Cumberland’s boys are finding their form as the regular season heads into its final stretch. Wednesday’s 2–1 road win at Cranston West made it three victories in four games.
Lucas Balcarcel and Caleb Moran each recorded an assist, while Manuel Morales and Gavin Antonio each scored for Cumberland. Aiden Sayama played the full 80 minutes in goal, allowing one as the Clippers finished the night on the winning side.
Cranston West brought momentum too, coming off back-to-back 2–0 wins over East Greenwich and Cranston East and draws with South Kingstown and East Providence, plus a one-goal loss to Bishop Hendricken. That makes this a solid away win against a competitive opponent.
For Cumberland, the encouraging part is how the results are beginning to connect. A win over Central, a draw with Portsmouth and a 5–1 victory over Pawtucket Co-op set a foundation. A 2–0 loss to Chariho interrupted it, but Cumberland answered with a 2–0 win at South Kingstown and now this road result at Cranston West.
That’s three wins in four and a 4–1–1 mark over the last six. Cumberland sits ninth in the RIIL Division I standings at 5–6–2 with four to go.
Next up is a trip to La Salle Academy on Saturday, October 17, at 3 p.m. After that, the Clippers face North Providence, East Providence and East Greenwich to close the regular season.
Twelve teams qualify for the Division I playoffs, so the closing stretch carries postseason importance. Seeding comes from RPI, but they carry momentum and a chance to strengthen their position.
The October 21 trip to East Providence also stands out. With the Townies sitting seventh and Cumberland ninth, that matchup offers the Clippers a chance to strengthen their position against a team just ahead of them as the playoff field takes shape.
First comes La Salle, a valuable measuring stick and a chance for Cumberland’s talented younger players to experience the demands of late-season high school soccer. That’s experience they can take into the final week and, if they get there, into the postseason while continuing to build for seasons ahead.