Photo Gallery: Lightning Girls Take 2nd Place In RI Cup

On June 26, the undefeated Johnston Lightning under-14 girls soccer team (6-0-2) faced off against the East Providence AYSO team at Deerfield Park in Greenville as parents lined the field with folding chairs, cheering on their favorite players.

"Johnston beat East Providence in a shoot-out to win the Super Liga championship a couple of weeks ago," said assistant coach Ernie Valentine, making the Rhode Island Cup contest a re-match between the teams.

Valentine explained the earlier game went to overtime as both teams were 3-3 at the end of regulation. Johnston won the Super Liga title with penalty kicks credited to Jenna Palumbo, Carissa Valentine and Zoe Griffin.

Ernie Valentine, who is a longtime youth soccer coach, is no stranger to winning championships — about five years ago, his squad won the Gatorade Cup, which is now called the R.I. Cup.

On their way to the R.I. Cup finals, head coach Stacie Delos said Johnston placed first in the Rhody division, as they beat eight other teams and also won their semifinal game against Pawtucket 4-1, in Scituate.

As the two teams took the field on June 26, Kaitlyn Marandola was assigned to the goalkeeper post.

In the first half, East Providence scored two goals and Johnston was still looking for their first goal as they went to their break.

Johnston's Arianna Cambio got control of the soccer ball and kicked in the first goal for her team in the second half. The Lightning tried to keep up the momentum, but East Providence held on to their lead and went on to win the R.I. Cup by a score of 2-1.

"I am proud of the girls — they played great all session," said Delos, adding that on July 17, the team is going to visit Gillette Stadium.