Published in the September 22, 2016 edition
THE SOCCER BALL is heading out of bounds, but sophomore Kevin Wall is in hot pursuit for the Hornets. (Bob Turosz Photo)
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — The Hornets earned their first victory of the soccer season with their 1-0 road victory over the Newburyport Clippers on September 13.
Junior Ian Branconnier recorded his first varsity goal in the game. Senior goalie Liam Rutherford picked his first career win and shutout.
North Reading dominated play in the first half. Their best chances came in the 12th and 14th minutes. In the 12th, senior Anthony Tramontozzi took a free kick from just outside the box and the shot was headed for the top left, but it clanged off the crossbar. Just two minutes later Tramontozzi put the ball on target, but the Clippers’ keeper made an outstanding save. The half ended 0-0
Fifteen minutes into the second half the Hornets finally got on the board. Senior Pat Davis put a throw-in to the near post where sophomore David Tingley flicked the ball to the far post with his head to a wide open Branconnier who calmly placed the ball into the top corner of the goal with his left foot.
The rest of the way the defense of seniors Zach Robarts, David Brown, George Giunta, Cam Wade, junior Nick Carpenter and sophomore Kevin Wall, locked down North Reading’s first victory of the season.
Fall to Pentucket
The Pentucket Sachems scored two unanswered goals to down the host Hornets 2-1 under the lights Friday night. Ian Branconnier was the lone goal scorer for North Reading.
North Reading got off to a great start. In the 13th minute senior Cam Davis sent a beautiful through ball to Branconnier who easily beat his defender in the box and finished past the Sachems’ goalie to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately the lead was very short lived. Just one minute later Pentucket got the ball into the box and was fouled, earning a penalty kick. The Sachems scored and the game was tied 1-1. The half would end with the same scoreline.
Pentucket shut down the North Reading attack in the second half. The Hornets didn’t generate many chances and late in the half the visitors took advantage. With just seven minutes remaining, Pentucket scored the go-ahead goal. The goal proved to be enough and the Sachems escaped.
Pound Triton 3-0
Behind Cam Davis’s two goals the Hornets pounded the Triton Vikings 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Senior Antonio Catino added in his first career varsity goal.
North Reading scored all three goals in the first half. The first goal came in the 11th minute. Kevin Wall earned his first varsity point when he beat his defender, turned and slid a perfect pass toward the top of the box for Cam Davis, who rifled a shot into the bottom right corner for his first goal of the season.
Three minutes later came the second goal. On the play Nick Catino made a nice pass to his brother Antonio who hit a bending shot into the top right corner of the goal.
In the 25th minute Davis took a David Tingley cross at the far post off and squeezed the ball past the Vikings’ keeper for the third tally. The Hornets dominated the rest of the game and cruised to the easy victory.
