Swaine shines as Providence boys’ soccer wraps up repeat title
LOS ANGELES — Providence High’s boys’ soccer, in its final game as a member of the Independence League, had a chance to wrap up the outright league title versus Pacifica Christian/Santa Monica.
Behind an extraordinary effort by Pioneer Paul Swaine, Providence decimated the visiting Seawolves, 10-2, to win the Independence League title outright Tuesday afternoon at Occidental College.
“I’m surprised at how dominating we were today. I didn’t expect that, but the seniors had a point to prove today,” Providence coach Ronald Neef said.
Swaine had a hat trick in the first half on the way to four total goals for Providence (10-4-1, 5-1). The senior also played the role of distributor with four assists.
“When [Swaine] is on, he is virtually unstoppable,” Neef said. “His physical presence, his field awareness and just his power [were the keys]. I mean he cranked four goals and he could have cranked six. As he goes, the team goes and he did wonderful today.”
With the win over Pacifica Christian (1-11-1, 0-6), the Pioneers successfully defended their Independence League crown from last season, when they won a share of the championship posting an identical record.
“Its back to back. We had to do this,” senior Elias Ferguson said.
Tuesday’s triumph marked the final game in the Independence League for Providence, as the Pioneers will move to the Prep League next season.
“I’ve been here two years and we’ve won the league two years in a row,” Neef said. “I’ve had the fortune of two great classes of seniors.”
Already leading 1-0 in the ninth minute, Swaine scored the first of his goals. He took the ball in the middle of the field then ripped a long, low shot that hit the left post and found the back of the net.
Swaine notched his first assist of the contest on a goal by Leo Krumian in the 18th minute. Swaine passed the ball out to the right and Krumian, a freshman, finished it off with a shot that skidded along the turf and in.
Swaine scored the next two goals to make it 5-0 at halftime.
In the 39th minute, Swaine completed the hat trick. The senior passed the ball to Bryan Ortiz in the middle who slipped it back to him to set up the goal. Ortiz would also score a goal, which came in the 54th minute.
After giving up a goal in the second minute after the break, Providence answered with a goal from Montgomery Greene. The senior moved through the middle, using precision passing with Swaine, before scoring on a low shot.
Leading 8-2 in the 72nd minute, Greene scored a second goal courtesy of the fourth and final assist from Swaine. After seemingly beating the entire Pacifica Christian team with his dribble, Swaine found Greene with a pass across the pitch for the goal.
“I wanted to share the love,” Swaine said of his assists. “I like to give my teammates goals.”
The final goal was scored by Swaine in the 77th minute. Ortiz passed the ball backward to the feet of the senior, who blasted the ball into the back of the net.
Senior Weston Tengan was responsible for the eighth Pioneers goal. In the 66th minute, the senior converted a penalty kick. It was his first goal of the season.
The first goal of the game was also scored by a senior. In the sixth minute, Ferguson scored on a counter-attack.
“That was just me and Paul connecting. Then we found Leo on the side, he gave me a good cross, then I took it up and took a shot,” Ferguson said.
Up next for the Pioneers, ranked No. 10 in the division, will be a CIF Southern Section Division VII playoff game against a team to be determined.
“We are going to be the first Providence [boys’ soccer] team to win a playoff game,” Swaine said. “Mark this down now and write it in the Burbank Leader, we are going to be the first ones.”