Update after press time: North Reading defeats Woburn 9-6 in season opener (March 29)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Chuck Campobasso is back for his 23rd-year as the head coach of the North Reading High boys’ lacrosse team this season.
Last spring, the Hornets finished at 7-12 as they lost at Pentucket, 15-8, in the first round of the MIAA Division 4 state tournament. In the Cape Ann League they went 5-8.
Three seniors from that team, Logan Lamont, Nick Arcari and Zach Demetri graduated.
When camp officially opened on March 17, Campobasso welcomed back 12 veterans. Three of them are this year’s senior captains: PJ Conte (attacker), David Tran (goalie) and Owen Phillips (defenseman).
Tran, a CAL Second-Team All-Star last year, went 7-12 in net with a goals-against average of 9.50. as he averaged 11 saves per game.
The five other seniors back are Duncan Gulino (midfielder), Finn Rodger (midfielder), Davide Rosati (midfielder), Andrew Taylor (defenseman) and Jackson Wesley (midfielder).
Taylor was a CAL Second-Team All-Star last season.
Rodger is the team’s top returning scorer as he had 24 goals and 18 assists.
Conrad Gerber (midfielder), Jack Conlon (defenseman), Brendan Gazda (attacker) and Gavin Wesley (long-stick midfielder) are the four juniors back.
So far during the preseason, the defense is ahead of the offense, which struggled last year.
“We are working on our timing on offense,” said Campobasso. “The defense has looked good so far. We are going to rely on PJ and Brendan for a lot of our offense.”
Just like last year, the Hornets will play an 18-game regular season. They will have 13 CAL games and five non-league contests. The five non-league opponents will be Woburn, Wakefield, Medford, Methuen and Danvers.
North Reading scrimmaged at Whittier Tech last Saturday and they hosted Tewksbury on Wednesday in their final preseason game.
The Hornets play their season opener on March 29 at 11 a.m. as they go to Woburn. They then visit the defending CAL Kinney Division champions, Newburyport, on April 2.
That game will start at 4:30 p.m.
Campobasso feels that Newburyport and Pentucket will be the teams to beat in the division this year.