Melrose opens against Belmont, Wakefield
After press time:
Melrose falls to Belmont 3-0 (Sept. 2)
Melrose ties Wakefield 1-1 (Sept. 4)
THE MELROSE High boy’s soccer team has a busy opening week including a must-see game against Wakefield. (photo by Raj Das, edphotos.com)
By CORY THOMAS
MELROSE—The Melrose High boys’ soccer team returned to play this week, opening their season at home against Belmont on Tuesday and, at press time, was preparing for a big game against rival Wakefield at Fred Green Field on Thursday.
Melrose fell to Belmont, 3-0, on Tuesday, and will battle against a Warrior team who were seeded #1 Div. 2 last season and became Sectional champs. Yet, Melrose will be a test for Wakefield too, as they went two rounds in playoffs last season, falling to eventual state champ Oliver Ames, who gave up their only goal to Melrose in their whole playoff journey. So, no doubt this Melrose team returns playoff-ready and prepared for a winning season.
Leading Melrose are senior captains Owen Brown, Josh Bird, Malek Sayegh.
According to Melrose head coach Dean Serino, defense may be the team’s calling card, and that defense starts with goalie Owen Brown. “Owen is one of the best goalies in the league,” he says. “We’re a defensive team and players like Malek (Sayegh) Max Rosnov, Josh Bird, Lucas Brodeur and Dan Jimenez will be a big part of that.”
Offensive efforts are likely to come from Reon Anderson, Aiden Murphy, and Quinn Cantin, among others. “We all played well in our first three scrimmages. We saw strong midfield play,” says the coach, which included a 0-0 draw against Newton North.
On Tuesday’s season opener against Belmont, Melrose took on a strong division one Belmont squad at Pine Banks on a beautiful late summer afternoon in an early season test for an upperclassmen-led Melrose.
Goalie Owen Brown anchored this solid Melrose team, who was tested often by Belmont. Belmont scored an early, first half goal off a 50/50 ball at the goal line that Brown saved, but Belmont jumped on a loose ball and scored off the rebound to take an early 1-0 lead. Undeterred, Melrose carried the play for the remainder of the first half, playing fast and aggressive against the talented young men from Belmont. On a strong Melrose attack, senior Max Rosnov missed a header high off a good pass from senior captain Reon Anderson. Anderson’s hustle led to that scoring chance and free kick that Rosnov just missed converting in front of the Belmont net.
Melrose senior Henry Rahilly had a strong rush for an unsuccessful offensive chance in the middle of the first half. Several strong saves by Owen Brown kept the score 1-0. Melrose sophomore Jack Drago was always around the ball causing havoc as was Melrose junior Sirak Araia who was strong with the ball to draw a foul and a chance for Melrose that they were couldn’t convert.
The second half started with another Owen Brown save. Belmont had the better scoring chances on net all afternoon. Sirak Araia’s pressure led to a chance and a strong run by Melrose senior Ali Abidi. Belmont kept coming at Melrose, but a heady tackle by sophomore Quinn Cantin thwarted a Belmont run during the chippy second half, while Belmont maintained their 1-0 lead. Senior captain Josh Bird’s strong defense showed with his purposeful play and hustle. Henry Rahilly applied solid pressure that led directly to senior Patrick Buggy’s second half scoring chance that went just wide on the short side of the Belmont net.
After yet another save by Brown, Melrose attempted to get their offense going by adding an additional offensive forward to their attack at the mid-point of the second held. Ali Abidi is another skilled Melrose senior who plays with tremendous hustle and hard work. Josh Bird just missed the tying goal a foot high over the Belmont crossbar off a set piece. Late in the game, Belmont was able to counter the Melrose offensive attacks, that led to an odd man rush and their 2nd goal that made it 2-0 late in the second half. Sophomore Quinn Cantin had a late try for Melrose that went just wide. Belmont added their third goal with a few minutes to go in the game, for a final score of 3-0, Belmont. Melrose played Belmont much closer than the final score would indicate.
They have another opportunity to get a Middlesex League victory Thursday evening at Fred Green Field against their rivals from Wakefield, post deadline. “They’re hot for sure,” says coach Serino. “They did lose a top player to transfer. I also think Burlington and Wilmington will be improved this year. We have a tough start to the schedule but like last year, it’s better to finish very strong than to start. We want to get the league title back.”