La Salle and Cumberland set up blockbuster D-I girls soccer final

PROVIDENCE — La Salle and Cumberland girls soccer made the state semifinals into a pitstop.The state’s top two teams were hunting goals on a warm night at Alumni Stadium. Allie Scott starred with four goals for the Rams, while Paynter Maher and Shea Maher each provided a pair for the Clippers.The top-seeded Rams poured in three first-half goals in a 5-0 finish against No. 4 North Kingstown. The Maher sisters caught fire in the second half of No. 2 Cumberland’s 7-0 win against No. 6 Mt. Hope in the nightcap on Nov. 3.La Salle is searching for its second consecutive title, and 16th overall, on Saturday afternoon at Rhode Island College. Cumberland, in its third title appearance over the last four years, is bidding for its second D-I crown overall. “I just had to be hungry out there and confident,” Scott said. “I know I have all these girls out here that are amazing, and they help me, and we're just playing together as a team right now.”Watch RI games on NFHS Network!“At halftime, we sat down and we just talked and said a 1-0 lead is a good start,” Paynter Maher said. “But we knew that wasn't a good enough lead, and we wanted to put them away early. And I'm really glad we did.”Read on below for more on the Division I girls soccer semifinals:La Salle saves all its goalsThe Rams, after a pair of scoreless draws against NK in the regular season, left all their goals for the game that mattered. Three goals in the first half ended over 100 minutes of scoreless soccer between the two programs.Mila Falcone halted the streak with a strike from just inside the 18-yard box off an assist from Scott. The midfielder played possession from the left wing. Scott’s assist clipped an NK defender and found Falcone in the middle for a 1-0 advantage in the 21st minute.“When I play a through ball, she's always there,” Scott said. “Her scoring that goal just, the nerves went away and I knew that after that we were just going to have the momentum to keep going.”Scott doubled the advantage, from Falcone, with a blistering attempt three minutes later. A Skipper turnover at midfield was played forward to Falcone, who took two quick touches to find Scott in stride.Scott added a third with 4:40 remaining until the halftime horn. Falcone played it to her left and Scott had time to take a touch before unleashing a left-footed shot from distance. Scott ended the night with her fourth goal in the closing minutes of regulation.“I woke up today, I had the nerves, but I know that it's OK to have nerves,” Scott said. “We all played as a team, and now we're on to the state championship.”Cumberland tames the HuskiesShea Maher played a cross on the end line that snuck past Mt. Hope to Mackenzie Ferrer. The freshman boxed out the defender and toed away the goal with 24 minutes left in the first half.The gates then opened just two minutes into the best half the Clippers have played all year. Paynter Maher previewed the final 30 minutes of play with her shot from the left side of the box. She pushed her next attempt into space before striking from well outside the box for a 3-0 lead with 27 minutes left.Shea Maher added the next two goals, with the second coming from 40 yards out. The second half was never in doubt as the sisters confirmed they have the ultimate green light. Milana Izzo and Caroline Nicolace finished off the semifinals with two more goals over the final seven minutes.“I was like, ‘Wow, first semifinal game and it’s 5-0’, and then I'm watching us in the second half,” Paynter Maher said. “I’m like, ‘Alright, well, we did it too.’”The Clippers won three straight D-II titles in the early 2000s and then lost to La Salle in their first state championship appearance. This current four-year stretch rivals that run, and the Clippers can close it out with another championship.“For my four years of high school, I've missed one state championship,” Paynter Maher said. “Junior year, it was a big upset. We've won one, lost one and I'm hoping to end on a high note and win my last one.”Cumberland won the lone meeting against La Salle on Milana Izzo’s goal in Providence. La Salle, though, has history on its side. The Rams won both state title matchups against the Clippers in 1-0 finishes in 2004 and 2015.“I think La Salle is definitely our toughest competition,” Paynter Maher said. “We were able to get that one goal, but that's a really close game. I think that we played well, but we've been playing better together. They're a solid team, but hopefully we take our chances when we have them and score.”This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: La Salle and Cumberland set up blockbuster D-I girls soccer finalOur editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.