Published in the September 21, 2017 edition

By DAN NUNN

Beaten by Masco, 3-1

NORTH READING — The Hornets boys’ soccer team hosted the two-time defending Division 3 North Champion Masconomet Chieftains in their home opener on September 12 and were defeated 3-1.

Senior captain Ian Branconnier scored the lone goal for NRHS.

Masco quickly got on the board with a goal in the sixth minute. After the goal North Reading seemed to wake up and started playing more aggressively.  But unfortunately, despite the better play, the Chieftains struck with goal number two in the 17th minute.

Finally, in the 28th minute the Hornets were rewarded with a goal. On the play, senior David Hudson beat his defender along the end line and chipped a pass toward the far post for junior Casey Robarts who headed the ball on goal. The Masco goalie saved the header but Branconnier was there to hammer home the rebound. The half would end at 2-1. 

In the second half the Hornets created many more chances but couldn’t manage the tying goal. In the 76th minute, with NRHS pushing forward in a final push to tie the game, the Chieftains scored the clincher on a quick counter attack.

Crush Amesbury, 5-0

The Hornets traveled up to Amesbury on Thursday and picked up their first win of the season with an impressive 5-0 victory over the Indians. Ian Branconnier scored two goals and now has three on the season. Juniors Casey Robarts, David Tingley and Ryan Landers added one goal apiece.

Amesbury controlled play for the first 15 minutes but senior Burke Riesenberg made a couple good saves to keep the game scoreless. As the half wore on the Hornets finally started to create some good chances.  In the 36th minute, Tingley got the scoring started when he took a feed from senior captain Nick Carpenter at the top of the penalty area and beat the onrushing goalie. Two minutes later, Branconnier scored on a right-footed shot from 20 yards out to give North Reading a 2-0 halftime lead.

NRHS added three more goals in the second half. The first score came in the 62nd minute when Robarts got behind the defense off of a superb free kick from near midfield from Carpenter. Branconnier added another goal with seven minutes left, but North Reading saved its best score for last.  In the 77th minute Landers scored his first varsity goal on a beautiful half volley to close the scoring.