Published November 12, 2020

THE SENIORS on the NRHS boys’ soccer team will go down in history as the first boys’ soccer seniors since the Class of ‘07 to lead the Hornets to a CAL title. Pictured in the front row from left to right are captains Nick Pasquale, Sam McGeachie, John Tramontozzi and Mark Tramontozzi. In the back row from left are Joey Caviasca, Will O’Leary, Ryan Kay, Gavin Tingley, Maguire Koepke, Kyle Rabbitt, Henry Pelmas and Ryan Caviasca. (Courtesy Photo)

By DAN NUNN

NORTH READING — The NRHS boys’ soccer team are 2020 Cape Ann League champions. 

The Hornets traveled to Georgetown on November 4 to take on the Royals in their final game. Georgetown’s defensive style suffocated the NRHS offense and the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Sophomore Kieran Gorgenyi earned his 7th clean sheet.

North Reading finished the season at 7-1-2. Lynnfield beat Newburyport 1-0 on Nov. 4 leaving Newburyport with an identical 7-1-2 record. Lynnfield moved to 7-1-1 after that game and tied Rockport 0-0 in their finale creating a three-way tie for CAL Kinney champion between North Reading, Lynnfield and Newburyport.

“We obviously would have liked to pick up one more win, but it’s been a tremendous season and this team has been a tremendous team,” said head coach Mark Bisognano. “This season has been difficult on many levels, but coaching this team has been a joy. Lots of credit needs to go out to the seniors on this team who kept us together and focused on our goal of a CAL title.”

The 12 seniors who led the Hornets to the top are: captains John Tramontozzi, Mark Tramontozzi, Sam McGeachie and Nick Pasquale, along with Henry Pelmas, Ryan Caviasca, Joey Caviasca, Kyle Rabbitt, Will O’Leary, Maguire Koepke and Ryan Kay. 

Early on against the Royals, junior Jake Mikulski let loose a bullet from 20 yards but was robbed by the Royal goalkeeper. In the second quarter, Brady Miller slipped a clever pass to sophomore Josh Stanieich inside the box. Unfortunately, Stanieich sent his shot wide of the net.

The second half was a bad sequel as the Hornets continually kept the pressure on the Royals but couldn’t find the back of the net. Just as the third quarter was ending, senior captain Mark Tramontozzi came within inches of scoring when he fired a shot from 25 yards out that clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and stayed out. It was too much of the same thing in the fourth quarter and the game ended in draw.

This is the first CAL divisional title for the NRHS boys’ soccer team since 2006.