Tiverton Tigers Girls' Soccer Team Wins Second Straight Ocean State Summer Cup [VIDEO]

Sweeter the second time around.

The girls’ soccer team clinched its second straight Ocean State Summer Cup Girls’ High School Division II championship Tuesday night, bouncing back from an early deficit to soundly defeat Mt. St. Charles Academy of Woonsocket, 4-1, in the title match at Deerfield Park in Smithfield.

Samantha Welchman netted two first-half goals, teammates Jackie Wilson and Olivia Bergandy added insurance scores in the second period, and netminders Elizabeth Janick (first half) and Haley Higginbottom (second half) collected eight saves as the Tigers capped a 7-0-1 summer campaign with a solid victory over the Mounties, who finished at 5-3.

“This championship is sweeter than last year because there were more teams in the league and more quality teams in the league this year,” said Tiverton Coach Mike Janick. “Last year was the league’s inaugural season and I think some schools had a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude. This year, teams came out that should be among the better teams in the Division II high school season this fall.”

And all will have their hands full with Tiverton.

After surrendering a goal just 10 minutes into Tuesday’s contest, the Tigers regrouped to take a 2-1 lead by halftime. After surviving a Mountie charge early in the second session, Tiverton asserted its dominance during the closing 30 minutes, rarely allowing the Mounties a serious scoring bid while constantly pressuring the Mountie's defensive zone.

Tiverton’s championship roster also includes tri-captains Tory Fryzel, Sarah Mauricio and Erin Rodrigues as well as Allison Benevides, Maya Bergandy, Regan Burke, Ashlyn Cleary, Erica Farias, Brook Hawkins, Emily Machado, Rachel Mauricio, Rebecca Mauricio, MacKenzie Mello, Miranda Pacheco and Megan Thornton. Head coach Janick was assisted by Pete Wilson, Kelly Mauricio, Chris Benevides and Bob Burke.

“The camaraderie among these girls is amazing,” Coach Janick said. “Most of these girls have played on competitive travel teams together for six or seven years, so they have a knowledge and relationship with each other that is very strong. They pick each other up and work to make sure they’re all successful.”

The Mounties appeared primed for an upset Tuesday night, jumping out on top at 1-0 in just the tenth minute of play, but Tiverton regrouped defensively and permitted few serious scoring opportunities the rest of the way.“

“We came out ready to play, but they (MSC) are a good team and put that shot in the net to put the pressure on us,” Coach Janick said. “But our girls have been like that all season long. They responded to the pressure and did what they had to do.”

Midway through the opening chapter, Mello barreled down the left wing, connected with Welchman on a pretty feed in the middle of the pitch, and Welchman beat the Mountie goaltender to the ball and popped it into the vacant net to produce a 1-1 draw.

Late in the first half, Welchman generated a pretty score, controlling a loose ball, beating two Mountie defenders and drilling a shot into the net to give Tiverton a 2-1 advantage at halftime.

Higginbottom made a sprawling save early in the second period to negate a Mount St. Charles threat and the Tigers responded by scoring twice within three minutes midway through the session. First, Olivia Bergandy’s shot was blocked, but Wilson pounced on the rebound and kicked it into the goal for a 3-1 edge. Later, Bergandy tracked down a long pass from Rachel Mauricio and rifled a left-footed shot from 30 feet out to the wide side of the net for the final score of the match.

At the conclusion of Tuesday’s match, the Tigers were presented the Division II Ocean State Cup by Director Steve Votolato.

Coach Janick said he thought the Summer Cup championship will be a harbinger of the Tigers’ fortunes this fall.

“We have high expectations for these girls,” he said. “They’ve been together and played at a high level for a long time and they are certainly capable of being there at the end.”

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