Portsmouth High School Claims JV State Title in Girls' Soccer [VIDEO]

One late goal made all the difference.

Freshman Kelly Coyne netted a pretty goal with a little more than three minutes to play up as the girls’ junior varsity team completed an undefeated season Wednesday night. The Patriots finished with a thrilling 1-0 victory over East Greenwich High in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League’s state tournament championship played at John F. Kennedy Field in Portsmouth.

Coyne’s goal enabled the Patriots to finish their 2011 campaign with a 16-0-1 record and climaxed a well-played and exciting match which saw both squads play with passion, energy and enthusiasm from start to finish. The physical contest featured constant back-and-forth and up-and-down action, with a minimum of solid scoring chances, but a maximum of drama and emotion.

The match was scoreless and appeared headed into overtime when Coyne scooped up a deflected crossing pass from Emily Manosh, cleverly out-maneuvered two Avenger defenders, and drilled a low bullet from 20 yards out which deflected off an Avenger defender and eluded the dive of EG keeper Caroline Preston (6 saves), nestling into the lower right corner of the net with merely 3:08 to play.

“I didn’t think it would go in,” Coyne admitted at game’s end. “I got around one girl and shot it and it went off someone’s foot and into the net. This is an amazing feeling.”

East Greenwich (15-2) immediately forced the action and produced a corner kick in the closing minute, but generated no serious scoring bids as Portsmouth’s defense adroitly ran out the clock, much to the relief of Coach Tom Chamard.

“It was an unbelievable effort by our girls,” Chamard said. “It was by far the most hotly contested match we’ve had this year. Our girls were tired at the end, but they dug deep and we had just enough to finish the job.”

Avenger Coach Scott Douglas said he was as proud of his team’s performance.

“I thought we played very well and it was probably the most exciting game I’ve seen this year,” Douglas said. “Their goal was redirected off someone’s leg and went the other way and there was nothing Caroline (Preston) and there was nothing she could do about it. Our girls had a great season and they should be very proud of themselves.”

Morgan Delehanty earned a shutout in net for Portsmouth by matching Preston with six saves.

During a scoreless first half, both squads forged numerous scoring chances, but few serious threats. The Patriots managed two easy shots on goal and a corner kick in the opening three minutes, but to no avail, while Delehanty deflected a shot by EG’s Rebecca Nunez over the net from 20 yards out to preserve the stalemate at intermission.

Hannah Wilkie, Coyne, Gretchen Scott, Madeline Chamard, Laurel Murray, Kristina Caragianis and Natalie Yaw all played well in the midfield for Portsmouth as did Mikayla Baiocchi, Giovanna Mandarini, Margaret Mathieu, Marissa McCann, Nunez and Jennifer Sarazen for East Greenwich.

Nunez misfired on two good shots early in the second half for the Avengers, while Madeline Chamard, Manosh and Gretchen Petrie all had errant scoring opportunities for the Patriots, setting the stage for Coyne’s late heroics.

Coach Chamard said the state championship triumph was a momentous occasion for Portsmouth.

“To go undefeated in Division I at any level is pretty special,” he said. “They deserve the success they got. They earned it.”

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