THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 8, 2023 Page 17 NICO’S THE ONE! Revere’s Morgira scores lone goal in 1-0 win over host Malden in season opener Defense rules as Patriots Goalkeepers Garcia, Espinosa combine for shutout over GBL rival Tornados By Steve Freker T his one surely looked like it was headed for a double-zero fi nish, with both teams unable to break the scoring seal in the fi rst game of the season on Tuesday. Then the visiting Patriots of Revere High struck. Revere junior Nico Morgira spun free to the right of the Malden net with just under fi ve minutes to play and booted a shot past the diving Malden goalkeeper and into the net for what turned out to be the lone goal of the entire afternoon. Morgira’s heroics held up, as Revere held on for a hardearned, 1-0 victory over host Malden at Pine Banks Park in the season and Greater Boston League (GBL) opener for both teams. Revere (1-0, 1-0 GBL) was right back in action on Thursday, hosting GBL power Somerville at Revere High at 4:15 p.m. in another early season test, after Advocate press deadline. Next week Head Coach Manny Lopes’ team stays on the league trail, playing GBLer Lynn Classical on the road at 7:15 p.m. at Manning Field in Lynn on Monday evening and then staying on the road Thursday, Sept. 14 for another game at Manning (3:45 p.m.) versus Lynn English. Malden hosted the Lynn English Bulldogs at Pine Banks Park yesterday at 4:15 p.m., after Advocate press deadline. Next week, Malden head coach Jeremiah Smith’s Tornados stay on the road against two top GBL DEAN DOES THE JOB: Malden senior goalkeeper Nathan Dean played strong in the net for the Golden Tornados on Tuesday with many solid saves. NICO’S THE ONE: Nicolas “Nico” Morgira scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for Revere High over host Malden on Tuesday afternoon at Pine Banks Park. (Advocate Photos) rivals: at Everett on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 4:15 p.m. and then at Somerville on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 4:15 p.m. On Tuesday, Malden and Revere battled each other and the sweltering heat, with both team’s goalkeepers — Revere junior Juan Garcia and Malden senior Nathan Dean — both pitching shutouts in the first half. Malden also got strong play throughout the game from senior midfi elder and captain Donny Wright, sophomore midfi elder Sandesh Ohmire, junior midfielder Henry Rodriquez Filho and senior midfi elder Ali Zoulgami. “Overall we played a solid, team game and we stayed right with them,” Malden Head Coach Jeremiah Smith — coaching his 20th consecutive season opener — told The Advocate. “We had LEADING THE WAY: Revere senior captain JP Chavarria was one of the standouts for the Patriots in Tuesday’s win. CONTROLLING THE DRIBBLE: Revere High defender Kenan Batic (4) keeps control in the Patriots’ end. just the one breakdown near the end and in a game like this, it cost us.” Revere got strong play from both Garcia in net in the fi rst half as well as from junior Daniel Espinosa, who played goalkeeper for the entire second half and also threw a zero at Malden. The two juniors split the game and combined for nine saves. Revere also got some strong play from captains Bryan Medina, a junior, senior JV Chavarria, sophomore Kenan Batic, who was rock-solid defensively, and freshman Emmanuel Lopera. BREAKING IT DOWN: Coach Manny Lopes breaks it down for the Revere High players at halftime of Tuesday’s 1-0 Patriots win. POSTGAME POWWOW: Malden High Head Coach Jeremiah Smith talked to the Golden Tornados following Tuesday’s season opener versus Revere. SPLIT DECISION: Revere junior goaltenders Juan Garcia (right), in the first half, and Daniel Espinosa (left), in the second half, combined for a shutout in net in a 1-0 win over Malden on Tuesday. SOLID BOOT: Malden High senior captain Donny Wright, a fouryear varsity player, played a solid overall game in Tuesday’s opener. THE PATRIOT WAY: Celebrating the season-opening win on Tuesday were, pictured from left to right, Revere High’s Luis Silva (6), Kenan Batic (4), captain JP Chavarria (18), Eric DeCarvalho (8), Kaue Alves (7) and junior captain Bryan Medina (8, in front).
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