Northmen win second straight
Parsons, freshmen have NS shooting for playoffs
NORTH SMITHFIELD — North Smithfield girls soccer coach John Pastore knew he could count on senior Meredith Parsons to provide goal scoring and he knew junior Julia Dias would work hard in the midfield, but Pastore figured that wouldn’t be enough to earn the young Northmen a Division II playoff spot.
After the first two games of the season, Pastore looked prophetic because the Northmen were outscored by eight goals in two losses.
But, with three weeks left until the playoffs start, the Northmen are in position to host a first-round playoff game.
The Northmen won their second consecutive contest, as Parson scored a pair of goals and Dias and talented freshman Sadie Crozier each added a goal in a 4-0 victory over Johnston Tuesday night.
“We’ve got the right mentality right now,” Parsons said. “We’re getting more into the games and practice has been better than it was at the beginning of next season. We’ve had a few freshmen come up and they’re good players and they’ve helped. I really thought we weren’t going to make it to the playoffs at the beginning of the season, but now I think we are.”
“We’re playing with a lot of heart and a lot of athleticism,” Pastore said. “We still haven’t found our style yet, but I love the way they’re playing. Our attitude has turned around one thousand percent. They’re playing with a great attitude and great effort. Our goalie [senior Alyssa Naradowy] is making the saves we need her to make.”
North Smithfield ( 3- 3- 3 Division II) currently sits in 10th place, just a point behind Johnston and Wheeler for the No. 8 seed – which would earn the Northmen a home playoff game. The Northmen, who have lost just one of their previous seven contests, will be favored to win their third straight game Friday against the Lincoln School. Second- place Westerly hosts the Northmen the following day.
Johnston (4-4-1 Division I) has only been shutout twice this season and both times came against Blackstone Valley squads. The Panthers, who are led by all-division senior forward Bianca Robbins, saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in a 5-0 loss last week to Mount.
Tuesday, the Northmen scored the only goal they would need in the 25th minute when talented freshman Jackie deRonde created a goal for Dias. Of the Northmen’s four goals, three involved freshmen.
“I love the freshmen we have on this team,” Pastore said. “Sadie had a goal and a great assist and Jackie deRonde in the back has been great. Those girls are playing like upperclassmen. I can’t explain it, but they play with so much confidence and they have a style. If we could match their level, we’d play an even better style.”
Parsons doubled the Northmen’s advantage just seven minutes into the second half on a great solo effort. The senior received held on her second goal, as Crozier delivered a perfect pass in the box for Parsons to put past goalie Haley Gaunt. Parson scored a hat trick in the Northmen’s 4-1 win over East Providence last week.
“Meredith, as a leader and goal scorer, is one of the best kids I’ve had,” Pastore said. “She has a great attitude and the team wraps itself around her. She gives everything she has to this team.”
Crozier finished the scoring in the 75th minute when she ripped a low, left-footed shot under Gaunt for her second goal of the season.