The 2016 campaign was a tale of two seasons for the Lynn Tech boys soccer team. The Tigers got off to a sour start but bounced back to end the regular season on a high note, earning a berth in the Division 4 North state tournament.
Tech lost a heartbreaker to Lowell Catholic in the first round of the tournament, when the Tigers surrendered a late goal in double-overtime. Despite the loss, Tigers coach Jeremy McKeen is hoping his team learned from last season’s late surge.
“We had growth in the middle of the season and figured things out structurally,” McKeen, in his second season as head coach, said. “That opened up the middle of our field a ton. We played a double-overtime game in the state tournament and lost it in the final two seconds. It was anybody’s game. Last year we had excellent leadership on the team and a lot of talent.”
The good news for Tech is the team returns a handful of valuable members from last fall’s core. Among the group of key returners are senior midfielder Edson Alas, senior midfielder Greg Aragon and senior sweeper Teofilio Feliciano.
“I have a really great group of guys,” McKeen said. “They love the game. None of them are arrogant. They’ve worked on their own in the offseason. I feel like the program is exactly where I want it to be in terms of leadership.”
Also returning to the team is junior midfielder/striker Maynor Ramirez, who missed last season. In net, the Tigers will rely on sophomore Edin Arreaga to replace former star netminder Isaac Perez.
Given the talented group of returners Tech will field this fall, McKeen feels he has a good idea of what the Tigers will look like in the upcoming season.
“We have most of our solid defense returning from last season,” McKeen said. “We have half of our midfield returning. A few guys that didn’t play last year because of injury and other reasons will be playing this season. Whatever we lost to graduation we picked up and we’re working towards getting ready. I have a more clear focus after last season than I’ve ever had before. As a coach, I can see the direction of the team much more accurately than ever before.”
Tech’s biggest weakness last season was the team’s inability to find the back of the net. McKeen’s hoping to address that need early on this time around.
“Last year we had a lack of offense in terms of goal scoring,” McKeen said. “A lot of our games became midfield games and defensive games. This year we have some potentially excellent strikers that will help us on that end. Last year we had a lot of close games and ties and I’m hoping that’ll change.”
The Tigers came together for the start of their preseason practices last week. Thus far, McKeen likes what he has seen from his team. Although he acknowledged the team isn’t quite ready for game action, a few more practices should get the Tigers where they’re hoping to be.
“The team looks good,” McKeen said. “They’re close to City Tournament potential. We have a few more practices to go. We’re about 70 percent of the way there. By the end of the week, hopefully, the team will feel ready.”
Tech kicks off its new season next Tuesday when the Tigers host Classical in the Lynn City Tournament at Manning Field.
“In previous years we didn’t feel ready but this year I feel we’re as ready as the other teams are,” McKeen said. “The boys are ready to compete in the City Tournament. They’re focused and they want to win it.”
McKeen added, “I’m really proud of these boys not only for their skill and leadership but also their willingness to come together and work. They’ve taken every chance they’ve had to prepare.”
