After four title game losses, Portsmouth girls lacrosse team finally can say it's No. 1
CRANSTON — The Portsmouth High School girls lacrosse team won the program's first championship Sunday when the Patriots pulled away from Burrillville for a 14-4 win in the Division II title game at Cranston Stadium.
Portsmouth lost in the Division II finals last season — its fourth championship game setback overall since it joined the Rhode Island Interscholastic League in 2001 — and used that as impetus heading into this season.
The Patriots came out quick against Burrillville, a team they defeated 13-2 in the regular season, with five different players scoring a goal in opening a 5-0 lead. The Broncos responded with four consecutive goals — two from Amelia Ferrara and one each from Olivia Bloom and Allie Trimble — to close the first half.
Portsmouth coach Amelia McHugh talked with her players, who sat on the grass away from the turf field and wedged themselves into the shrubs to avoid the stifling heat, during halftime intermission and told them they had to cut down on turnovers (10), hold onto the ball and play better defense.
The Patriots met all of those demands and built the advantage to 8-4 around the midpoint of the second half. Then Kaitlin Roche fired home three straight goals to push the lead to seven.
More: Portsmouth's perfect season and title hopes appeared over. Then Ellie Skeels went to work.
Burrillville had no answers in the second half on the rare occasion it possessed the ball because Portsmouth dominated the faceoffs. When the Broncos managed to play offense, the Portsmouth defense held them in check as goalie Emerson O’Connor finished with 10 saves.
After Portsmouth build the lead to 12-4, McHugh received an in-game Gatorade drenching from fellow coaches as the clock wound down. The Patriots finished a perfect 13-0 against division opponents.
Roche, who won numerous draws, led the Portsmouth offense with five goals. Grace Boneu, who injured her ankle in practice the previous day, managed to play the whole game and scored three goals while assisting on four others.
Nora Cooney scored three goals and added an assist, Talus Nightingale had a goal and assist and Emilie Bobola and Margaux Boneu had a goal apiece.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: RI high school girls lacrosse: Portsmouth wins Division II title
