Published in the September 13, 2017 edition
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Brent Munroe is back for his 17th-season as head coach of the Lynnfield High boys soccer team. Last fall, the Pioneers went 10-7-2 overall as they lost to Austin Prep, 1-0, in the first round of the Division 3 North state tournament.
Ten seniors from that squad graduated but Munroe welcomes back 13 veterans including five starters this year.
Three of those starters are this year’s captains. Matt Ricciardi is the senior captain and it is the second year the defender is a captain. The two junior captains are Nathan Bass and John Luders.
Bass was a Cape Ann League All-Star last year and he is a midfielder while Luders is also a midfielder.
Junior Jack Campbell and David Gentile are the two other starters back. Campbell is a goal keeper while Gentile is a defenseman.
Munroe was pleased with what he saw from his team in the pre-season.
“We have some good, experienced players back and they played really well,” said Munroe. “We are going to score a lot more than we did last year.”
Things got off to a great start for the team last Friday afternoon as they beat North Reading, 3-1, at home on Opening Day.
“We scored early and had a lot of good opportunities,” said Munroe, whose team led, 2-1, at halftime.
Tom Hauser scored the game’s first goal but the Hornets tied it up several minutes later.
With less than six minutes left in the first half, Luders scored the eventual game-winning goal assisted by Alejandro Lynch.
Hauser, a sophomore midfielder, then recorded his second tally of the game late in the second half. To close the door.
Campbell made eight saves in net.
“He played very well in that second half,” pointed out Munroe.
The next game for the Pioneers is Thursday as they visit Rockport at 6:30 p.m. Next Monday afternoon at 3:45, the Pioneers host Hamilton-Wenham.
