On Friday afternoon at Cranston Stadium the Sentinels (13-2-1) from Smithfield High School took on the Cranston West Falcons (6-6-3) in a Division I girls soccer match. Smithfield's quick passing and midfield play led them to a 5-2 victory.
The Sentinels took the lead in the fifth minute. Co-captain Brianna Siravo shot the ball from the left side from about 25 yards out and drilled it home, giving Smithfield a 1-0 lead.
Throughout the game Smithfield's starting forwards, junior Angela Ragosta and senior Courtney Maguire, displayed great teamwork and chemistry. They created many scoring opportunities for each other and worked well together.
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"Ragosta and Courtney Maguire are a dynamic duo and feed well off each other up top," Smithfield's coach, Rob Squillante, said.
Fifteen minutes into the game, the two combined on a scoring play. Maguire fed a ball to the middle of the field to Ragosta, who blasted the ball into the back of the net.
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With just under ten minutes left in the first half, Ragosta returned the favor. She gave Maguire a through ball up the middle of the field, and Maguire rifled it home, upping the lead to 3-0.
Maguire received a pass in the left corner of the field with about three minutes left in the first half. She cut inside towards the middle, beat a defender, and scored her second goal of the game.
Smithfield sophomore Brooke Jenkins controlled the middle of the field and made smart decisions throughout the game. Jenkins rarely turned the ball over and put her teammates in position to succeed.
"She did an excellent job in the middle of the field distributing the ball and maintaining the composure of the game for us," Squillante added.
Cranston West continued to battle and their hard work paid off seven minutes into the second half. Senior Ariana Stanton's shot from the top of the box in the middle of the field went past Smithfield's keeper, trimming West's deficit to 4-1.
The Sentinels responded ten minutes later, with a dazzling display of teamwork. Jenkins played the ball to the right corner flag to Samantha Melaragno who crossed the ball to a wide open Alex Jenkins, who easily finished off the play, increasing the lead to 5-1.
In the final minute of the game, Stanton received the ball off a deflection and headed towards Smithfield's goal on a breakaway. She struck the ball to the far post and into the net. Smithfield held on for the 5-2 victory. They have one game remaining, against undefeated LaSalle. Cranston West matches up against Toll Gate and Warwick Vets next week, and in order to clinch a playoff berth, they need to win at least one of these games.
Smithfield's coach spoke about Ragosta's performance in her first game back after sitting out two weeks with a concussion. "She has been really tough to defend all season and after returning from her injury she picked up where she left off," Squillante said.
