PROVIDENCE – Except for a brief stretch in the second quarter, East Greenwich controlled all of a 10-4 win in the Division II boys’ lacrosse title game against South Kingstown at Rhode Island College

Whether the Rebels were rattled or the pressure from the Avengers was just too intense, South Kingstown struggled to pass well or play under control. 

In contrast, East Greenwich capitalized on the South Kingstown penalties, and dominated time of possession. The Avengers scored the games first three goals, and kept the Rebels from scoring until eight minutes into the second quarter.

South Kingstown briefly made a game of it at that point, scoring again with 1:47 left in the first half. The Rebels’ lone stretch of better play than the Avengers came for these three minutes in the second quarter.

However, East Greenwich scored the game’s next four goals, taking a 6-2 lead into the fourth quarter and stretching it to 9-3 with 5:10 left in the game.

The Avengers scored one last time with 2:25 left, and South Kingstown added a goal with 93 seconds remaining – too little, too late for the Rebels. South Kingstown never led during the game, and trailed by as many as seven goals.

East Greenwich senior and captain Ethan Zink was named the game’s most valuable player. He finished with three goals and two assists. Kyle Carosotto also had two goals and one assist.

The win caps off a perfect Division II season for the Avengers – 13 regular season wins, plus another three in the playoffs. East Greenwich also won the Division II title in 2011, their first title in boys’ lacrosse. Assuming they aren’t moved up to Division I, the Avengers are well-positioned to three-peat, since they only lose four starters from a junior-laden team.

Despite winning records in 2009, 2010 and 2011, this was South Kingstown’s first year in the Division II title game. The Rebels lose about half of their starting lineup to graduation.

The title game results mirror that of the regular season – unfortunately for South Kingstown. On April 10, the Rebels lost 10-2 at East Greenwich, and in the late season rematch on May 10, South Kingstown lost 14-8 at home.