This ex-Hendricken star joins his hometown team as Cranston West boys soccer heads to D1

CRANSTON — La Salle was denied perfection last season partly by a sophomore making his first headlining appearance on the state’s boys soccer stage.

The Rams won the remainder of their matches after that opening night while steaming to a Division I crown. They were stung early by a bitter rival and it was a now former Bishop Hendricken striker who made the difference.

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Marcello Perretta has transferred to Cranston West for the 2024 campaign. He’ll sit for the majority of the opening month, waiting to make his debut. It will come at the top level for the Falcons, their first time above Division II since consecutive winless seasons in 1986 and 1987.

“I grew up here,” Perretta said. “I’m not really nervous for anything. I’m just looking forward to a new beginning here — a new chapter.”

Perretta scored the only goal in that showdown with La Salle, and the Hawks posted a 1-0 shutout to kick off what was a strong season. Perretta emerged as one of their top threats, a developing player with the physical talent to make a difference. Long, lean and quick enough to shake opposing defenders, Perretta is still looking to add more technical ability to his overall skill set.

“I feel like I’m not that great technically on the ball,” Perretta said. “But I feel like I do a good job putting it in the back of the net.”

Perretta reached double-digit goals for Bishop Hendricken last season, helping his team advance to the semifinals. The Hawks suffered a 1-0 defeat against North Kingstown at Rhode Island College, and it wound up Perretta’s final match with the program. He’s seen enough stiff competition to offer some useful advice on his new sideline.

“I think they should expect to communicate more on the pitch,” Perretta said. “Move more off the ball. I think that’s really it. I’ve got to talk to the boys and really lock them in for the season.”

Perretta should eventually slot in for graduated attacker Sam Naiefeh, who led Cranston West in goals last season. He’ll likely partner with fellow junior Parker Inocencio, who combined with Naiefeh to score more than 20 times for the Falcons in 2023. They’ll use the next month of training to sharpen that connection up front.

“He lays the ball off very well,” Perretta said. “He passes it and crosses it very well. He shoots it and he gets it on target. I think with him it will be very easy this season.”

Perretta played some of his club youth soccer as a boy with CLCF. He spots a few former and current teammates on the turf at the Orabone Sports Complex, with Cranston West gathered for a Wednesday night practice under the lights. Perretta and the Falcons are both at the start of a new beginning, and the program is looking for its seventh winning season in the last eight.

“Everyone is going to look down on us because we’re a Division II team that just moved up to Division I,” Perretta said. “It kind of just gives me motivation.”

South Kingstown and Cumberland are among Cranston West’s opponents through the first couple of weeks of the regular season. They visit the Hawks and North Kingstown in back-to-back contests during the first week of October, prime occasions that would give Perretta a chance to shine. He's certainly taken advantage of such an opportunity before.

“Just put the work in,” Perretta said. “If I can’t play the games, go to the field after practices. Get extra repetitions. Just pushing myself through that hard work until I play games.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: This ex-Hendricken star joins his hometown team as Cranston West boys soccer heads to D1