Shivani Mehta, Abby Razzino and Thea Jackson and the Mt. Hope girls' soccer team received prestigious awards this spring for their play on the field in the fall and their academic efforts in school. 

Mehta, a senior, was awarded the 2023 Student-Athlete Scholarship Program state essay winner by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. She is the first-ever winner from Mt. Hope High School. The award was based off of her transcript and an essay that documented how high school athletics enhanced her educational experience. The association saluted Metha and thanked her for helping the organization to illustrate the many ways that athletics positively influenced the lives of student athletes. Mehta was also awarded as a member of the All-Academic Team by the RI Soccer Coaches Association. She is one of the high school’s top scholars with a 4.9 GPA. She is currently looking into schools for neuroscience.

“Shivani and Abby are both three sport captains,” said Huskies' head coach Kerri Giarrusso. “Shivani is a great communicator and is a good defender, able to play against the opposing team’s best player and one you could always count on in the backfield.”

“I didn’t realize that it was as big of a deal as it is,” said Mehta. “But it feels pretty good to win it.”

Mehta who enjoys playing all three sports, hasn’t committed to a school, but she is leaning towards Georgia Tech where she may play club soccer.

Abby Razzino and Thea Jackson were named first team All-State for their play in the fall. The pair along with Mehta helped the Huskies reach the quarterfinals where they fell to LaSalle 2-0 in the Division I playoffs. Coach Giarrusso said that she has had two players in the same season made first team All-State just one other time in her twenty-year coaching career.

“It’s a huge deal,” said Coach Giarrusso. “To have two players like Abby and Thea play for Mt. Hope is incredible. They way that they played together this season, I haven’t had that on the team in a very long time.”

“I’m proud that I received the award,” said Razzino. “It’s an accomplishment for me. I’ve been wanting to get All-State ever since freshman year.”

Razzino, a senior, scored 14 goals and dished out 8 assists for 36 total points as the Huskies central midfielder. Mt. Hope coaches voted Razzino the girls’ soccer team MVP this season. Razzino scored several of her goals heading the ball into the net on Huskies' corner kicks. 

“Abby is one of, if not the best student athlete I've ever coached in my 20 years here at Mt. Hope High School,” said Coach Giarusso. “Her natural athletic ability and her ability to make everyone around her better, is something truly special. Her team mates including her fellow class mates look up to her. Abby’s presence at the games gives the team more confidence on the field.” 

Razzino was sidelined twice with ACL injuries to each of her knees. The three-sport athlete was injured in her sophomore year playing soccer and again in her senior year on the basketball court. 

She is highly skilled in all three sports and plays with a high motor and compete level and a never quit attitude. Even when injured, the team captain came to practices and cheered on her teammates from the sidelines.   

“Even when Abby was sidelined twice in her high school athletic career and couldn't be on the court or field, her presence at practice and at the games inspired confidence in her teammates” said Coach Giarrusso. “To me as a coach, that is the sign of a true leader.” 

Razzino has a scholarship to Assumption University where she plans to play soccer in the fall. 

“She’ll be a big asset for them and their soccer program,” said Coach Giarrusso.

Jackson, a freshman, led Division I in scoring with 23 goals and 8 assists as the Huskies striker this season. She was voted Rookie of the Year by the Huskies’ coaches. 

“No freshman in my 20 years of coaching has ever led Division I in scoring,” said Coach Giarrusso. “Thea’s ability to finish and put the ball in the back of the net is special. She is something that the team has been missing. I am looking forward to the next three years.”

The tall slender Jackson is quiet off the field, but on the field, she is a fierce goal scorer. She can beat teams with her skill, quickness and lightning speed. 

“She like Abby, is a competitor,” Coach Giarrusso said. “They both want to win at all costs.” 

“I didn’t expect to make All-State as a freshman,” said Jackson. “It’s very hard as a freshman.” 

Jackson said that she got used to scoring goals playing in town leagues with her parents as coaches and playing at the middle school. 

“I’m used to scoring goals, but I didn’t think that I would have that many in such little time. It’s surreal. I didn’t expect it.” 

Jackson is looking for the Huskies to do a lot of damage over the next few years in Division I.

“I expect more goals for myself and I expect us to do very well. I have high expectations. I hope we can meet them.”

Team awards 

The girls' soccer team also won the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award and the Team Ethics Award of Merit. As a team the Huskies tallied a GPA of 3.95 and won the award for exceptional academic performance as a team.

The Huskies also won the ethics award for their good behavior and sportsmanship on the field of play. Mt. Hope did not receive a red card and had a good record well below the 30 percent for yellow cards for the 2022 season. 

“The whole team is smart,” said Coach Giarrusso. “I am very strict academically. The girls know that academics are always first. That’s where they will go far in life. They worked really hard in the classroom and on the playing field as well.”