CCRI drops season finale to Massasoit

Johnston Sun Rise ·

The CCRI men’s soccer team traveled to Brockton, Massachusetts, for a Region XXI Division championship game. For the Knights, they would have to win to force a Game 3 of the championship against Massasoit. The Knights fell in the game, 2-1,ending their season with a 5-8-1 record and a 0-3 record in Region XXI play.

The Knights came out of the gate with the urgency that fit the importance of the game. In the first half, the game went back-and-forth, but no team was able to find the back of the net. 

Jordan Lopez (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) continued to make great saves, helping to keep the Knights in the game. The halftime score was 0-0.

In the second half, the Knights gave up the first goal after a misplay on a through ball. The Massasoit player found himself one-on-one with Lopez in net and was able to score.

The Knights found themselves down but not out.

Jasson Johnson-Morais (Cranston, Rhode Island) was beginning to be found out wide by his teammates, and continued to cause problems for the defense.

Cornelius Tay (Providence, Rhode Island) played up front and found himself in two great goal-scoring opportunities, but was unable to finish. With two minutes left, after the Knights had pressed many players forward looking for an equalizer, Massasoit put one past the Knights to extend the lead to 2-0. 

The Knights did not give up, and Cameron DiMaria (Coventry, Rhode Island) was able to score with a great shot into the top left corner with about a minute remaining, but the Knights could not find a second goal. The Knights lost the game, 2-1.

Head Coach Gabe Toro and the rest of the coaching staff were extremely proud of the team on Saturday and all season. The team never gave up, even in tough situations. Danny Junior (Pawtucket, Rhode Island) and Kyle Goncalves (East Providence, Rhode Island) had great games in the back, while Jorge Castro (Lincoln, Rhode Island) and Alexis Beltran (Warwick, Rhode Island) “had their best game of the year.”  

Toro also loved the effort by the midfield, especially from co-captain Ivandro Pedrosa (Central Falls, Rhode Island), who he noted played with “heart and grit.” The whole team put in a great effort throughout the season, but it did not end as the Knights had wanted.