The Chelsea High boys soccer team will open its 2013 season Wednesday afternoon at the Stadium against Commonwealth Athletic Conference rival Minuteman Regional. Kick-off time is set for 3:45.
Hopes once again are high for another successful season for Coach Mick Milutinovic and his Red Devil crew, who not only have a number of key performers returning from last year’s CAC championship squad, but who also have a great deal of depth thanks to the largest turnout in many years for the CHS soccer program.
“We have a lot of boys who came out for the team,” said CHS assistant coach Evan Protasowicki. “It’s been a tough job to select a varsity roster and we’re still working on the final selections. But for the first time in many years, we’ll be able to field a junior varsity squad.”
Among the key returnees for the Red Devils are senior captains Luis Cruz and Jaime Barahona. Cruz was the leading goal scorer in the CAC last year and is primed to record another banner season. Barahona, who has been a varsity player for four years, played in the backfield in 2012, but is being moved up to the midfield by Milutinovic for 2013. “We’re looking to both Luis and Jaime for leadership both on and off the field,” noted Protasowicki.
Other key performers for the Red Devils figure to be senior Michael Kottu, an outside midfielder who was one of the leading Red Devil scorers in the 2012 season; junior Wilbur Tejada, a center midfielder, who came into his own last year and is primed to have a banner season in 2013; and senior defenseman Josue Ramirez, who will anchor the Red Devils’ back line.
In the all-important keeper position, sophomore Jose Ortiz appears to have the inside track for the starting nod to replace two-year starter Junior Rivera.
“It’s been really nice to have a plethora of both numbers and talent,” noted Protasowicki. “It’s will be great to field a JV team and we’re looking forward to another strong season.”
Randy Grajal will be the JV coach.
After Wednesday’s opener with Minuteman, the Red Devils will host cross-Parkway Division 1 rival Everett Thursday afternoon in a non-league affair. Kick-off for the Everett tilt is set for at 4:00 at the Stadium.
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Football team plays
well in tri-scrimmage
The Chelsea High football team once again showed a host of encouraging signs in its pre-season tri-scrimmage with Boston English and Marian of Framingham Friday evening at Boston English.
“The scrimmage went well,” said CHS head coach Mike Stellato. “We did a lot of situational work on both offense and defense and overall it was a very positive outing for us.”
The coach once again praised the effort of junior quarterback Mark Anthony Williams, who turned in another fine performance in the pre-season. Junior wide receiver Kalvin Duran and junior running back Yvad Rosado also earned the coach’s praise.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior defensive end Jose Martinez, senior tackle Luis Valles, junior tackle Adrial Rodriguez, and junior defensive back Elyer Lobo all earned their coach’s praise.
The tri-scrimmage concluded the pre-season schedule for the Red Devils, who now will turn the focus of their attention to getting ready for the first game of the 2013 campaign. Chelsea’s next encounter will be the regular-season opener which is set for Friday, September 13, under the lights at Chelsea Stadium against St. Joseph’s of Newton. The contest will be highlighted by the dedication of the Stadium press box to the late Arnie Goodman, who for decades was the Voice of the Red Devils. The CHS players will be wearing special “AG” decals on their helmets for the occasion.
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