Lady Panthers headed to finals

The Johnston girls soccer team took another step forward as it rebuilds its program as it topped Tolman 2-1 to punch its ticket to the Division IV state championship game this Saturday at Rhode Island College.
Alexia DiLorenzo got the Panthers on the board but the Tigers would quickly respond to tie things up. Just before the halftime break, Olivia Iafrate would send a shot to the top left corner of the goal from 18 yards out to give Johnston the game-winner thanks to a scoreless second half effort.
The Panthers topped Tolman 3-1 in their regular season meeting but the Tigers scored first. The Panthers remembered that heading into this matchup which helped them battle to a lead early.
“We knew what we were getting into with this team. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, we knew it wasn’t going to be a blowout. We knew that it wasn’t going to be like any other game that we played in this season,” said Johnston coach Toni Scavitti.
After being upset in the semifinals last season, the Panthers returned much of the same lineup and have used that disappointing finish as fuel throughout this comeback campaign, and they now sit just one win away from hoisting the championship plaque.
“It helped put their mind at ease, they knew what to expect going into the game. They had different expectations this time around, they got it out of their system last year,” said Scavitti, who also felt that the team not getting a bye helped its cause. “Playing in the quarterfinals this year. Not having a first round bye actually worked in our benefit. Having that quarterfinal game kept that momentum and helped ease their nerves.”
The Panthers will be taking on Rogers in the finals, who pulled off a big upset by taking down top-seeded Providence Country Day on the other side of the bracket. The Panthers went 2-0 against Rogers in the regular season, winning by scores of 2-0 and 1-0.
Scavitti expects the Vikings to come out with revenge on their minds.
“Going into it, the girls are definitely not going to be taking this lightly because they know that Rogers is going to be coming for blood. We were two of their three losses, so they know it’s not going to be a piece of cake going into the finals,” said Scavitti.
With so many seniors on the team, Scavitti was also thrilled to see them finally get a chance at a title.
“They are so excited and as soon as it was over, you just saw all of their faces light up,” said Scavitti. “We have nine seniors, nine senior starters, we have the entire team back. To see them get that opportunity that they didn’t get last year was amazing.”