NCAA Round 2

New York...for the fourth time this season.  The most comfortable trip to the city we took because from previous experience we knew what we were getting into.  After viewing the final chapter of the Star Wars trilogy (as requested by the team and reluctantly accepted by the staff) we arrived at the hotel.  An exclusive BMS buffet awaited us and the boy's dug in'.  Ecstatic to be off the bus and eating again there was a positive energy surging through the room.  Shortly after we all took our seats a figure from the past pleasantly surprised the team; Greg Miller showed up in fashionable style.  The boys' lit up when they saw Greg, a reminder of past seasons’ success. Post-meal we studied our opponent (again).  

Arising from a full night of hibernation the boys’ looked lively after some much needed rest.  They hit the breakfast buffet hard forcing the hotel staff to replenish each dish on several occasions. Then we entered the “dead period”.  From breakfast til’ lunch, biding our time to pre-game meal.  Then finally it was upon us and we were boarding the bus for yet another delicious Italian dish.

We arrived at St. John’s ready to rock n’ roll.  The timing of our arrival was perfect, plenty to prepare.  Our locker room’s temperature was conveniently set at 88 degrees, didn’t bother the boys’, in fact it seems as though the perform better with the odds stacked against them…so thanks for the help.

Bruno took the field like they owned the place deflecting the home team’s attacks over and over again.  We found ourselves defending against a very quick and talented team for significant periods of time, however, we got our opportunities and we made them count recording close to equal amounts of SOG.  The boys’ were fighting through bumps and bruises defining the difference between being hurt and being injured. Three dislocated shoulders, some plantar fasciitis, shin splints, scar tissue, pulled hamstrings, stress fractures and pulled back muscles…just a few of the injuries on the list that the Bears were battling through.  All of that being said Bruno entered the second half even at 0-0. 

Just minutes into the second segment Remick made yet another overlapping run down the sideline, lost the ball, then won it back again.  He beat a defender easily and played the 7’5’ 300 pound freshman Maurey down the sideline.  Ben beat Lade and shortened his distance to the goal with a soft first touch.  Making his way to the endline he slotted the ball back to Remick who buried it into the back of the Red Storm’s net.  Brown 1 St. John’s 0.  After the Storm proved their frustration with a red card shortly thereafter it seemed all but certain that the Bears would leave the city victorious.  The team held down the “Alamo” (as they call it) and kept the lead til’ the final whistle.  The boys’ were drunk with emotion, sprinting to the middle of the field just to enjoy the presence of their teammates as Bruno advanced to a historic round of 16 for the second consecutive year. 

Upon the result it was time for the staff to start planning for our next opponent.  Unfortunately the game wasn’t being played for another 3 hours.  We waited impatiently for the result.  Shortly after we arrived back in Providence we knew that we would be playing St. Mary’s…hopefully at home.  But beyond that the team had accomplished another goal: to spend Thanksgiving together again.

Everyone got to Coach’s house good n’ early ready to feast.  Each class was given the responsibility of bringing a dessert.  The sophomores baked a pie (very nice), the juniors brought ice cream (easy but satisfying), the seniors brought cookies (half cooked by Manella and half store-bought), and the first-years brought this…

All of which was bought at the closest CVS, the presentation of the dish was too good to try, I’m sure it made a nice snack.  As for the rest of the food everything was delicious.  The staff and their significant others’ did an awesome job.  As you can see the guys’ ate a lot:

Which led to some post-meal napping...

The boys’ loved it and left with a full stomach…

NCAA Round 1

Floating on the emotional high of being named Ivy League Champs the boys' began another week with the potential of it being the last of the season.  As a team, we gathered in the Pizz for the NCAA's announcement of the 2011 tournament bracket.  The video stream loaded and the silence was sickening.  Although we had confidence in the committee, there was a significant chance that we may not get a bid.  Finally the announcers finished their babbling and were ready to unveil the bracket.  Unlike previous years, the bracket appeared in full all at once, but the catch was the print was very small. Coach was the first person to the screen panning the bracket as it flashed in front of our eyes.  Fairfield at Brown!  A roar of cheers cascaded through the halls of the Pizz.  Another goal to cross off the boys' preseason checklist as complete.
Preparation for the 1st round match began that night with practice under the lights at 7 PM.  The boys' were still flying from all of the recent news.  Taking that into consideration, practice went well.  Finishing up with a full-field scrimmage where the meat of our CB's greeted the sweet feet of our frontline with hostility, so much that the idea of "extra time" was out of the question.  Our back line in combination with Big Ben Maurey up top creates a team with a whole lotta meat as we like to put it.  It's a gamble depending on the day as to whether the small and skillful can prevail over the large and athletic.  Typically, it's the dimensions of the pitch that determines the outcome, our smaller players enjoy a short and tight game much more than their larger counterparts.  
The day of the day was upon us.  The conditions, cold and rainy, were less than ideal.  However, those were just the type of conditions that Bruno strives in.  Mental fitness is one of the many invaluable characteristics of the BMS identity. ( You know what I mean if you already saw the result.)
From the kick-off til' the first half's whistle the Bears were all over the Stags.  A first half effort by Evan the "Legend" Coleman and E-Rob was pulled out of the net by a late offsides flag. It seemed all but inevitable that the Bears would put numbers on the board in the first half.  Opportunities rained in for Bruno but none could find the net.  Then on their first shot of the game a lanky attacking midfielder found a ball that bounced perfectly to him in stride and struck it into the upper left corner of the goal.  Stags 1 Bruno 0.  Just minutes later Fairfield found their second goal; nothing short of miraculous for a team seemingly being pummeled throughout the first half.  The bears entered the locker room facing a two goal deficit but not one of the players gave way to the thoughts of impending doom.  After an inspirational halftime speech the boys' took Stevenson once again for what could be the final 45 minutes of the season.  
As the clock counted down from 15 minutes remaining the boys' stayed focused.  They pushed forward.  Rosa finds a goal from the top of the box, 2-1. We were closer but not close enough.  Less than a minute later Rosa takes another shot, rebound, goal for Mandel!  At this point we could feel it, we were back in the game with the momentum at our backs.  We drew a corner with 5 minutes remaining.  The ball bounced around the box out to Leonard who dropped the hammer and struck a volley into the bottom corner. Brown 3 Fairfield 2.  A much deserved win for Bruno.  Three goals in 6 minutes, a fantastic come back victory.  Touched with the magic of Stevenson Field we move on for a rematch at St. John's.

