The unbeaten and reigning champion Kickemuit Middle School girls' soccer squad opened up play in the 2026 state tournament with a resounding, 8-0, victory over Deering/West Warwick in a preliminary round contest played Monday, Oct. 19, at Veterans Field in Warren.

Eighth-grader Ellie Williford led the onslaught with four goals. Classmate Mya Salvatore added another as did seventh-graders Gianna Faria and Mylah Borges along with sixth-grader Brooke Bisbano.

Seventh-grader Emma Overy had three assists. Ava Pereira, an eighth-grader, did not need to make a single save in the KMS net to earn the shutout.

The second-seeded Huskies finished atop the Eastern Division regular season standings with a 10-0-0 record, their rout over the Wizards upping their winning ways to 11 in a row.

The victory was actually the program's 26th on the trot. KMS finished 15-0-0 last fall after defeating Feinstein/Coventry for the 2025 title.

Deering, which finished in a three-way tie for third place in the West Division, saw its season end with a 6-5-0 overall mark.

KMS is next set to face 10th-seeded Lincoln in a quarterfinal round contest Wednesday night, also at Vets Field. Kickoff is 5 o'clock.

The Lions (7-1-3) upset seventh-seeded Winman/Warwick, 3-0, in their preliminary outing and finished second to undefeated and playoff No. 1-seed Burrillville in the North Division regular season ranks.