THE MELROSE High boy’s varsity soccer team took a first round win over Chicopee to advance in the Div. 2 playoff field. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)

 

 

After press time:
Melrose falls to Oliver Ames 3-0 (Nov. 6)

 

 

Published November 8, 2024

2-1 Chicopee win pits Melrose vs. Oliver Ames 

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose High boys’ varsity soccer team will continue their playoff run following an opening round win over Chicopee Comp., 2-1, on Sunday at Fred Green Field that advances them to Sweet 16 play in the Div. 2 playoffs. At press time, they were slated to travel to No. 3 Oliver Ames on Wednesday to play the team that ended their Final Four playoff run last fall.

Melrose scored early and their game-winning goal, a Tyler Lecomte PK goal, sealed the deal against No. 35 seed Chicopee Comp., who traveled great distance to play under the lights at Fred Green Field on Sunday.

Melrose had benefitted from the first goal of the night off the foot of Melrose’s Ali Abidi, who scored of a Tyler Lecomte assist. Lecomte’s PK goal put Melrose up 2-0 and the home team held on despite a second half goal by the Pacers. Melrose maintained the 2-1 edge for victory, with Melrose defense doing the job to prevent an equalizer.

“Chicopee came out fast early and I thought we played well after about 5 minutes from the opening,” said Melrose head coach Dean Serino. “Tyler did so much for us and Ali has a way to find the right place to be. He’s a smart and athletic player.”

Defensively, Melrose did the job and saw solid efforts from players such as Owen Mujalli, Owen Brodeur and Dante Lamentea.

“We had to make some adjustments with Malek [Sayegh] hurt and we wanted to get Johnny [Arens] in. I thought they all stepped up. Owen Mujalli, Owen Orelli, Daniel Muller and Aiden Barber really came through.”

At net, Melrose goalie Matteo Giovanardi got the win. “Matteo has been great, and he recently received the leagues’ Golden Glove award, for having the most shutouts in the league,” confirms his coach.

With Oliver Ames on tap, Melrose knows they need to sharpen their game. Last year, Melrose reached the Final Four in Div. 2 playoffs and were knocked out by Oliver Ames in a 2-1 overtime heartbreaker. Says Serino, “That’s a team we are familiar with and they are obviously very good but we played strong against them last year, and even this year, we played really close with No. 1 seed Wakefield.”

In other words, Melrose can rise to the occasion in big games. Whether they will this Wednesday (post deadline) is anyone’s guess. But if history serves correct, they will. Says Serino, “I think if we really clamp down on our defense and shore up our game, we can take on anyone.”

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