Progress was steady, even if the Cranston East girls’ soccer team’s trajectory was not. Heading into Monday, the ’Bolts had won two games, lost three games and tied three games, and the only streak was a two-game losing skid. Still, they were taking positive steps in jelling and establishing their identity.

On Monday, the progress hit a new high-water mark. East beat Shea 5-0 for the second time this season, while delivering its best performance of the year.

“I’ve been trying to get them to embrace a different style of play,” said head coach Scott Maynard. “Today was it.”

East got goals from five different players, and four others had assists. The offense consistently generated quality chances, and the defense was in control.

And East turned it into a victory.

“We were switching the ball through all parts of the field, making the runs, putting in the crosses, being there on the far post to finish it,” Maynard said. “We’ve been trying to get them to play a lot of one and two-touch soccer. Today was sort of a culmination of everything we’ve been working on. It was nice to see things come together.”

Maynard felt it was happening ahead of Monday’s game, even if the results didn’t match up. East lost 4-1 to Narragansett and 4-0 to West Warwick last week, but Maynard felt the Narragansett game was his team’s best yet. Chelsea Sahagian, one of the state’s leading scorers, just caught fire, scoring all four of the Mariners’ goals.

“Even in some of our losses when we gave up a lot of goals, it was like an eight to ten-minute mental breakdown, and then we started playing again,” Maynard said. “With Narragansett and West Warwick, it was just goal, goal, goal. I thought Narragansett was the best game we played. We out-shot them almost 3-1. We just couldn’t find the back of the net. They have a good keeper and the defense did their job. Chelsea is a talented player. I knew she would be tough to mark.”

On Monday, East faced less of a challenge against Shea, who has struggled to one win this season. But the Raiders were also coming off a tie against a Classical team that owns the same record as East.

But the ’Bolts had no trouble. Ellen Macaruso made it 1-0 in the 13th minute, with an assist from Kerrin Field. Thirteen minutes later, Samantha Canales headed in a Cheyenne Tillison corner kick to make it 2-0. Just before halftime, Alexis Alves hit a shot from the top of the box. A Shea defender deflected it right to Alex Bowden, who knocked it into the net.

“I was pleased because Shea just tied Classical,” Maynard said. “Where they were getting beaten by several goals, they’re now getting beaten by just a couple. When you play defense all year, you get better at it.”

Field upped East’s lead to four with a goal early in the second half. She ran onto a corner kick by Brenna Rojek and pushed it in. In the 64th minute, Paola Mejia tallied the final goal when she volleyed in a free kick by Marissa Nelson.

At the other end, a defensive unit led by Sara Olson put the clamps on any chances Shea had. Stephanie Groccia took care of business in goal.

“The team is playing with a lot of confidence now,” Maynard said. “The kids are great. There’s a very positive vibe on the team. They’re enjoying practice, enjoying each other’s company, enjoying the games. So that part of it is going very well.”

The ’Bolts are now 3-3-3 in league play and will try to get to the positive side of the ledger when they host Classical on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., at Cranston Stadium.

“Just continuing this – the attitude stays strong and we keep moving the ball,” Maynard said. “That’s our key. It’s getting there.”