The Hope Highlands girls soccer team wrapped up a big 2024 season by reaching the state semifinals against Chariho last week. The visiting Chargers went on to win the competitive matchup 2-1, with Mia Braga scoring the Huskies’ lone goal.
Hope Highlands went undefeated in the regular season and also won the City Cup. The team earned a win in the preliminary round over Nathaniel Greene, then took a 2-1 victory over Gallagher in the quarterfinals. Aria Juarez and Vanessa Lodge scored in the quarters.
“It was a very successful season. For the girls to win the City Cup, go undefeated in the regular season, then make it to the semifinals, it was special,” said Hope Highlands coach Larry Biegel.
The Huskies enjoyed bonds both on and off the field, which helped them find success early and often, according to Biegel.
“A lot of it is the girls had a very good team culture. They were always positive on and off the field and they seemed to click right away. It began to build throughout the season and they started improving game after game,” Biegel said.
The good times should continue to roll for the Huskies, who will be returning 14 players next fall. Ten eighth graders will be moving on to high school, which should bode well for Cranston West, who is about to get rolling in its Division I playoff hunt this week.
“We’re very fortunate to have so many good players from Cranston, especially from Hope Highlands, to be able to tryout and to then go on to play for West. We’re very fortunate to have so many players come through the city of Cranston,” Biegel said.
The Hope Highlands roster included: Addison Ciano, Vanessa Lodge, Julia Sedlak, Layla Gibbons, Molly Furtado, Savannah Carreiro, Hannah Shone, Capri Carr, Natalie Santurri, Stella Vlaun, Anya Vitale, Alexa Okolowitcz, Anika Baum, Brielle Sepe, Annalia Bowden, Lilyana Pizzuti, Addison Biegel, Mia Braga, Aria Juarez, Lorelei Braddock, Caroline Curran, Hailey Shone, Natalia McGreevy and Libby Ledoux.