Spring Break
Men's soccer hosts awards banquet at Kingston's Institute for International Sport
Kyle Towne
Issue date: 3/5/09 Section: Sports
03/05/09 - The University of Rhode Island men's soccer team held its annual team banquet at the Institute for International Sport in Kingston, with several players earning a variety of awards and honors.
"The awards are voted by the players," head coach John O'Connor said. "The coaches could easily give out the awards, but we feel it's better that the players decide."
The ceremonies were kicked off by Director of Soccer Operations Frank Bergren when he presented the Bob Butler Sportsmanship Award to senior James Quiah. The award is named after URI's first men's soccer coach and is awarded to the player who best exemplifies fair play and good spirits in athletic competition.
"James has really come a long way," O'Connor said. "He puts the team ahead of his personal life, and really strives to make the team better. Even if he was not traveling with the team, I would receive texts from him asking how everything went."
The next award presented was the Ram Academic Achievement Award, which is bestowed upon the team-member who best defines the term "student-athlete." Sophomore Matt Preyss, a [International Business] student with a 3.42 GPA, received the award from assistant coach Mitch Stone.
"Matt is a great student," O'Connor said. "He does a great job of balancing his schoolwork and work on the field."
O'Connor presented sophomore defender Dwayne Williams with the Kevin Murphy Defender of the Year Award. Williams' play for the Rams last season was crucial to the success of the team, as he started 18 of the 19 games and recorded three game-winning goals. At season's end, Williams was voted to the All-Atlantic 10 second team.
"Dwayne was playing behind a lot of talented players last season," O'Connor said. "He has really found his game. We had no opponents last year who were better than him at getting balls in the air."
Freshman Erkko "The Finnish Flash" Puranen received two awards from coach O'Connor: the Len Mercurio Offensive Player of the Year and the Geza Henni Most Valuable Player Award. Puranen led the Rams as a first-year forward with nine goals. Not only was he named to the All-Atlantic 10 second team and the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, but he was also placed on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region team.
"The awards are voted by the players," head coach John O'Connor said. "The coaches could easily give out the awards, but we feel it's better that the players decide."
The ceremonies were kicked off by Director of Soccer Operations Frank Bergren when he presented the Bob Butler Sportsmanship Award to senior James Quiah. The award is named after URI's first men's soccer coach and is awarded to the player who best exemplifies fair play and good spirits in athletic competition.
"James has really come a long way," O'Connor said. "He puts the team ahead of his personal life, and really strives to make the team better. Even if he was not traveling with the team, I would receive texts from him asking how everything went."
The next award presented was the Ram Academic Achievement Award, which is bestowed upon the team-member who best defines the term "student-athlete." Sophomore Matt Preyss, a [International Business] student with a 3.42 GPA, received the award from assistant coach Mitch Stone.
"Matt is a great student," O'Connor said. "He does a great job of balancing his schoolwork and work on the field."
O'Connor presented sophomore defender Dwayne Williams with the Kevin Murphy Defender of the Year Award. Williams' play for the Rams last season was crucial to the success of the team, as he started 18 of the 19 games and recorded three game-winning goals. At season's end, Williams was voted to the All-Atlantic 10 second team.
"Dwayne was playing behind a lot of talented players last season," O'Connor said. "He has really found his game. We had no opponents last year who were better than him at getting balls in the air."
Freshman Erkko "The Finnish Flash" Puranen received two awards from coach O'Connor: the Len Mercurio Offensive Player of the Year and the Geza Henni Most Valuable Player Award. Puranen led the Rams as a first-year forward with nine goals. Not only was he named to the All-Atlantic 10 second team and the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, but he was also placed on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region team.
