Power Pack: RI High School Boys Soccer: October 29th
Jack Andrade, GoLocalProv Sports Reporter
Power Pack: RI High School Boys Soccer: October 29th
It's playoffs time in Rhode Island High School Soccer! The regular season is over. The time to leave it all on the field is now. With an eye on tournament play, here's the Top 10 teams in the state following the conclusion of reglar season play.
Power Pack: RI High School Boys Soccer: October 29th
Coventry
Division Record: 9-3-3 (Division 2)
Overall Record: 10-3-3
Coventry knocked off Toll Gate 4-2 on Thrsday and in the process took the #2 seed in Division 2 for themselves. It was a statement win and the 2 teams may see each other again in the semifinals next week. The win also earns the Oakers the final spot in this Power Pack.
Last Week: Not Ranked
West Warwick
Division Record: 13-1-1 (Division 3)
Overall Record: 13-2-1
A loss to Cranston East in the season finale spoiled the Wizards' undefeated run through Division 3, but they're still the favorites and the 1 seed as the tournament gets under way. West Warwick has the top offense (48 goals) and #3 defense (15 allowed) in the division.
Last Week: #7
Central Falls
Division Record: 7-4-1 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 10-5-2
Central Falls is an inconsistent team but they've ridden a high powered offense to the #5 seed in Division 1. With 36 goals on the season they were tied with Barrington for 2nd in Division 1 in that regard.
Last Week: #9
Lincoln
Division Record: 11-2-2 (Division 2)
Overall Record: 11-5-4
Lincoln is my top ranked team outside of Division 1 after West Warwick's fall from the ranks of the undefeated. The Lions are the top seed in the Division 2 tournament and having only conceeded 8 goals in league play (2nd best in Division 2) they've got the stability in the back to be considered the favorites.
Last Week: #8
Central
Division Record: 6-5-3 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 7-5-3
Central is a team that likes to get into high scoring matches and play an up and down game. I rank them this high because their style of play is scarier to a top end team than a more conservative style team. The 8th seeded Knights host Portsmouth Tuesday (10/29) and are playing for a chance to upset La Salle in Round 2.
Last Week: #6
Hendricken
Division Record: 7-4-3 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 7-4-3
The Hawks are lurking as a dark horse in the Division 1 tournament and host Cumberland Tuesday (10/29) in Round 1 of the playoffs in Division 1. The only teams to beat Hendricken this season are all ranked 1-4 in my rankings.
Last Week: #5
South Kingstown
Division Record: 10-2-2 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 11-2-2
Few teams in Rhode Island had as consistent a regular season as South Kingstown, a team built on strong defense, timely goal scoring, and a refusal to back down from the other top teams in head to head play. The question now is can the Rebels turn it up another notch now that it's tournament time? They'll host the winner of Tolman and Central Falls in the quarterfinals.
Last Week: #4
Barrington
Division Record: 11-1-2 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 15-1-2
The #2 seed in Division 1, Barrington posted 36 goals for and only 11 against this season, tying for 2nd in goals and tying for 1st in goals against. They'll face the winner of Hope and Shea in the quarterfinals.
Last Week: #3
North Kingstown
Division Record: 11-2-1 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 11-2-2
With wins over South Kingstown, Hendricken, and Barrington under their belts, the Skippers have shown they can beat anyone when they play their A game. The 3 seed in the Division 1 bracket means they'll await the winner of Cumberland and Hendricken in the quarterfinals.
Last Week: #2
La Salle
Division Record: 13-0-1 (Division 1)
Overall Record: 14-0-2
What La Salle has been able to accomplish this year really is incredible. In addition to finishing in 1st place in Division 1, they scored 23 more goals (59) than the next highest team and also tied for the fewest goals allowed with 11. They were the only team to average 3 or more goals per game and they averaged more than 4. The Rams have been flat out dominant in 2013 and are the favorites to win the state tournament over the course of the next 2 weeks.
Last Week: #1
