We’ve reached the final week of the soccer regular season.
Multiple division titles on the boys and girls sides have yet to be decided. A few final matchups over the next seven days will determine some early banners and playoff matchups into November.
North Smithfield’s boys in Division II, Cumberland’s girls in Division I-B, Toll Gate’s girls in Division III-A and Westerly’s girls in Division III-B are all sitting pretty. Scituate could be in line for a pair of celebrations next month — its boys top the Division III table and its girls have the inside track on the No. 1 seed in Division II.
It’s a bit spicy elsewhere. La Salle’s boys would claim the top spot in Division I by winning out against Barrington, Tolman and Classical. Pilgrim’s girls control their own destiny in Division I-A ahead of a Wednesday trip to La Salle.
Division IV on each side carries the most drama in terms of playoff seeding. Davies, Toll Gate, Woonsocket and Mount Pleasant are battling among the boys — the Patriots visit the Titans and the Villa Novans travel to face the Kilties in a pair of Wednesday matchups. Johnston, Providence Country Day and Rogers are still alive among the girls in Division IV-A while the Division IV-B crown could come down to a Davies trip to face the Pawtucket co-op team on Wednesday.
We can’t be certain how many more Storm Works Roofing Athlete of the Week honors will be up for grabs. We could try to put one together during each week of the playoffs, but waiting until the end could be the better alternative. The top five postseason performers on the boys and girls sides have a nice air of finality to them.
We’ll only impose upon you, coaches and athletic administrators, for a couple more weeks of help. Please reach us with your scores and updates Monday-Friday from 6-10 p.m. at (401) 277-7340 or any time at pjsports@providencejournal.com. Thanks in advance for the work you continue to do in helping us.
With that, on to our next batch of nominees from games played between Oct. 16-22.
Paxton Allen, Ponaganset
The Chieftains are firmly in the Division III title chase thanks to a strong defensive record. They’ve allowed just two goals in their last five matches, including a 2-0 shutout over North Providence. Allen made four saves to record his fifth clean sheet of the season.
Bryant Amaral, Scituate
The Spartans took command of the Division III title race with a 1-0 shutout of St. Raphael last week. Amaral posted a shutout, making four saves, and his team kept two more clean sheets in 1-0 wins over Ponaganset and Exeter-West Greenwich.
Israel Anderson, Coventry
Anderson couldn’t be stopped in a 7-3 win over Tiverton. He scored a hat trick and dished out a pair of assists as the Oakers overwhelmed the Tigers. Coventry will be among the likely challengers to North Smithfield in the upcoming Division II playoffs.
Kyle Bielawa, Portsmouth
The Patriots are off the pace in Division I but have no intention of going quietly into the offseason. They stole a point in a 2-2 draw with contender North Kingstown and laid a 6-0 thumping on Mt. Hope. Bielawa netted a goal against the Skippers and hit for two goals and two assists against the Huskies.
Moises Morales, La Salle
The Rams had their lone meeting with South Kingstown circled on the calendar after a semifinal thumping in 2022. Morales collected a goal and an assist as La Salle posted a 2-1 win, its 10th straight after an opening defeat.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
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https://www.providencejournal.com/story/sports/high-school/2023/10/23/storm-works-roofing-athlete-of-the-week-boys-soccer-providence-journal/71272639007/