The Ivy Title At Stake

Immediately after our victory at Yale we heard the news that Dartmouth had beaten Cornell.  The result set up a historic showdown at Stevenson Field.  Starting in the year of 2000, five different teams have won multiple league titles.  Brown and Dartmouth each have four since then, either sole or co.  Being new to staff, all of these facts are impressive to me.  The excitement which was building up day by day before the game was a cross between being free-falling and pure ecstasy.  The trick was to keep everyone as calm as possible until just before kick-off.  Once the whistle blows, it's out of everyone's hands and then it's time to just let the boys' play.  

It was practice as usual, keeping our weekly routine to a T.  The training sessions leading up to this match were some of the most intense and competitive sessions we had all year.  The boys' were fired up, and rightfully so, they should be.  The 2012 class had yet to win an Ivy League Title.  

It had seemed like a long season to this point, but once the team heard it was down to one game, the growing pains melted away.  The feeling that the Seniors had is something that I admittedly could not explain.  Being at Brown and a part of this team has been a fantastic experience for the past three months, but beginning to wrap my mind around their experience through four years would be impossible.  I of course had my own college experience much like others' that I'm sure you've heard, which lack comparative value to that of a member of Brown Men's Soccer.  

After a short but hard training the day before the day, the Seniors, who have compiled 46 of the team's 62 points this season, stepped in front of the squad.  One by one, each soon to be alum, vocalized their thoughts of wisdom for the next group to use in their quest as a BMS player and student.  The theme was  "enjoy it". Enjoy every aspect of it.  Don't be distracted by what could be, focus on what is.  Stay in the moment, and take advantage of the opportunity you have been given.  As we all listened, the sincerity in the voices of these eight young men was apparent.  They each had something to say, equally important to themselves and the group.  It was the type of moment that seems to never end and yet it is over in a matter of minutes.

Finally, it was the day of the day.  The seats at Stevenson were beginning to fill.  Students had grouped together in the small parking lot next to the field preparing to cheer on Bruno.  It was Senior and Alumni day adding to the intensity of the match.  Thoughts of this being the last game of their career rattled the Senior’s brains’, not to mention the Ivy Title at stake.  We started out the match nervous, playing conservatively weary that Dartmouth may get Lucky.  Once the first ten minutes had passed we were in a groove and the nerves seem to dissipate for the time being.  Finally, the boys’ just began to play instead of worry.  Dartmouth put up a good fight as expected.  They looked for Lucky every chance they had, one timing balls over our back line in hopes that he could run on to them.  Our defense shut the “one man show” down.  The few opportunities he had he squandered either wide of the goal or at SKS. 

Everyone was focused and we were going for the win, not the tie.  Some of our frustrations offensively could be accredited to Dartmouth’s defense.  We did have three glaring chances to score, unfortunately in those moments we could not finish. Rosa was in behind the back line, had the keeper beat, but a defender was able track back just in time to cover the net, making it difficult for him to find the open goal.  We also had several opportunities from corners and set pieces, which narrowly missed the frame or were gathered by Cohen. 

Early in the first OT, Lucky had a header off the post but the referee held his flag up for offside.  Other than a few shots from distance and acute angles, which were saved by SKS, Dartmouth did not have many opportunities to score goals. 

The game was by far the most intense 110 minutes of the season.  The 2200 at Stevenson were one with the game, hoping to see Bruno send the Big Green home and take the Ivy rings.  However, after two overtimes the game ended scoreless.  It was an eerie feeling as the crowd didn’t know what to think, neither did the players.  The waiting game began.  Columbia was at Cornell for a 7 PM kick off with plenty of Ivy scenarios possible. 

That game ended in a tie making Brown Ivy League Champions! 

It’s a fantastic feeling! 

We celebrated for the night then had our eyes set on a possible NCAA tournament birth.  Brown standing tall from the Ivy League!

A huge thank you for all of you who supported us this season and at the final game.  Thank you to the alumni who attended the get together post-game. 

