North Smithfield girls lacrosse sheds past disappointments with Division IV title victory

PROVIDENCE — A curse wasn't placed on the North Smithfield girls lacrosse team, but for Kate Zonin and her teammates, it certainly felt like it.

In 2022, an undefeated season ended with a loss in the Division IV title game. Last spring, the Northmen’s title hopes were dashed with another one-goal, championship-game loss, this one in overtime. This is why the curse felt so real.

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And on Sunday, North Smithfield put it to bed.

The Northmen were dominant in Division IV this year and were expected to win the title, but they also know that expectations don't win championships. Instead, they went out and made sure they won it. The offense showed its balance early and Zonin scored two of her three goals in the fourth quarter, guiding North Smithfield to an 8-4 win over Tiverton for the program’s first title.

“The grit, it just made us want it so much more,” Zonin said. “Today we were like, ‘Let’s not think about it as a championship game, let’s think about it as a normal game,’ because, in past years, we’ve thought about it as a championship game and that’s what scares us.

“Today is was a normal game, in 80-degree heat, and we came to play.”

It was hardly a normal game.

This was a defining game for Zonin and the other four seniors on the team. They helped North Smithfield have its first winning season, dealt with the disappointments of the past two seasons and were ready to go and win one in their final game in green and black.

“It was definitely nerve-racking,” North Smithfield goalie Sam Austin said. "It’s a championship game and no matter who you’re facing, you’re going to be nervous.”

It was fitting that seniors got the Northmen off to the start they were looking for. Ava O’Neill put the first one home 3:49 into the game and Alina Bienkiewicz added one about 3½ minutes later. Freshman Sophie Boisvert joined the fun with 52 seconds left in the quarter, and with a 3-0 lead, North Smithfield was loaded with confidence.

“It was really important because, as a team, we kind of slack a little bit,” Zonin said. “It was important for us to get here, make some plays, get some goals and tread for the rest of the game.”

Offense slowed in the second half, but it wasn’t a problem for North Smithfield because it had an answer for the Tiverton attack in goalie Sam Austin.

Tiverton, which trailed by seven goals in the semifinals before coming back to beat Classical, outplayed North Smithfield for most of the second quarter. Zoe Peckham put the Tigers on the board 3:05 into the quarter but Austin was the show after that with save after save in net.

“I’m just crazy, I guess,” Austin said of her style in goal. “You just have to keep your mindset up.”

The saves added to momentum and North Smithfield closed the final five minutes of the half with goals by Kailey Salinaro and Zonin. In the third quarter, the Northmen started being more deliberate with offensive possessions but Zonin took over in the fourth and scored two goals in the first six minutes to build the lead.

“We definitely made some adjustments,” Zonin said, “and spread out more so I could do [one-on-ones] and the girls can do [one-on-ones], just do what they are normally used to doing.”

Tiverton fought to the last second, with Julia Polofsky scoring with seven seconds left to make it 8-4. It wasn’t long afterward that the Northmen found themselves running toward Austin, ready to celebrate a title four years in the making.

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“It took so long, it was actually crazy,” Austin said regarding the final minute. “Especially because of [what happened] last year when we lost to Mount, this feels so good.”

“It’s full circle and it’s amazing,” Zonin said. “I could see the joy in everybody’s faces and it was really amazing. Everyone had a part in it, so it was so great.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Smithfield girls lacrosse beats Tiverton for RIIL Div. IV title