BARRINGTON — There will be a new Rhode Island Division One boys’ soccer state champion after seventh-seeded North Kingstown upset second-seeded and defenders Barrington by a 2-1 count Thursday night, Oct. 29, in town under the lights at Victory Field in the quarterfinals.

Senior co-captain and striker Andrew Hess accounted for both of the Skippers’ goals, which came in the 43rd and 71st minutes. Senior Anders Weiss, from Brett Sullivan, scored the lone Eagles’ tally in the 73rd.

“I think the team is in shock,” said BHS head coach Don Denham. “I think we felt we’re better than the way we played and I could have had them more prepared. We made a lot of mistakes tonight that we didn’t make during the season. And if we did make those mistakes, we found a way to correct them. Tonight, we weren’t able to correct those mistakes and it cost us.”

The Eagles opened the game on the front foot, controlling possession for the better part of the first 20 minutes. The effort, however, was to no avail. Barrington misfired on a number of shots, rarely sending anything on target. Instead, the balls fluttered wide of the goal or hit the side netting.

North, 4-3 winners over Hope in the opening round two days earlier, found its legs before the break. The Skippers and Eagles then played relatively even before the break, heading to intermission scoreless.

That changed quickly to begin the second half, as Hess beat Eagles’ freshman keeper Andrew Jones three minutes into the period.

“We made a defensive error and Hess scored,” said Denham. “We just panicked and never recovered.”

Denham moved Weiss up into a three-forward formation in an attempt to find the equalizer. Instead, the Skippers eventually made the Eagles pay, when Hess scored what proved the decider with nine minutes remaining.

Barrington responded shortly thereafter when Weiss put a header of a Sullivan throw-in past North keeper Tom Mulligan. It would be the Eagles’ only positive step, however, before the final whistle.

“I’m disappointed for the kids,” Denham added. “North Kingstown deserved to win. They play phenomenal.”

North advances to the state semifinals Tuesday night, Nov. 3, at Cranston Stadium. Barrington, winners of One-East during the regular season, saw its year come to an end with an overall record of 16-2-1 in league outings.

BHS GIRLS LOSE

In South Kingstown, the host Rebels dispatched Barrington, 7-1, in the quarterfinal round of the girls’ Division One state championship tournament Thursday night at the Curtis Corner Middle School complex.

Emily McClarnon netted a hat-trick for South Kingstown, which earned the top seed out of the One-South ranks. The Rebs led by a commanding 5-1 score at halftime. Jen Wardyga scored Barrington’s lone goal. The Eagles, seeded fourth out of One-North, finished their season with a 4-11-2 record in league games.