It took a dynamic freshmen duo to lead La Salle past Div. I rival Pilgrim in girls soccer
PROVIDENCE — Allie Scott started her Wednesday night hitting the post and finished it carrying a bag of team soccer balls off the turf at Cimini Stadium.
That’s life when you’re a first-year player. It’s not always the smoothest sailing.
What took place between those less-glamorous moments hinted at a bright future. Scott teamed with fellow Class of 2027 member and strike partner Mila Falcone to give La Salle a major lift entering the upcoming Division I girls playoffs.
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The Rams needed every bit of offensive magic from their twin newcomers up front. Scott and Falcone combined for three second-half goals as La Salle held off Pilgrim, 4-3, on an unseasonably warm night.
Scott’s second of the evening in the 74th minute ultimately stood as the winner. She tapped home a rebound on a Jordan Vrees shot from distance and the Rams enjoyed a third two-goal cushion. They wound up needing the insurance after Patriots striker and Providence College commit Amaya Coffie completed a hat trick in the dying seconds.
“We probably wouldn’t have won if it wasn’t for all of us together,” Scott said. “It’s good going into the playoffs with a good win.”
It was quite a reversal from the first meeting between the two sides in Division I-A. Pilgrim cruised to a 4-0 shutout Sept. 21 and was on its way to the top of the table. The Patriots can still claim the No. 1 seed on their side of the league with a victory in either of their final two matches, but La Salle is not likely to be easily dismissed after posting a 4-2-4 mark in its last 10 matches.
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“We kind of grew as a group together through practice — our Saturday morning, 6 in the morning practices,” Falcone said. “We keep motivating each other. In the locker room, we hype each other up.”
The Rams (6-4-6) maintained their lead thanks to Falcone’s cut off the right wing that beat two defenders and left-footed strike across goal. She set up Scott for the next tally, sending a cross out of the left corner that allowed Scott to finish from close range with her right foot. That was in the 65th minute — a 3-1 advantage still wasn’t enough, as Scott needed a second late goal to ensure the result.
“Mila is a really good passer,” Scott said. “When I score, most of my goals are from Mila, to be honest.”
“She’s a very good playmaker,” Falcone said. “She helps everybody on the field.”
Their partnership started on the opening day of tryouts in August. Scott and Falcone were the first two players to arrive and met in the parking lot just off the field. They’ve grown increasingly influential in a La Salle side seeking a trip to a fourth straight final.
“We walked out of the car the first day and we met each other,” Falcone said. “We were both very nervous.”
“I knew it was going to click,” Scott said. “She was just a really good player. I knew she was going to work well with me.”
Falcone’s goal touched off an electric last 40 minutes. Sofia Cornell’s rocket from distance late in the first half gave the Rams a 1-0 lead into the break. Pilgrim (8-5-1) never allowed the Rams to put the game to bed, with Coffie proving dangerous on virtually every touch.
The Patriots host Cranston West and visit Smithfield in their final two matches. Those dates will wrap a grueling stretch of four games in five days to close the regular season. Pilgrim has played in a pair of finals since 2018, including the Division I version in 2020 against La Salle.
PILGRIM (3): Amaya Coffie 3; assists — Chloe Casavant, Lorelai Leddy.
LA SALLE (4): Sofia Cornell, Mila Falcone, Allie Scott 2; assists — Falcone, Jordan Vrees.
Halftime — LS, 1-0. Saves — Jenna Madden, P, 11; Grace Keenan, LS, 1; Daniela Hyde, LS, 5.
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: La Salle girls soccer defeats Pilgrim in Division I clash
