Huskies Blanked by Tigers, 2-0, in Critical Division II-Central Match [Video]

Samantha Welchman scored two goals and keeper Haley Higginbottom accumulated 10 saves Tuesday afternoon as the Tiverton High girls’ soccer team solidified its hold on first place in the Division II-Central standings with a critical 2-0 victory over host in blustery Bristol.

Welchman scored late in both periods – once off a free kick and once on a breakaway – as the Tigers completed a two-match regular-season sweep of the Huskies and improved their divisional record to 9-4-2. Second-place Mount Hope dropped to 7-5-2.

Welchman netted her first goal with less than seven minutes to play before halftime and added the game-clincher with approximately 90 seconds left as Tiverton clinched its second straight win after snapping a two-match losing skid. The contest was played in a gusting north-to-south win, which enabled both teams (Tiverton in the first half and Mount Hope in the second period) to dominate offensively with the wind at their backs.

“This was a nice win and it was a good, clean and hard game,” said Tiger Coach Joe Gill. “I was nervous when we had only one goal at halftime, but we played well in the second half and it was a great effort by all our girls.”

Husky Coach Roy Borges said he was pleased by his squad’s performance, but lamented its inability to find the back of the net.

“It was a good game and we had a lot of chances in the second half,” Borges said. “We made one defensive mistake in the first half and it cost us. I’d like to see our girls finish plays and put the ball in the net.”

Keepers Higginbottom and Vivian Ramos (5 saves) of Mount Hope both thwarted solid scoring bids in the first half – Borges made a gorgeous diving save on a blistering shot by Olivia Bergandy – before the Tigers finally broke through with 6:32 left. Rachel Mauricio’s free kick was batted around in front of the Husky net and Welchman ultimately got a foot on it and booted it into the goal to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

“Rachel just popped it over the first line and everyone was scrambling in front, in the middle of the field,” Welchman said. “Someone – I think it was Tori Fryzel – tapped it out and I just kicked it right in.”

Most of the second chapter was played in Tiverton’s defensive zone as Mount Hope launched countless scoring forays, none of which proved productive. Brooke Pacheco, Kaelyn Silveira, Felicia Vieira, Alexis Vieira and Caroline Murphy all poured shots on goal for the Huskies, but Higginbottom either turned them aside or benefitted from a fortunate break when one shot struck a post and bounced away.

The Tigers’ defense in the second half played superbly, especially Erin Rodrigues, Jackie Wilson, Mauricio, Erica Farias and Maya Bergandy.

With time winding down, Welchman iced Tiverton’s triumph when she handled a pass from Olivia Bergandy on the left sideline, dribbled to the middle of the field and slipped a low shot into the wide side of the net to produce a 2-0 cushion.

“It was a breakaway,” Welchman said. “It was kicked down the line by Olivia and I just kept going and kicked it into the right corner of the net.”

Both teams suffered potentially major injuries to key players in the second half. Mount Hope’s Christie Ribeiro was sidelined early in the period and Tiverton’s Fryzel suffered the same fate with about 20 minutes to play and neither returned to action.

Tiverton resumes its divisional schedule at home Thursday at 7 p.m. when it takes on East Providence High. Mount Hope will visit North Providence High in a divisional clash also Thursday at 7 p.m.

Download the movie