Photo contributed by: gorhody.com
Another week down, another unbeaten stretch for the University of Rhode Island men’s soccer team.
The Rams took on Fairfield and Fordham in a two-game road tilt last week, outlasting the Stags 1-0 on Sep. 14 before a 2-2 draw with Fordham on Saturday in their Atlantic 10 opener. They then took on their last non-conference opponent Albany in a high-scoring 5-3 affair back at home on Tuesday.
It was a tough defensive battle from the jump for both Rhode Island and Fairfield in that contest. In both teams’ first meeting since 2019, it was the Rams that held pace offensively, taking 16 shots to the Stags’ five.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard until the 75th minute of action. Following a Fairfield yellow card, sophomore Max Kwitchoff found the back of the net with an assist from Edvin Akselsen to give the Rams a 1-0 advantage. The first career goal from the New York native was enough as the Rams held on for the final 15 minutes of play.
Kwitchoff, who has mainly been a contributor off the bench during his time in Kingston, has been a positive presence for the team, according to Head Coach Gareth Elliott.
“Max does a fantastic job for us,” Elliott said. “He’s really positive. Very positive in practice, always energetic and lifting the guys [up]. He’s a great part of our program.”
Things wouldn’t get any easier for the Rams in their next matchup at Fordham in the battle of the Rams. The home team took the advantage quickly with two goals over the first 5:04 of action. URI would strike before the intermission, as Patrick Agyemang picked up where he left off in 2021 with his first goal of the season in the 22nd minute to cut the deficit in half 2-1.
Agyemang, who was named to the A-10 All-Conference First Team in 2021, returned to the starting lineup against the Stags on Sep. 14 after missing two games and working through “a couple of injuries” early in the season.
“[I’m] so happy to be back,” Agyemang said. “To be back to full fitness is just a blessing, so I’m happy to be here again.”
The match took on a much more defensive identity in the second half. Similarly to the match against Fairfield, Rhody held the advantage in shots after the intermission, attempting twelve and holding Fordham to just three through the final 45 minutes.
URI fought back to secure the tie when Agyemang found the back of the net again to secure a brace. With under 12 minutes left, Akselsen set up Agyemang with a header off a corner kick to knot the game up at two apiece. Once again, Rhody held on late to ensure a 2-2 tie.
Like Agyemang, Akselsen missed time early in the season due to injuries, and both are approaching full health. While both are still working their way back to 100 percent, according to Elliott, having the pair back has given his team a much-needed boost.
“When you don’t have them, you miss them,” he said. “I don’t think they’re firing on all cylinders yet, which is not a bad thing. Hopefully, as we get through conference play, they’ll start hitting their stride.”
Both were able to get their legs underneath them in the Rams’ final non-conference matchup of the season with Albany, a game that saw eight goals and a 5-3 Ram victory.
Agyemang scored in the 50th minute and Akselsen finished with a goal and an assist in the offensive explosion.
Up next for the Rams is their first conference matchup at home Saturday against the Dayton Flyers, who currently stand ranked 17th in the nation entering their next match. Against a quality opponent, Elliott believes the key to success is holding Dayton’s high-flying offense at bay.
“They’ll have a lot of offensive firepower,” he said. “If we don’t defend better, we’re gonna be in trouble. It starts on the defensive end for everybody.”