Stonington — If applicable narratives can be believed even before a game is played in a season, these might have worked Tuesday for two of the most storied high school boys’ soccer programs in this corner of the world:

East Lyme, the defending state Class L champion, is awash in replacing what’s lost. Stonington, the 2023 Class M state finalist, is excited about who’s returned.

The Vikings were 21-1-1 last season, but lost 15 players — nine starters — including the 29 goals of Robert Stoddard, The Day’s All-Area Player of the Year. The Bears (13-9) return eight of 11 starters (and have 11 seniors), most of whom played in the finals last November, including 2023 all-stater Sal Alessio.

But if nothing else, the Vikings proved Tuesday that championship pedigrees are inherited.

East Lyme, facing a one-goal deficit in the second half, rallied with three scores, opening the 2024 season with a 3-1 win.

Evan Mullarney scored twice and Max Montejano, whose brother AJ was a member of last season’s champs, broke a 1-1 tie in the 67th minute to give East Lyme the lead for good.

“We grew up fast today,” East Lyme coach Paul Christensen said. “We wanted to play a strong scrimmage schedule and we were up and down in all of them. We didn’t even know all the positions until (Monday). But I saw tenacity, intensity and the fight to keep this thing going.”

Alessio gave the Bears a 1-0 lead in the 46th minute, only a few seconds before goalkeeper Nick Cannella made two saves on Callaway Scott, with Scott perched at the doorstep. Alessio’s goal stood for roughly 17 minutes before Mullarney tied it.

“We have a new team,” Mullarney said. “We look at today as a building block for the rest of the season. A strong building block. I thought that goal gave us the momentum we needed.”

Montejano untied it in the 67th minute before Mullarney — off a textbook feed from Scott — scored again four minutes later.

“We told them that last year was a fairy-tale season,” Christensen said, “but that this season is their story.”

And it began in the deep end against another program with pedigree.

“Typical Stonington/East Lyme,” Christensen said. “Pushy, shovy. It’s part of the rivalry. Not an easy game to begin with. I thought Stonington played a good game, too.”

m.dimauro@theday.com