By Nick Friend

EAST PROVIDENCE- The East Providence High School boys’ soccer team kept its Division I playoff hopes alive Thursday night, Oct. 22, with a 3-1 victory over visiting Hope at Pierce Stadium as the Townies continue to build chemistry and seek leadership in the final days of the regular season.

First-year EPHS head coach Raunisio Oliveira has seen his team go 1-2-3 in the month of October due to several pivotal mistakes. This has dropped the Townies' record to 3-5-3 in D-I play and 10th in the league standings.

“Some games we thought we could have won and then we make one key mistake and then all of a sudden it is a tie or a loss,” Coach Oliveira said. “We have kept switching the lineup the entire season to try and get some guys into some key spots. We have just been coming up short.”

One of the issues the Townies have faced in October, and all season long, is the lack of consistent leadership from those who they expect to get it from.

“We have been trying to get the seniors to actually step up and unfortunately we have two of the three captains that should be leading this team, but instead they choose to take a backseat,” Coach Oliveira said after Thursday's game.

“That is a problem. Hopefully we can get them to step up," he continued. “That chemistry hasn’t been there all season and I am still trying to get all these guys to focus, especially our captains."

Meanwhile, E.P. has struggled offensively as they have scored more than one goal in a game only three times this year.

“I can’t point to one thing. We have had chances and we need to focus on putting the ball away,” Coach Oliveira said. “We also don’t have a key guy (offensively). There have been games that we could have won, but lost because we missed opportunities.”

One Townie who has consistently performed for the locals is captain Brandon Costa, who has six goals on the year and of whom Coach Oliveira added, “we know if he gets the space he is going to score.”

E.P. also has been trying to get captain Victor Reis involved more as a scorer.

While frustration is building up offensively, it is just the opposite on the other side. Coach Oliveira said their defense has played the way it has in large part to junior Kyle Gonsalves.

E.P’s recent third win kept them right on the edge of the playoff bracket as 12 teams make the postseason field.

“I keep telling the guys, let’s just get into the playoffs because once we get in there anything can happen,” Coach Oliveira said optimistically. “We can give some teams some really hard games. We still need leaders to lead this team.”

E.P. has three games remaining on their regular season schedule and is looking to finish on a high note.

“I want to see the chemistry get better because we have been trying to get it going all season long,” Coach Oliveira said. “If we can figure it out at the right time I think we can make a run.”

The Townies are back in action tonight, Friday, Oct. 23, on the road against Chariho. E.P. closes out its regular season slate with two home games next week; Monday. Oct. 26, against North Kingstown and Tuesday, Oct. 27, against rival and first-place LaSalle. Kick off for both matches at Pierce Stadium is 7 p.m.