Boys Soccer: Woonsocket Defeats Cranston West 2-0

There were not a ton of scoring chances in Wednesday's Boys Soccer contest between the Villa Novans and Cranston West, but Woonsocket was able to capitalize on theirs, adding a flukey goal to defeat their opponents, 2-0.

The first twenty minutes of the game were played in the middle of the field. Neither team was getting goal opportunities because of good defensive play, and both teams were being careful with the ball.

The first goal of the game came on a flukey play from Sebastian Mercado. Mercado kicked the ball from the middle of the field, and it was hard to tell if he was actually shooting on the net. With the Villa Novans playing into the wind, Cranston West goaltender Jonas Sullivan may have been fooled by the high fluttering kick and the ball sailed behind the goalie creating a score of 1-0, Woonsocket.

The Falcons responded and turned up the intensity.  Evan Petrarca put a good shot on goal off of a free kick, but Kory Lawrence was able to guard the top shelf and keep Cranston West off the board.

Woonsocket rebounded nicely after the Lawrence save and carried some momentum into halftime, which they promptly picked up in the second half.

Sebastian Mercado was the beneficiary of a great pass from Michael Moynihan, which he buried for his second goal of the game, giving the Villa Novans a 2-0 lead.

Andreas Brackett had another opportunity for Woonsocket a minute later off of great team passing, but he was unable to finish.  This was the last shot the Villa Novans would get, as Cranston West dictated play for the remainder of the game.

The Falcons had some great chances in the last fifteen minutes but were unable to connect on any of them. Koye Idowu found Gil Artega in front of the net, but his shot went wide. Moments later Austin Raposa and Rob BellaVentura both had point blank shots off of a throw-in.  Cranston West couldn't convert and the final was 2-0 in favor of Woonsocket.

Woonsocket has played better, but Sebastian Mercado did provide a spark for the Villa Novans.

"I don't think it was their best game. But Sebastian had a very good game, two goals, and he definitely led the way," Woonsocket Coach Andrew Rao said after the game.

Cranston West played a good game but came up on the short end of this one.

"I think we played very well today. The scoreboard in soccer sometimes doesn't dictate how well the game went," said Cranston West Coach James Williamson. "I mean, we had many chances and I think we controlled the flow of the game. But they put the ball in the back of the net twice, and therefore they won."