Shea earns first D-I win over Clippers

CUMBERLAND — If you were to take Cumberland’s scheme and combine it with Shea’s skill, you would have a pretty solid R.I. boys soccer outfit.

The contrast in style was very apparent Monday night at Tucker Field between two squads trending in opposite directions. The Raiders were winless in three league chances while the early-season returns on the Clippers were all positive. Two weeks into league play, they found themselves tied for second place with defending state champion Barrington.

In the end, skill prevailed with Shea senior Deven Silva tucking the ball into the left corner with 7:10 remaining in a 1-0 win that enabled head coach Pierre Ridore and his players to breathe a major sigh of relief.

“We’ve had injuries and in the last game, we had five starters missing. We’ve yet to play a game where everyone is involved,” Ridore said. “In the second half, that was the first time we consistently moved the ball. We played with energy and the effort was there, which is what I would have told them even if we had lost, but I think we’re only going to get better from here.”

Silva’s goal was assisted by senior Geison Silva Da Cruz.

“He’s new to the team and he’s working hard,” Ridore said about Monday’s goal-scoring star. “A couple of times, I saw him limping but he wanted to stay in there.”

“They did a good job of beating our guy and getting a ball through and putting it in the net,” said CHS head coach Justin Resendes.

Shea did generate some chances in the opening half, though nothing that would pass as a legitimate threat. The Raiders seemed content with firing away from 20-plus yards out while the Clippers patiently worked the ball around in hope of taking advantage of a defensive breakdown.

A nice touch pass by Cumberland junior Aiden Bagley resulted in a prime scoring chance for senior Matthew Hyman, though the home team was called for off sides at the eight-minute mark. Soon after, a corner kick to the left of Shea goalie Ednilson Tavares (six saves) saw Cumberland junior Cole Cayer get a head on the ball, but he just missed finishing the play.

Cumberland’s final chance of the opening half saw senior Denser Martinez let it rip from the 10-yard mark, though the bid sailed to the left of Tavares.

“We like to play a good brand of soccer,” said Resendes.

Cumberland goalie Jacob Reed (seven saves) made a diving save with eight minutes gone by in the second half and it seemed to spark his teammates as they began to take it to Shea. The Raiders successfully weathered the storm as Da Cruz fired a shot from close range that signaled that the momentum had shifted.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow. Shea welcomes Portsmouth to Max Read Field while Cumberland travels to Chariho.