The Chelsea High football team will open its 2024 season tomorrow evening with a Friday Night Lights contest against Boston Tech at Chelsea Stadium. The opening kickoff is set for 6:00.
The Red Devils this season will play GBL rivals Lynn English, Somerville, Malden, and Medford, and will take on non-league opponents Tech Boston, Lowell Catholic, Roxbury Prep, and Saugus as part of their pre-playoff schedule.
The season finale is scheduled for the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving (November 27) at 6:00 vs. East Boston at Chelsea Stadium.
Chelsea will travel to Lowell Catholic next Friday.
The CHS boys soccer team, which once again will be under the direction of long-time head coach Mick Milutinovic and assistant coach William Estrada, will open its 2024 campaign at non-league opponent Excel Academy this Saturday at 2:15 on the brand-new Boston Scores Field at Salesian Heights in East Boston.
The 2024 edition of the Red Devils will be led by senior captain Christian Palacios and junior captain Jose Joj.
“Our roster is 95% finalized,” said Estrada. “Unfortunately we’ve had a few setbacks during the preseason with a handful of injuries to players whom we expected to have on the team sheet to start off the season.
“It also has been more difficult to finalize this year’s roster in comparison to previous years because of the upcoming talent in the JV squad this year,” Estrada added. “There are a lot of players who are deserving of a spot on the varsity team. We are looking forward to seeing what the players on both teams can achieve this year.”
Estrada noted that revenge will be on the minds of the Red Devils when they take to the pitch on Saturday vs. Excel.
“Last year’s 5-3 loss to Excel Academy seems to have stuck with our players, who have been giving it their all during practice these last few weeks,” said Estrada. “Although this isn’t a league game, we want to set the tone for the season with a win over a team that beat us last year.”
Milutinovic’s squad will be playing a 17-game schedule with 14 contests against their seven GBL foes (Somerville, Malden, Medford, Everett, Revere, Lynn Classical, and Lynn English) and three matches with non-league opponents Excel, East Boston, and Boston International. After the Excel contest, the Red Devils will make the short trip across the Parkway next Thursday afternoon to take on archrival Everett at 7-Acre Park.
The CHS girls soccer team, under the direction of new head coach Naomi Mejia, will get its 2024 season underway with a home match against Somerville next Tuesday. The opening kickoff is set for 5:45. The Lady Red Devils then will host Everett next Thursday, also starting at 5:45.
The CHS girls volleyball team, headed by coach Gloria Rodriguez, opened its season earlier this week with matches against non-league opponent East Boston on Tuesday (a 3-0 victory) and Somerville yesterday (Wednesday). The Lady Red Devils will host Everett next Monday.
The squad will play 14 matches with their seven GBL rivals and six non-league contests with East Boston (2), Latin Academy (2), New Mission, and Swampscott.
The Chelsea High boys and girls cross country teams, under the direction of head coach Cesar Hernandez, will open their season next Wednesday with a meet vs. GBL foe Malden on the Devils’ home course at Admiral’s Hill.