Two shutouts lead to 2-1 record
Published October 15, 2020
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — With seven returning starters and two additional players with varsity experience, the 2020 NRHS girls’ soccer team should be a solid squad and face the challenging COVID-19 situation head on.
“The players conditioned and trained with every hope for a fall season so they have looked pretty good,” said head coach Sean Killeen. “The challenges are welcomed, we are all very excited to be playing soccer. I think that adjusting to the rule changes will be interesting, but every team is in the same boat.”
Senior Julia Thorstad (captain) returns between the pipes for her second year as a starter and in the words of Killeen is a rock in the back with a high soccer IQ.
North Reading is returning three starters on what should be a stingy back four. Seniors Katelyn Gorgenyi (captain) and Kaitlyn Copelas and junior Anne MacLellan return to the fold alongside junior newcomer Samantha Magner.
Juniors Maddie DiNapoli, Ellie Janasiewicz, Sophia Galuppo and sophomore Jenna DiNapoli all return and will be counted on to account for the majority of scoring this season with senior Clare Scammon managing their transitions out of the central midfield.
Breaking out of camp, NRHS welcomes a short list of varsity newcomers at the varsity level: seniors, keeper Megan Macneil and midfielders Marykate Lundy and Ashley Rabbitt; sophomores Tiara Lamont, Olivia Vasquez, Sophia Barker and Maggie Fortin will compete for minutes.
“We believe that a CAL title is a realistic goal and we will work hard every day to achieve this goal,” said Killeen.
Fall to Clippers
The Hornets traveled to Newburyport on Saturday, Oct. 3 to open the 2020 season and were defeated by the always tough Clippers 1-0.
NRHS held the Clippers scoreless for the first half and created several chances, but after a flurry of activity in front of the Newburyport net the home team mounted a quick counterattack and in the 53rd minute the Clippers’ senior captain blasted home a shot to the far post. The goal proved to hold up as North Reading could not score the equalizer.
Thorstad earned her first two shutouts of the season as the Hornets would go on to defeat Triton 5-0 on Oct. 7 and rival Lynnfield 1-0 on Oct. 10 with Jenna DiNapoli scoring the game-winning goal.
The Hornets traveled to Rockport (0-3) on Wednesday after press time. They go to Amesbury (2-1) on Saturday at 4 p.m.
