryan Benedict after quick passes from seniors Dawid Badecki and Kedan Crosby.

Bissett then gave URI the two-goal advantage 1:59 later, heading in a corner kick by senior Danleigh Borman.

Senior Lukasz Tumicz (Bisztynek, Poland) extended the Rhode Island lead with two breakaway goals in the second half. The first was unassisted and the second was set up by Borman.

Saint Joe’s fought back with two goals by Colin Baker – both off of free kicks – but the Rams were able to hold on for the 4-2 victory.

Meanwhile, in Philly, the UMass men's soccer team fell, 1-0, in double overtime at Temple. Temple's Brian Weinhardt scored the game-winning goal in the 109th minute of play Sunday.

Both teams played through a scoreless regulation to force an overtime session. Statistically, Temple controlled much of the offensive pace of the game outshooting the Minutemen 14-3 in the first half and 9-4 in the second. UMass keeper Zack Simmons made five saves.

Going into the post season, UMass has won nine of its last 12 games with seven shutout victories. This will be the 10th time UMass has advanced to the Atlantic 10 Tournament. The Minutemen last qualified during the 2005 season losing to Rhode Island 2-0 in the quarterfinal round.

2007 ATLANTIC 10 MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

QUARTERFINALS
Thursday, Nov. 15
5:30 pm #4 Charlotte vs. #5 Fordham
8:00 pm #3 Massachusetts vs. #6 Dayton

SEMINFINALS*
Friday, Nov. 16
5:30 pm #1 Saint Louis vs. Lowest Remaining Seed
8:00 pm #2 Rhode Island vs. Highest Remaining Seed

* if host Dayton is remaining it will play at 8:00 pm regardless of seeding

FINALS
Sunday, Nov. 18
1:00 pm - Semifinal Winners

Return from URI, UMass Ready for A-10 Tourney to College Soccer

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