WINTHROP — Opponents won’t like to hear this: another scorer has returned to Monmouth Academy’s lineup.

In his second game since returning from a meniscus injury, Vasili Bendo scored the opening goal Tuesday, sparking a 5-0 win over Maranacook in a boys soccer game at Winthrop High’s Charlie’s Field.

Bendo missed a scoring opportunity in the 25th minute, but he found the net two minutes later.

“It’s pretty awesome, and I haven’t been back on (the field) in a year, so getting back and scoring in a great game like this, it’s just good,” Bendo said.

Bendo said his injury wasn’t discovered until a couple of months after the 2025 soccer season, which delayed his return a little longer.

Coach Joe Fletcher said undefeated Monmouth (8-0) is glad to have Bendo’s playmaking abilities.

“His first touch is really good,” Fletcher said. “… He’s got his head on a swivel and reads the game well.”

Second-half outburst

After a tightly played first half, the Mustangs scored four goals during a nine-minute stretch in the second half, as a change in tactics put more pressure on Maranacook’s defense.

“Coming out of halftime, Coach had a (few) adjustments for us,” Zane Foyt said. “Just staying on their back line, not pushing anything up, staying with that last defender and trying to get a shot.”

Foyt benefited from the change and scored the second and fourth goals. Bryce Fletcher scored Monmouth’s third goal, and Tyson Bryant capped the scoring.

“I noticed a couple of things were different; they adjusted well,” Maranacook coach Garrett Whitten said. “I thought we made some adjustments, too, but we just didn’t execute at the level we wanted to.”

Unsung heroes

Joe Fletcher credited Jake Harmon and Noah Schultz with leading the defense, especially in the absence of Devon Sangermano because of an injury. Fletcher said both did well communicating with the younger players who stepped in, like freshman Luke Goucher, and helped hold Maranacook (5-3) to three shots on goal.

They said it

• “I think it’s just a testament to our work in practice. We rotate guys in practice, get them reps with the first squad.” — Noah Schultz

• “I think just keeping it simple with our back line, we did a really good job of making those simple passes. Coach always says play simple, and I think we did that, especially in the second half.” — Jake Harmon

Stastical leaders

• Monmouth: Zane Foyt (two goals), Vasili Bendo (goal), Bryce Fletcher (goal), Tyson Bryant (goal)