SAUGUS — The Pioneers’ boys soccer team wrapped up the 2024 season with an awards banquet Sunday night at Prince Pizza.
The Pioneers (15-4-3) came about as close as you can get to successfully defending their 2023 Division 4 state championship, losing in the final to top-seeded Cohasset 3-2 at Curry College. The game-winning goal was scored with less than 30 seconds left in regulation.
Head coach Brent Munroe said the banquet was “mostly about honoring our seniors.
“The season was fantastic, specifically the seniors,” Munroe said. “Almost all of them were a big part of the program as sophomores and were accomplished as a group over a three-year period. Five kids played all four years. The whole group made a huge impact. It was as good a period as Lynnfield boys soccer has ever had. This senior class was a special class.”
Several senior awards were presented. Alex Adreani received the Scholar-Athlete award for having the highest grade point average on the team.
Tyler Maddocks received the Most Versatile Player award and Joel “Big Goal” Anthony received the Big Goal award. Goalkeeper and captain Kelan Cardinal received the Shutout King award. He finished his career with 39 shutouts and was named to the CAL All-League and Eastern Mass All-Star teams.
“That’s pretty good,” Munroe said.
Matt Reinold, a CAL All-Star honoree, received the Human Highlight Film award, while captain Chris Calnan received the Leader by Example award.
Captain Charlie Morgan, a CAL All-Star honoree, received the Honey Badger award.
“He got that for his grittiness and toughness because that’s what that award is all about,” Munroe said.
Captain Dillon Reilly received the G.O.A.T. award. He finished his career as the second all-time goal scorer in the history of the Pioneers boys soccer program behind 2008 LHS graduate Mike Kennedy who scored 78 goals. Going into the 2024 season, Reilly needed 27 goals to break the record, but sat out the regular season after having surgery for a bone fracture. He returned to action in the first game of the tournament, going on to score six of the Pioneers’ 11 goals to finish with 58 career goals.
Junior captain Rocco Scenna received the Offensive Player of the Year award. He finished the season as the team’s top scorer, notching 14 goals and 12 assist. The CAL All -League center midfielder, Eastern Mass and All-State All-Star will return as one of the captains of next year’s team.
“Rocco was fantastic this year,” Munroe said. “He was our best player this year and third best in the league and had a great year for us.”
With the exception of Scenna, Munroe held off on announcing the captains of the 2025 team.
“Rocco will be back, but we wanted the banquet to be about honoring this year’s senior group,” Munroe said. “We’ll worry about next year next year. This was such a fun year to coach.”