Fairfield @ Brown this Thursday, kick-off on Stevenson at 7 PM.

Go Bruno.

Graven Title Hopes In New Haven

Bruno was on the road for it’s final regular season bout against yet another formidable Ivy League opponent: Yale.  Coming off of a win at home against Penn in the first snowstorm of the year; Brown was feeling confident traveling a few short hours to CT for a 7 PM kick-off.  The Bulldogs were looking to rebound from a disappointing loss at Columbia and keep their title hopes alive with a win at home. 

Upon arrival the boys’ had a bit of time to kill and rather than waiting it to pass they opted to wander out to the pitch and support their fellow Bears.  The Women’s team was in the midst of an Ivy showdown with hopes of finishing third in the league.  Showing their pride in Bruno, the boys’ cheered loudly until late in the second period when they returned to the locker room to begin preparation for the match. 

Bruno took the field as their own with 7 shots and 7 corners in the first segment.  The Bears were in rare form; the best football of the season coming at the perfect time.  Gorman was storming down the left side in dominating fashion, whipping in crosses or laying it off for one of Remick's relentless runs out of the back.  Rosa and Pops were swarming Yale’s defense with constant pressure forcing mistakes but unfortunately they could not capitalize on them.  Bobby Thalman was looking more like Van Der Sar, picking balls out of every corner of the frame.    With the amount of opportunities received and Yale’s lack there of, it would have been a travesty for the Bears to drop this game. 

In the second half the 562 in attendance were silenced as the Bears pummeled the Bulldogs with 9 more shots and 6 corners.  Nothing seemed to find the net other than a controversial call, which pulled a Bruno goal back in the first.  Thalman continued to have the game of his life being credited with 5 saves which seemed more like 12.  The Boys’ were determined to get a result; Mandel was putting together another great performance recording the most shots on goal over the course of the match.  He had their left back on his heels and continued to create opportunities throughout. 

Finally, a ball served into the box was slapped down by a Yale defender leading to a penalty in the second minute of the first overtime.  Mandel was “cold-blooded”, composed, and confident as he approached another one of his favorite set pieces.  He buried it into the net past Thalman, for his second game-winner in as many Ivy contests to set the stage for a championship match up on Stevenson.  

Penn @ Brown - By Senior Mike Manella

Brown v. Penn

October 29^th, 2011

As the Brown Men’s Soccer team emerged from a curtain of white snow and entered the gates of Stevenson Field amidst the first snowstorm of 2011, it was clear that the evening’s spectacle would be a memorable event.  Pushing through sleet and pile-ups of snow and mud, Bruno fought to chip, drive, and scrap together passes in the worst weather conditions they had faced all season.  No training session could have prepared them more for this type of game.  The mentality of the players and the determination of the coaching staff and referees to have the game played despite other Ivy League games being postponed gave Bruno the opportunity to prove why they wanted to be Ivy Champions.

For three years in a row the Bruno seniors came up short against Penn, but this year the seniors would get their chance to get a positive result and start a new trend for seasons to come. 

The Penn Quakers made the most of their discomfort against the relentless sky, and when the game began both teams felt that one slip, one deflected shot from distance, or one snow-diving tackle through an opponent might be the small difference in this big fixture.

The first half saw chances for both sides as forwards Sean Rosa and TJ Popolizio struck towards goal several times after good ball movement and runs to support the attacks created the best possible chances.  A Penn forward broke through the Bruno back line early in the half, but Sam Kernan-Schloss came through with a big save in the chest.  Sam rallied his teammates to keep their focus and eyes on the ball, which never took a natural bounce the whole game.  Outside midfielders Taylor Gorman and Daniel Taylor were able to find their footing in the snow before the Quaker wingers, and allowed Brown to control much of the first half play.  For anyone playing or watching, and not that anyone could actually see clearly, it was easy to tell that there would be no clean strikes on goal tonight.

The second half showed that both teams had realized how to use the surface, and much of the running was straight up and down with balls played hard and high towards the opposing backlines.  Bruno began to take control of the game after fifteen minutes as substitutes entered the storm to make a positive impact.  Excited by both the opportunity to play in a game with such a rare atmosphere, as well as a chance to regain feeling in fingers and toes, the Bruno substitutes worked hard to get the ball forward and into dangerous areas.

The game was a battle of the boxes, and as legs began to tire for both sides halfway through the second half Bruno struck a ball from the left side into the box hoping for a chance on net.  The chance that counted most finally came.

Credit for the goal must be given to Taylor Gorman, who made a long run through the snow piles to get forward into the box and sacrificed his body to the early lunge from the Penn central defender.  Gorman was able to poke the ball away just as the defender misjudged the path of a through pass from the top of the box.  The ball stopped in the snow, and the Penn defender’s challenge carried his right leg through Gorman’s ankles.  A clear penalty for the referee to give from ten yards away.

As the referee blew the whistle and pointed to the spot, senior forward, Austin Mandel, a corner-kick, free-kick, and penalty-kick specialist, sprinted as fast as he could to grab the ball and stake his claim on his favorite set piece.  And of course, “Raaandy”, as he is called on the team, side-netted a well-struck penalty past the Penn goalkeeper that warmed the limbs of all Brown supporters braving winter’s wrath that evening.

