Rhode Island Lacrosse Season In Review
Monday, June 18, 2012
Great teams, high scorers, and dominant performances characterized the 2012 season in Rhode Island high school lacrosse. All three of the state champions completed undefeated seasons, and Smithfield and East Greenwich each won the title for the second straight year.
La Salle Wins First Title
The highlight of Division 1 lacrosse this season was the Rams’ first-ever championship. With all of the All-Americans, undefeated seasons and college recruits that have come through that program, it is amazing that the school had never won a state title. La Salle had gone 44-3 in the regular season over the past four years and still never won the last game of the season. Until now. Peter DeSimone, Brady O’Donnell, and Ryan Gologly, among others, led the way for the Rams as the team overcame its demons and finally gave local coaching authority Steve O’Donnell his first title. “We’re not the Buffalo Bills anymore,” O’Donnell said.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSmithfield Still Unbeatable
Smithfield has been playing lacrosse for eight years, but it hasn’t taken long for the Sentinels to become the pre-eminent team in Division III. Smitty lax went 16-0 in 2012, capping off back-to-back undefeated seasons with a 12-6 win over Narragansett in the title game. The program has now won an astounding 31 straight games in D3.
Where did this come from? Smithfield had never posted a winning season before 2011, having gone 17-32 all-time prior to the 2011 season.
Sean Murphy was captain of the first team in 2004, and said that he isn’t surprised by the program’s success. “I left that program with a smile on my face because I knew we were headed in the right direction,” he said. “Their work regimen is what makes them successful. They’re out there five, six days a week going hard,” he said.
East Greenwich Goes Back-to-Back
No one dominated its division in the state playoffs quite like the East Greenwich Avengers. Led by bruising attacker Ethan Zink and talented sidekick Kyle Carosotto, East Greenwich cruised to the state title, outscoring opponents by an average of 7 goals per game. Zink led the state with 92 points, and Carosotto finished third with 68.
The Avengers defeated Middletown in round one, 10-5, before pounding Providence Country Day 12-2 in the second round and outclassing South Kingstown, 10-4 in the final. Zink put on a show in the championship game, putting up 3 goals and 4 assists as the Avengers outscored the Rebels, 6-2, in the second half. College recruiters have questioned Zink’s size, but there is no doubting his talent on the field. He’s headed to CCRI next season but believes that college lacrosse is in his future.
Liam Donovan Among Three All-Americans
The Portsmouth attacker put up 28 goals and 22 assists for a Patriots team that finished 3-9 in Division 1. “Liam played outstanding this season, and he probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he matches up with the other team’s
best defender every game,” said La Salle head coach Steve O’Donnell. “He’s always the focal point for their offense.” Brady O’Donnell of La Salle and Jack Dillon of Barrington were the other All-Americans, voted by state coaches.
Two New Programs
Coventry and Westerly each broke onto the high school lacrosse scene this season, competing in Division III. Sixteen Rhode Island high schools now field lacrosse teams, and the sport continues to gain popularity in the state. There was plenty of electricity in the stands at Rhode Island College during championship Saturday, when four title games were hosted back-to-back. Coventry represented itself well in its first season, going 7-6 and competing with top teams Narragansett and Toll Gate. Oakers junior Ethan Tryhubczak finished fourth in the state with 43 goals.
Next Year's Favorites
La Salle isn’t going anywhere in Division 1, and the team should be even more confident now that it has captured its first title. It’s also hard to see anyone taking out Smithfield, which has dominated Division III and returns plenty of talent, including junior Brendan Benoit. Division II may be up for grabs, as East Greenwich legends Zink and Carosotto will both graduate. That leaves South Kingstown, Prout, and Providence Country Day with an opportunity to rise up and grab the crown.
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