Mass. Maritime soccer starts strong

October 7, 2012

By Marvin Pave, Globe Correspondent

Already, this has been a banner season for the men’s soccer program at Massachusetts Maritime Academy under the direction of Bridgewater native Greg Perry.

Off to the best start in program history, the Buccaneers were 6-3-1 and riding a two-game winning streak prior to Saturday’s game at Worcester State.

All the victories were by shutout.

The top scorer is junior midfielder Hieu Nguyen (3 goals, 2 assists) of Weymouth, including game-winners in a pair of 1-0 wins against Curry and Becker at the start of the season.

“We wanted to start strong because we didn’t play as well as we could have at the end of last season, and that motivated us throughout the spring and into pre-season,” said Nguyen, who starred at Matignon High and was the MASCAC’s Player of the Week on Sept. 10.

“We are really focused and motivated every time we take the field, and coach Perry has helped us work hard and make sure that we are giving our all.  We’re a tight knit group, and that closeness has been a big part of what we’ve been able to do so far.”

Joining him in the starting lineup are sophomore midfielder Rob Robbs (Braintree High), who had a goal and an assist, junior defenders Daniel Riley (Hanover High) and Stephen Machaby (Rockland High), and freshman backfield mate Nick Parker (Plymouth South).

Three other area players were also contributing to the Bucs’ early-season success:  freshman forward Connor McInnis of Duxbury (Tabor Academy) netted his first two collegiate goals and added an assist in a 6-0 victory over Anna Maria on Sept. 27; classmate Taylor Sjoberg (Mansfield High) scored his first career goal in the same game and sophomore Roodelin Jean of Braintree (Doral Charter Academy, Florida) has appeared in eight games.

“There is a lot of talent at the high school and club level from this area,” said Perry, a standout at Bridgewater-Raynham High and Westfield State now in his 20^th season at the Academy.  He resides in Marshfield.

“And that’s been proved by many of my current and former players who have provided great play and great leadership.”