Raaandy’s strike proved to be the 1-0 difference Bruno needed to secure another Ivy League victory.  Substitutes relieving Brown starters continued to bring the energy and effort that was necessary for the last half hour until the final whistle was blown to secure the crucial three points.

Certainly a game and night to remember for all in attendance, but Bruno had moved on to thoughts of Yale as soon as they left the pitch and the important training and focus necessary to continue to strive for an Ivy Title.

Ivy in Ithaca - by Junior GK Sam Kernan-Schloss

Ithaca, NY: though beautiful, it sure is one gloomy, far, cold place to travel for a weekend. However, there was one bright thing about the trip: another chance and another opportunity to make our mark in the Ivy League. Oh, well I guess there were two bright spots; the second being a gourmet, Italian meal from the Popolizio family. Similar to the trip two years ago, the team embarked on our journey early Friday afternoon so that we could stop for a solid, “day before the day” training session. At about 3pm on Friday, we pulled into the TJ Popolizio Memorial Soccer Complex in Clifton Park, NY. The streets were lined with fans and even the local news station came out to document the return of their homegrown star: Pops. No, that didn’t actually happen, but I personally was half expecting that to be the case. After a solid training session, we did nevertheless, get treated to some homemade chicken parm, ziti, Italian meatballs, and cookies. We may as well have been important enough to bring the local news crew out…. Mr. and Mrs. Popolizio served us well and we were very grateful to be getting back on the bus with a full stomach. Next stop, Ithaca.

Cornell Men’s Soccer was flying high, having the season of their lives. At 8-1-3, Cornell was on an 11 game unbeaten streak going into our Saturday afternoon game. Still full and energized from our meal in Clifton Park, the team departed the hotel at 1:45 ready for a battle. We were prepared for the kick ball, the long throw, the 3,4,5,6, maybe 7 different Cornell strikers we would face. Sure enough, 4 minutes into the game, Cornell had subbed their starting forward for a new fresh pair of legs. Bruno controlled the first half, with Rob Medairos and Evan Coleman destroying the center of the park, and Dylan Remick and Alex Markes ready for any long ball into the channels. We were well prepared. The defense once again kept me safe, going into the halftime break with the scoreboard reading 0s.

The second half did not begin the way we would have hoped. The home side got on the board early with a glancing header after the ball had been cleared and reserved from a Cornell corner kick. Having been down 1-0 before, everyone on Brown knew we could come back. What we didn’t know was that we would level the score only minutes later with a classy finish from our 6 foot 10 inch freshman forward, Ben Maurey. After Sean Rosa won us a corner, Jay Hayward, like he has so many times in his career, stepped up to take it. Maurey got free at the front post and knocked in his first collegiate goal from an exceptionally slight angle. Bruno and Cornell were level again. The half ended with some back-and-forth play. The team had a glorious chance in the final few minutes but couldn’t find a way to sneak out the win. Both overtime periods saw much of the same, with both teams looking to get out with some sort of a result. The game ended 1-1. Needless to say, we weren’t HAPPY with the tie but after a 6 hour bus ride and against a team that plays little of the beautiful game, it was a respectable outcome.

            Next up on the Ivy League slate: Brown vs Penn at the confines of Stevenson Field in Providence.

Holy Cross - a view from First Year Daniel Taylor

After a grueling battle against Cornell and a few good acappellas from the first time travelers, including one from myself which seemed to be quite monotone and another from Ben “6’9” 320” Maurey.  We had only one practice till our next battle against Holy Cross.  This game was special because everyone was allowed to travel. More than other away games, I noticed how many more people were doing work pregame, which is most likely due to the fact that it was on a Tuesday and many people such as myself had exams the next day. Coach came to the back of the bus to gave his pregame speech: “Be ready to play… no excuses… ” after which he stated the started line-up.

We got to the field and it was without a doubt the coldest environment we had played in yet, so the starters really had to be ready to play when the whistle blew. We had a decent warm-up and it was good to have the whole team there to get us hyped up.

We started the game very well, keeping the ball moving and using our back line to keep possession. This was a great opportunity for me to gain confidence and every touch helped. We had a few great opportunities off of crosses to get the first goal, as well as others that our forwards made for themselves. Defensively, Holy cross only threatened us with a couple moments of individual play, including a shot just right of the goal, but other than that E-Rob and Rough McDuff were their usual beastly selves and kept the back in tact in the first half. At half time we were all quite confident in our ability to win the game, we just had to play smart and finish one of opportunities. In the second half we got a more looks at the net while keeping most of the possession, including a few long distance shots and some missed headers but we just couldn’t get the ball in the net. We all had that feeling that one of them would go in. It wasn’t till the first overtime that Eric Robertson somehow hit a backwards header off a corner. I admit even I was confused on who scored when we all rushed the field, I ended up jumping on pops because it seemed like he scored due to the fact that he was celebrating the most.

It wasn’t our biggest win of the season; we new the score could have been by more but we were happy we won and performed well. After the game we all rushed inside and hit the showers and changed as fast as possible due to the fact, like I said, it was a Tuesday and we all needed to get back to work. Everyone was happy with the win, but at least in my mind, once I was on the bus I was thinking about the test I had the next day, and the battle against U Penn coming up. Our game against Holy Cross showed a combination of good soccer as well as intense scrapping, which was great to see. 

