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THE NRHS boys’ soccer team celebrates a 2-1 season-opening win over Essex Tech at home on Tuesday. (Eric Evans Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — With 20 veterans — including 10 starters — back, the North Reading High boys’ soccer team heads into the 2024 campaign as the most experienced team in the Cape Ann League.
“This is the most players I have ever had back,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano, who is now in his 23rd year at the helm.
Five of the starters back this year are this season’s captains: Finn Rodger (midfielder), Jackson Wesley (defenseman), Kieran Miller (midfielder) and Matt Fleury (midfielder) are all in their second year as captains while Max Gulino (forward) is in his first year as captain.
Gulino was a CAL First-Team All-Star last season as he scored 20 goals and five assists for a team-high 25 total points. He also was named to the All-State team and he also made the Eastern Mass. All-Star team as he played in the eastern Mass. All-Star game.
Rodger, who also made the CAL First-Team All-Stars last season, was the Hornets’ leader in assists with 10 to go with his six goals for 16 total points.
Wesley made the CAL Second-Team All-Stars last year.
The other five starters back are Gulino’s twin brother, Duncan (defenseman), Cam Parrett (senior-goalie), Seth Evans (junior-midfielder), David Rosati (senior- defenseman), and Davi Leao (midfielder- forward).
Leao, a junior, was the primary goalkeeper last fall as he is being moved.
With all of the veterans back, the preseason has gone very well as the Hornets have scrimmaged Bedford, Wilmington and Reading and they performed well.
“We had a great preseason,” stated Bisognano. “The kids have worked hard over the summer to get ready.”
The team will try to put a little more emphasis on the midfielders helping the defense this fall pointed out Bisognano about some strategy changes.
Last season, the Hornets finished at 12-4-3 as they fell in the first round of the MIAA Division 3 state tournament to Boston Latin Academy, 3-2, as they lost, 5-3, in the shootout.
In the Cape Ann League, they were 12-2-2 as they came in third place in the CAL Kinney Division behind Division 4 state champion Lynnfield and Hamilton-Wenham.
Six seniors from that team graduated.
North Reading is slated to play an 18-game regular season as they will play the Kinney Division teams twice and the Baker Division schools once. They also have two non-league games against Weston and Andover.
The Hornets started their season with a 2-1 win over Essex Tech at home on Tuesday. Trailing 1-0 at the half, North Reading came back with two unanswered goals in the second half for the win. A full recap will appear next week.
The next game for the Hornets will be on Thursday as they host Triton at 4:45 p.m. They will then play their first road game on Tuesday, Sept. 10 as they go to Pentucket. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. against the Panthers.