THE LHS boys’ soccer team concluded another strong season at 10-7-3 overall. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — This fall, the Lynnfield High boys’ soccer team reached the round of 32 in the Division 3 state tournament this fall before falling at Greater New Bedford by a final of 3-1 on Nov. 6. The Pioneers finished at 10-7-3 overall and they came third place in the Cape Ann League Kinney Division going 8-4-2 in league play.
“We lost a couple of players we were expecting to help us before the season started,” recalled Pioneers head coach Brent Munroe, who just finished his 21st-year with the team . “We were playing catch-up early on because we were playing a bunch of younger players. I felt that, overall, we reached my expectations.”
The team’s leading scorer was a first-year player, Nickson Joseph, as the senior striker had eight goals and three assists. Alex Gentile, a junior co-captain, led the team in assists with six and added five goals as he tied Joseph in points with 11.
Fellow junior Owen Klee, who is a midfielder along with Gentile, was second in goals scored with six.
Lynnfield will lose six seniors to graduation: Joseph, Dom Ferrante center-midfielder, Jake Mallett (defenseman), Chase Carney (goalkeeper), Dan Mullin (midfielder) and Shan McQueen (forward).
Ferrante and Mallett were captains and Ferrante was named a Cape Ann League Second-Team All-Star.
“The captains were great leaders and the other seniors really did a good job despite their lack of experience coming into the season. Shane, Nickson and Dan were first-year players while Chase was a field player before moving to goalie this season.”
Next fall, the team should be in good shape as they are slated to return 13 veterans. The two cornerstone veterans back will be Klee and Gentile who was a CAL First-Team All-Star this year.
They will also have a goalkeeper with experience as Kellen Cardinal, who went 4-0-1 this fall, will also be back.
“We will have a lot of experience coming back next year,” pointed out Munroe.