Crimson - A View from Senior Captain Taylor Gorman

As a BMS player you learn to enjoy every win because all of them are hard earned and the satisfaction is short lived. However, a win versus the Harvard “Crimson” is unlike any other.

On Tuesday morning, after a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against Princeton the squad was excited and ready to begin preparations for what would surely be another competitive Ivy contest. Although the early morning wake up had produced some sleepy faces, it did not take long for the players to bring the energy to training that would be needed to beat Harvard on the upcoming weekend. As the week progressed the quality and intensity picked up. The level of anticipation grew steadily until finally it was the day before the day. The team had a focused practiced that ended with a little comical relief with Weiner skying a penalty that would surely have outdistanced his best goal kick all year. The best week of training all year concluded with the team rolling on the ground laughing at the hilarious penalty attempt.

The next day flew by and soon the team was boarding the bus for Harvard. After the short trip up 95, we had arrived. As the stands filled and the bright lights illuminated the field it surely seemed like it was going to be a night to remember. The game started fast with flying tackles and aerial battles. Immediately it was apparent that the team had brought “Scrap City” to Harvard’s field. Although the night didn’t end up producing electrifying soccer it did produce one fantastic moment. Around 30 minutes into the game TJ “Scrap Man” Pops slipped a ball into Evan “The Legend” Coleman at the top of the box. With defenders closing around him “Old Man” Coleman did his best Pops impression and toe picked a glorious finish into the bottom left corner which stunned the Crimson keeper and fans. As Coleman did his patented “lose your mind” celebration the Brown fans and alumni erupted into cheers. The second half saw the Brown back line defending the Alamo and when the final whistle blew we had done it. First victory against Harvard in 4 years and it felt just as good as we thought it would. After embracing family and friends as we left the pitch, the team hopped on the bus and headed home to celebrate a victory unlike any other.

Tigers Tamed.

As Pops would put it: “it was the night of the night”.

A desperate Princeton squad took Stevenson on Saturday night.  A team that relies on it’s front runners heavily to be the source of their attack.  Unfortunately for them they needed to match up with two Brown CB’s whom they would get to know a little more than they’d like over the course of the match.  It was a game neither team could afford to drop.  The team appeared focused and it showed in the first half.  

A good crowd filled the stands at Stevenson and cheered the boys on as they faced yet another worthy opponent.  As usual, the decisions refereeing the match were quite original, and the boys were forced to battle through adversity.  We all know, it’s hard to get a referee that everyone likes…(We just want one we like…once in a while).  That being said, the referees did not decide the match. 

Our Bears had the majority of quality moments through out the first segment barring free kicks and long throws by the opponent.  Even though we had the best of play in the first, we headed to the locker room even 1-1.

Re-taking the field feeling sluggish was regrettable.  Princeton capitalized on a miss-communication a few moments into the second half. 

The next 30 minutes or so were hard to watch.  The boys were fighting for every moment, but failed to create anything of quality.  In need of a heroic effort Hayward sent in a curving service and Pop’s rose up from a crowd to finish the tying goal less than 10 minutes before the end of regulation.  With the momentum heading into overtime, the boys’ took the field with confidence.  Less than two minutes into the first overtime, Pops finishes another; finishing the game; sending a message to the rest of the Ivy that: Brown has it’s eyes re-focused on a league title.  Brown 3 Princeton 2.

Queens, NY

It was a chilly night at Belson Stadium.  I had three layers on myself, Coach Groves only one; I assume still heated from the last trip.  As a staff we were confident in our game plan and that the boys' would execute. The approach was a decision the team needed to make…

Hayward brought Step Brothers from his movie collection.  After an overwhelming vote the DVD was delivered by a first-year from the back of the bus.  The boys couldn’t get enough. The staff looked around awkwardly, unsure whether to laugh or disapprove.

After a pre-game meal at Joe’s Fleetwood Pizza we filed back onto the bus headed for Belson.  It was a stressful affair sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for over 45 minutes (lot’s of nail-biting, and anxious glancing at the wrist watch). It put us in a time crunch forcing our shortest warm-up routine of the season. 

Arising from hibernation the boys were lively and ready to get back on track.  Two trips to NYC in 4 short days can take a toll on the body, but the team was up to the challenge.  Surprisingly, they were full of energy and ready to take on a worthy opponent.

The game began with one of Rob’s signature tackles at mid-field, sparking a cheer from the bench.  The red storm seemed tamed to a light drizzle throughout the first segment.  Both amount of possession and opportunities on goal were close to even.  We were connecting passes well and looked composed on the ball facing a team who had conceded just 1 goal at home this season.  It all came down to the mindset.  The Bears showed as a team with something to prove after the previous weekend’s result. 

Several players contributed to a quality team effort earning a well-deserved tie on the road.  Duff and E-rob held off every attack in the back from a highly talented St. John’s front line, which was able to test SKS on a few occasions; he dealt with them successfully tallying the third shutout of his career. 

The boys’ fought hard through the overtime periods.  Heads were held high upon exiting the stadium.  St. John’s 0 Brown 0.

