UPDATED: Soccer Players Seek Answers on Firing of Coach

Good morning, Medford. Here's five things to know today:

Soccer Players Seek Answers After Coach Gets Fired: About ten Medford High soccer players showed up at last night's city council meeting to seek answers after learning Head Soccer Coach Mike Petrides had been fired.

Team co-captain John Pires addressed the council and described the coach as a mentor who put academics and family ahead of soccer. The team went to the high school and spoke to superintendent Roy Belson Tuesday morning, who told them the decision to let go Petrides was made by high school headmaster Paul Kreuger. The team has a meeting scheduled Monday to speak with him.

Petrides has been head coach at Medford for 11 years. He was notified by phone Monday that he would officially not be the soccer coach next year, after hearing it was being considered for some time, his son, Phil said last night.

In an email Wednesday, Krueger said Petrides was notified of his termination in person in early April by Athletic Director Robert Maloney. In April Petrides was sent a letter by Krueger, giving him the reasons for the decision, he said in the email. He didn't comment further on the issue.

Petrides led the team to a 10-2-5 mark last year in the regular season, and to the quarterfinals in the playoffs.

Another Hot One: Highs in the upper-80s are expected today, with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. The weather is expected to cool to the upper-70s tomorrow.

Every Wednesday, Medford Family Network hosts a morning of fun from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the park, featuring a water spayer. It'll be a perfect day for it.

Head to Medford Public Library at 7 p.m. for this presentation by Lynn Hildenbrand from the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Hildenbrand will narrate a slideshow of some of the prettiest parks in the state.

A 19-year-old Tewksbury man faces nine charges stemming from alleged sexual abuse of a minor, according to the police log. Thomas Hutchinson of 2273 Main St. in Tewksbury is charged with statutory rape, prostitution/unlawful sex, two counts of distributing obscene matter, carrying a dangerous weapon, lascivious nude posing of a child, enticing a child under 16, extortion by threat of injury and witness intimidation.

Hutchinson turned himself in to police at the Medford Police Station about 11 a.m. Friday.