EAST PROVIDENCE — It's been a fruitful and interesting last few days for the respective East Providence High School soccer clubs, the girls picking up their first two results to date in the still young 2023 season and the boys suffering their first setback to date.

The EPHS girls began the stretch with a non-league game against next-door neighbor Providence Country Day played Friday night, Sept. 22, as part of the district's annual "Townie Pride Parade" at historic Pierce Stadium.

The Townies and the Knights played to a 3-3 draw. Nyima Goncalves put EP up 3-1 in the second half, but PCD rallied to tie by the end of 80 minutes. Freshman Amalia Amici also netted one of East Providence's goals. For host EP, the tie was their first point of any kind in five games at the time. The Townies dropped their initial two Division II league outings and two other non-leaguers as well.

For the then still-unbeaten Knights, it was their first draw in five. Marking a substantial step up in class, PCD had won its first four Division IV league outings prior to the date with EPHS.

First league point
The Townies followed up with their first league point of the year, finishing their D-II outing with Middletown level at 1-1. Nadiyah Vargas accounted for the lone EPHS goal, assisted by Brennyn Alves. Kloey Iacavone was credited with 14 saves in the Townie net.

East Providence travels to West Warwick for its next Division II outing Thursday afternoon, Sept. 28, a 4 o'clock kickoff. The Townies' next home contest is Monday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. against visiting Lincoln High.

Boys' notes
The EPHS boys, meanwhile, returned to the pitch following a week off, the Townies having their first litmus test of the early 2023 Division I regular season as they headed to Providence for a date with perennial power LaSalle earlier this week.

The locals came back to the city with a humbling 6-0 defeat, their first in the league and overall in six games.

EP trailed just 1-0 at the break, but the host Rams imposed their will on the contest with about 25 minutes remaining. LaSalle scored twice then, according to EPHS head coach Tim Calouro, the Townies lost their composure after playing 55 of their best soccer to date this season.

Added Calouro, "We need to stay focused, keep our composure for a full 80 minutes."

East Providence dropped 3-1-1 and with 10 points in the D-I standings, 4-1-1 overall.

The EPHS boys are also back in action on the Thursday, Sept. 28, playing in Cumberland at 7 p.m. The Townies are next home Saturday, Sept. 30, against Moses Brown at 10 a.m. EP defeated the Quakers in the teams' Injury Fund non-league outing earlier this season, 2-1.