LYNNFIELD — Coming off its best season in more than 10 years, the Lynnfield boys soccer team has an uphill road to climb in 2019. That road begins next Wednesday when the Pioneers travel to Masconomet to take on the defending Cape Ann League champion Chieftains in the opening game of the new season.
Last year’s team featured nine seniors, six of whom were starters. That group was the nucleus of a team that scored a program-best 70 goals and allowed only 16 goals, also a program best.
The Pioneers, which hosted their first state tournament game in five years, finished 16-3-2 and made it to the Division 3 North final, where they lost to state champion Wayland.
Gone this year, however, are the likes of Cape Ann League First Team all-stars Jonathan Luders, the CAL Kinney Division Player of the Year and All-State all-star. Eastern Mass all-star Nathan Bass, Second Team all-star defender David Gentile and goalkeeper Jack Campbell, who notched 12 shutouts also graduated.
“We lost a ton of players in all areas, from the goal through the defense and midfield up to the forwards,” said coach Brent Munroe, now in his 19th season. “The wings are easier to fill but the middle will be a different story, especially Nathan at center mid and Jonathan, who also played center mid at times and is probably the best player in our program history.”
The good news is the Pioneers return five starters in senior outside defenders Alejandro Lynch and Matt Juliano, junior defender Luke Martinho, senior midfielder Tommy Hauser and forward Tommy Buston.
Buston tallied 10 goals and five assists last year, while Hauser scored 10 goals and notched three assists.
Buston, Hauser, Juliano and Lynch will serve as captains.
Other returning players include junior goalkeeper Dante Gesamondo, junior forward Jack Bird, sophomore midfielder Benjamin Sykes and sophomore defender Dominic Ferrante.
Munroe said there are several promising newcomers, especially in the freshman class.
“We have some very good kids from the eighth grade class,” he said. “But there’s a big jump. I expect them to be good players, I just don’t know how much they are going to help this year.
“There are a bunch of kids on the radar for sure. There are a ton of open spots so it’s a great time to be coming into ninth grade, but it’s pretty difficult to get in and play right away due to size and strength. To be honest, the most talented kids I see are on the small side. But it’s exciting as it’s a very good group.”
Up from the JV squad are senior Fadi Dhahiv, juniors Chris Pavao and Jack Zalvan and sophomore Jake Mallett.
“So far, Jake has been one of the most impressive kids coming up from JV,” said Munroe.
The freshman group includes outside midfielder Henry Caulfield, middle defender Drew Damiani and midfielder/forward Alex Gentile.
Munroe said he expects Martinho, Bird and Gesamondo will be key players role this year.
“Luke had a big role the whole season, and certainly is as valuable as any of our returners. He’s going to have to play very well,” Munroe said. “And Dante looked great in our scrimmages on Saturday. He missed all of last year until the end, but he is looking great so far.
“Jack Bird also played well. He has incredible speed on the outside and kept pushing the offense forward and made some good crosses.”
Munroe said Masconomet and Pentucket are the teams to beat.
“Masconomet is returning a ton and Pentucket is returning a ton also,” said Munroe, the 2018 CAL Kinney Coach of the Year. “We beat Pentucket three times last year, but their only other losses were to Masco, who we should have beaten.
“Manchester-Essex is always good in the small, but Pentucket will be the team that will be close to Masconomet.”
