Mass. United FC will play home games at Manning Field this summer

The Mass. United FC, an amateur soccer team in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), will play its home games at Manning Field for the remainder of its season this year.”We’re happy to call Manning Field home for the remainder of the season,” Mass. United GM Jonathan Beck said.The team will play five games at Manning, and the first two will take place this weekend. Mass. United faces Seacoast United (NH) on Saturday at 3 p.m., and on Sunday the team plays the Brooklyn Italians at 5.”They’re a pretty formidable opponent,” Beck said of Brooklyn, which is coming into this season off a US Open Cup win.Tickets are $8 for adults for both games, and $5 for youth (under 16 years old) for both games. The team has also given out 500 tickets to Lynn youth sports organizations.”We’re hoping for a good turnout,” Beck said.The team features some local talent, including captain Anton Da Silva, a St. Mary’s graduate.”He’s played an integral role the last couple years,” Beck said. “He’s been very, very active with his roles, and done a lot of work with Lynn youth, coaches and clinics.”Mass. United has also added former Lynn English player Clement Obarisiagbon, who was playing for another amateur team, FC Lynn.The team got final approval from the City of Lynn – through John Kasian of Lynn Community Development – to play its home games at Manning several weeks ago.This past weekend, Mass. United got a chance to play on its new home field when it met Seacoast for a preseason game. However, it was called off due to lightning in the second half.There are six teams in Mass. United’s conference and the squad will play 10 games – five home and five away. In addition to this weekend’s matchups, Mass. United will also play home games against the New York Athletic Club on Saturday, May 21 (5); the Morris County (NJ) Colonials on Saturday, June 11 (5); and the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, July 17 (2).The team Web site, which features a link to purchase tickets, is massunitedfc.com. Fans can also contact Beck at [email protected].