Norwood Boys Soccer; Off to a Great Start

After beginning last season with an 0-6 start and not being able to find the back of the net until the 10th game, the Norwood boys soccer team has found themselves off to a much better start this season. At the time of this writing, the Mustangs had already secured two wins and beat the opposition’s goalie numerous times.
According to Co-Coach Tom Healy, who shares the duties with Ryan German, the team is comprised of a lot of seniors who have been on the team since their freshman year. Having played for Norwood for the past four years, the group is very hungry and looking to do well this season.
Leading the Mustangs into battle on the soccer field are tri-captains, midfielder Jaden Ryan, and defenders Anthony Marchant and TJ Fehm.
“We are looking to these three to not only deliver on the field, but to also help the younger group,” Healy said. “When they direct the younger athletes where they need to be, it in turn allows us as a team to open up avenues during the game.”
Of the trio, Ryan has been the one to get the ball rolling as he has already notched three goals that have helped the Mustangs to victory. According to his coach, he does it all for the team.
“Jaden sets things up and everything flows through him on the field,” Healy said. “He knows what needs to be done and has flourished thus far in that role.”
While Ryan has been controlling the midfield into the offensive zone for Norwood, Marchant has continued to be that shut-down back no matter where the coaching staff puts him on the field. Fehm is the team’s center back who has been closing off the gaps between the offense and defense while unifying the team’s formations.
In addition to Ryan scoring, the Mustangs will also look to juniors Jager Jennette and Mason Gold too add to the team’s offense. Jennette, plays striker, is going to be looked upon heavily to be one of those players that puts the ball in the oppositions net on a regular basis. Gold, a midfielder, will be the team’s set-up guy who distributes the ball to his teammates. Although he’ll have more assists, make no mistake, he can also score.
On the opposite side of the field, the Mustangs have two solid net minders in senior Allessandro DiCesare and sophomore Chris Giovanni.
“So far both goalies have been doing a fantastic job keeping us in games and giving us the chance to win,” Healy said. “We have faltered at times on our own, giving the opposition the opportunity to score. Who gets the start is day to day; whoever looks better in practice leading up to the game gets the start.”
Coming into the season, the coaches firmly believed that this year’s squad was going to be one that could compete each and every time they took the field. According to Healy, the team set three goals for the season: first, not to get blown out; second, to make a name for the school in the Tri-Valley League, and third, to get the team prepared and ready to make a run through the tournament.
During their first season in the TVL, Norwood seemed to hit a rocky slope where they took teams too lightly. This season, that will not happen, and in doing so, Norwood will not be at the bottom of the league.
“If we accomplish the first two goals, then the third goal will come,” said the Co-Coach. “We’re on the right path. We’d like to have the Hopkinton and Holliston games back, but we do have another opportunity when we play them both again later in the year. The Ashland game we felt we controlled the majority of the game however the outcome was not on our side.”
Playing in the Tri-Valley League is no laughing matter when it comes to boys’ soccer. Last fall, a good number of teams advanced into the tournament and Holliston captured the Division 3 South Championship. Norwood may not be able to accomplish what Holliston did, but the Mustangs are looking forward to getting into the tournament and making some noise.