Pilgrim soccer just did the unthinkable on Saturday afternoon, capping off an insane Division II playoff run with a 1-0 shutout of St. Raphael. And get this: the championship-winning goal came from none other than decorated wrestler Allison Patten, cementing an upset victory under threatening skies at Rhode Island College.
The Wrestler Who Became a Legend
Yeah, you read that right. The hero of Pilgrim’s title run is Allison Patten, a fierce wrestler who just led her soccer squad to glory. Patten found the lone breakthrough in the 23rd minute, a moment that felt like pure destiny. Brenna Hall launched a long clearance from Pilgrim’s penalty area, then the Saints messed up a pass back to their keeper. Patten, absolute lightning, was on it in a flash. She touched the ball around Isabella Alcantara, the St. Raphael keeper, and buried a tumbling finish with her left foot into the empty net. Can you imagine the scenes?
Patten’s been kicking a ball since she was three years old, she told reporters. “I could never stop until my senior year,” she said. And while wrestling is her future, what she’s doing in college, this moment was for her best friends on the field. What a statement. Even after scoring, Patten knew it wasn’t over. “I wasn’t sure that was going to be enough,” she admitted. “They’re going to just come right back at us. We just had to keep playing.” That killer instinct, even with a goal in the bag, is exactly what wins championships.
Locking Down a Potent Offense
Patten’s concern was legit. St. Raphael had been on an absolute tear, dropping a combined 10 goals in their three playoff matches just to *reach* the final. That’s serious firepower. But Pilgrim’s defense, led by Brenna Hall, was having none of it. They limited the Saints to a measly four shots on net, and goalkeeper Mikayla Stephenson was an absolute brick wall, handling every single one. That’s championship-level defense right there, matching their 1-0 quarterfinal win against Warwick rival Toll Gate.
Hall knew the mission. “We knew they were good players,” she said. “Before the game we went over it, we just had to stay on them.” St. Raphael tried to crank up the pressure after halftime, shifting their standout Gaby Cuellar from midfield to her usual striker role. But Pilgrim held firm. Mackenzie Dailey blocked a crucial shot from Olivia Alcantara in the 53rd minute, and the Patriots scrambled the rebound clear. The Saints, who were trying to follow up consecutive Division III championships, barely got another sniff. “Keep them to the outside,” Hall explained their strategy. “Push them outside. Use the wing as another defender and try not to let them shoot.” Textbook execution, that’s what that was.
The Ultimate Comeback Story
This wasn’t just a championship win. This was a statement, a full-circle moment for a Pilgrim team that’s been through the wringer. After winning just one game over the last two seasons, they moved down from Division I. A fresh start was exactly what they needed, and boy did they make the most of it. Coach Ross Carroll brought in a talented first-year class, mixed them with returning players, and suddenly, Pilgrim started building serious momentum. This is a program that hadn’t had a winning season since 2023, the last of six straight.
The belief really took hold when they upset top seed Scituate in the semifinals. That was the moment everyone knew something special was brewing. Patten summed it up perfectly. “We had a rough last two years,” she said. “Coming back this year and not letting that define us, I think that was the most important thing.” From one win in two years to Division II champions. What a turnaround. The Patriots finished the season at 12-3-5, a stark contrast to St. Raphael’s 14-6-0 record.
So, there it is. Pilgrim stands tall, champions of Division II, thanks to a warrior spirit and the unlikely heroics of a wrestler. Allison Patten is off to wrestle in college, but she’s leaving behind a soccer legacy no one will ever forget. This team showed us all what heart and belief can really do. What a season for the Patriots.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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