Brown @ Columbia - This Saturday at 4 PM

The Bears will open the Ivy League season at Columbia Saturday afternoon at 4 PM.  If you are in the area please come and support us.  There will be a get together post-game with current players, staff, and alumni.  Everyone is welcome.

Please note: Columbia is not providing any on-site parking (not even for our bus).  Plan accordingly.  See you there.

Boston College

As a team we are pulling together to identify mistakes and correct them.  Last night was a disappointing performance, we know we are better. What's done is done, we must move on, but part of learning is reflection and we have done a lot of that in the last 12 hours.
We will keep our eyes on the prize and start preparing for Columbia.
Nothing more is to be said about the previous game.  A team is only as good as their last and next game... our next will be the best yet.

Brown @ Columbia this Saturday at 4 PM.

Boston U

It was a wet and soggy affair, to say the least, as the sky opened up over Stevenson hosting the America East's finest: Boston University on Friday night.  Warm ups began with a light sprinkle and finished in dramatic fashion, leaving the visitors drenched with anticipation of a long hard match.  A couple sorely missed upperclassmen could have opened the door for a talented young squad like BU to sneak a win at Stevenson, but it instead proved to be a night for supporting Bear's players to shine in key positions.  Late in the first half during a periodic downpour Austin (self-named) "The Finisher" Mandel served a well-struck ball in to the BU box, skipping off Alex Markes's buzz cut head and finding the net. Alex had a most peculiar celebration with a "spaghetti arms"above the head sprint towards the bench.  Celebrations will need to be discussed prior to our next match (Pops and Sean will lead).
 Despite the miserable weather, it was a first half filled with quality moments for both sides. One by BU's Knox forced SKS to make a magnificent push out of the lower corner on a skipping shot.
A frustrated but not beaten BU side undesirably took the field in the second half.  They started with good possession, this was by no means a team that represented their current record.  We were solid in the back allowing fewer opportunities in the run of play.  Unfortunately for them, their inexperience showed with frequent fouls being called against them resulting in opportunities for us to attack which we took advantage of in direct fashion.  Thomson was struggling getting a grip on the ball, hopefully for BU due to the wet weather, and therefore there were many balls that should have been finished sprayed beyond the end line.  Late in the second half the "Legend" won a loose ball, found Rosa with a pass, who dribbled the keeper, finished the opportunity and the game.  Bears 2 Terriers 0.

Trip to Belair's Backyard: Brown @ So. Carolina

I had never been to Berkley, I had never been to San Francisco, and I had never been to Columbia, South Carolina.. Not until I become a member of Brown Soccer. Brown Men’s Soccer has been one of the great experiences of my life. I am able to spend everyday with my some of my best friends, doing my true passion. I feel blessed and I am grateful. I am no Evan "Legend" Coleman, I hope I can get some handicap points for this effort.  That being said I will do my best to describe a small portion of a short season: The Gamecock Classic:

 Wednesday- “Coach Sam Groves Shines”:

Sam brings a lot to this coaching staff. He has great knowledge of the game, He has the capability to slot into practice with no degradation, You can tell he is truly passionate about the game, but Wednesday he brought out is most blatant attribute..He is quality with the details. Wednesday Sam brought his A game. A checklist of things to bring. I mean are you kidding me? It had everything we needed. Written so clear. It even had the Fl Oz requirements for the plane! It had everything no member of the team could have possibly forgotten anything. I mean it was impossible right? Well simply no it was not impossible. I botched. No jacket. No dress shoes. No shin guards. Sam brought quality..I brought the poorness, started the trip on a negative note.

Thursday…or is it late Wednesday- “Lizards Thicket”:

4am wake up call and we were off. The squad passed the time in various ways. Ben slept like a champ, Dylan bumped Taylor Swift, Evan wrote in his diary, Rosa tried making friends with the flight attendant, and Jack read harry potter. We arrived in Columbia soon enough. After watching Alex play a game in the airport designed for 7 year olds (see below), and watch Austin’s truly impressive wheelchair skills we had arrived. Light Training and some much needed sleep would follow.

Friday- “Friday night lights”:

We came to play. No jet lag. No hiccups. This was BMS. 2-0 win, a silenced crowd, and a proud squad. Some of the highlights include Evan’s return from the sidelines, a stellar defensive line performance, and some just magnificent celebrations. No complaints here, this was a great day.

Saturday- “Jasons made of Velcro”:

You remember that game where one of your friends would hold a flat Velcrow shield and you would throw balls at him as hard as you can? Well that was Jason during our rehabilitation training. An impressive 6 balls caught and held at one time he was the day’s winner…well that or Robs belly. Rob housed 3 loaves of bread at dinner, and then completed his third straight day of Marble slab ice cream desert…apparently it would not be enough to calm the mans fiery spirit for the following day.

Sunday- “No Funday”:

Im just going to go ahead and say it was not our day. Lot of things went wrong. We were still a goal away from equalizing with 10 to play, but heavy legs and some poor choices all around led to a very disappointing result. It was a sad way to end a great trip but no time to be down, for winter is coming. Ill let this picture from the flight home say it all..

-pop pop pop

Brown @ Columbia - Post game get together

The Bears travel to Columbia on October 1st for the Ivy opener, kick-off at 4.  The players, current staff, and alumni will be meeting for food and conversation post game.  We welcome anyone in the area that would like to meet the 2011 Brown Bears after a victorious Ivy start.

