Archive - Sep 2011 - Sports Article
September 30th
CUMBERLAND â For opposing Division I schools, thereâs no secret strategy to beat Cumberland High.
While the Clippers possess a talented squad this fall, if the opposition can keep multiple all-stater Stephanie Ribeiro away from the ball the odds are favorable that a victory will come its way.
East Greenwich witnessed that on Friday.
Despite blanket coverage all afternoon, Ribeiro managed to still score three goals in their crossover match. And that was all that was needed to upset the previously-unbeaten Avengers, 3-1, at the Tucker Field complex.
September 29th
PAWTUCKET â If Thursdayâs Division II-North showdown between unbeaten Tolman and once-tied Smithfield is any indication, the postseason playoffs are going to be fun to watch.
Defending D-II champion Smithfield dominated the first half of this matchup with Tolman, taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Mark Marino and Tim Cabral. The Sentinelsâ defense held the high-powered Tigersâ offense to one shot in the first half.
The baseball season provides each team with 162 opportunities to either right wrongs or sink further into the abyss. Each day yields a fresh set of results in need of analysis and dissection, hence why itâs sometimes difficult to locate a specific turning point â the one game or one injury that led to the dynamic being altered.
September 28th
NORTH SMITHFIELD â Jen Brodeur had one of those seasons that doesnât come around too often for a first-year coach.
Inheriting a strong nucleus of players from previous years, the North Smithfield coach watched her Northmen lose just one league match en route to capturing the Division III state championship.
Eight senior starters have since graduated from that squad. While she wouldnât label it a rebuilding year, Brodeur wasnât expecting a similar scenario this season.
Blame it on the rain? Tough early-season matchups? Injuries? Turnovers?
Whatever the reason, 70 percent of the Blackstone Valleyâs teams that played last weekend lost, and four of those seven losing teams were badly beaten by 27 or more points.
But while the negatives outweighed the positives last weekend, this is a new week. And while not a lot of matchups stand out, there are a pair to highlight, but you will have to wait until Saturday afternoon to see these duels featuring Blackstone Valley opponents.
September 27th
BURRILLVILLE â There were a few goals that head coach Marty Crowley and his resurging Burrillville High girlsâ program made at the beginning of the season.
The first was to possibly claim the Northern Division title, an attainable dream that may have been washed away after a loss to unbeaten Smithfield two weeks ago. Besides earning a slot for the state meet in November, another high focus for the Lady Broncos was to take down league rival Cumberland.
Thatâs something that hasnât been done since 1984.
September 26th
LINCOLN --- Lincoln controlled the clock, but Rogers ruled the scoreboard.
The Vikings only had the ball on offense for approximately 10Âœ of the first 31Âœ minutes of Monday nightâs Division III game at Ferguson Field, but that didnât prevent them from producing 35 points and 228 yards of real estate and cruising to a 41-6 victory.
WOONSOCKET â The offense of Tolman High, spearheaded by high-scoring sophomore Manny Wongen, has been a major contributor to its undefeated record so far.
But you got to give credit to the Tigersâ defense, too.
Just like its previous seven tilts in Division II-North, the âDâ was at the top of its game on Monday afternoon as the Tigers held off upset-minded Woonsocket, 2-1, at Barry Field.
September 24th
WOONSOCKET â After winning consecutive Division II Super Bowls, head coach Carnell Henderson and Woonsocket are in the midst of a transition period.
The young and inexperienced Villa Novans are receiving a baptism by fire, while at the same time, trying to uphold the proud tradition that goes with being defending champs. Itâs a club that has plenty of room to grow after absorbing a 35-6 hurting from Tolman High Saturday afternoon at Barry Field. It was a rematch of last Decemberâs Div. II title game, won by the Novans, 28-14.
BURRILLVILLE â In a competitive game that went down to the wire, visiting East Greenwich held on for a 13-7 victory against host Burrillville at Alumni Field.
The Avengers trailed 7-6 in the fourth quarter before grabbing a key turnover that turned the tide in their favor. Alex Cleary came up with an interception have a Burrillville receiver failed to haul in a pass from quarterback Glen St. Pierre.
