Archive - Mar 2011 - Sports Article
March 6th
An open letter to Providence College President Rev. Brian J. Shanley and Athletic Director Bob Driscoll:
When the search for the next menâs basketball coach commences, do not make the same mistake you did the last time. Many people were leery when Keno Davis was given the keys to the schoolâs primary means of visibility and exposure. Not just because Davis had all of one year of coaching experience under his belt, but also for the simple reason that he was far from the top choice to replace Tim Welsh.
PROVIDENCE â The drama from Mount St. Charles Academyâs Division II postseason opener was nowhere to be found in the Mountiesâ quarterfinal-round game against Mount Hope High on Sunday night.
Senior forward Maria Saiaâs game-high 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals led the charge for the Mounties as they cruised to a 56-34 victory over the Huskies at Rhode Island Collegeâs Murray Center.
March 5th
SMITHFIELD â Mount St. Charles received a nice double treat on Saturday night.
The top-seeded defending champs wrapped up a best-of-three series Division I quarterfinal-round sweep of eight-seeded Smithfield High on Saturday night by cruising to a 4-1 score before a large gathering at the Smithfield Ice Rink.
NORTH SMITHFIELD â Two players who combined to score just five goals during the regular season came up huge with the two biggest goals of the year for North Smithfield High on Saturday night.
Lauren Ledouxâs game-tying goal with 7:57 to play in the game and Samantha Archambaultâs game-winner with 1:02 to go led the Northmen to their second 3-2 triumph in as many nights and a best-of-three quarterfinal-round sweep of La Salle Academy at the Rhode Island Sports Center.
PROVIDENCE â The time seemed appropriate for reflection, not reliving the course of events that transpired Saturday afternoon on the campus of Rhode Island College.
Certainly it wasnât the ending George Coderre and his proud Woonsocket squad envisioned. A La Salle team that was superior in just about every tangible category ended the Villa Novansâ glorious run at the top, 61-33, in the Division I quarterfinals. The game pitted last yearâs championship combatants, with the Novans taking the title by a 40-34 count.
March 4th
BURRILLVILLE â The expected quarterfinal mismatch occurred at Levy Rink Friday night as No. 3 seed Burrillville/Ponaganaset co-op skated to a routine 6-1 decision over sixth-seeded Warwick co-op. Junior Kelsey Koprusak and senior Katie Couture each scored twice for the Lady Broncos.
But if the inevitable happens and the Broncos take the series and advance to a semifinal date with powerhouse Bay View Academy early next week, head coach Gary Rouleau is hoping to see a much better effort than their playoff opener.
KINGSTON â Fifth-seeded North Smithfield survived a tight, back-and-forth battle with No. 4 seed La Salle Academy in its Division I quarterfinal matchup Friday night, leaving Boss Arena with a 3-2 overtime win in the best-of-3 series.
High-scoring senior Kayla Kiernan netted the game-winner when she scored just four minutes into the OT period off the Ramsâ standout goalie Holly Scott. Keirnan tally came after several attempts by the Northmen near the crease.
âIt was a mess in front of the net,â said N.S. coach Bill Nangle. âWe just kept banging away and she scored on the five-hole.â
WOONSOCKET â Mount St. Charles seized control early in this one en route to a 7-2 triumph over Smithfield in Game 1 of the best-of-three quarterfinals Friday night at Adelard Arena. The three-time defending state champion Mounties can close out the series with a win tonight (puck drops a 8 oâclock) at the Smithfield Ice Rink.
A win would give venerable MSC head coach Bill Belisle an even 900 in his illustrious career on the bench.
March 3rd
WOONSOCKET --- You will have to forgive Joe Gardner if heâs been a little antsy this winter.
After fighting four times during a seven-month span last year and winning the EBA (Eastern Boxing Association) New England light heavyweight title last November, the Woonsocket Boxing Club fighter has gone the last four months without a bout.
âIâm not used to this,â added Gardner. âItâs been longer than I expected. Iâve been itching for a fight and I was hoping to jump in there right away.â
But Gardner knows his wait wonât be long.
WOONSOCKET â Two years ago, Mount St. Charles Academy was the top seed from Division II-North. Instead of advancing far into the playoffs, however, the Mounties saw their season come to an abrupt close with a shocking two-point loss to Scituate in the preliminary round.
Before her top-ranked team took to the floor in Thursdayâs opening-round contest with Warwick Veterans, a No. 8 seed from Div. II-South with the worst record in the entire league, head coach Nina Morey thought about that upset to the Spartans.
