LYNNFIELD – The boy’s soccer team earned a point with a hard-fought 0-0 tie against visiting Waltham Saturday at Pioneer Stadium, snapping the Pioneers’ four-game win streak.
“This was a hard game. They are in a different league, a much bigger league and they are a bigger team. They were very physical and we did our best to hold our own physically, and I thought we played well. We created our chances, we didn’t finish them but it was a very very tight game,” said Lynnfield coach Brent Munroe, now in his 30th season coaching boys soccer in Lynnfield. “Both teams had different playing styles. They were a bit of a physical team and I think we were smaller and tried to play more on the ground.”
Despite the size disadvantage, the Pioneers (4-0-1) dominated possession in the first half, limiting the ability of the Hawks to generate offense. The Hawks turned tables in the second half, putting consistent pressure on the Pioneers’ defenders.
“I think that as the game went on, their physicality took its toll. We were just running out of steam, not due to the speed of the game, but the physical nature of Waltham’s play,” said Munroe. “To be honest the thing I’ll take away from this game is that we played a really physical team and we battled the best we could with it. I’m kind of pleased that we didn’t give up as far as physically. We didn’t give anything up easily. So, I’m pleased with that and how we played as well.”
Munroe highlighted the strong play of goalkeeper Kelan Cardinal and the entire defensive unit, a group that is anchored by senior captain and center back Drew Damiani, sophomore center back Charlie Morgan, junior holding midfielder Dimitri Dono and senior captain and center midfielder Alex Gentile. In five games, the Pioneers have yet to give up a goal, outscoring opponents 12-0. In nine games including four full-length scrimmages, the only team to score against Lynnfield is St. John’s Prep.
“Kelan made some key saves in this game and the defense held their own. So Kelan has played well, no doubt. But all the guys in the back have been really, really good all season and you saw that again today. The defense just isn’t giving up a lot of shots.” said Munroe. “Alex has been playing really well basically all season. Dillon Reilly (6 goals in 5 regular season games ) has had a great season as well up front and scoring goals. Alex is doing a lot to win balls in the middle of the field and defensively we’ve been really sound as a group.”
Lynnfield’s best scoring chances came off the feet of Reilly and Joel Anthony.
“They each had good chances and it obviously would have been great to see one of them score. We had some chances and beat their offside trap a few times, but Waltham defended well,” Munroe said.
Things don’t let up for the Pioneers this week as they gear up to take on undefeated Cape Ann League (CAL) Baker Division leader Hamilton-Wenham (3-0) at home Tuesday and undefeated Newburyport (4-0) on the road at James T. Stehlin Field on Thursday. The Pioneers cling to a slim one-point lead over the Clippers in the CAL Kinney Division standings.
