Page 12 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 5, 2025 Youthful, athletic Everett plans to make the playoffs after narrowly missing the postseason last fall Following three straight road games, Tide girls soccer hosts Chelsea next Thursday night at the Stadium in the home opener By Joe McConnell om Persuitte’s Everett High School girls soccer team just missed qualifying for the postseason last year with an 8-10 record. They needed just one more win to secure a playoff spot. But this year, with an influx of young talent, there’s optimism that they will come up with that win and possibly even more to get where they D want to go in November. “We are a good, aggressive, young and athletic team this year,” said Persuitte. On the varsity alone, the veteran coach has approximately seven seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and five freshmen suiting up. With the exception of the freshmen, the remainder of this roster are all varsity returnees. “Our biggest strength this season will be our athleticism, and our ability to also move the ball around to let it do the work,” said Persuitte. But because of their youthfulness, the coach knows that they have to work on developing chemistry to get everybody clicking on the same page. Everett Crimson Tide girls soccer team shown from left to right: Emelly De Jesus, Tiffany Aguilar, Gabriella Lones Rivera, Kaylyn Rivera, Luna Sepulveda, Casey Martinez, Sofia Arana-Quintanilla, Kathleen Desouza, Connie Paz Hernandez, Gisele Erazo, Johanna Flores, and Head Coach Domenick Persuitte. Front Row: Odalis Sandaval, Melanie Ribeiro, Isabella Mitrano, Lavina Simon, Gabriella Menjivar, Kayla Andrade, Gissell Lemus, Rosa Romero and Tori Short. There are three captains on this year’s squad, including seniors Casey Martinez (centerback, defense) and Luna Sepulveda (center attacking midfielder), and junior Sofia Arana-Quintanilla (center attacking midfielder, defense). All three captains are returning starters, who have played on the varsity since freshman year. The Everett girls have had STADIUM | FROM PAGE 8 um. She also brought up the subject of a shuttle service to move people from outlying parking areas. Conservation Commission, Planning Board and Clean-Up Everett member Stephanie McColaugh echoed Rogers and feels the environmental remediation planned is an improvement of the site. “It seems like our only option,” she said. “I’ll take progress over perfection.” “I want to see the power plant go away,” Jeff Parente said. “It looks horrible, but I don’t agree the stadium is the only option. I like soccer and will probably go to games if it’s built, but other things could go there. It seems like Gillette is fine for the Revolution. Why do they need another three scrimmages to get ready for the regular season. They first shutout Pioneer Charter, 5-0, before losing to Haverhill (6-0) and Waltham (2-0). “We had our ups and downs in all three scrimmages, which led us to a new formation that we will be using during the season,” said Persuitte. The Everett coach says that Somerville is always the team stadium?” Ward 5 Councillor and mayoral candidate Robert Van Campen expressed empathy for DeMaria and support for the project but has some reservations. “I know it isn’t easy to stand there and be criticized, and I recognize this type of development can be transformative, but it doesn’t mean we jump in with both feet without input from the community,” he told DeMaria. “I also want you to ask The Kraft Group to create a fund for our small businesses, be it for facade improvements or interior renovations. Let’s not just fire up the Commercial Triangle [off Lower Broadway and Revere Beach Parkway/Route 16], but the entire business community.” to beat in the Greater Boston League (GBL), and this year is no exception. “Last year, we limited (Somerville) to only two goals in our last meeting with them,” said Persuitte. “But all of the GBL teams are very competitive, so it’s hard to single out which ones will be the toughest. Obviously, we want to beat them all, but I’m realistic. We, however, are still going FOOTBALL | FROM PAGE 11 Fanidi are scheduled to start in the home opener, while the rest of the positions remain up for grabs. Jeremiah Clark and Freni are competing for the quarterback job, and as of Tuesday (Sept. 2), Joao Barreiros and Steven Thomas are the leaders among the running backs. Jeremiah Joseph, Jamauri Dulin, Roshon Belomy, Kervens Joseph and Negron are ahead on the depth chart for wide receivers. DiLoreto is not taking into each game with the mentality that we will win them.” All of Persuitte’s assistants are back this year, a first for the program under his watch. “There’s such great chemistry here among the coaches,” said Persuitte. “This will be my fourth year as the head coach, and Bridget Cifuni has always been SOCCER | SEE PAGE 13 his reemergence as the Tide’s head football coach for granted, because he understands the significance of a winning football team on this community. “I’m extremely honored, excited and humbled to be leading the Everett Crimson Tide football team once again as its head coach,” he said. “I’m also so proud of the hard work, determination and dedication that our players and coaches have collectively put in to prepare for the season. We are coming together as a family, and we hope to make the entire city of Everett proud (once again) this season.” But right now, the focus is on Medford, the defending GBL champions, Friday night at home, starting at 6 p.m. “They have our full respect,” said DiLoreto. “We have been watching Medford on film. They have a highly skilled offensive attack this year and have had a very good preseason running a spread offense.We will need to prepare hard this week and be ready for anything that they might throw at us.”
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