Reigning state champion boys’ soccer team hoping for another deep run

KELAN CARDINAL and the LHS boys’ soccer team kicks off their defense of the Div. 4 state championship crown on Wednesday, 5 p.m. at home against Uxbridge. (Courtesy Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield High boys’ soccer team will try to defend its Division 4 state title with their playoff opener taking place on Wednesday.

The Pioneers, who are the 2^nd seed, welcome Uxbridge at 5 p.m. Uxbridge, the 31st seed, enters the game with a record of 11-5-3. They edged the Trivium School, 1-0, in the preliminary round this past weekend as Lynnfield got a bye into the first round.

“I don’t know much about them but do know that they play in a good league,” said Pioneers head coach Brent Munroe.

If the Pioneers are able to win that game, they will play the winner of the South Hadley-Gardner game in the Round of 16 at home.

That game will take place on Nov. 9 (time to be determined).

Lynnfield enters the states with an overall record of 12-3-3.

On Oct. 30, they hosted Reading in a scrimmage as they lost, 2-1, to the Division 2 Rockets.

Nate Zalvan scored the first goal of the game to give the locals an early 1-0 lead.

Reading tied it later on in the opening half and then scored the game-winner in the second half.

 “It was a good game for both teams,” said Munroe. “Both teams played a bunch of kids and we did some shootout practice after the game.”

The other news that could bolster the Pioneers post-season chances is the return of senior captain Dillon Reilly. Reilly has missed the entire season as he had surgery on a stress fracture of his foot during the summer.

He started to practice last Saturday and might see some action against Uxbridge.

“It would be a big boost if he can come back,” said Munroe, who will see how he feels on game day.

Reilly, a senior striker who is going to Trinity College next year, led the Pioneers in goals last year and was named the Cape Ann League Kinney Division MVP last year with 27 goals and 14 assists.

Without Reilly, Rocco Scenna was the team’s top scorer this year as the junior midfielder had 13 goals and nine assists.

Senior midfielder, Matt Reinold, had nine goals and a team-high 10 assists while senior striker, Joel Anthony, had eight goals to go with seven assists.

In net, senior captain goalkeeper Kelan Cardinal went 12-3-3 with eight shutouts.