Cranston native Peyton Phillips has found his niche on the gridiron this fall for the University of New England, lining up for the Nor’easters at tight end as they earned something they never had: a third win. Western New England stymied UNE in its first attempt to earn that elusive triumph, with the Golden Bears claiming a 50-38 decision on the strength of a 169-yard, three touchdown performance from tailback Jamyre Soberanis. In spite of the setback, Phillips was one of the better offensive performers for the Nor’easters, picking up seven receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown, his first at the collegiate level. The La Salle product found the end zone a minute and 17 seconds into the final quarter, catching a five-yard pass from Brian Peters, before linking up with Peters again on the subsequent two-point conversion attempt to make the score at the time 44-25.

The Nor’easters fell to Curry the following week, in a game that Phillips finished with five ctaches for 23 yards. UNE earned its third victory last week against Husson. Phillips now has 21 catches to his name and 210 yards on the season, which will continue for UNE this Saturday when it hosts Nichols College. East met West as Cranston West graduate Bryce Antoch’s Dean squared off with Cranston East alum Tiago Pacheco’s Lesley on the soccer pitch in a New England Collegiate Conference match. At the end of the day, it was Pacheco who emerged victorious as the Lynx bested the Bulldogs via a Jack Wadleigh effort nearly four minutes into overtime that eluded the grasp of Antoch to give the Lesley eleven the odd goal in three. Antoch had a fairly busy day between the sticks for Dean, recording eight saves while facing 14 shots from the Lesley attack, ten of which were on target compared to the Bulldogs’ five. On the other side of the park, Pacheco went the distance for the Lynx, with the former Thunderbolt providing a steadying presence along the defensive line with his distinct brand of senior leadership. Pacheco has been an ever-present starter for Lesley this fall, ensconcing himself into the first eleven in all nine matches thus far, picking up an assist on the final goal of a 3-0 triumph over Becker on September 21. Much like Pacheco, Antoch has also been in the starting lineup in every game for Dean, notching 116 saves while also keeping clean sheets against Rivier and Curry early in the campaign. The ex-Falcon has made more than 10 saves in five matches, stopping 11 shots from Regis, 13 in a meeting with Worcester State as well as Eastern Nazarene, 12 against Pine Manor, and a career-high 16 against Framingham State.