By DAN NUNN
HORNET JUNIOR Jeff Nathan maintains a hot pursuit of the ball at Arthur Kenney Field. (John Intorcio Photo)
NORTH READING — The Hornets have posted a superb 7-2-1 record at the midway point of the boys’ soccer season. They owe their red-hot start to their prolific offense and stingy defense, which has enabled them to outscore their opponents 32-7.
Plunder Rockport 3-0
The Hornets sunk the Rockport Vikings 3-0 in their matchup under the lights on Arthur J. Kenney Field September 30.
It took a while for North Reading to adjust to the cool and rainy conditions. But eventually the offense clicked and they got on the board in the 26th minute. Senior captain Dan Coveney broke into the Rockport end and sent the ball over to junior Nick Govostes. Govostes gave the ball back to Coveney who made a deft touch past the goalie into the net. The game would stand at 1-0 at the half.
The offense kept it going to start the second half. Just three minutes into the half senior captain Adam Sapp took a beautiful through ball from senior Tom Lewis and tapped the ball past the goalie to make it 2-0.
In the 54th minute senior Jake Intorcio iced the game when he turned around a defender and blasted a shot inside the far post.
Rout Amesbury 5-0
Juniors Killian Daly, Jeff Nathan and Patrick Driscoll all scored their first career varsity goals in the Hornets’ 5-0 dismantling of the Amesbury Indians on Thursday.
It was clear from the opening kickoff that the Indians were over matched. In the 11th minute senior Tom Lewis got the scoring started by heading in a great service from Nick Govostes from the edge of the box. Three minutes later Daly streaked past the Amesbury defense and put the ball in the back of the net for a well-deserved goal.
In the 28th minute Jake Intorcio scored his 11th goal of the season when he settled a cross from Dan Coveney and blasted it into the goal. With just two minutes left in the half Nathan broke in and scored to give North Reading a 4-0 half-time lead.
There wasn’t much action in the second half. Driscoll added a late goal for the easy victory, securing the team’s second consecutive shut out.
Upcoming games
The Hornets traveled to rival Pioneer country on Monday to compete on Lynnfield’s new turf field and hosted Ipswich on Wednesday (both after press time). On Friday, Oct. 10 they’ll travel to Newburyport and next Tuesday, Oct. 14 they’ll host Triton at 4:15 p.m. at Arthur J. Kenney Field.
