The Toll Gate girls soccer team picked up another win on Tuesday afternoon to continue its unlikely run in Division III.

The Titans had a disastrous preseason, losing three key starters to injury including their top scorer from 2021 in Olivia Dutra. Most counted Toll Gate out of the postseason picture and figured the team would take a step back after reaching the playoffs last fall. However, Toll Gate has not skipped a beat and improved to 6-1 in league play with the 2-0 shutout over Exeter-West Greenwich.

The Titans won their first five league games of the season before falling to first-place Westerly last week. Toll Gate rebounded nicely on Tuesday and would see Kara Yelman and Isabelle Lafontaine score goals to pace the Titans. Keeper Alanna Pereira made six stops in the shutout win.

“The girls had two great days of practice and I was happy with the way that they rebounded after the loss. Westerly is a great team, we don’t know what is going to happen down the line, but there could be a rematch. We have four tough games left and I was happy with the way they rebounded,” said Toll Gate coach Bob Enright.

The Titans controlled the ball for the majority of the second half, limiting the EWG offense in the final 40 minutes of action.

“I was happy with the ball control in the second half and I was happy that they were taking the shots. We just need to keep taking them and they will go in eventually,” said Enright.

Although the Titans lost major production in Dutra, they have recovered tremendously and have already scored more goals than they did last season through their first seven games. Enright has been thrilled to see girls such as Yelman, Kaitlyn Pale and Brooke Marinelli step up on offense.

“Everyone that had to step up has stepped up. They did what they had to do. They knew that we needed goal scorers and we’ve had three or four girls reach their season highs,” said Enright. “We have been trying to get our mids to follow our attackers to create that pressure. We also want our outside defenders to be dangerous. If we can get that, then we will be tough.”

As the Titans enter the home stretch of the regular season, Enright hopes the team continues to roll and finish strong.

“We had an injury, then another injury, then another injury. The girls didn’t know what we were going to do, but I had to keep them from getting down and I told them, ‘next man up.’ The next people stepped up and they’re on top of the world right now,” said Enright. “We have some important games coming up though, so we need to finish it.”

Toll Gate’s next game will be on the road at Cranston East on Monday afternoon. The Titans will then play a pivotal division match against Narragansett on Wednesday at home.