Simon Trcka helps bring the URI soccer team to victory against Merrimack University. Photo by Autumn Walter
In recent seasons overtime has not been kind to the University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team.
Before Friday’s matchup against the Merrimack Warriors, the Rams had not won in overtime at the URI Soccer Complex since the trick-or-treaters were out in 2015. Since the start of the 2016 season, the Rams had only two wins in their 13 overtime games, including a 1-1 draw vs Fairfield University in the home opener.
They began to change that tune last Friday night, as URI fought back from an early deficit to win 2-1. The winning goal came courtesy of Filippo Tamburini, a transfer from Canisius College who was only playing his fifth ever game for the side. The forward beat his man to the ball in the box, leaving Merrimack goalkeeper Lucas Rezende no chance with the finish. He then ran to the corner flag and took off his shirt in celebration of his golden goal.
“It’s great for Filippo to get his first goal of the year,” said Head Coach Gareth Elliott. “The fact that it’s in overtime is good. He’s been due a goal for us.”
The junior poked home the ball in the six-yard box courtesy of a cross from sophomore Edvin Akselsen. The winger, who had been sending dangerous balls into the box with his right foot all night, recorded the assist of the season in the waning moments of the game.
Rhody tied the match in the 74th-minute courtesy of Niklas Middrup. The senior was left all alone on the back post when his center-back partner Charlie Booth chipped a pass across the box, leaving Middrup for an easy header. It was his first goal for the Rams since October 2017.
The home team found themselves trailing courtesy of an exquisite free kick from Marc Torrellas in only the seventh minute of the match. He bent a shot into the top right corner of the net, giving the Warriors the lead in their first ever match against URI.
Despite trailing for the majority of the contest, Elliott preached calmness to his players throughout the game.
“Just stay patient,” he said. “We can’t panic, can’t get out of what we are trying to do. I told them to just keep trying to move the ball, and create opportunities and chances will come. We just have to put the ball in the back of the net. That’s the number one thing really, is just patience.”
It took only four more days for the Rams to play another game of extended soccer. In their first road game of the season, Rhody travelled to the Constitution State to take on Central Connecticut State University in a match that finished 1-1.
Tamburini continued to find form, scoring in his second consecutive runout. The goal came courtesy of Akselsen, who notched his team-high fourth assist from a free kick. Middrup first connected with the cross, heading the ball onto the crossbar before the forward tapped in from close range.
The two schools matched up for the first time since September of 1989, where the Rams fell 2-0 in Kingston. The Blue Devils got their only goal of Tuesday’s matchup courtesy of Francesco Ambrosino in the 75th minute of the contest.
Rhody’s next game is Saturday where they will take on the C