EHS boys soccer
opens 2026 season
The Everett High boys soccer team was scheduled to open its 2026 season yesterday (Tuesday) against Dual County League opponent Waltham.
Coach Rodney Landaverde’s crew took on Beverly from the Northeastern Conference in a scrimmage on Friday. “It was a 1-0 loss, but I was very happy with the boys’ performance,” said Landaverde. “We had lots of great continuation after our jamboree performances the week before. We have a great roster of players with experience and young additions who are ready to compete.
“We’re very excited for the season-opener on Tuesday. It will be a great test against a new opponent from a very competitive league,” Landaverde added.
The Crimson Tide will travel to Methuen of the Merrimack Valley Conference on Saturday before opening their Greater Boston League schedule next Tuesday afternoon against Chelsea at Seven Acre Field.
EHS girls soccer
ready for 2026
The Everett High girls soccer team has been working hard in anticipation of its 2026 season-opener at Merrimack Valley Conference opponent Lowell tomorrow (Thursday).
“The season is looking bright this year,” said EHS head coach Dom Persuitte. “We have many returners along with a lot of new faces. The returners are already helping out the freshmen, showing them the ins-and-outs of high school soccer.”
The 2026 edition of the Lady Crimson Tide will be led by a trio of captains, Sofia Arana-Quintanillia and Kayla Andrade, who are the team’s only seniors, and junior Gissell Lemus, a starter who is returning for her third year with the varsity program.
The Lady Crimson Tide have been impressive in their pre-season scrimmages. They defeated Waltham, 2-0, and Bedford, 1-0, in a Jamboree at Medford last Sunday.
“We had a very good showing given that the girls have not played together as a team,” said Persuitte. “We were a little rusty, but once we got going, we held our own. My returners really stepped up and showed the newbies what high school sports are all about. Notably, Rosa Romero played very well in the midfield, along with freshman Brianna Santos. All three of my captains took charge as well,” said Persuitte.
Although his squad came up short by a score of 5-1 in a scrimmage with Winthrop this past Thursday, Persuitte saw a lot of encouraging signs in his team’s performance.
“The score did not reflect the true nature of the game,” Persuitte said. “We started flat in the first half, but eventually found ourselves playing our game in the second half. Our lone goal came from returning right-winger Connie Paz Hernandez. There was a scramble in the box, and after many deflections, Connie netted her first goal of the pre-season.
“This scrimmage was an eye-opener for us, but we have already adjusted and improved on what went wrong,” Persuitte added. “This team is very eager to learn from their mistakes and improve on every aspect of the game.
“”The goal this year is to keep building up the program and, of course, to make it to the state tourney,” said Persuitte. “I have very high hopes for this season. With the returners and the new faces, the program now has more options than ever before. This will allow me to move players into better-suited roles without sacrificing other positions. As I start my sixth season with the girls, I look forward to showing what we can do as a program. All of my girls have been working hard and are looking forward to this season. As a program, we are very excited and optimistic for this season.”
Among the newcomers this season is goalkeeper Julianna Rivera, who also plays basketball for the school. “She and Kaylyn Rivera (the returning keeper) will be giving each other healthy competition for the top spot between the pipes,” noted Persuitte.
After tomorrow’s opener, the Lady Crimson Tide will travel to non-league foe East Boston on Monday and then will make the short trek across the Parkway to take on Greater Boston League rival Chelsea on Tuesday.
EHS girls volleyball
opens season today
The Everett High girls volleyball team is scheduled to open its 2026 season today (Wednesday) when the Lady Crimson Tide host Greater Boston League (GBL) rival Chelsea.
Coach Michael Fineran’s squad has been working hard in the pre-season and engaged in a tri-scrimmage at Wilmington with Georgetown last Tuesday.
“We played well, especially our serving,” said Fineran. “We also played with tempo and a competitive spirit that bodes well for the season. You can’t put too much stock in the outcomes, and we saw things we needed to work on, but it was an encouraging sign for a team that has eight first-time varsity players.”
Senior middle Cassandra Tayag will captain the 2026 edition of the Tide. “Cassandra has been an outstanding back row passer the past two seasons, but she will also see time in the front row this year. She brings energy and leadership every time she steps onto the court.
“Co-captains Melissa Meireles and MariaJose Cardenas, both four year players, helped set a positive tone from the start of tryouts, and both of them are capable hitters and passers,” continued Fineran. “QiongQiong Chen and Kiana Flores have also been with the program for four years, and they should be key contributors throughout the year. Kiana is a defensive specialist with a powerful serve. QiongQiong is a versatile player who works as hard as anyone.
“Elora Philippe, a junior, is our most dynamic hitter. Five other juniors make the jump to varsity this year, including dual-threat Abigail Falkowski, who will set from the back row and become a hitter in the front. Cecilia Da Silveira and Naimi Fleurima will get crucial minutes hitting and blocking,” Fineran said.
“Rule changes allow teams to carry two liberos per set this year,” Fineran noted. “Jane Maharjan and Giyanna Desamours will split that duty. Sophomore Yahaira Pineda Tejada jumps to varsity from the freshmen squad, and she will be our second setter. Fellow sophomore Tabita Dos Santos can hit from the right side. Freshman Maria Cunha can set and hit from the middle or right side.
“Our goal is to make the state tournament, which requires a minimum of 10 wins,” Fineran added. “I don’t know what our record will be. Most years I have a better sense of where we stand. The teams I have taken to the tournament have all had six-footers, and we don’t have any. But we do have talent, grit, and focus. This is a great group to work with, and they are giving me their best effort every day. Win or lose, that’s all I can ask for.”
After today’s match with Chelsea, Fineran and his crew will trek to GBL foe Lynn English on Monday and host GBL rival Lynn English next Wednesday. The season-opener with non-league opponent Lawrence that had been scheduled for last Thursday has been moved to September 17.
The Tide will meet their seven GBL foes (Chelsea, Revere, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Medford, Malden, and Somerville) twice each. Contests with non-league opponents Lawrence (2), Lowell (2), Winthrop, and Saugus will complete their 20-game schedule.