Bornstein sisters boost Rams to state title

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 11/18/15

It was a family affair out on the pitch for the La Salle girls’ soccer team this season.

Anya and Milan Bornstein, natives of Cranston, combined for 18 points on the year, helping lead the Rams …

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Bornstein sisters boost Rams to state title

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It was a family affair out on the pitch for the La Salle girls’ soccer team this season.

Anya and Milan Bornstein, natives of Cranston, combined for 18 points on the year, helping lead the Rams to their 11th state title in 15 years.

The sisters’ season was almost decided in an overtime battle with Cumberland in the title game, but an Olivia Freitas goal that squeaked in with 12 seconds left gave La Salle the championship.

“It was insane,” junior Milan Bornstein said. “I personally didn’t know who much time was left, but I saw 12.9 [seconds] right after the celebration. I hoped it was over, saying just get to the next ball, get a touch, anything. I just looked at [Chiara DiPalma] and [Freitas] and I just couldn’t believe it. Cumberland’s a great team, so I think everyone was mentally preparing themselves for the next 20 minutes.”

Milan contributed 10 points to La Salle and was tied for the team lead this season, and senior Anya chipped in eight while holding the team-high with six goals.

Midfielder Milan noted that she knows that when she played a ball this season for her forward sister, she was going to be there. Both said that playing with each other has helped elevate their game for the Rams, who shut out their last four opponents.

“Ever since sophomore year, we’ve always had a rivalry,” Anya Bornstein, who will attend Central Connecticut State University in the fall, said. “Coach [Lindsey Longval] would always push us to be competitive. We just work together really well, there is a lot of competitiveness.”

Both sisters said it was an honor to represent Cranston as part of the championship team, noting the Cranston soccer system that made them such effective players.

“We grew up in Cranston,” Milan said. “[We] started playing rec. and select here, so all of our first coaches were from Cranston, and playing against Cranston West we know all of them. The Cranston soccer program has helped me fall in love with the game and know soccer is really what I wanna do.”

As for next year, the sisters will go down different paths. Anya will be taking to the field for CCSU, along with Bayside soccer teammate and Pilgrim goalkeeper Hannah Page.

“I train year-round with my club team and do personal training on the side,” Anya said of how she will keep getting better. “I need to work on my foot skills, beating the defender one-on-one and shooting accurately.”

Milan will be returning for her senior season, when she hopes to make La Salle the first repeat D-I champion since the Rams did it in 2010-11.

“I’m excited about it,” Milan said. “I think all of our underclassmen, they’re just ready to go. I know that we can pull out another one. I have confidence in all the girls that we can bring what we got this year.”

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