PAWTUCKET — The favorites, including East Providence High School, advanced during preliminary round matches in the Division III girls’ championship tournament played Wednesday afternoon, Oct, 15, at Slater Park.
The Townies, the fourth seed in the playoffs after finishing their regular season with a 10-3 record, had little trouble in dispatching fifth-seeded Tiverton, 4-1.
As has been the case often this fall, East Providence’s three doubles tandems led the way with a three-match sweep. The Townie pairing of Carolyn Conte-Lauren Vine beat Tiverton’s Cosette Coston-Alexandra Roussin, 7-5, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot. The door of Sabrina Yachkouri-Grace Voll defeated the Tigers’ Monique Gwinn-Alexis DeSousa, Tiverton, 6-4 and 6-1, at No. 2. And at No. 3, the E.P. team of Lillian Conti-Kara George bettered Tiverton’s Skylar Lewis-Rachael Queern, 6-4 and 7-5.
Only two of the four singles matches were needed to be completed before the Townies capped off the overall team win. E.P.’s Michelle Phillips defeated Tiverton’s Meghan Reed, 6-3 and 6-0. The Tigers’ lone point came Emma Pannell, who beat the Townies’ Jena Pothier, 6-3 and 6-1. The Tigers finished their season with an 8-6 record.
East Providence advances to the semifinal round Friday afternoon, Oct. 17, at Barrington High School where the Townies face top-seeded and unbeaten North Smithfield (13-0) at 3 p.m. The Townies and Northwomen met just a week ago to close the regular season, North Smithfield winning by a convincing 7-0 score.
Also Wednesday, third-seeded Woonsocket easily handled sixth-seeded St. Raphael to advance the to semis opposite second-seeded Chariho (12-1). The Villa Novans and Chargers play at Barrington following the Townies and Northwomen.
The semifinal winners will play for the D-III title Saturday morning, Oct. 18, back at Slater Park at 10 o’clock.
