Because the calendar turns to September, New England is aware of some advantages of the season modifications to autumn. The magnificent colours of fall foliage, apple selecting and pumpkin patches on native farms and the return of highschool soccer.
In Divisions 7 and eight, a number of groups have had a superb monitor document during the last handful of seasons and must be contenders to make a deep playoff run in 2025
One contender in Division 7 can be Amesbury. Head coach Colin McQueen is in his ninth yr and has guided the Redhawks to a profitable tenure, highlighted by a visit to the state title recreation towards Uxbridge two seasons in the past. Final season, they made it to the quarterfinals, the place they misplaced to state runner-up Mashpee. The quarterback of the final two seasons, Justin Dube, is returning for his senior yr.
“Any time you could have a child who has performed in a state championship recreation, you’re going to really feel very assured in him and his skills,” McQueen mentioned. “We’re very comfy with the place we’re at numbers-wise clever and the senior class as a complete has been a driving drive in that. Most of those guys have proven they will do effectively in massive spots.”
Becoming a member of Dube within the senior class captains are tight finish/outdoors linebacker Ethan Kirby, tight finish/defensive finish Ollie Peters, heart/defensive deal with Dylan Palan and working again Joe Celia. Different gamers of notice embody offensive/defensive deal with Stacy Peck, working again Joe Pullio, guards Evan Murphy and Braden Delisle, and security Parker Delong.
“We’re very fortunate to have a tradition the place we now have guys who’re pulling in the identical path and do what’s finest for the group,” McQueen mentioned. “We have now gamers on our line who could be taking part in totally different positions at different faculties. However they’ve made a sacrifice which may be very selfless.”
One other prime D7 contender can be Mashpee. The Falcons are coming off a yr the place they made it to Gillette Stadium earlier than dropping to Uxbridge, which has gained the title in back-to-back years. Head coach Matt Triveri is coming into his twenty first yr with this system. He has gained 4 state titles, together with a three-peat from 2015-17. This yr can be a harder take a look at for him as they graduated 22 seniors a yr in the past, together with his son Ryan.
“Numbers are down throughout the state and nation in soccer, however we’re actually feeling it,” Triveri mentioned. “The varsity enrollment is down as effectively. We solely have about 30 children this yr; it’s what it’s. However I like loads of the fellows we now have. A few of these guys have by no means performed earlier than, so we are going to undergo rising pains. It’s a little bit of a rebuild, however we do have some actually good gamers.”
A few of the gamers to focus on are fullback/linebacker Brendan Andrade, working again/security Daniel Alade, guard/defensive finish Jack Borowski, quarterback Deanjelo Desana, and heart/defensive deal with Shay Taylor.
“Even for having a smaller group, our objective continues to be to get to a state title,” Triveri mentioned. “To do this, we’re going to have to remain wholesome. We haven’t had a youth soccer program within the city for some time now, so it has been powerful to attempt to train guys on the fly. I nonetheless suppose we are able to compete at a excessive stage.”
Different notable packages in Div. 7 can be Clinton, Northbridge and Gardner. Some groups to watch embody Carver, Blue Hills, West Bridgewater and Cohasset.
In Div. 8, West Boylston stays the group to beat. Underneath the management of head coach Mike Ross, the Lions have gained three straight championships (two Div. 8, one Div. 7) and wish to go for a fourth.
A key returner can be quarterback Dominic Renzoni, who’s a second-year starter and had a two-touchdown day in final yr’s state championship.
“We’re tremendous thrilled to have our quarterback returning, senior Dominic Renzoni, coming off a 1,600-yard season,” Ross mentioned. “He is a superb chief and tremendous excited to see what he and the remainder of the group can do.”
Different contributors embody tight finish Paul Lenkarski, two massive two-way linemen in William Bruner and Kenny Rondeau on the guard and defensive deal with spots, and fullback Tommy Wyatt.
The highway to a title can be slightly tougher whereas they transfer from Class D to C inside Central Mass, and that comes with a harder schedule.
“We have now a bullseye on our backs with all the success we now have had,” Ross mentioned. “We’re a youthful group with solely seven seniors. Our junior class is our greatest one, and loads of them have expertise, so I’m very proud of the place we’re as a group now.”
Different prime contenders inside Div. 8 can be Randolph, Kipp Academy (Lynn), Nashoba Tech, Millis and Lee. Another groups to watch are Tech Boston, Cathedral and Hull.
Gamers to look at
Daniel Alade (Mashpee), Brendan Andrade (Mashpee), Aidan Arseneault (Uxbridge), Jack Borowski (Mashpee), William Bruner (West Boylston), Taetum Cassella (Clinton), Joe Celia (Amesbury), Seamus Cooney (Lee), Antonio D’Alfonso (Northbridge), D’Angelo Desana (Mashpee), Justin Dube (Amesbury), Logen Erickson (Uxbridge), Nate Falconer (Northbridge), Grady Frisch (Clinton), Gus Inexperienced (Cohasset), Ethan Kirby (Amesbury), Joel LaChapelle (Northbridge), Camden LaChapelle (Uxbridge), Chase Lawson (Northbridge), Paul Lenkarski (West Boylston), Michael Maldonado (West Boylston), Dylan Palan (Amesbury), Ollie Peters (Amesbury), Dawson Reber (Lee), Jaydee Reber (Lee), Dominic Renzoni (West Boylston), Kenny Rondeau (West Boylston), Jullian Rosenberg (Uxbridge), Thatcher Sweeney (Uxbridge), Shay Taylor (Mashpee), Tommy Wyatt (West Boylston)
