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North Reading defeats Triton 4-0 (Oct. 3)
North Reading defeats Essex Tech 2-0 (Oct. 1)
Published October 3, 2024
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
DANVERS — The North Reading High boys’ soccer team stayed undefeated on Tuesday afternoon as they blanked host Essex Tech, 2-0, up in Danvers.
With that victory, the Hornets improved to 9-0-1 overall and 8-0-1 in the Cape Ann League as they are tied with Lynnfield for first place in the CAL Kinney Division.
“It was a good win against a good team,” said Hornets head coach Mark Bisognano, as NR recorded its third straight shutout. “The only thing I did not like was that we played passively after we got the 1-0 lead.”
In the game’s 26th minute, Finn Rodger got fouled in the box and Gavin Wesley scored on the ensuing penalty kick.
The other tally came in the game’s 77th minute as Davi Leao scored assisted by Matt Fleury.
Hornet goalkeeper, Cam Parrett, made five saves in net to record his fifth shutout of the fall.
Last Saturday afternoon, the Hornets beat guest Weston, 2-0, in a non-league match.
“That was our most complete game of the season,” stated Bisognano.
Nick Lopes assisted on the team’s both goals.
He assisted on Rodger’s goal in the 37th minute of the opening half. He then assisted on Max Gulino’s tally with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
Parrett made four stops against the Wildcats, who are a Dual County League team.
On Sept. 26, North Reading shut out Rockport, 6-0, at home in the rain.
North Reading scored twice in the first half and four more times in the second.
“They have a young team and we were able to wear them down,” recalled Bisognano.
Leao led the team in goals with two while Gulino led the team in points with four as he had one goal and three assists.
Rodger, Fleury and Asher Schulz accounted for the three other goals.
Parrott made three stops in that game.
On Sept. 24, the Hornets edged Newburyport, 2-1, at home in a thriller.
Gulino scored in the 10th minute assisted by Rodger.
That lead held until the 15th minute of the second half as the Clippers scored on a set piece to tie the game.
Then, with only 42 seconds left in the game, Gulino scored the game-winning goal assisted by Jackson Wesley.
“That was the most exciting game of the year,” stated Bisognano “It reminded me of the first time we faced Essex Tech this year when we scored the winning goal in the final minute.”
Parrott made three saves in net.
The next two games for the Hornets will be on the road.
On Oct. 3, they go to Byfield to visit Triton trying to sweep the Vikings. They then go to Amesbury on Oct. 8. Both of those games will start at 4:30 pm.