Mass. United FC splits first regular-season weekend in Lynn

With two close games under its belt, including its first regular-season victory at its new home, Manning Field, the Mass. United FC had an eventful weekend.Mass. United, an amateur soccer team playing in the professional National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), lost a close 3-2 decision to Seacoast United (NH) on Saturday in its first regular-season game at Manning Field. Then, on Sunday, Mass. United rebounded with a 2-1 win over the Brooklyn Italians at Manning. This is the team’s first season playing its home games at Manning.”It was a little sour to start the weekend, but it certainly ended on a high note,” Mass. United general manager Jonathan Beck said.Beck cited two players in particular as having standout performances this weekend: Romeo Zeqo, who scored a goal on Saturday and assisted on another on Sunday; and St. Mary’s alum Anton Da Silva, who assisted on Zeqo’s goal Saturday and played “a lot of minutes (Sunday),” Beck said.Saturday’s game started off promisingly for Mass. United, with the hosts taking a 2-0 lead into the second half. However, Seacoast United scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to win.”Obviously, in our first home game of the season, it was gut-wrenching,” Beck said, “especially (to lose) in the last minute.”Yet Mass. United regrouped with a win over Brooklyn. Facing a 1-0 halftime deficit, Mass. United rallied with two second-half goals to prevail.”Brooklyn has a good track record,” Beck said. “We’re very, very happy.”The team drew 200 fans to its home opener and 100 on Sunday.”The crowds were absolutely outstanding,” Beck said.