EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School girls’ lacrosse team cruised its way into the Division III championship game following its 16-5 victory over visiting Cranston East in a semifinal playoff game contested in city at Townie Stadium Wednesday afternoon, June 1.

Second-seeded EPHS improved to 14-1 while the third-seeded Thunderbolts saw their 2022 season come to an end with a 12-3 record. It was Cranston East’s second loss of the spring to the Townies, the locals beating the Bolts 9-3 at Cranston Stadium back in mid-April.

As a matter of fact, East Providence will head back to Cranston Stadium Sunday, June 5, at noon for the league title contest where the Townies will meet top-seeded and unbeaten North Smithfield. The Northwomen, who handed EPHS its lone loss to date 10-6 a month ago, beat fourth-seeded Ponaganset 13-2 in their semi Wednesday.

"It’s not going to be an easy game," East Providence head coach Haley McCusker said of the rematch with the Northwomen. "The girls are going to have to come out strong and stay on the gas for all 50 minutes."

Against the Thunderbolts, the Townies spotted their guests the game’s opening goal just 15 seconds into the contest.

East Providence needed a few minutes to respond, tying the score on Olivia Williams’ goal from Ryleigh Grant exactly three minutes in.

The locals took the lead less than a minute later on Isabel Tavares’ first of the afternoon off a penalty. The Townies went up 3-1 on a Dylan Flynn tally from Tavares before the Bolts stopped the spree briefly with their second at the five-minute mark.

East Providence went on to score the last five goals of the opening period. Tavares and Grant, from Kenna Wigginton, scored within a minute of each other mid-way through the period. In the final few minutes of the half, Williams, Emma Nordquist and Grant again, from Tavares, scored before the break.

EPHS keeper Ava Williams made a couple of key saves in between, including one on a penalty, to keep the Bolts at bay.

"We started off slow, but as soon as the nerves wore off the girls were able to dominate the game on all ends of the field," McCusker said of the Townies' win over Cranston East.

Nordquist completed her hat-trick with two goals early in the final 25 minutes. Grant scored twice more in the second half to finish with a game-best total of four.

Tavares and Williams, who each also had hattys, along with Tessa Laroche and Ava Soares added the other goals in the onslaught. Nordquist and Tavares each had one assist.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.