Avengers, South Kingstown End Regular Season With Tie

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – If a tie is like kissing your sister, then yesterday’s South Kingstown – East Greenwich girls soccer game was like stealing your sister’s lunch money.

After 80 minutes of chippy, hard-nosed soccer, the Rebels and Avengers both left the field unhappy after a 0-0 draw on a windy day at Curtis Corner Middle School.

It was the final regular season game for both teams.

“I thought we had our chances and our opportunities,” South Kingstown coach Jim Kelly said. “They’re a good team, and we played them evenly.”

Chances were few and far between for both teams, as action was tied up in the midfield for most of the afternoon.

The best chance of the game came in the 75^th minute when the Rebels’ Samantha LeDonne outran two Avenger defenders to the ball and shot it past senior goalkeeper Kaylee Sullivan only to have it cleared away by sophomore Marissa Light at the last moment.

“Great save and a great shot,” Kelly said. “It was great on both parts.”

Both teams, who are a combined 23-5-10 on the season, showed flashes of their skill throughout the game, but it was the back line for both teams that shined.

“They’re very quick in their back four,” East Greenwich coach Scott Douglas said of the Rebel defense. “They’re very aggressive.”

As the game progressed the pace picked up and the tempers began to flair. The play in the midfield got more physical in the last half hour.

Words were exchanged late in the game and after the final whistle, but cooler heads prevailed and both teams were left to prepare for the playoffs once the brackets are released later this week.

“It’s about camaraderie and getting together,” Douglas said. “Even when you’re playing poorly, staying positive with each other. They had a couple of moments today where they got on each others’ cases because of the other team frustrating us with the way they play and we can’t do that. You can’t let them dictate the play.”

Freshman forward Jennifer Sarazan had the Avengers’ best opportunity midway through the second half, but it sailed wide.

Sullivan kept the shutout intact by falling on the ball through a sea of legs after a South Kingstown free kick with 20 minutes to go. She also had an acrobatic jumping save in the waning minutes.

The Avengers and Rebels finish first and third respectively in Division-I South.