Girls’ Soccer Remains Perfect in D-III Play [Video]

NARRAGANSETT – Overcoming a slow start in their third game in four days, the Narragansett Mariners’ girls’ soccer team remained perfect in Division III play with a 3-0 victory at home against the Moses Brown Quakers Thursday afternoon.

When asked about her team’s “sluggish” start, Narragansett head coach Kathryn Mahoney said that was the best word to describe it.

“The first half was very lackluster, and they played sluggish,” she said, adding that junior sub Lauren Wade seemed to finally jumpstart the rest of the team.

“[She] was a sparkplug off the bench,” Mahoney said. “I think it was a wakeup call.”

Senior and captain Jackie Iannucci said a perfect league record – currently at 14-0 – is something the squad is shooting for, but they knew their first half play left something to be desired.

“We just talked to each other more and realized what would happen if we didn’t pick it up,” she said.

The Mariners finally broke the scoring impasse at 52:20 in the second half. (See the attached video.)

The Quakers initially turned away a corner kick from senior Emily Wright. However, the rebound eventually ended up on the foot of junior Chandler Lemay.

Lemay put a shot on goal, which went toward Moses Brown defender Alexandra Gray on the goal line. She was able to deflect the ball, but it went into her own net, for the Mariners’ first goal of the game.

The goal opened the floodgates, and ended what had been up to that point a frustrating afternoon for the Mariners’ offense. Despite repeated shots in the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Moses Brown defense remained strong.

In particular, freshman Chelsea Sahagian had two point blank shots – one went off the left post, and the other was turned away by goalkeeper Jacqueline Berard, who had a great game in net for the Quakers. Lemay and junior Carla Porras also had clean looks at the net in the first half.

However, all three finished well in the second half. About four minutes after the own goal, Sahagian buried a pass from Iannucci in the back of the net.

And, with about 11 minutes left in the match, Porras had the best single run of the game. Beating a Moses Brown defender down the field, Porras scorched a shot at Berard, who was able to deflect it on a diving save. Porras was still in the box though, and nailed the rebound home.

The game also tested the Mariners in two critical ways before the playoffs – It was the third game in four days, with all three games against playoff teams, and Moses Brown played a much more physical style than previous Mariner opponents.

Iannucci said that they game and the team’s recent schedule tried their stamina. Because of the nature of Division III, Iannucci said this recent stretch was the first of the season where she had to play the entire game all-out.

“It’s definitely different, especially compared to the difficult of the rest of the schedule,” she said. “This week was the first that we had to play the whole game each game.”

The two game officials also did the Mariners no favors, as they kept their whistles pocketed for much of both halves. It led to an aggressive, physical game.

However, Mahoney said her team has to be ready to play that style, if needed, in the playoffs.

“I’d say it was one of the more physical games we’ve played,” she said. “But we need to expect that. I don’t care what the refs call, you need to play hard.”

While the Mariners are slightly shorthanded – junior Abby Soscia remains a scratch because of a concussion suffered in the Middletown game Monday, and junior Maggie Salomone is just a spectator this year because of an ankle injury – they did get a significant midseason reinforcement.

Porras rejoined the team several weeks ago, and has paired with Sahagian to give the team a frightening amount of speed upfront. Despite playing its last three games against playoff teams, the Mariners still won 7-2 vs. Middletown, 3-0 at West Warwick and 3-0 vs. Moses Brown.

Narragansett will look to finish off the perfect regular season next week two of their toughest opponents of the year via record, the St. Raphael’s Academy and the Burrillville Lady Broncos.

The Saints were undefeated (12-0-1) as of Thursday morning, but lost their game Thursday afternoon. Unfortunately for Narragansett, that loss came to Burrillville (12-1), their opponent right after St. Raphael.

The Mariners host St. Raphael’s at 4 p.m. Monday, and Burrillville at 4 p.m. Wednesday for Senior Day.

CORRECTION, 7:14 a.m.: Moses Brown goalkeeper Jacqueline Berard was first incorrectly identified as freshman backup goalkeeper Catalina Mazo.