Vincent's lone goal propels Panthers past North Providence

Johnston Sun Rise ·

A goal from freshman Luke Vincent was the difference on Monday night as the Johnston Panthers squeaked past the North Providence Cougars, 1-0, on the road.

Johnston head coach Dan Mazzulla was thrilled with his team’s victory.

“We’ve been playing pretty well,” Mazzulla said. “Any time you go on the road and win, it’s a good win. So, we’re very happy. This was a big game for us tonight.”

North Providence won the opening faceoff and junior Richard Africo took the first shot of the game, which was booted high over the net. Next, a blast from North Providence sophomore midfielder Mike Ortiz missed wide right.

Down the other end, North Providence goalkeeper Tyler Marzocchi blocked Johnston’s first bid before the next shot attempt from Ed Dilorenzo missed wide. After Johnston was penalized for tripping, Africo’s penalty kick was stonewalled by Johnston junior goalkeeper Francis DeLeon six minutes into the first half.

While in Johnston territory, the Panthers’ Henry Alvarez came up with a big stop on defense when he slid and kicked the ball away from a driving Josh Pineda, keeping the game scoreless. A minute later, a weak shot from Johnston’s Devon Atkinson was easily denied by Marzocchi.

Fourteen minutes, twenty seconds into the game, North Providence freshman Andres Velez fired a bullet wide. Then, a corner pass from Vincent ricocheted off the head of teammate Jonathan Frein and missed the net.

Seconds later, Johnston freshman Carlos Fragoso spotted teammate Christian Arriaza open downfield and fired the ball towards him, but the pass had too much gas and sailed over Arriaza’s head and into the North Providence goalkeeper’s possession.

With just over 20 minutes remaining in the first half, the North Providence netminder made a diving stop on an effort from Arriaza. Soon after, Zach Diamantino assisted to Arriaza, who attempted to score using his head, but his attempt went wide. On the rebound, Arriaza fired again, but it was swallowed up by the North Providence goalkeeper.

With 12:58 left in the half, the Panthers missed an opportunity when Johnston’s Juarez deposited a pass in front of the North Providence net, but there was no one there to receive the pass other than Marzocchi.

Moments later, Marzocchi stopped a blast from Atkinson. Then, North Providence’s Velez went on a fast break, shaking his defender and charging the net before Johnston’s DeLeon came up with a tremendous save.

With under 11 minutes to play, Johnston threatened when Arriaza’s pursuit on net was bobbled by the North Providence goalkeeper. Six minutes later, Johnston was awarded a penalty kick when Steven Gaunt was tripped with 4:40 to play in the first half. Alvarez took the penalty kick, which drifted over the net and the game was scoreless at the half.

Johnston’s Atkinson had his shot denied by a diving Marzocchi one minute, seven seconds into the second half. Two minutes later, Johnston junior Hecter Villagran missed the net.

North Providence’s Pineda and Velez both had shots blocked by DeLeon before the Johnston offense took DeLeon’s outlet pass and raced down the field.

Dennis Anderson dribbled the ball to midfield before passing ahead to Frein, who charged the left side of the net, drawing the goalkeeper and passing right to a trailing Vincent for the easy goal, giving Johnston a 1-0 lead nine minutes, two seconds into the second half.

“I put him in there because that’s what he does very well,” Mazzulla said of Vincent. “He follows the shots up to the goal and he was exactly where he was supposed to be. We should have had one in the first half, but the back wing didn’t follow it up. So, that’s why I put him in there.”