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Oct 17, 2024

No. 2 Pioneers end Rivet's ride | Sports | suncommercial.com

Rivet's Bridget Stine (8) blocks the pass of Providence's Allie Zwissler (15) during their regional semifinal Wednesday at St. Vincent's Field. Few Class A teams, if any, have a scoring duo like

Rivet's Bridget Stine (8) blocks the pass of Providence's Allie Zwissler (15) during their regional semifinal Wednesday at St. Vincent's Field.

Few Class A teams, if any, have a scoring duo like Providence's Kamden Pierce and Molly Richards, and Rivet received a first-hand look on Wednesday.

Pierce put in four goals with one assist, and Richards scored twice with two assists to propel the No. 2 Pioneers to 7-0 victory over Rivet in their regional semifinal match at St. Vincent's Field.

Providence hosts its regional championship on Saturday and will face the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal between No. 8 Forest Park and host Pike Central, kicked off shortly after Rivet's game finished and ended too late for today's edition.

The Pioneers (17-3) were in control from the start on Wednesday, earning seven of their eight corner kicks in the first half while not allowing Rivet to put a shot on goal. But the Patriots (12-6-1) still kept them off the board for over 20 minutes, despite Richards putting three shots on goal and sending a fourth just over the crossbar in the first 10 minutes.

Pierce put in the first goal with an assist from Richards with 17:33 showing in the first half. Ella Coker had the second goal 10 minutes later. Richards set up the attempt with a cross, and Patriots keeper Allie Stearns denied the first attempt, but the block caromed right back to Coker, who wouldn't be denied again. The 2-0 margin carried into halftime.

"We knew we were out-manned, out-gunned, out-quicked, and out-skilled. We did the best we could with what we have, and the girls played well," Rivet coach John Anderson said.

Pierce scored her second goal off a Richards cross a little over two minutes into the second half to make it 3-0, and the next 10 minutes were played mostly even, including Rivet's first shot on goal by Lissa Willis.

But the floodgates opened when Richards notched her first goal on a Pierce assist with 28:38 remaining. That was the first of four goals to come in a five-minute stretch.

Richards scored again at the 26:45 mark, Pierce completed her hat trick with 24:45 showing, and she added her fourth goal with 23:25 to play, bumping the lead to 7-0.

"Those two individuals gave us our hands full," Anderson said. "I thought we were able to contain them a bit in the first half, but when the broke free we had to make adjustments. We couldn't cover them with what we were doing, so we brought Kevi (Black) up on (Richards) and Maddie (Lemons) on (Pierce). That seemed to slow them for a bit, but they're a very well-polished team. We just don't have the players or the numbers to keep up. But we tried."

Pierce exited shortly after her goal, and Richards moved to defense. The Pioneers cleared their bench with 14:30 remaining and removed Richards a few minutes later.

Elle Stoelb added a second shot on goal for Rivet in the closing minutes, and Stearns ended with 18 saves, nine in each half.

The Patriots say goodbye to six seniors, Lissa Willis, Blaize Wagner, Natalie Earley, Cassidy Risley, Emma Gafner, and Alyssa Hedge.

"I hate it that our seniors lost their last game on this field," Anderson said. "You have to give it to Lissa for almost setting our school-record (for goals) again this year. All those girls came out and played their hearts out and showed everything that this new group needs to see. We did the best we could.

"Getting back to the sectional championship was where we wanted to get. It's not where we wanted to stop, but it's nice to get back there, and it's nice to host a regional. We've never done that before. I'm proud of what the girls did this season, and hopefully we can do it again."

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