Hope to see you there.

A Reflection from The Beginning

Only four short weeks ago I joined the staff at Brown.  Two weeks prior to that I was driving through a campus for the first time.  Excitement was the first feeling that came to mind.  It was an exciting time for me as a young coach making a choice to change my life in a way that has transformed me forever.  A main-stream type statement but a very real experience for me.  I keep thinking… (I was only in Vermont a month ago) this is great, everything about this journey for me personally has been great.  After I got through the “wow when am I going to have time to do all of that?” stage I settled into the constantly changing lifestyle of BMS which presents new challenges every moment of the day. 

When my mentor from my previous gig asked me what do you like so much about it? I responded with: “It’s just different”.  He of course asked me to explain… I came up with two ideas.  1:  I can try to describe the feelings I associate the experience with thus far, which is that of the aurora that BMS gives off.  The feeling of being different is that uniqueness that each one of the student-athletes and staff members brings everyday as individuals mashed and molded into one creative, motivated, and consistent team.   This is a general statement I know, but that is the only way to describe a feeling which only the people who are involved or have been involved previously can attempt to feel.  Team is a fantastic idea and is an idea that I have seen fulfilled in so many different ways already in just one month.  2: I could list off all of the reasons why BMS is different, but that would be hard to without comparing it to my last experience.  There are many things that are different and unique to BMS.  As I previously stated the people here are special, the facilities are rich with memories and tradition, and the mentality is just different.

When we took the field against GMU I couldn’t help but think of all the great teams that have competed on this pitch before us.  It was an “AW” moment.  It was our first home contest of the season, and the first of my short Brown career.  A great feeling came over me that was filled with excitement. I was ecstatic.  The crowd was alive and I could feel them with the flow of the game.  We came out strong and put two goals away in the first 45.  An incredible team defensive effort held the pushing patriots back for us to stay on top.  The 2011 Bears are now 2-0 at home continuing the “you don’t come here and beat us” tradition of Stevenson that they upheld so well with the 2010 squad. 

Temple proved to be no match for our Bears.  We moved the ball so well against them they were shell-shocked.  TJ “Pops” wrestled his way to a rebound scoring yet another goal for the Bears.  He has had a phenomenal season, which represents his devotion to BMS the last 4 years, he is a man who buys into the process.  A disappointed Temple left on Sunday with a few bags, we left with the hardware.  

Brown Soccer Classic pt. 2

T.J. "Pops" Popolizio 

Brown Soccer Classic pt.1

GMU at BROWN (1700+ in attendance)

Reflection - OSSC

Providence College was a mud-filled puddle that our Bears happened to step in.  A puddle is a perfect metaphor for the Friars which seemingly pulled us into their murky style of football.  We had a vision of keeping possession, and combining up the field, but the ball spent more time off the pitch then on (and I don't just mean in the air).  After the whistle was blown each of the 13 times for the Bears, the game ball went missing for a period of time.  Speaking with spectators and parents post-game the "jabulani"s were spotted bouncing down the streets and off of the dormitories close by.  The feeling of absence left our boys frustrated and hungry for the ball.  However, once we were able to settle the ball and play we put together several attacks which ended with shots on goal.  We clawed our way into the second half feeling "OK" about the first.  

Unfortunately we did not come out with our best in the second.  We tripped and stumbled through the first 15 minutes leaving an open door for PC if they could string the passes together to take advantage, which to their surprise, they could not.  We were able to counter with combinations thanks to our movement off the ball which resulted in several quality opportunities squandered.  The Bears began to clean up the play with superior technical skill until a turnover resulted in a goal against.  Once the ball was in the back of our net, in the 68th minute, it may have been on the field for 10 minutes after that.  It went MIA.  The ball boys transformed into ball hogs which we did not have the time to chase.  

Our Bears were respectable and fought until the end.  PC 1 - Brown 0. 

Sunday, a brand new day, a brand new feeling, and a brand spanking new playlist for the bus by the now infamous Coach Groves.  I stayed behind to drive a spotless, fuel-filled van which would be used to transport anxious-to-have-yet-another-1st-year-meeting freshman back to Brown ASAP.  

Bryant aimed to "directly impact" the game from the start, however, we kept the ball on the ground and passed around their chase.  Alex "Kiwi" Carr received his second collegiate start and first shutout with a strong team of elders surrounding him.  Three Bears earned their first goals of the season but certainly not their last.  We were prepared for an emotional game after PC and the "kick and run" style of Bryant proved to be no match for our silky smooth combinations and hard-nosed organized defense.  Brown 3 - Bryant 0.

To match the taste of victory in our stomachs we were met with pizza at the bus from Kingston, the most delicious post-game meal yet.  Complaints from Cyrus "the swiss army knife" Mahler were rebutted with less and less pizza.  The first-year van was driven by myself without stop or stall straight back to the Pizz to ensure the class of 2015 didn't miss a minute of our fresh meat.  A great night to be a Brown Bear.

