Published October 9, 2020
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Like all high school soccer teams in the state, the Melrose Red Raider soccer team has the unenviable task of beginning their soccer season in a strange new world of COVID regulation. It includes a lot of new guidelines and restrictions in order to play the game, and as they opened their season last Saturday at home against Stoneham, there was reason to believe confusion on the field may reign. But no such thing. The Red Raiders and Spartans played a clean and competitive game of soccer as both teams adjusted to the new landscape.
Sure, there were a few miscues—a few accidental throw ins and indirect kicks in the air—but otherwise, it was a pure defensive battle, and Melrose did an admirable job helping their goalie Cam McDonough at the net. Restrictions may preclude players from building a defensive wall on restarts, but Melrose defenders cleared out any threat in the first half as the two teams battled to a 0-0 draw. Melrose had a few scoring opportunities but fell shy of the net at halftime. The second half was more of the same, some offensive opportunities generated by Melrose attackers that were just slightly off the mark. The game seemed to speed by and both teams were frustrated at the 0-0 outcome when it was over.
While he would have liked to pick up a win, Melrose head coach Dean Serino accepts that this is a learning curve.
“Coming in I really had no idea what to expect—we’ve only had three practices— but I thought the refs did a good job keeping the game moving,” he said. “I thought the kids did great – they’re terrific athletes. Ultimately, I take responsibility for the game plan. I think we could have done some things different. Maybe getting the right people in position to be successful. And next time, I’d like to put more pressure on their backs. But looking at this game, it was a solid effort.”
Now that they’ve gotten their feet wet in competition, this team is ready to take it up a notch. They once again face Stoneham this Saturday on the road. For coach Serino, he’s glad to have gotten the day in—period. “Everyone who worked hard to put this together so we could play today, should be commended,” he says.
As for their next battle with the Spartans? The coach was already thinking about it before he left the field. “Lucky for us, we get to see them again next Saturday.”