East Lyme — Saturday’s scrimmage meant more than usual for East Lyme and Ledyard. 

It provided a sense of normalcy for the two high school boys’ soccer teams during a preseason that’s been far from normal. 

About the only difference from a typical scrimmage was that coaches and substitutes on the bench wore masks and no spectators were allowed at Dick North Field. 

There was a positive, upbeat vibe during the afternoon game. 

“We had the music playing (during warmups), it felt like a real game,” East Lyme senior Sujesh Kurumbail said. “I think we’re all happy to be out here. And it was super fun.” 

East Lyme senior Noam Sokolovsky added: “I didn’t even notice if there was anybody up in the stands. “We feed off each other’s energy; I like it.”

After wondering at times if there would be a season, East Lyme and Ledyard, as well as other local teams, have an abbreviated 12-game schedule to play starting Oct. 1. 

The season can’t get started soon enough as far as the players and coaches are concerned. 

Saturday’s scrimmage — the only one this preseason — was a much-needed evaluation period as well as a good morale booster. 

“Getting back on the field finally and playing a game against an opponent rather than small-sided stuff, we’ve been playing ourselves for so long it’s definitely feeling like we’re back to normal and the season has started,” said East Lyme coach Paul Christensen after a 4-2 win. “I know the kids were looking forward to it. It’s definitely a good feeling.” 

The game day experience has changed a bit but still provides a competitive outlet for the players.

Besides the mask-wearing on the sidelines rule, teams follow social distancing guidelines and stay on their respective sidelines. There is no postgame handshake between teams. Hand sanitizer is available on the benches. Players must bring their own water bottle.

On Saturday, some fans sat either on lawn chairs, in the back of trucks or in their cars while hanging out outside the fence that lines the turf field at East Lyme. 

Rules are more restrictive in Massachusetts for high school soccer, not allowing any intentional heading, throw-ins, defensive walls, slide-tackling and shoulder-to-shoulder contact between players. 

During the summer months, the fall season appeared to be in jeopardy due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It took some time for teams to adjust to the new rules and restrictions for practice sessions. Workouts started in late August with 60-minute workouts and teams split into cohorts. 

Not an ideal preseason but the same for every team.

The players handled it better than the coaches.

“It was tedious, to tell you the truth,” Christensen said. “We had 82 kids try out, so we put them in cohorts of 10. I was fortunate that eight kids (dropped out), so I ended up with 74 kids. … And it was a half hour of conditioning and a half hour of touching the ball and not doing a lot of stuff other than passing or dribbling. 

“… It’s hard for them but they’ve adjusted well.” 

Practice times increased to 90 minutes last Monday. 

By the time Saturday’s scrimmage arrived, Ledyard coach Bill Glenney was amped up for his team’s first game even though it didn’t count in the standings. 

“I’m typically for scrimmages kind of laid back and it is what it is, but I found myself more fired up today than I typically have been,” Glenney said. “I think that’s almost a month of frustration of 60-minute practices, of limited touch, of limited limited. That’s pretty much been the word of the month, limited.” 

Ledyard opens its season Thursday against powerhouse Stonington, which won the Class M state championship last season, while East Lyme hosts Norwich Free Academy. 

Opening day will certainly be something to celebrate this fall, especially for the seniors.

“Everybody, including myself, sees this as we have a season ahead of us and we’re going to go out and try to win every game,” Glenney said. “If we go 12-0 and don’t get anything for it, great. If we go 0-12 and don’t get anything for it, it is what it is. But it’s still a season.” 

Christensen added: “Everybody’s in the same boat. At least we’re here. It could be very different. It could be like in the spring and sitting at home. … I’m happy for the seniors. They’ve already missed out on so much. Not to have a season would just be terrible.” 

g.keefe@theday.com