Cumberland’s girls soccer team opened its season with an impressive 2-0 victory over North Kingstown Thursday night, with newcomer Shea Maher delivering the decisive goals late in the match. Playing at North Kingstown, Maher struck twice in the final minutes of regulation to secure the Division I win for the Clippers, who entered the season as defending 2023 champions.
Maher’s first goal came in the 75th minute after receiving the ball from her sister Paynter near midfield. The younger Maher drove forward, slipped past two defenders, and finished with a low shot into the corner to break the scoreless tie. Within moments, a foul in the penalty area gave Cumberland another opportunity, and Shea Maher calmly converted from the spot to put the match out of reach.
The victory marked a special occasion for the Maher family, as all three sisters now compete together for Cumberland. Paynter, a senior striker who joined the program in 2023, and junior midfielder Mckenna, who followed the next year, provided crucial support throughout the match. The siblings credited their chemistry and teamwork as key factors in the dominant second-half performance that controlled the final 15 minutes.
North Kingstown, which defeated Cumberland on penalty kicks in last year’s Division I final, struggled to capitalize on its opportunities. The Skippers managed several near-misses in the first half but couldn’t convert before Cumberland’s second-half surge. The loss left North Kingstown searching for answers after a strong preseason.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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