METHUEN – Soccer. Italian Food. Family.
Those are the three most important things when it comes to the Finocchiaros of Methuen.
And nobody knows that more than those associated with the Methuen High girls’ soccer program, which includes four of Finocchiaros.
They include, longtime assistant coach Orazio, his two daughters Lily, a senior, and Julia, a freshman, and his niece Jadyne, who is a sophomore.
Orazio, noted for his grit and smile, is the glue that holds this group together.
He’s also the Methuen girls soccer chef.
For the past 17 years, the former player at both Methuen High and Northern Essex Community College, has been a soccer coach at his alma mater.
Orazio has coached many Methuen youth girls and boys teams; indoor, fall, summer as well as many camps at all age levels.
But this little family thing he has going is beyond everything he has experienced in the sport thus far.
“I love coaching, especially since I don’t compete anymore. It’s great because I have coached a lot of these girls since they were six,” he said. “They are not just players. We treat them like they are our own kids and then I treat my own kids like players.”
As for coaching his “family,” Orazio smiles and says, “It’s just awesome.”
Seven years ago, Orazio interviewed for the head boys’ varsity coaching job and didn’t get it, but quickly after that was offered the girls JV position, working his way to varsity assistant.
Before the 2019 season, athletic director Matt Curran named Kayla Camara the new girls’ head coach. He suggested that she keep Orazio on as one of her assistants.
“I met Orazio and the first thing I asked him was ‘Can you take orders from a female?’ I wanted to make sure that he wasn’t here to try to take my job. He said ‘Are you kidding me? I have a wife and three daughters. All I do is take orders from females!’”
“Right then,” said Camara, who has been teamed with Orazio for five seasons now. “I knew this guy had to stay.
“He is the epitome of a family man. He is the dad of the group and he really holds this team together,” she said.
In fact, his influence was so impressive the program implemented a “Razzy Cup,” named after him, on Wednesdays during practices when the girls compete against each other.
The Finocchiaro girls appreciate his influence.
“He pushes us to be our best without being too hard on us. We just know that he expects the best,” said Lily, a midfielder who has scored two goals. “It’s also amazing (to have him as a father). He doesn’t yell at us and he’s just pushing us to be the best.”
Oh, and he can cook, too.
Orazio hosts team breakfasts and dinners and is known for his Robert Irvine-type meals.
“His Chicken Pot Pie is a classic,” said Jadyne.
“Well, I like the Mac and Cheese the best,” added Julia.
“Chicken-Broccoli-Alfredo with his sauce made from scratch is just incredible,” offered coach Camara.
Orazio, apparently, is a man of many talents, including soccer, cooking and, of course, family.
“We come from a big Italian family so food is part of our life. We’re always cooking,” he said. “I love the kitchen.”
And he loves soccer and family, too, the best Orazio recipe of them all.
You can follow Jamie Pote on Twitter at @JamiePote