This wasn’t your usual “passing of the torch” moment.
A year ago, Jack Burns posted eight shutouts with six other one-goal games for the Newburyport boys soccer team, and ended up being named our Daily News MVP. But what made his season so special was that he was actually in line to take over in net the year before, but basically missed all of that 2024 campaign with a broken foot.
So it was your classic “return to glory” type of story.
But wait, so who had to fill in as Newburyport’s goalie in 2024 with Burns out?
Well, that ended up being then-freshman Tyler Lisauskas, who performed admirably considering the circumstances. But flash forward to today with Burns having graduated out, and Lisauskas is now a junior captain who has taken back over the reigns.
And through two games this fall, he’s yet to concede a goal.
Lisauskas posted his second straight shutout to open the 2026 season on Thursday afternoon, blanking North Reading, 2-0. He has an excellent defense in front of him between Josh Sucheki and Max Coffin, along with Danny Lopez and Shea Cook in the midfield. But speaking of Lisauskas, longtime coach Shawn Bleau said simply, “He is awesome.” It was freshman Mike Savastra and junior Tim DeGraves scoring the goals for the Clippers (2-0) against the Hornets, while Oliver Fagan assisted both of them.
Then the Newburyport girls earned their first result of the year on Thursday.
Junior goalie Margaux Dupuis didn’t let anything get past her in what ended up being a 0-0 draw against North Reading. The Clippers (0-1-1) will next have their first meeting against rival Pentucket on Tuesday.
PENTUCKET: First career goal for O’Connor a game-winner
Brendan O’Connor just earned a lifetime memory.
With five minutes left in Thursday’s game at Essex Tech, the Pentucket junior had the ball on his foot and a chance to be the hero. An opportunity that O’Connor made sure not to squander, sending home his first career varsity goal to lead his Panthers to a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Hawks.
It was the first positive result of the young season for the Panthers (1-1), who were trailing by a goal but equalized following Senan Lucey earning a penalty kick that Jake LaCroix converted. Fourth-year coach Ross Suleski also made sure to shout out junior Cam Sands, who picked up his first varsity win in net.
Back at home, though, the Pentucket girls unfortunately dropped their second straight one-goal game to start the year following a 1-0 loss to Essex Tech.
GEORGETOWN: Girls come out of weekend with a point
It was quite the two-game gauntlet for the Georgetown girls this weekend.
On Thursday, the Royals had to face a Hamilton-Wenham team that didn’t lose a single regular season game a year ago, only to then turn around on Saturday and travel to an upper-division non-league matchup at Tewksbury. But the Royals were able to get through it with a point, tying the Generals, 1-1, before falling to the Redmen, 4-1.
Returning Daily News All-Star striker Kat Greenblatt scored the goal against the Generals, all thanks to an assist from senior captain Alana Smith. Up next, Georgetown (1-1-1) will host Amesbury on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Georgetown boys scored their first goal of the season, but dropped their matchup against Hamilton-Wenham on Thursday, 3-1.
AMESBURY: Boys drop high-scoring contest
You have to like this particular trend with the Amesbury boys soccer team.
Despite what the final results have said across the first two games this fall, the Redhawks have had no issues finding the back of the net. They scored against a strong Hamilton-Wenham team in the opener, then came back on Thursday afternoon and netted a trio during a 5-3 loss to Manchester Essex.
It’s obviously a short sample size, yes.
But Amesbury’s 2025 goals-per-game average: 1.2.
Now through two games this fall: 2.0.
Matthew Way converted two penalty kicks for the Redhawks (0-2) against the Hornets, and Anthony Peixoto buried a corner kick sent in by Julian Sherwood. First-year coach Steve Flaherty also credited Sherwood for playing a strong defensive game alongside Derrick Turcios and George Haight.
Meanwhile, the Amesbury girls scored their first goal of the year on Thursday, but it wasn’t quite enough in a 5-1 loss to Manchester Essex. Both the girls (0-2) and the boys will next play Georgetown on Tuesday.
TRITON: Both programs fall to Lynnfield
It’s early in the new year, but the Lynnfield girls appear to be the real deal.
The Pioneers were the No. 6 seed in last year’s Division 3 state tournament, and opened the 2026 season with a one-goal win over Newburyport. Then on Thursday afternoon, they kept that momentum going with a 7-0 victory over Triton.
Unfortunately, the Vikings (0-1-1) are already dealing with a handful of injuries to key players. But despite the result, coach Danielle Perkins credits Neala Hurley and Addi Ewell for having strong games, as well as junior Abby Perrigo who came on to play goalie in the second half.
Meanwhile, the Triton boys found the back of the net again, but dropped a 4-1 decision to Lynnfield. A huge positive, though, is that the Vikings (0-2) have scored three goals across their opening two games.