BRISTOL — If the season’s opening night is any indication, Cumberland will offer a stiff challenge to any team looking to spoil its girls soccer state title defense.
The Clippers captured a finals rematch with Mt. Hope in a game that felt more like November than early September. Paynter Maher scored twice, Payton Goulding made a couple of key saves when called upon and Ava Batalau brought an end to any remaining suspense in the 80th minute.
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The Clippers enjoyed the long bus ride home after a 3-1 victory, the same score that decided the Division I crown last fall at Rhode Island College . Lola Silva struck in the 53rd minute to cut the Huskies deficit in half, but Cumberland was able to maintain its composure on a perfect fall night in the East Bay.
“I feel like we did a great job for our first time really playing together,” Goulding said. “We’ve had some scrimmages, but I feel like this really tested us. And I think we pretty much aced that test.”
It was an undefeated season for the Clippers while bringing home a first championship in two decades, but their final record carried a pair of minor blemishes. Mt. Hope battled to two ties against Cumberland, adding some drama into their third meeting of 2023. Nicole Calle, Ava Normandin and Ines Oliveira were the primary drivers as the Clippers completed their mission, but all three were members of a strong graduating class over the summer.
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“They were the one team we couldn’t beat last year during the normal season,” Maher said. “We lost a decent amount of seniors in our lineup. We were able to fill in the spots.”
Maher’s two goals were scored inside the final five minutes of the opening half. She came in off the left on an Aryanna Tirado throw and fired into the lower right hand corner to make it 1-0. Maher struck again just before the break, slipped down the right wing by Emma Kucal — back and starting after missing last year due to a knee injury — for a shot across the face of the cage and into the far left corner.
“She’s already much better than she was in her freshman year,” Goulding said. “I’m excited to see how she evolves even more.”
Cumberland (1-0-0) had Goulding to thank for staying level into the 35th minute. She made a pair of superb early stops against Huskies striker Thea Jackson, two chances that could have put the hosts in front. Jackson sped loose off the right side the first time and zipped down the left wing on the second.
“They were man-marking Emma, so I knew I would have to step up in that role,” Maher said. “Once Payton made those saves, I just tried to do my best to get up and get open.”
Jackson helped Mt. Hope (0-1-0) get on the board early in the second half, and the Huskies had plenty of time left to find an equalizer. Her shot from the left side off a corner kick was deflected away by Goulding, but Silva – who had just come on as a substitute – was waiting to fire under the crossbar. The Clippers soaked up some pressure the rest of the way until Sofia Torres played a long ball over the top that found Batalau behind the defense.
“It definitely felt great,” Maher said. “The seniors who left, everyone stepped up in their spots. We have Emma back, which is great.”
CUMBERLAND (3): Paynter Maher 2, Ava Batalau; assists — Aryanna Tirado, Emma Kucal, Sofia Torres.
MT. HOPE (1): Lola Silva; assist — Thea Jackson.
Halftime — C, 2-0. Saves — Payton Goulding, C, 6; Emily Moran, MH, 9.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cumberland girls soccer looks ready to defend title. Here's how it opened the season.
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