SWAMPSCOTT– After a run in the Division 3 North state tournament last year, the Swampscott boys soccer team has returned this season with high hopes. The Big Blue feel as though last season’s team laid a solid foundation for 2017. And with a new coach in Mike Amaral, Swampscott’s excited to get the season started.
The new coaching gig is Amaral’s first at the high school level, but he has experience in club and men’s levels. Amaral was named Swampscott’s new coach in mid-July and has been excited to start the season ever since.
“I’m stoked,” Amaral, who teaches physical education at Clark Elementary, said. “I’m excited. I’ve been out of soccer for a year and this is what I love. It’s my passion. This is what I did for a living before I became a teacher.”
Swampscott began its preseason practices a week and a half ago and Amaral likes the early impression he’s received from the team.
“Our team’s coming together,” Amaral said. “We’re working on becoming a unified group. We have a lot of new players this year. Last season, they had a lot of players who graduated. They’re hard working, they love the game, they have a passion and a fire. They want to win and represent the school and the community to the best of their ability.”
Key returners for the Big Blue this season include seniors Dan Johnson, a striker, Thomas O’Keefe, defender, and midfielders Spencer Perkins and Liad Zafrani.
In net, the Big Blue will lean on goaltender Ted Pitman.
“I’m confident that this group I have will make Swampscott proud,” Amaral said. “They’ve been playing together for a few years now. I’m the new person here. I’m still adjusting to them and they’re still adjusting to my style of play.”
As for this team’s strengths, Amaral feels as though his team’s speed will help open scoring opportunities for Swampscott throughout the season. With a strong blend of explosive and fast players, Swampscott’s looking for its offense to lead the way.
“As a group we’re still working on our fitness levels but I think we’re one of the fastest and most explosive teams,” Amaral said. “We have a lot of speed. We have a lot of players who can score. I’m hoping our offense is what leads us to a strong season in our league.”
Playing as a unit will be a focal point of improvement for the Big Blue moving forward. Given the high levels of energy and enthusiasm the team has shown its new coach thus far, Amaral believes it’s only a matter of time before the Big Blue begin playing as one solid unit.
“Every team wants to improve every day,” Amaral said. “This group, with the amount of enthusiasm they bring to practice each day, we just have to improve on playing together as a unit. It’s going to take time but once we get there, hopefully that’ll help us do well in the league and in the state tournament.”
Amaral acknowledged that he’s new to the Northeastern Conference, and thus doesn’t have a deep sense of familiarity with the competition his team will face throughout the season. Despite that, Swampscott will keep its focus on giving a full effort in each game and practice.
“It’s tough to judge right off the bat,” Amaral said. “I’m new to the conference and I don’t know the other teams. The players are very determined to do whatever they can. They come to practice early and they leave late. They want to be that team that everyone wants to compete against.”
“Soccer’s played on the field,” Amaral added. “It’s not what people say in the preseason going through. It really depends on what a team does on the field when it gets there. As long as we work hard on the field and on our game plan, I think we’ll be a successful team this year.”
Swampscott opens the season on September 8 at Bishop Fenwick.
“I think the players are excited to be able to get on the field and prove themselves,” Amaral said. “They’re pretty confident now but we have a few scrimmages between now and the first game of the season, and that’ll only help our confidence grow.”
