SEASON OPENER: Malden High Boys Soccer battles to 1-1 tie with Methuen

Improved Golden Tornado squad ‘fit to be tied’ with perennial state tourney contender

By Steve Freker

Last season when these two teams met, it was “no contest.” This year was a whole bunch of difference. In the season opener on the road, Malden High Boys Soccer faced a whole new level of adversity. Opening Day a fairly inexperienced roster was on the road and against a Methuen High team that returns quite a few familiar faces from a Ranger squad that made it all the way to the “Field of 8” in the MIAA Division 1 State Boys Soccer Tournament.

So how do Head Coach Jeremiah Smith’s Tornados respond? They almost pulled out an impressive road win! In the season opener, Mike Joseph scored first for Malden, and the Tornado defense stood tall throughout as the visitors battled to a 1-1 tie with Methuen. The hard-nosed, physical Rangers brought it all night against Malden, but the visiting Tornado team met every challenge, fighting it out until the end and never giving an inch.

“What was probably the best part of the night was that our team was not satisfied with the tie, they thought we should have played better and got the win,” Coach Smith said. “That’s the type of mentality we want to have this year.”

Last season was one of frustration for Malden, which managed only one win and one tie in its 18-game schedule. Led by senior captains Joseph, Sandesh Ghimre and Yasser Belatreche, Coach Smith said this year’s team is looking for much more. “They have worked hard in the offseason and are not going to settle for results this year,” Coach Smith said. “They want to compete and win every game. That’s the mindset.”

Malden’s got a good mix of veteran seniors and middle classes standouts like junior Abdel Khalifa and Renato Serrao to round it out. Khalifa and Belatreche were “iron men” in the tie with Methuen, logging the full 40 minutes of play.

“We needed them in there. They’re in shape, they can handle it,” Coach Smith said.

Also logging big minutes was senior newcomer Matheus Martins, a lanky, 6-1 midfielder who has upped the experience level quickly. “Matheus has advanced skills and techniques, we only have him for one season, since he’s a senior, but we are lucky we do.”

Malden falls to Everett, 3-1; on road against Somerville next

Malden travelled next door to Everett on Tuesday night under the lights and dropped a 3-1 game to the Crimson Tide in the Greater Boston League (GBL) for both teams. Malden High senior Matheus Martins scored the only goal for the visitors, his first career goal, when he tipped in a corner kick by Yasser Belatreche from the right side.

The Tornados (0-1-1, 0-1 GBL) were scheduled to be on the road against GBL rival Somerville Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Next week, Malden stays on the road for two more games, part of a four-game road trip to start the season, at Medford on Tuesday, September 16 at 4:00 p.m. (at Medford HS Auxiliary #1), and then on Thursday, September 18 at 5:45 p.m. at Lynn Classical, Manning Field, Lynn. Malden’s home opener is not until Tuesday, September 23, when the Tornados host Chelsea at Pine Banks Park at 4:00 p.m.