Rockets Soccer Loses Season Opener 3-0

The Reading Memorial High School boys' soccer team dropped their first contest 3-0 to the Winchester Sachems, and head coach Dan McGrath thinks the loss is telling of the team's age and lack of experience. 

"We are very young and inexperienced. We have a brand new keeper, three out of our back four guys are new, and we're only starting two seniors," McGrath said. "A lot of it involves getting their feet wet and understanding the level of play. It's a big step moving up from freshman and JV in terms of the speed of play."

With 20 minutes left to play in the first half, the Sachems got on the board after Winchester's Jeff Tilley capitalized on a crossed ball. With momentum on Winchester's side, they scored again just minutes later, widening the gap and taking a 2-0 lead before half time.

The Rockets came out strong in the second half, and captain Chris Welch was fouled after he broke away towards the Sachem goalkeeper. Despite a close-range free kick, Welch's co-captain, Charlie McRae, was not able to capitalize on the opportunity, sending the ball over the net.

With just two minutes left to play in the game, Winchester scored one last time. The ball was sent high over the head of Reading's goalkeeper, Jeremy Battye, from almost 15 yards out.

Minutes later time expired, and the Sachems walked away with the 3-0 victory.

"Our first touch was off today we didn't really have a lot of confidence. We also gave up some goals due to defensive mistakes," McGrath said.

Although a 3-0 shutout isn't exactly the way McGrath would have liked to start out his season, he is optimistic for the future.

"For us it's going to be a learning process throughout the year and coming together as a group," McGrath said. "We have 13 new guys and it takes a little time to feel each other out and gel together."

Next up, the Reading will travel to Watertown to take on the Raiders, Saturday at 2 p.m. McGrath thinks the Raiders will be more of an even match-up for the young Rockets.

 "The last couple years we played well against them. I feel they are pretty even with us they have a lot of younger players, too, so it's going to be a good match," McGrath said.