After press time:
Lynnfield ties Triton 1-1 (Sept. 4)
Lynnfield defeats Newburyport 2-1 (Sept. 2)
THE LHS boys’ soccer team kicked off their season in Newburyport on Tuesday. They travel to Triton on Thursday and Collegiate Charter School of Lowell on Saturday. (Courtesy Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season was a memorable one for the Lynnfield High boys’ soccer team as they reached the MIAA Division 4 state championship game before losing a heartbreaking, 3-2, decision to Cohasset.
That loss prevented the Pioneers from winning their second-straight Division 4 state crown.
Lynnfield finished the 2024 campaign at 16-4-3 overall.
In the Cape Ann League, they came in second place to rival North Reading going 12-2-2.
Eight seniors from that team graduated including scoring star Dylan Reilly and CAL-All-Stars, Kelan Cardinal, Charlie Morgan and Matt Reinold.
When fall practice started on Aug. 18, 24th-year head coach Brent Munroe welcomed back 10 returners, four of whom were starters.
The senior captains are Rocco Scenna (center-midfielder), Mohammed Ayari (defenseive-midfield) and Nate Zalvan (defenseman).
Scenna, who is going to Bowdoin College next year, had a team-high 14 goals to go with 11 assists as he was a CAL All-Conference player
The other 12th-graders back are Dino Gesamondo (goalie), Sam Curley (defenseman) and Jaiden Ing (defensive- midfielder).
The returning juniors are Kellen Farias (goalie) Ben Clancy (defenseman), Oliver Morgan (midfielder), and Brandon Reilly (forward),
Another junior back is forward Dante Buccai who was injured and missed all of last year.
“The preseason went pretty good,” said Munroe. “Even though we have a lot of players back only four of them were starters.”
The Pioneers had two scrimmages as they tied host Swampscott, 3-3, on Aug. 21 and then beat Malden Catholic, 3-1, at home on Aug. 25.
Lynnfield will play an 18-game regular-season schedule. They will play the Kinney Division teams twice and CAL Baker teams once.
They also have a pair of non-league games against Lowell Collegiate Charter and Masconomet.
North Reading and Newburyport will be the teams to beat in the CAL Kinney according to Munroe.
“Last year’s class was the best I have ever had,” said Munroe, about the turnover in roster. “Seven of those players were three-year players.”
Lynnfield visited Newburyport on Sept. 2 in the season opener (result not available at press time).
The Pioneers then travel to Byfield on Sept. 4 to take on Triton at 4 p.m.
Lynnfield’s first non-league game is on Sept. 6 at 10:30 a.m. as they visit Lowell Collegiate Charter.
On Sept. 9, the Pioneers take on Essex Tech in Danvers with that game starting at 5 p.m.
The Pioneers have their first five games of the season on the road.