Stay tuned for the recap of today's match:  GMU AT BROWN KICK OFF: 7:30 PM

Preseason to Present - From the view of Senior Bear: Evan Coleman

After a long summer of anticipation the season is once again upon us, bringing with it a solid, unified squad of returners, an eager freshmen class, and two new additions to the coaching staff. Sam Groves joins us after an illustrious career at the University of Hartford, while Jason Burnett completes the list, traveling to Brown from the green boonies of UVM where he served as an assistant and goalie coach for the past season. Sadly we also bid a fond farewell to Gregg “the great” Miller and wish him all the best at his new head coaching position at Manhattanville College. (Though still, the unanswered question hangs heavy in the air and echoes through the locker room “who was the true Megwars champion?”)

            After an impressive height, weight and body fat showing including an unprecedented 3% drop by Mitch “Cupcake” Kupstas in a matter of days (no doubt making use of Rob’s healthy-foods-with-terrible-consequences diet), the boys were off to the track for the eagerly-awaited 3 mile. There were strong performances all around as the sweating masses of BMS ran lap after lap, dodging angry but highly competitive elderly runners, managing the tight, dew-laden turns deftly and finishing with a bang (or perhaps a hard splat depending on your exhaustion level.) Other highlights included Tommy “It’s-a-bird, it’s-a-plane, no-it’s-a-tomato” Arns’ 1:05 first lap, an appearance by legendary keeper and beloved robot Paul “Wall” Grandstand, and of course the fact that the long awaited Joga Bonita could finally begin.

            Though sessions proved hot and humid, the boys took to the fields with energy and enthusiasm as bit by bit the team regained confidence and solidified, battling with the good-natured competitiveness that has cemented itself as the standard for training over the years. Though touches were rusty at times and a few studs showed up imprinted in the calves of others, the hard work done in practices was always rewarded with delicious meals, laughable duo stretching techniques, and even a gift from Calvin to baptize the practice field. (FINE!).  

And then it was game time, well, at least scrimmage time, as the boys blasted pregame jams (“Con manos arriba….”) strapped on their boots, and set out onto good ole Stevenson once more to face the University of New Hampshire in a preseason friendly. The quality of play was solid for the majority of the game as the boys shook the rust from their boots and began connecting passes and creating opportunities. The predictable victory in possession fell to Brown as UNH resorted to the classic boot-the-crap-out-of-the-ball-and-run technique. Though the ref seemed to be one of the fittest people on the field, he was equally as quick with his whistle handing out two PKs over the course of the 90+ minutes without a second thought. The first a handball by young McNamara of UNH, (no doubt learning such tricks from a certain older brother). The second, a skirmish in our box, lead to a UNH player falling, (which Rob later, after much indecision, manned up to and admitted it had been Mcduff) as the PK sailed just passed the outstretched fingers of Alex “The Kiwi” Carr.

And so it was tied 1-1 in regulation, forcing the decision to penalties. After much deliberation five of our bravest stepped forward and took their shot including a near 3 for 3 save-score-save killer combo from the agile Cupcake, but the game ended 4-4 in pks. And with this history was made that day as for the first time a game was decided in pks… as a tie???

Though perhaps the desired result was not achieved, the scrimmage was nevertheless a step in the right direction for the squad, as the majority of players saw minutes and the team began to improve their chemistry and understanding for the coming months. After battling the elements (Irene) with great bravery the squad looks forward to yet another challenge as we head to Providence for the Rhode Island State Classic… stay tuned.

-BMS, “Stay Connected, One Team…”

Brown VS UNH: Pre-season Opener

The first opponent to challenge the 2011 squad on the legendary pitch: Stevenson Field were the Wildcats of UNH.  First year Bears' attended an exclusive meeting prior to their first of many pre-game routines.  Upon exiting the Pizz freshman GK Alex Carr was spotted utilizing his Kiwi charm to extend his fan base before he even stepped foot on the field.  The eight freshmen who have joined the team all have rich backgrounds hailing from the West, the South, Switzerland and New Zealand.  This diverse group is devoted to extending the Brown Bear soccer tradition.  

Spirits were high in the locker room as the 3:00 PM kick off time approached.  The focus, as always, was to win the game, but preparing for PC was also in the forefront of everyone's mind.  

The match began with our back line being tested immediately in a direct fashion.  Competing with an athletic side like the Wildcats' our defenseman anticipated having to win long balls and chase into the corners of the pitch; they were prepared.  After settling the ball, we were able to combine resulting in a fantastic opportunity within the first minute of the match.  Throughout the duration of the first half we had several chances and warded off the opponents.  The first ended 0-0.

Sorting out the issues from the first the Bears started the second with a series of unsuccessful attacks.  Finally, around the 55th minute UNH's defenseman got a handle on the ball, literally, and was whistled for a penalty.  The ball found it's home in the back of the net putting Brown up 1-0.  The outlook of the game seemed bright when the Bears began to press, however, not 5 minutes later the referee found an "eye for an eye moment" to call another penalty, this time against the home team.  Brown 1 UNH 1.  Even though the Brunos' were not victorious on the day, the match was an overall success leaving a positive feeling with the team and staff.  Much left to prepare for but a good start to a great upcoming season....

Brown Men's Soccer 2011 - The Beginning

Welcome to the new blog for the Fall of 2011.  Stay tuned for our first post today (08/24/11).