EPHS Girls Soccer & Tennis Win State Titles

EPHS Girls Soccer Div 3 State Champions:
The EPHS Townie Girls Soccer Team is the 2016 Division 3 State Champions with a winning score of 3-2 over Johnston High last month after penalty kicks. Sydney Vilardi and Alyssa DeOliveira scored goals in regulation. Amber Drainville and Sydney Vilardi had the assists. Mia Jackson had 4 saves. The score was 2-2 after regulations and double overtime. The game went into penalty kicks where Mia Jackson saved 3 shots. EP scored on penalty kicks by Arianna Calouro, Grace Abrams, Sydney Vilardi, and Aaliyah Pattie.

The team defeated Tolman in the semi-finals 4-1. Grace Abrams, Sydney Vilardi, Lily Palumbo, and Ashley Cassino-Henrique scored for the Townies. Mia Jackson made 4 saves for the big EP win..

The soccer team roster included the following: Savannah Feola, Jaime Sousa, Alyssa DeOliveira, Lily Palumbo, Simone Driscoll-Nicholas, Dania Viera, Raevyn Watson, Julia Andrade, Sydney Vilardi, Isabel Lopes, Jessica Costa, Sarah Sherman, Hailey Placido, Taylor Donnelly, Isabella Monteiro, Brandy Nunes, Jade Braxton, Megan Enes, Taylor Heck, Grace Abrams, Arianna Calouro, Amber Drainville, Krystal Pizzi, Ashley Cassino-Henriquez, Kasey Playe, Lindsey Amaral, AAliyah Pattie, Michaela Doro, Marissa Thomas, Mia Jackson, Rachel Oliveira and Paige Chakouian. The Townies are coached by Angelo Pizzi, Jr. and Stacie Delos.

EPHS Girls Tennis Div 3 State Champions:
Lilly Conti won a decisive, come from behind, three set victory at third singles to give the Townies a 4-3 win over Classical in the Girls DIII State Championship Match. It is the Lady Townies first tennis title since 1993. Tess Amore won at first singles, Mary McBride at fourth singles and the doubles team of Rachel LaValley and Jessica Costello picked up the other point to give the Townies the victory over previously unbeaten Classical.

The Townies finished the regular season in a strong position. Lilly Conti and the doubles team of Rachel LaValley and Jessica Costello finished out undefeated seasons as the Townie Girls Tennis team completed their regular season as Division III Regular Season Champions. Tess Amore, Victoria Luchi and Mary McBride all won in straight sets as did the 1st doubles team of Megan Amore and Tess Lyons. The Townies finished the season at 15-1 and win their first division championship in over twenty years.

The tennis team roster is as follows: Elizabeth Adamjam, Faustino Amanda, Tess Amore, Megan Amore, Seagrave Arianna, Lillian Conti, Katarina Correira, Alyssa DaPonte, Skyla DaSilva, Caislin Francis, Costello Jessica, Foley Kaylin, Rachel LaValley, Victoria Luchi, Tess Lyons, Scout Lyons, Turner Madison, Mary McBride, Pinto Michelle, Northrup Michelle, Emily Ramsey , Mello Riley, Lawrence Rose , Lyons Scout, Ashley Shankar, Blake Throwbridge and Isabelle Wetmore.

EPHS Girls Cross Country:
Freshman Christy Long represented the Townies well in the RI Cross Country State Meet. Christy shaved 10 seconds off her time at the same course from last week to finish only 4 minutes behind the lead runner and finishing ahead of over 50 other runners. This wrapped up a successful season for the young Townie team who's future looks very bright for years to come.

The Townies girls varsity and junior varsity teams competed in the Class A State meet last month. The Varsity team finished in a respectable 13th place despite being a very young team. Christy Long again led the way for the Townies followed by Gabrielle Patrone, Lily Cayce, Ellen Phillips and Jenna Macnie.

The JV team was led by Brianna Santos, Kendra Piros, Meagan Heatherton, the Durfee sisters and Kristen Marasco, with Brianna and Kristen posting their personal best times of the year.

EPHS Boys Cross Country:
The Boys Cross Country team finished their regular season Metropolitan Division dual meet schedule on Monday October 4, 2016 by defeating Shea 21-38 and losing to Moses Brown 38-19 and Tolman 23-32. The Townies who competed without two of their top runners, out with injuries gave a gallant effort but came up short of their goal of sweeping their three division rivals. Senior captain Colby Amaral turned in an outstanding effort, finishing second overall in the meet and shaving over two minutes off his personal best time. The Townies return to action on October 13, 2016 when they compete in the Avenger Invitational.

EPHS Boys Soccer:
Townies lose out in state playoffs. East Providence lost in a close early round playoff game to Central High 3-1. Manuel Gouveia scored the Townies lone goal.

In earlier action last month, the Townies scored a win on Senior Night. Nate Bento got the Townies on the board and Tyler Coelho scored on a pass from Manuel Gouviea to give the Townies a huge 2-0 win over East Greenwich High at home on Senior Night. The win secures the Townies a place in the Division I playoffs. Nathan Silveira was solid in net and the Townies played excellent team defense all night to shut down the Avenger attack.

EPHS Girls Volleyball:
EP continues to ride the wave of inconsistency. The Townies lost a late season match to Cumberland, 3-1. EP will play well for stretches and then it will disappear for long parts of the match. The Townies were served off the court against Cumberland as EP had 37 ball handling errors. EP didn't fare well attacking either, with 20 attack errors to only 16 kills.

Earlier last month EP played well in a win over Mount St. Charles. EP vs. Mount has been one of the better rivalry matches in RI High School volleyball for the last 5 years. This was a typical hard fought, drawn out match that saw the Townies come out on top 3-2. The match went back and forth for most of the night as both teams worked their way back from deficits throughout the match. The Townies had to rally from two sets down and needed a crucial block on match point to seal it. EP was led by Emma DaSilva's team high 12 kills and 11 digs, and Kate Atwell's 7 kills and 2 aces.

Townie football misses playoffs, Loses Turkey Day:
For the first time since 1982, the annual East Providence - LaSalle Thanksgiving Day game was played at LaSalle Academy in Providence. After the LaSalle football stands were structurally condemned, the annual game had been played in various Providence venues during LaSalle's home years. For many recent years the game has been played every year at EP's Pierce Stadium. After LaSalle's renovation of its new field, the game will return to the tradition of alternating home sites. That is, if the longest standing holiday intra-state rivalry isn't ended soon.

The Townies still struggling to compete with the private schools won the game last year but couldn't pull out a win in 2016. EP led in the game by a 26-21 score at one point but the Rams mounted a late game comeback and eventually prevailed over EP 35-32. LaSalle will once again face Hendricken for the Super Bowl title in Division I.

Earlier this season East Providence lost a must win game to Portsmouth High by a lopsided 42-13 score in a game in which both teams needed to win to secure any playoff action. EP had wins over Cranston West, Woonsocket and Tolman this regular season.

(Thanks to EPHS athletics for story statistics and photos.)