Late arrival doesn’t deter Novans

Seck nets winner to deny Raiders

jbaker@pawtuckettimes.com Hopkins-Jones and junior Cassidy Szymczuk.

With the victory, the Novans improved to 4-4-1 in league action and actually took a half game leap over the hosts (4-5-0) in the standings.

“We just wanted it,” explained head coach Tiffany Godbout afterward. “We needed the points to put ourselves in better playoff position, and we’ll take them. They were in front of us by about a half-game … The only key was I thought we wanted it more.

“We had talked on the bus on the way down here, and we told the girls they needed to be prepared and play really aggressively,” she added. “The defense was absolutely incredible. I wish I could give them a break (today in practice), but we need more work before Friday. That’s when we play Tolman (at Barry Field at 4 p.m.).”

The Raiders produced three splendid opportunities to grab a lead in the opening 34-plus minutes of the first half but didn’t. At the 16-minute mark, senior Merly Olivieira DeAndrade sent a fantastic through pass from 33 yarrds out to sophomore Bitenga Namusse streaking down the left side, but it took a crazy bounce straight toward the cage.

Rodriguez allowed it to get slightly past her, but recovered for the stop.

About nine minutes later, junior Jayde Fernandes smoked a 29-yard try from the right side at the keeper, but that sailed just wide of the left post. Finally, with 5:21 remaining before intermission, Fernandes dribbled in from the right and crushed a low try at Rodriguez, but she again pounced on it.

Exactly 29 ticks later, at the 36:08 mark, junior Madeline Virusak sent what appeared to be a harmless through pass down the left hash, and Seck hustled after it draped by two Raiders. Seck, though, somehow squeezed through them, gained control of the ball, sprinted in on junior netminder Hedeliza Gomes on the breakaway and planted it inside the left post.

For most of the final 40 minutes, Shea maintained possession in Woonsocket territory, but never did do much with those chances.

“We dominated the time of possession, field position, shots on goal, corner kicks, you-name-it, but not the scoreboard,” said SHS coach Yianiss Noel. “They had maybe one corner. We had one turnover, and it cost us. They took advantage of it.

“I really thought we deserved a better fate,” he added.

Gomes closed with four saves for the Raiders.

**

Woonsocket 1–0–1

Shea 0–0–0

First half: W – Amy Seck (Madeline Virasak) 36:08. Second half: No scoring.

Shots on goal: Woonsocket 3-2 – 5, Shea 8-6 – 14. Goalie saves: Natasha Rodriguez (W) 14, Hedeliza Gomes (S) 4.