Townies would like a faster start to upcoming boys’ soccer slate

EPHS has only qualified for the playoffs the last two years on season’s final day

By Mike Rego
Posted 9/4/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — While they certainly appreciated the results of the regular season the previous two falls, the players and coaches of the East Providence High School boys’ soccer team would …

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Townies would like a faster start to upcoming boys’ soccer slate

EPHS has only qualified for the playoffs the last two years on season’s final day

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — While they certainly appreciated the results of the regular season the previous two falls, the players and coaches of the East Providence High School boys’ soccer team would like to have a bit more breathing room at the end the upcoming 2018 Division I campaign.

The Townies, who went 4-10-1 overall last year including a loss to eventual state runner-up South Kingstown in the preliminary round of the playoffs, only qualified for the postseason in their final games to finish their 2016 and 2017 slates.

This time around, East Providence probably needs to build their resume early since the Townies have a late-season stretch of games against reigning state champ LaSalle as well as perennial powers Classical and Hendricken.

“The last two years we’ve qualified on the last day of the regular season. We’re not going to do that again, I don’t think, having to play at Classical, at LaSalle and at Hendricken near the end of the year. We can’t wait to get points this year like we have in the past,” said EPHS head coach Tony Vieira.

Like all sports, boys’ soccer has been realigned in time for the fall. In Division I, East Greenwich and Chariho dropped out, replaced by two-time reigning D-II champion Moses Brown along with Coventry and Smithfield. With one more opponent, teams will place 15 regular season games, up from 14, and the amount of points needed to qualify for the playoffs also increased from 13 to 15. Teams earn three points for wins and one for ties.

“LaSalle is the top dog in the league again along with South Kingstown. Those two teams didn’t lose much, so I don’t expect that to change much if at all,” Vieira added.

As for his Townies, the coach said though they lack varsity minutes in some spots, they still have the ability to be in the postseason mix.

“We are a playoff caliber team. Anything less would be a disappointment,” Vieira said. “Our first goal as always is to make the playoffs. Once we get there, we can refocus, set a goal of making a deep run. But right now, it’s about taking it one game at a time, getting better every day.”

East Providence will technically employ a 3-5-2 formation to begin the season because, according to Vieira, “We have a little more depth in the center of the pitch, we have two inexperienced keepers and we’re still trying to figure things out on defense.”

To open the year, only junior and three-year starter Ryan Moniz returns to the back row. He starts on the left side. His opposite number, senior returning starter Bradley Texeira, missed the preseason and the start of the regular season while on vacation. He may earn his spot back once he becomes eligible in a few weeks.

The two other defenders to begin the fall are returning varsity players but first-year starters junior Aidan Schwab and senior Tyler Martins in the central positions. Senior and first-year varsity member Tyler Heck opens at right back.

Junior and now three-year starter Owen Charron is listed as a midfielder, though he will be dropping deeper into the Townies’ zone. Sophomore returning starter Colin Capelo will playing a more “roaming” role, said the coach, while Vieira also expects freshman Brett Schwab to be a key contributor in the middle of the field.

Up front, five players will share time at the forward positions. Seniors Leandro Frias and Manny DeSousa-Gouveia are returning starters. Classmate Paulo Schultz-Lyra, a native of Brazil and a transfer from Amherst (Mass.) High where played the three previous years, is also in the mix up front as is another senior Jose Luis, the EPHS junior varsity captain, leading scorer and MVP last fall. As well, like the younger Schwab in the midfield, Vieira expects Gabriel Ferreira to be an “impactful” freshman in the Townies’ attack.

“I think we’ll be pretty good going forward, to be fair. We have some guys who can create and put the ball in the net,” Vieira said.

For the second season in a row, East Providence must replace its starting keeper with the graduation of Mateo Andrade, who last fall stepped in for then three-year starter Nathan Silveira. Senior Nikolai Zakrzewski and sophomore Andrew Mongeon will continue to vie for the position full-time as the regular season begins.

“Neither one of the guys has distinguished themselves enough to be the starter at this point. And neither one of them has made any major mistakes either. I think it will sort itself once we get into the season,” Vieira said of his goalie situation.

The Townies were set to begin their 2018 league schedule with a pair of home games: Wednesday, Sept. 5, against Central Falls and Saturday, Sept. 8, against D-I newcomer Coventry. Both matches kick at 6:30 p.m.

“We open up against Central Falls, a team we’ve had some success against the last few years, and Coventry, one of the new teams. We need to get results early, so we don’t fall behind,” Vieira said. “I think we have a chance to make an impact during the regular season, finish in a little better place than we did last year. This first week will go a long way in seeing if we can make that happen.”

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.