LYNN — The English girls soccer team got its season started on the right foot with a 4-0 win over Tech in the Lynn City Tournament at Manning Field Tuesday.
Melissa Zayas led the Bulldogs, scoring three goals with an assist. Senior captain Jullianna Perry added one goal and dished one assist.
“Zayas scored 17 of our 21 goals for us last year, so she’s really the franchise for us up front,” English coach Ed McNeil said. “She brought it. Three goals and an assist you can’t beat that. Jullianna got the other goal, as a senior captain she’s a real leader in the middle of the field. She never comes off the field.
“I thought our defense was really good too,” McNeil said. “Dayana Gamboni is in the back with Ravyn Rapley and Anadia Whelton. Another player who plays real well for us is Arianna Garcia in the middle of the field. She had a terrific game.”
The Tigers struggled to get much going on offense. When they did, two shots rang of the post in the second half.
“I don’t mind seeing our effort,” Tech coach David Miller said. “We had a great turnout this year and a bunch of girls that are fighting all game. I will say I’m a little disappointed in terms of not getting the ball down enough. We let English dictate things for too long.”
Both teams fought to create solid possession in the first several minutes. English’s Ashley Martinez put a long shot on net but Felicity Blaney-Williams made a nice save and cleaned up a rebound to keep the game scoreless.
The Bulldogs found the back of the net on a set piece with 27 minutes remaining in the first half. Zayas placed a perfect corner kick out front and Perry finished the play to put English ahead 1-0.
From there English dominated possession with Tech on the defensive. Blaney-Williams added a pair of saves for the Tigers and English missed out on some opportunities in the first half.
With just a few seconds remaining in the first half a hand ball from Tech in its own box gave Zayas a penalty kick. The sophomore didn’t disappoint, scoring to give English a 2-0 lead before the break.
The second half was more of the same. The Tigers struggled to get anything going on offense with just one shot in the first ten minutes of the half. Zayas added a pair of goals, one assisted from Perry, to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead midway through the second half.
The Tigers gained some momentum in the final minutes. The Tigers earned a penalty kick with 14 minutes to go but the shot hit the left post. Tech pushed forward for another chance in the final few minutes but hit another post and English held onto the shutout.
“I thought we were in it,” Miller said. “That penalty was kind of frustrating. Our missed penalty kick was frustrating, but I see encouraging signs. I wish we would’ve added some I think it was a little closer than what the score line suggested.”
McNeil applauded Tech for giving English a valiant battle.
“We were slow at the beginning and I give Tech credit, that’s the best Tech team I’ve seen and I’ve been here a while,” McNeil said. “They played very well. It was a very competitive game until the beginning of the second half when Melissa added those two goals. We have things to work on but I’m very pleased. We dressed 18 girls and they all played. Now we’re just looking forward to Saturday.”
English will take on St. Mary’s in the tournament championship Saturday (1), while Tech takes on Classical in the consolation game (9).