Soccer Stars Playing for the Goal of a Lifetime

High school soccer teams are accustomed to scoring goals, but this Saturday, Sept. 29, 12 of the region’s premier programs, including Lexington High, will be focused on another kind of goal: Raising funds for cancer research. 

The boys’ varsity teams from Acton-Boxborough, Belmont, Brookline, Concord-Carlisle, Lexington, Lincoln-Sudbury, Newton North, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Woburn will compete in the sixth annual Kicks for Cancer in an effort to raise more than $20,000 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.   

The tournament will be held on the turf fields behind Concord-Carlisle High School at 500 Walden Street in Concord and will begin at 1 p.m. with games between Brookline and Newton North and Lexington and Belmont. The second round of play will begin at 3:30 p.m., when Reading plays Woburn and Stoneham faces off against Wakefield. The final round, which will begin at 6 p.m., features Concord-Carlisle and Lincoln-Sudbury, as well as Acton-Boxborough and Wayland. 

Since 2007, Kicks for Cancer has raised $71,000 in memory of Lois Wells, the mother of Concord-Carlisle’s assistant coach, Steve Wells. Over the last several seasons the tournament has grown from a single game to six games. Players continue to wear jerseys honoring family members and friends who have battled cancer. 

Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance from players and on the day of the event from volunteers. Youth teams will play at half-time of the 6 p.m. game, and concessions will be available throughout the festival. 

Please visit the following links for directions to the fields and more information about Kicks for Cancer:

• Concord-Carlisle Kicks for Cancer website, including directions to the fields: http://cchsmenssoccer.com/kfc.html
• Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kicks-for-Cancer-Concord-Carlisle/146077038820061?sk=info
• Dana Farber donation page: www.dana-farber.kintera.org/kicksforcancer

The Teams

Acton-Boxborough: David Baumritter, coach. Experience will be an integral part of the Colonials’ success this fall. Returning 16 players from last year’s squad, the 2012 team will be especially difficult to break down. Senior captains Ethan Raymond, Ryan Rose, and Tommy Wilson will provide leadership for the Colonials. 

Belmont: Peter Guellnitz, coach. Coach Guellnitz credits “well-rounded defense” for “creating opportunities” early in the 2012 season. The Mauraders also look to benefit from the leadership of captains Dan Martin and Chris Rizzo.

Brookline: Jeff Katz, coach. After an 11-5-4 campaign in 2011, capped off by another epic battle versus Newton North in the Massachusetts State Tournament, Brookline is working to rebuild a team that graduated 18 seniors and all 11 starters. Coach Katz’s young team is improving and capitalizing on the valuable lessons learned while competing in the Bay State League.  The Warriors promise to be dangerous come tournament time. 

Concord-Carlisle: Ray Pavlik, coach. Expectations are always high at Concord-Carlisle, and Coach Pavlik keeps his squad focused on steady improvement. This year’s team will miss impact players Ethan Atwood, Brendan Nunan, Mikey O’Brien, and Chris Walker-Jacks, but they also return 7 starters and add a group of talented sophomores.  Captains Zach Bloom, Gregoire Fauchet, Stowe Simonton, and Stephen Yen will lead the Patriots. 

Lexington: Sami Eladhari, coach. The Minutemen begin the 2012 season with a new coach and with high expectations. Returning to the team are seniors Alan Bartels, Sam Eddy, Joey McWeeney, Tom Stirrat, and George Velonias, as well as junior midfielders Matt Edmonds and Shant Mahrokhian.

Lincoln-Sudbury: David Hosford, coach. After going undefeated in the 2011 regular season, the Warriors enter the 2012 campaign having graduated 15 seniors and 10 starters. Led this year by senior captains Steven Ingard, Josh Reinstien, and Fernando Sousa and returning starter, junior Tyler Barnes, L-S has already begun to integrate a wave of young talent to create their own identity. Their hard-working defense will be a cornerstone of that identity, and when the tourney arrives, they will be in the hunt. 

Newton North: Roy Dow, coach. Talented young coach Roy Dowd lost the lion’s share of his 2011 Division I North Sectional Championship squad, but this year’s team has set a high standard for itself and hopes to earn a tournament berth again. Senior captain and goalkeeper Andrew Leaper will lead the Tigers.

Reading: Dan McGrath, coach. The Rockets return 11 from 2011 and fill out this year’s roster with 7 newcomers, including 3 freshmen.  Senior Lee Jacobs steps in between the pipes while junior Dane Sullivan heads the Rockets’ attack. Reading captains J.D. Greenfield, Johnathan Millett, and Eric O’Brien will provide leadership.

Stoneham: Jim Carino, coach. Jim Carino enters his 26th season as coach of perennial Division II North contenders, the Stoneham Spartans. In 2011, Stoneham captured its 4th Middlesex League title since 2002. Captains Mike Andrews, Alex Brown, Brendan Donovan, and Steve Keskinides will lead this year’s squad as they contend in a tough Middlesex League.

Wakefield: Matt Angelo, coach. Under the guidance of first-year coach Matt Angelo, Wakefield looks to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 season.  With a veteran defense and a young but energetic offense, Wakefield will be strong on both sides of the ball. They will be led by team captains Charlie Flannagan and Tom Sheerin. 

Wayland: David Gavron, coach. Wayland competed long into the 2011 season, making an impressive run in the Division II tournament and finally dropping a heart-breaker to Concord-Carlisle in the North Final. This season the Warriors will be led by senior captains David Cohen and Matt Edwards.   

Woburn: Paul Sands, coach. Returning 4 starters and led by 3 senior captains, stopper Nick Dalton, keeper Andrew Deane, and midfielder Max Deulofeu, the Tanners are among the favorites to capture the Middlesex League crown. Strikers Anthony Nguyen and Preston Gordon are expected to lead a high-powered offense, while Deane will anchor one of the best defenses in the Middlesex League.

Game Schedule

GAME ONE – 1:00 pm on Turf 1

Lexington vs. Belmont

GAME TWO – 1:00 pm on Turf 2

Stoneham vs. Wakefield

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GAME THREE – 3:30 pm on Turf 1

Brookline vs. Newton North

GAME FOUR – 3:30 pm on Turf 2

Reading vs. Woburn

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GAME FIVE – 6:00 pm on Turf 1

Concord - Carlisle vs. Lincoln - Sudbury

GAME SIX – 6:00 pm on Turf 2

Acton – Boxborough vs. Wayland