the Cowl

Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Sports

Junior Tim Murray has been a strong force in goal for the Friars all season, and registered eight saves last week against Cincinnati and Louisville.

It took eight games for it to be proven, but the Providence College Men's Soccer Team is now known to be mortal. The Friars were beaten Sunday, Sept. 21, by the Louisville Cardinals 1-0 in an intense game that was highly contested even as the clock ran out. The loss snapped a six game unbeaten streak for Providence, the longest streak for the Friars since 2005 when they began the season 4-0-5.

The loss came two days after the Friars tied the Cincinnati Bearcats 0-0. Now at 1-1-1 in Big East play, the Friars have a firm basis to build from as their conference slate continues.

Based on last week's results, the Friars slipped slightly in the polls to No. 20 in the Soccer America Poll and No. 22 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Yet, their level of competition is well represented on the national scene, as six other Big East squads are ranked, as well.

In the highly physical and fast-paced Louisville contest, the Cardinals got on the board early when they scored a goal from three yards out in the eighth minute. This marked only the second goal that the Friars have allowed in the 2008 season, a statistic which speaks to their defensive ability.

Indeed, junior goaltender Tim Murray has continued his stonewall play from the 2007 campaign. Murray earned a shutout against Cincinnati and eight saves altogether last week in Providence's two contests.

As the period continued, the pace of play quickened, and each squad earned some scoring opportunities. The Friars were unable to convert for a score, and the smash mouth play of senior Ryan Maduro kept the Cardinals from penetrating into Friar territory.

Maduro leads the team with 16 points and five goals scored. His intensity spread like wildfire so that the whole of the Friar squad kept the Cardinals tamed for the remainder of the period.

Providence outshot Louisville 10-5 in the first period and 16-13 by the game's end. But despite the Friar push in the second half led by sophomore Alex Redding, the Friars were unable to place a shot between the poles.

Six of the Friars' ten corner kicks were generated in the second period and many came close to resulting in an evened score. Redding teamed up with freshman Daniel Fabian to force the Cardinals out of bounds with 6:44 remaining in the second period. Freshman John Raley sent the ball towards the goal on the cornerkick, but the play was ruled dead on a handball before the Friars could try for the score.

The Friars lost after an intense effort in the final minutes, and capped off a frustrating week in which they outplayed two quality Big East teams but walked away without a win.

In the first period of play against Cincinnati, the Bearcat defense generated five shots on the Providence goal, but Murray preserved the shutout.

Junior Tim Ritter led the team offensively with six shots, and Redding followed up with three, but none found their way into the Bearcat net.

The contest extended into two periods of overtime, and blazing shots by Maduro and freshman Chris Stoker could not seal the deal for the Friars. This marked the Friars' third draw of the season.

Providence returns to play at Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.

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