Boys’ Soccer: Saugus wants to start fresh this season

The Saugus High School boys’ soccer team has a tough road ahead as it looks to bounce back from a tough finish to its 2014 campaign.
? Last year:The Sachems started the season with six wins in a row but ended the year on a 10-game losing streak to finish 7-11 overall.
? Coach:Danny D’Amico, second year.
? Key players gone:Three Northeast Conference all-stars, Guilherme Barbosa,Alex Schirrippa and Aleska Samardzsic,all graduated. Barbosa, a forward, also made the Eastern Mass. all-star team. “Those kids not being here is definitely talked about in the locker room,” D’Amico said. “Each kid knows it’s his time to shine. We have a lot of senior leadership and they know it’s their team. They all know what the coach expects and they all know the goal.”
? Key players this year:Goaltender Kurt Martin will be one of the seniors looked upon to bring leadership this season. Martin, who is also a standout baseball player at Saugus, has impressed his coach with his skills in the net. “I think he has the potential to be one of the best goaltenders in the conference,” D’Amico said.
The team will also look for leadership from senior center backs Drew Nelson and Jeremy Tringale and utility player Ryan Furbush. Nelson and Tringale will be joined by senior left forward ConnorMacEachern as the team’s captains.Last season’s team MVP, junior forward Jorge Cinquillo, also will be called on to step up.
? Strengths:Fitness as an advantage over their opponents.
? Question marks:Shaking off the 10-game losing streak.
? Opening game:At home Sept. 8 against Swampscott.
? Big games on the schedule:Rival Danvers and Winthrop, a team returning to the Northeastern Conference this season.
? Coach’s outlook:?I think we’ll compete in every game,” D’Amico said. “Whatever our record is, whether it’s 18-0 or 0-18, all that matters is that each player gives 110 percent every game.”Harold Rivera can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @h_rivera21.