Seekonk Girls Soccer Team Looks Ready to Bust Out

SOMERSET - South Coast Conference rivals who look at the Seekonk girls soccer team’s 0-2 record and think there’s an easy win coming had better check themselves.

The Warriors have gone toe-to-toe with Old Rochester, who’s like the New England Patriots of the SCC girls soccer scene, and Somerset Berkley, which looks like a lock to make a third straight trip to the MIAA playoffs. Both teams are in the SCC Large School Division, and Seekonk coach Felipe Fontes said these games will not only help the Warriors in the SCC Small Division, but in the playoffs as well.

“Some of it is it’s early in the season. Some of it is the big schools we’re playing,” he said following Friday’s 3-2 loss on a windy field at Somerset Berkley Regional High School. “But we’re the small dogs that want to play with the big dogs. We have high expectations and we want to play the best because it makes us better.”

The Warriors trailed two minutes into Friday’s match and were facing a 2-0 deficit at halftime but battled back to tie the game at two in the second half. “We went down early but showed some fight to come back and tie it at two,” Fontes said. “They fought back and battled until the last minute, the last second.”

Sophomore Emily Chin scored on an assist from fellow sophomore Lauren Couitt as the Warriors got on the board in the 44th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, senior Charlotte Drainville blasted a goal past the Raiders keeper on a free kick as the Warriors knotted the game at two in the 52nd minute.

Somerset Berkley striker Ashlyn Aguiar scored her second goal of the game with less than five minutes left to seal the victory. "We had our opportunities but we came up a little short today,” Fontes said. “The second half was very encouraging and we’re hoping to get back on track next week.”

REPORTERTODAY.COM MVP: Drainville not only scored a goal but she had almost constant pressure on the Somerset Berkley defense. “Charlotte is one of the best in the conference,” Fontes said.

SOMERSET BERKLEY COACH KASEY JERONIMO: “We started strong but we got a little too comfortable up 2-0. Seekonk battled and wanted it more than we did to tie it up at two. … Seekonk played a really good game, they always do, and they always have awesome sportsmanship. That goes a long way.”

HIGH HOPES FOR THE SEASON: The Warriors won the South Coast Conference Small Division last season and Fontes likes his team to make another run at the crown this year. “Our goals used to be to make the playoffs, to win the conference. We’ve raised the bar a little and now we’re thinking of how far we can go in the playoffs,” he said. “With this team, there’s no game we shouldn't be competitive in.”

ANYONE CAN STEP UP: The Warriors have a deep roster with many girls at all positions that can contribute at any given time. “We have the right mix of talented seniors, good leadership and a talented bench,” he said. “I think our depth is huge. It’s not just putting fresh legs in the game, it’s putting talent into the game. Any given day, anyone can start for us.”

OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE WEAPON: Sophomore goalie Maddie Julien drew praise from Fontes after a game in which she almost scored a goal herself. Aside from stopping several Raiders’ shot on net, she also took free kicks at times and almost curled one in the top right of the net in the second half. “She was phenomenal today,” Fontes said. “She’s definitely going to be a weapon for us this year.”

LOOSE ENDS: The Warriors dropped the season-opener to Old Rochester 3-1 on Wednesday. … Junior Victoria DaSilva had some nice hustle plays on Friday. … Kailee Peterson, Jazzlyn Montiero joined Drainville in pressuring the SB defense.

UP NEXT: The Warriors (0-2) have a good shot to be above .500 by the end of next week. They’ll host Wareham Monday, travel to Bourne Wednesday and host Carver on Friday.

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