Boys Soccer: Crusaders Overwhelm Mariners 3-1

NARRAGANSETT – After a surprising first half that saw the Mariners take a 1-0 lead, the Prout Crusaders roared back, scoring three goals at point blank range and winning 3-1 Friday afternoon.

Narragansett (4-8-2, 4-8-2 Division II-South) took an early lead on a run by senior Aaron Libman. Beating a defender down the left sideline, the goalie came out to defend him. He slipped a shot on the ground to the right, past the diving goal, to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead.

They held the lead for the rest of the half, despite a ferocious Prout (10-3-1, 10-3-1 Division II-South) attack, thanks to some outstanding work in goal by junior Zachary McKanna. He finished with 15 saves, seven in the first half.

However, Prout head coach Timothy Ryan said his team was prepared.

“We knew it was going to be a hard game,” he said. “The proximity of the two schools makes it a close game.”

The consistent Prout attack eventually overwhelmed Narragansett in the second half. Senior captain Ryan Cripps got an open look from about 10 feet out and buried it in the back of the net.

Losing the lead, the Mariners were momentarily re-energized on offense. Prout goalkeeper Sean Altshuler remained strong though, turning away two shots, and watching three others sail over the net.

Prout finally took the lead in the 68^th minute. Senior Paul Bellafiore scored on a Crusaders’ counterattack from a Narragansett chance.

Narragansett head coach Ryan Kanaczet said he wasn’t surprised his team gave up a couple of late goals – they needed to go for the win because of playoff seeding.

“We had to push up to go for the win,” he said. “They counterattacked on that push.”

Narragansett resident and Prout senior Douglas Buonanno scored the third goal, and his 15^th of the season, on an incredible individual play. In the 72^nd minute and with his back to the goal, he spun away from three defenders and uncorking a rising shot above the dive of McKanna.

“Teams know he’s good with his back to the goal,” Ryan said of the Mariners’ defense, which typically played two on Buonanno when he was in the box. “Teams see the stats and know we go through him.”

The win all but ends the Mariners’ faint playoff hopes. Typically, the top 11 in Division II make the playoffs – The Mariners qualified in the final spot, the sixth seed, last year.

Currently, the Mariners’ 10 points ties them for 12^th with Mt. Hope. Narragansett would need the teams in 10^th and 11^th – Westerly and Mount Saint Charles, 13 points – to falter, along with the Huskies.

Narragansett also needs to win at Pilgrim 3:45 p.m. Monday and on Senior Day against Middletown 3:30 p.m. Thursday. While Pilgrim only has eight points on the year, Middletown is in third place in Division II-South, and the Mariners would need to pull the upset.

Kanaczet said that unfortunately, the Mariners have dealt with injuries to midfield players all year. Seniors Zachary Humulock and Sajad Hosseini both missed time this year, and they are still playing a bit hurt.

“We got too banged up in the middle with the injuries,” Kanaczet said, forcing him to mix up lineups frequently. “It’s constantly trying to patch things together that hurts.”

The outlook is rosier for the Crusaders, currently in second place with 21 points. While it’s unlikely they can catch East Greenwich (24) for first in the division, Prout holds a one-point lead on Middletown for second, with two games left for both teams.