Boys soccer semifinals look a little different

MIKE SZOSTAK
Journal Sports Writer

The semifinals of the boys MetLife Soccer Classic Tuesday and Wednesday look a little different after quarterfinal upsets.

In Division I, Barrington and Central Falls are gone. Barrington, the 2008 state champion, 2009 East champion with a 16-1-1 record, second seed in the tournament and winner of 10 in a row, lost to seventh-seeded North Kingstown, 2-1. Central Falls, the North champion with a 11-4-2 record and the fourth seed, fell to fifth-seeded Bishop Hendricken, 1-0.

As a result, the Division I semifinals Tuesday at Cranston Stadium pit top-seeded La Salle (18-1) against Bishop Hendricken (13-6-1) at 6 p.m. and third-seeded Chariho (16-3) against North Kingstown (11-6-3) at 8 p.m. La Salle defeated Cumberland, 4-1, in the quarterfinals. Chariho beat South Kingstown, 1-0.

La Salle defeated Bishop Hendricken, 4-0 and 4-1, in their two games this season. Chariho beat North Kingstown, 5-1 and 4-1, in their two matches.

The semifinal winners will play for the state championship Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rhode Island College.

In Division II, Shea's highly anticipated match against East Greenwich will not occur, thanks to Lincoln's 2-1 upset victory in the quarterfinals.

Shea was 15-1 and the North champion during the regular season but succumbed to the Lions in the playoffs as it did in the 2008 final. Lincoln, only 7-7-2 and fifth in the North during the season, defeated Pilgrim, 2-1, in the preliminary round.

So the Division II semifinals Wednesday night at Bishop Hendricken will feature undefeated East Greenwich (16-0-1) against Smithfield (11-3-3) at 6 p.m. and Lincoln (9-7-2) and Central (10-5-3) at 8 p.m. The winners will play for the division championship Saturday at 3 at RIC.

East Greenwich blanked Narragansett, 3-0, in the quarterfinals, and Smithfield defeated Middletown, 1-0.

East Greenwich and Smithfield did not play in the regular season because they are in different divisions. Central edged Lincoln, 1-0, and they tied in their second match.

In Division III, top-seeded Tiverton (11-1-3) will play fifth-seeded Exeter/West Greenwich (8-5-2) in the first semifinal Tuesday at 6 p.m. at North Smithfield High School. The Tigers, the 2008 champion, defeated Davies, 4-1, in the quarterfinals. E/WG got by fourth-seeded St. Raphael, 1-0.

Third-seeded Prout (10-3-2) and second-seeded West Warwick (11-2-2) will follow at 8 p.m. Prout defeated Ponaganset, 3-1, in the quarterfinals, and West Warwick romped over Burrillville, 6-0.

Tiverton and E/WG split their season series, as did Prout and West Warwick.

The Division III finalists will play Saturday at 5 at RIC.

mszostak@projo.com / 277-7340

Posted by Mike Szostak  at 8:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)