Patriot fall to Westerly Young Davies team drops 1-goal decision

LINCOLN – Despite having four senior starters out of the lineup with injuries, Davies Tech veteran head coach Victor Oliveira couldn’t – and wouldn’t – wallow in the fact his club dropped a 1-0 decision to Westerly on Thursday afternoon.

“The fact those four guys missed the game, that didn’t help, but I thought my kids played well as a team,” Oliveira stated after his Patriots fell to 0-2-1 in Division II action. “I’m most happy by the fact I started five freshmen, but we still competed. I can’t complain because my younger guys did their jobs, and they showed improvement.

“The way I look at it, this game should have been tied early in the second (half),” he added. “You win some, you lose some, but I’m happy because my kids worked hard out there.”

Oliveira had referred to the third minute after intermission, with the Bulldogs still holding on tight to the 1-0 advantage. A Westerly defender had been whistled for a hand ball in the goalie box, and officials called for a penalty kick.

Sophomore Carlos Rivera y

took it, and smoked a low lint er at the cage, yet senior keeper/ co-captain Spencer Bernat never was called up on to make a save. t

Instead, Rivera planted it squarely off the right post, and it caromed m far from harm.

“We thought it was in,” Oliveira sighed. “That was a big play.”

The Bulldogs eventually improved to 2-0-2 overall after sophd omore Luke Gencarella converted an unassisted breakaway just 7:53 into the initial stanza. After that, the visitors controlled the midfield for most of the half, but failed to get many shots on net. In fact, both Bernat and Tech senior co-captain/netminder Johnathan Soares closed with two saves each in the first 40 minutes.

““We didn’t have much time to warm up, but I’m most pleased with the fact we continued to fight and battle,” he continued. “I’m a true believer in the fact a long bus ride makes a big difference in how you play, but we hung in there.

“All of our games have been close – 2-1, 1-0, 1-1 – but we have a mantra, and that’s defense.”

In the end, that’s how Westerly clinched the victory. Among the stalwarts on that side of the ball: Senior co-captain Sam Luzzi, kid brother/sophomore Ben Luzzi, junior Mike Imbriglio, classmate Davide Allen and fellow junior Sean Rafferty.

With approximately 10 minutes remaining before the break, it appeared Davies had managed a terrific chance on net when freshman Josh Pereira hustled down the right side, and – draped by a defender – juked him, spun and fired a low drive at Bernat. The latter, though, made a sprawling stop.

About 10 minutes following Rivera’s golden chance gone awry in the second half, he had another opportunity. Awarded a free kick from the right, and about 45 yards from the netting, he drilled a right-to-left curve toward the right post. Two teammates leaped for the header, but neither could quite reach the feed.

Perhaps 90 ticks later, at the 55-minute mark, junior Aiden Faubert received a through pass down the middle of his offensive zone, outraced two defenders and – wide open – roped a try at the net, but he slid that past the right post.

And, with only 10 minutes left in regulation, Davies frosh David Lecaros fed a lead pass to the streaking senior Derek McCaughey, who jumped over a defender’s foot on the right, hustled downfield and ripped a low drive at Bernat. He, however, stopped it with his lower chest/belly. Westerly 1–0 –1

Davies Tech 0–0 –0

First half: W – Luke Gencarella (una.) 7:57. Second half: No scoring.

Goalie saves: Spencer Bernat (W) 6, Johnathan Soares (DT) 10.

NORTH SMITHFIELD — The Decelles brothers – North Smithfield leading scorer Justin and younger brother Brian – scored goals five minutes a part late in the second half to lift undefeated North Smithfield to a 3-1 Division II victory over visiting Hope Thursday night.

North Smithfield (5-0 Division II) grabbed the lead in the 30th minute when Justin Decelles fed defender Michale Duffy for a goal, but Blue Wave forward Henry Alvarado tied the game with a penalty kick in the 60th minute.

Senior forward Michael deRonde found Justin Decelles for his ninth goal of the season in the 67th minute and Brian Decelles took a feed from deRonde in the 72nd minute to score his first varsity goal.

The Northmen host Cranston East tomorrow afternoon.

Hope 01 -1

North Smithfield 1 2 -3

First half – NS, Michael Duffy (Justin Decelles), 30:00.

Second half – H, Henry Alvarado (penalty kick), 60:00; NS, Dcelles (Michael deRonde), 67:00; NS, Brian Decelles (deRonde), 72:00.