THE HIGH-SCORING NRHS boys’ soccer team will hope to keep pouring it on in the Div. 3 state tournament. The Hornets hosted Dennis-Yarmouth in a first round matchup on Wednesday after press time. (Eric Evans File Photo)
After press time:
North Reading defeats Chicopee 3-0 in Round of 16 (Nov. 10)
North Reading defeats Dennis-Yarmouth 5-0 in First Round (Nov. 6)
Follow more updates here.
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — On Nov. 1, the seedings came out for the MIAA Division 3 boys’ soccer tournament. North Reading High, who went 16-0-2 this fall, ended up getting the No. 6 seed as they received a bye into the first round.
On Wednesday, they hosted 27th-seeded Dennis-Yarmouth (results not available as of press time).
If the Hornets won that game, they will host either No. 22 Newburyport or No. 11 Chicopee in the Round of 16 sometime this weekend.
North Reading went 2-0 against Newburyport this season winning 2-1 at home and 3-1 on the road.
They did not play Chicopee this year.
“I will obviously give the Newburyport coach a call if Chicopee wins,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano, if the Hornets beat Dennis-Yarmouth.
On Nov. 1, the Hornets hosted Tyngsboro in a scrimmage.
“It was important to get some reps in against another team,” said Bisognano. “We would have gone nine days in-between games if we did not have this scrimmage so it was good to have.”
The two teams had their scrimmage and then practiced shootouts as well.
THE HORNETS could possibly see CAL foe Newburyport in the Round of 16 if both teams advance past their first round opponents. (Eric Evans Photo)
North Reading, the only undefeated team in Division 3, has been dominant this fall, winning the Cape Ann League Kinney Division crown. They have outscored their opponents 70-8.
“We had 14 different scorers this year which is the most I have ever had as a coach,” said Bisognano.
Finn Rodger led the team in points this season as the senior midfielder had seven goals and a team-high 20 assists.
Fellow 12th-grader, Max Gulino, had 26 points with 17 goals and nine assists at the striker position.
Senior midfielder, Matt Fleury, had five goals and 14 assists while junior forward, Davi Leao, scored 17 goals and had a pair of assists.
“Other teams cannot load up on trying to stop a certain player,” said Bisognano, about his balanced squad.
Senior goalkeeper, Cam Parrett, went 16-0-2 in net as he recorded nine shutouts.
Heading into states, Bisognano feels that Norwell and Dover-Sherborn will be the teams to beat in Division 3.
“Norwell are the defending state champs and Dover-Sherborn has been strong the past several seasons,” he pointed out.
This Hornets team is only the second in school history to go unbeaten in the regular season, matching the 1992 team.
