Chariho drew even. Cumberland barely let the moment settle.
Paynter Maher answered the Chargers’ second-half equalizer within seconds Thursday night, restoring a lead the Clippers would build into a 4–1 road victory. Maher finished with a hat trick, with Mackenzie Ferrer adding Cumberland’s other goal.
Maher’s opener had Cumberland ahead 1–0 before Morgan Brucker converted a penalty kick in the 64th minute. Suddenly, a one-goal advantage was gone with roughly 16 minutes remaining.
The response came down the right. Cumberland pushed forward in open play, with runners arriving inside, and Maher supplied the finish for a 2–1 lead.
She went back to work from that side in the 71st minute, sending a right-footed shot beneath the crossbar to complete her hat trick. In stoppage time, Maher delivered a low cross for Ferrer to finish from close range.
Three unanswered goals turned a late tie into Cumberland’s fifth consecutive win, moving the Clippers to 12–1–1.
When Cumberland needed an answer, the Clippers delivered again. There is a belief in this group that shows up when it matters. That alone doesn’t win a championship, but it is the kind of quality championship teams are built on.
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Source: Providence Journal scoring report, syndicated October 16, 2026. Additional context: Cumberland Sideline NFHS replay review.