Published in the September 10, 2015 edition
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — After graduating eight starters and numerous key bench players from a team that made it all the way to the Division 3 boys’ soccer final last season, the Hornets may face some challenge integrating the handful of returning varsity players with the many new faces.
Head Coach Mark Bisognano is ready to face the challenges head-on. “The biggest challenge we have this year is figuring out how all of the pieces fit together. The roles were more clearly defined last year. This year it’s not as clear at this point in the season, but that’s part of the fun,” he said, adding, “Each year has its own set of challenges; the question is whether or not the team is up for the challenge and the way that this team has approached the pre-season I think that this team will be quite successful.”
North Reading returns 11 players with varying degrees of varsity experience. Senior goalkeeper Billy Brandano, senior captains Nicky Govostes and Ryan McAneny are the three returning varsity starters. There are also plenty of non-starters who return, including junior Anthony Tramontozzi, seniors Michael Driscoll, Matt Ashness, Justin Zhang, Sean Castro, Nathan Dionne, Kilian Daly and Jack Meaney.
Govostes will provide the scoring punch along with Castro, Daly and junior Cam Davis. In his third year as the starting goalkeeper Brandano will hold down the fort in net. Meaney, Tramontozzi, McAneny and Driscoll will be key cogs in the defensive third and be counted on to help keep opposing offenses at bay.
Old rivalries renewed
The Hornets will once again, as is the story in most years, face a very competitive Cape Ann League. “The Cape Ann League proves, every year, that it’s one of the toughest soccer leagues in the state by how far its team’s advance in the state tournament,” Bisognano said. “Masco has to be the favorite in the Kinney Division, as usual, but we look forward to testing ourselves against one of the top programs in the state. Pentucket will be strong and we’re excited that our rivals, Lynnfield, are moving up to the Kinney this year. It will be fun to play them twice a season again.”
Even with the tough schedule and not yet knowing how the team fits together the expectation is for the Hornets to qualify for the state tournament for the sixth consecutive season.
Season opener today
The Hornets open the season today, September 10, against the Chieftains. Game time is 4:30 p.m. at Arthur J. Kenney Field.
They will then face the Newburyport Clippers under the lights on Friday, September 11 at 6 p.m. followed by a road game at Pentucket on Wednesday, September 16 at 3:45 p.m.
