Panthers fall to Islanders

The Lady Panthers were defeated 6-1 by the Middletown Islanders on Monday afternoon during a Division II girls soccer clash in Johnston.

Middletown’s Grace Haskell tallied two goals and two assists while her teammates Leslie Campbell and Kaitlyn Salinas had a goal and an assist apiece.

Madeline Plante scored Johnston’s lone goal and Kylie Viveiros had the assist.

“Maddie is a senior,” Lady Panthers head coach Lauren Fagundes explained. “She’s been playing soccer for a long time. She has a lot of experience. And Kylie is a freshman and she has a ton of potential. So, I’m looking forward to working with her the rest of the season and throughout her high school years playing.”

Middletown drew a 1-0 edge, 4:17 into the match when Mia DeSantis, from the right side, sniped a shot into the top right corner of the net from 20 yards out.

Four minutes after that, the Islanders expanded their lead to 2-0 when Leslie Campbell slipped a shot past Haley Gaunt, Johnston’s goalkeeper, from just outside the box.

A minute later, Middletown upped its margin to 3-0 when Grace Megley scored during a fast break.

Johnston inched within two 3-1 with 15:39 remaining in the opening half after Plante fired a blast over the head of a leaping Kate Stahl in net from 12 yards deep.

However, 1:05 later, Middletown’s Emily Ceglarski made a spinning shot in front, which gave the Islanders a 4-1 advantage, a lead they would take into the break.

Seven minutes into the second frame, the Islanders increased their buffer to 5-1 when during a breakaway, Campbell sent a cross to Kaitlyn Salinas, who fired past Gaunt. 

Middletown’s last tally came with 5:03 to play when Haskell scored during a fast break and made it 6-1.

Stahl made four saves in goal for the Islanders while Gaunt stopped nine for Johnston.

“My goaltender is my hidden gem,” Fagundes said. “She’s a very experienced goalie. She’s always giving 100 percent. She’s confident, even when we’re down.”

“When we are down, like we were today, Haley tries to enlighten the team and bring them up and keep them going,” Fagundes continued. “And I think the way that she saves and puts herself out there, she’s willing to put her body on the ground, is something that they actually look up to and admire about her. She has a lot of grit which is nice to see.”

Also showing a lot of tenacity on the field was Johnston newcomer and junior speedster Irissa Jimenez.

“Irissa is new to the team this year, but she’s a wonderful addition,” Fagundes said. “She brings a lot to the team. She’s very positive, she gives 150 percent and she works really hard, so we’re happy to have her.”

The Lady Panthers fall to 0-5-1 with the loss and play next at Moses Brown (5-1-1) today at 3:45 p.m.