Lightning Under-10 Boys Continue Winning Ways

As the Johnston Lightning boys Under-10 C team entered their fifth game on Feb. 20, they were holding the Divisional Championship title from Session One, and continued their winning ways with an impressive shutout on Feb. 13 against Blackstone/Millville Youth Soccer organization.

On Sunday, they faced off against their new opponents, the Pawtucket White team, at Wide World of Indoor Sports in North Smithfield.

"The boys had one loss and one tie for Session One," recalled coach Brian Berendt, adding they won the Divisional Championship in an overtime shoot-out; Anthony Scivola is credited for scoring the winning goal, 3-2, in the Session One finale.

On Feb. 20, Johnston and Pawtucket entered the game with the same record, 2-2. Before the start of the first half, third-year coach Berendt explained that his team was missing two players and coach Lori Agnew. Assigned to the goalkeeper role was Jack Frein.

Scivola lit up the scoreboard first for Johnston, and another midfielder, Giovanni DelNero, followed with back-to-back goals. Issac Samayoa stepped up to the plate and scored the last goal of the first half, helping his team post a 4-0 score. 

At halftime, Berendt extolled the Lightning for the good job they were doing and instructed to continue to pass the ball and make more shots to the net.

The relief goalkeeper for the second half was Samayoa, though he didn't get to much action at the net, as Johnston kept up their momentum and kept their opponents at bay. Scivola made a beeline to the net and scored the fifth goal.

With only a few minutes left in the game, midfielder Jared Lameiro added the sixth and final goal of the game as the Johnston team earned their second shutout of the second session, 6-0. The Lightning previously defeated the Blackstone/Millville squad by a score of 8-0.

"I am very proud of the boys, " said coach Berendt. "They have come a long way."

The boys' next game is Feb. 27 against the Cumberland Cobras at 5:15 p.m. in North Smithfield.