By Dan Rafuse

It’s almost fall, which means Norton High School athletes will be meeting for summer two-a-days. This includes the varsity soccer team, who look to improve on last year’s nail-biting season.

The squad finished the season with a record of 5-7-6. The group was a tie away from earning a qualifying bid to the Massachusetts State Tournament before coming up short in their final game of the season.

The Lancer boys also recently completed their summer league, losing in the playoffs to Attleboro High School 1-0. With that finished, summer practice is set to begin. Thursday’s two-a-day marks the beginning of a new year for Norton soccer and with a new year comes new hopes.

This year’s team has their eyes set on the MIAA tournament with the goal of bringing a state championship banner back to Norton. In order to do that, senior captain and striker Mike Flaherty will have to do a bit of goal scoring for the Lancers while senior captain Matt Sugar will look to get him opportunities on net. With these two senior leaders and a terrific supporting cast, the Norton Lancers have a promising road ahead for the 2012-2013 soccer season.

The Lancers will train for nearly six hours a day in two sessions preparing for their upcoming season. While their bodies will be exhausted and they may feel physically incapable after a while, the excruciating pain and suffering for these last two weeks of summer shall not be for nothing. Summer practice is an important part for any athlete. It gets a player’s mind in the right focus. It is a reminder that the season is quickly approaching.

Norton opens up against Medway 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4. Their first home game is 3:30 p.m. Sept. 7 as they take on Medfield. 

Schedule