Slideshow: Rhode Island Soccer State Champions

Monday, November 11, 2013

 

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6 new State Championship teams were crowned in Rhode Island High School Soccer over the weekend. Each team has their own unique story, their own quest to the top, and their own method for success. The one thing they all share? The spoils of victory. Here's a look at the 6 championship teams and a tribute to their magical seasons.

 

Related Slideshow: Slideshow: Rhode Island Soccer State Champions

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Division 3 Girls

West Warwick

Regular Season: West Warwick had the most unstoppable offense in Division 3-A this season, registering 49 goals in 14 league games.  The Wizards compiled a 10-2-2 league record and earned the #3 seed in the Division 3 Tournament.

Postseason: The Wizards had a Bye in the 1st round of the playoffs, and faced #6 seed Shea in the quarterfinals.  The Raiders were 12 game winners in Division 3-B but were no match for West Warwick as the Wizards won an 8-0 decision to advance to the Final 4.

West Warwick faced #2 seed Moses Brown in the semifinals on Friday and the two teams were evenly matched all game as the match headed into double overtime tied 1-1.  The Wizards' Haley Tyler scored on a header to send West Warwick to the Finals.

In the Final on Sunday, West Warwick faced #8 seed and defending state champion Middletown.  It was surprising to see Middletown in the Final based on their seed but given that they were the defending champs they proved they deserved to defend their title.  West Warwick built a 2-0 lead over the first 70 minutes of the match before conceeding a goal to cut the lead to 2-1.  The defense held firm for the final few minutes, however, and the Wizards won their first state championship in 12 years.

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Division 3 Boys

Prout

Regular Season: Prout posted a 10-2-3 regular season record and earned a Bye in the 1st round of the playoffs as the #3 seed in Division 3.  Their 13 goals against ranked #1 in the league defensively.

Postseason: #11 seed Davies gave Prout a scare in the quarterfinals but the Crusaders squashed the cinderella story with a 2-1 victory.  Prout beat #7 seed Scituate in similar score and fashion in the semifinals and the Crusaders marched into the Final to face top seeded West Warwick for the title.

West Warwick had posted an incredible 13-1-1 record and cruised to the #1 seed in Division 3, including beating Prout 2-1 back in September.  Sunday's Final was a different story though, as Kevin Brew scored a clutch second half goal and the Crusaders' defense held firm and shut down the Wizards in a 1-0 championship victory.

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Division 2 Girls

Burrillville

Regular Season: With 50 goals in 15 league games, Burrillville was the 2nd best offensive team in Division 2.  Compiling a record of 10-3-1, the Broncos earned the #3 seed in the Division 2 Tournament and a 1st round Bye in the playoffs.

Postseason: In the quarterfinals, Burillville raced past #6 seed Westerly 6-0.  In the semifinals the Broncos ran into a Pilgrim team that beat them 1-0 in the regular season finale and earned the #2 seed.  This time the Broncos offense could not be suppressed and Burrillville won 3-1 and advanced to the championship game.

In the Final, Burrillville faced another team that had gotten the better of them in the regular season.  #1 seed Lincoln had beaten the Broncos 2-1, and the Lions scored an early goal and took a 1-0 lead into the half on Sunday.  Not to be denied, Burrillville exploded for 4 second half goals and ran away with the game and the championship 4-1.  It's Burrillville's first ever title in Division 2.

photo rights to Filter Forge

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Division 2 Boys

Toll Gate

Regular Season: With an 8-2-5 record, Toll Gate earned the #3 seed in the Division 2 Tournament and a Bye in the 1st round of the playoffs.  The Titans had the #2 scoring offense in the league with 34 goals in 15 league contests.

Postseason: Toll Gate survived a scare from #6 seed Moses Brown in the quarterfinals and won a 1-0 decision to advance to the Final 4.  There they faced #2 seed Coventry, the team that had beaten them 4-2 in the final game of the regular season.  Toll Gate turned the tables on the Oakers, winning 4-0 in surprisingly easy fashion.

In the championship game, Toll Gate and top seed Lincoln battled to a scoreless tie and had to settle the match and the season on penalty kicks.  The Titans made 4 PKs to the Lions 3 and Toll Gate earned its 1st championship since 1990.

photo rights to Steve Depolo

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Division 1 Girls

La Salle

Regular Season: La Salle was simply dominant in the regular season, putting together a 12-0-2 season behind 28 goals for and 0 goals allowed.  The dominant performance earned the Rams the #1 seed in the Division 1 Tournament and a Bye in the 1st round of the playoffs.

Postseason: La Salle systematically took down South Kingstown 3-0 in the quarterfinals, and was set to face a high powered offense from Exeter/West Greenwich in the semifinals.  EWG scored the first goal on La Salle all season, but the Rams scored a pair and advanced to the Final on a 2-1 decision.

Waiting in the final was #3 seed East Greenwich, a team that La Salle goalkeeper Amber Fortune told GoLocal gave the Rams their toughest challenge in the regular season.  EG certainly lived up to the hype, taking the match into double overtime before Veronica Hardy scored on a free kick to give the Rams their 5th state title in the last 6 years.

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Division 1 Boys

La Salle

Regular Season: With 59 goals for and just 11 allowed, no one was better offensively or defensively than La Salle in Division 1.  It's no surprise that the Rams went 13-0-1 and earned the top seed in the Division 1 Tournament and a 1st round Bye.

Postseason: La Salle easily disposed of #9 seed Portsmouth in the quarterfinals, beating the Patriots 6-0. In the semi-finals the Rams overcame a slow start to score all 3 of their goals in the second half as they blanked #4 seed South Kingstown and advanced to the Final.

In the championship game, #3 seed North Kingstown gave La Salle all they could handle, but Trevor Torres found the back of the net in the second half as the Rams won 1-0 and earned their 2nd title in 3 years.

 

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