Week 8’s Blitz Breakdown: High school playoff picks. Did we get it right?
RI Blitz Breakdown, a Providence Journal WPRI partnership, takes a look at the big plays, games and all things high school football.
PROVIDENCE – North Kingstown will enter chasing history while La Salle will be attempting to reclaim a top spot it held for so long.
The Skippers and Rams booked places in the Division I girls soccer title round with semifinal victories Tuesday, Nov. 4 at Rhode Island College.
North Kingstown withstood a couple nervy moments and systematically broke down Lincoln, 3-0, in the nightcap at Alumni Stadium. La Salle opened this clear fall evening scoring the lone goal it needed early in the second half to edge Mt. Hope, 1-0.
The Skippers will bid to become the first public school to win four championships in five years at the top level when they enter Saturday morning’s 11 a.m. final. They’ll also be hunting for a third straight title – only North Kingstown from 1993-95 and South Kingstown from 1997-99 have done that among public programs. The Rams dominated the 2000s and 2010s but haven’t brought home the trophy since a 2020 finals victory over Pilgrim.
“It’s a lot of pressure coming in here with that history,” North Kingstown defender Maya Bigelli said. “We just need to work really hard and come in and play like we’ve been playing all season.”
“I know there are going to be some nerves,” La Salle striker Mariana Laquale said. “But I really think we can win it.”
The Skippers (17-1-0) won for the 16th straight time by withstanding some pressure from the Lions on set pieces in the opening half. They took the lead for good in the 18th minute when Alexa Barajas played June Merchant into space down the left wing. Merchant lined up a shot with her left foot that feathered just under the crossbar to make it 1-0.
“I was worried it would hit the crossbar,” Merchant said. “But it did what it was supposed to do, which was perfect.”
Barajas fired from the left wing into the top right corner of the cage to double the lead in the 59th minute. North Kingstown put it out of reach when Merchant served in a corner kick off the left and Maiali Rizzo was able to poke it home from close range. The Lions (10-8-1) fell a step short of their first finals appearance at the top level while the Skippers posted their 11th shutout of the season.
“Being able to run to our teammates after they score a goal like that makes it all worth it,” Bigelli said. “It’s my favorite part of playing.”
La Salle (17-2-0) managed the lone breakthrough five minutes after halftime. Mila Falcone drove down the left wing and turned the corner toward the near post. Her left-footed cross into a dangerous area found Laquale running down the middle, and she calmly redirected the ball with her right foot into the open side of the cage.
“I’m thinking I need to get in behind,” Laquale said. “She can play me. We’ll have a chance at a goal.”
It was the first real quality chance for the Rams after a cagey opening 40 minutes. Falcone thought about shooting after finding some rare open space but opted for a pass. It wound up the assist that pushed La Salle into its first final since 2022.
“I was trying to hit the space where the defender wasn’t running,” Falcone said. “She could just hit it in. It had enough power where she could just direct it.”
Mt. Hope (11-6-2) nearly came up with an equalizer in the 63rd minute. Thea Jackson was fouled at the edge of the penalty area and the Huskies were awarded a free kick from close range. Emma Goglia’s shot skimmed off the top of the crossbar, with Rams keeper Grace Keenan breathing a clear sigh of relief.
“I guess we expected it to be a hard game,” Falcone said. “We both really wanted to come out and win.”
North Kingstown beat La Salle twice in the 2021 and 2022 finals to help start its current run. The Skippers also took out the Rams in a quarterfinal shootout in 2023 before surrendering their crown to Cumberland. North Kingstown slipped to a 1-0 victory in the only meeting between the two programs this season on Sept. 11.
“We’ve been working for it all season,” Merchant said. “That winning streak – we want to keep it up.”
“It’s going to be exciting,” Falcone said. “Whatever happens, I’m really excited that we made it. I’m proud of us.”
MT. HOPE (0): No scoring.
LA SALLE (1): Mariana Laquale; assist – Mila Falcone.
Halftime – 0-0. Saves – Moira Ware, MH, 3; Grace Keenan, LS, 6.
LINCOLN (0): No scoring.
NORTH KINGSTOWN (3): June Merchant, Alexa Barajas, Maiali Rizzo; assists – Barajas, Merchant.
Halftime – NK, 1-0. Saves – Eva Genereaux, L, 8; Sidney St. Louis, NK, 5.
On X: @BillKoch25