High school soccer: Maddie Fagan, Frontier take down St. Mary’s, 4-1 (PHOTOS)

WHATELY — The Frontier girls soccer team is growing stronger with each game. 

The Redhawks, which have six sophomores, three freshmen and four eighth graders on their squad, are gaining experience with each game, and it showed on Tuesday against St. Mary’s. 

Frontier raced out to a 2-0 lead during the first half and tacked two goals on in the final 40 minutes of action to pull away with a 4-1 victory over the Saints in a Pioneer League North contest at Herlihy Field. 

“This was a really good win,” Redhawks first-year coach Andy Rup said. “We moved up to No. 32 in the state power rankings today which is a great excitement for them. The girls got thrown out of position today and were playing different spots than they’re used to. They reacted well. They took it as next person up and did an amazing job. We threw some new wrinkles at them in practice [Monday] and it looked good. We’ll keep going back to the drawing board and adjusting.”

It was Maddie Fagan who opened the scoring for Frontier (4-4-1). Carly Robertson got the ball going down the sideline and crossed it in to Fagan, who smashed it home to give the Redhawks the early lead. 

“Carly was on the far side and she had a good cross to me in the middle,” Fagan said. “I just hit the ball into the left corner. It’s a lot easier playing with a lead because everyone is hyped up.” 

Fagan helped give Frontier its 2-0 lead, driving a pass to Allie Paciorek and the eight grader rocketed the shot to extend the advantage. 

St. Mary’s Emma Goodreau got behind the Redhawks defense just before the half and was able to beat Jazzy Hayes — who came up with 10 big saves for Frontier — to cut the Frontier lead to 2-1 at the half. 

The second half was the Carly Robertson show. The eighth grader fielded a cross that was sent in from Fagan and knocked a shot into the top left corner of the goal to give Frontier a 3-1 lead.

Robertson and Fagan hooked up for the fourth Frontier tally, with Fagan sending in a cross from the left wing to Robertson on the right side of the box. With St. Mary’s goalie Audrey Amaral running toward the right, Robertson shot the ball into the left corner of the goal, giving the Redhawks their 4-1 lead, one that stood until the final whistle. It was Fagan’s fourth point of the game.

“This season has been good,” Fagan said. “We just have to keep our head up and look for good passes around us.”

Rup said he wants to see Frontier continue to build chemistry, saying good things will come if it plays the right style.

“We just have to build consistency in our effort both in practice and in games,” Rup said. “If we can do that great things are in our future.”

Mahar 1, Ware 0 — After opening the season 0-5-1, the Senators have won two games in a row.

Logan Burke netted the game’s only goal on a direct kick from 22 yards out with 12 minutes remaining in the first half, and Mahar blanked Ware, 1-0, in a Pioneer League North contest on Tuesday in Orange.

Alivia Patch stopped both shots she faced in the Mahar (2-5-1, 1-4-1) net to earn the clean sheet.

“It’s always nice to get a league win because our league is so competitive,” Mahar coach Chad Softic said.

Boys soccer

Athol 7, St. Mary’s 1 — Tuesday’s trip to Westfield proved fruitful for the Bears.

Athol’s Elhadj and Caunor Mason each tallied twice, helping the club improve to 8-1 on the season.

Karim Thompson, Aiden Kirwin and Armaru also found the back of the net for Athol, with assists from Antonio Carbone (two), Kirwin, Thompson and Blaise.

Late Monday results

Frontier 5, Chicopee Comp 2 — Nico Fasulo tallied a hat trick while Rosco Palmer and Eric Larsson found the back of the net for the Redhawks in an independent win over the Colts in South Deerfield on Monday. 

Gus Radner and Chanmin Son had assists while Owen Babb made six saves in the victory.