High schools: Pioneer girls edged by Hopkins, Pioneer boys advance to Class D semis

The Pioneer girls soccer team fell to Hopkins Academy in the Class D quarterfinals on Saturday in Hadley.

The Pioneer girls soccer team fell to Hopkins Academy in the Class D quarterfinals on Saturday in Hadley. STAFF PHOTO/GARRETT COTE

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 10-27-2024 5:53 PM

HADLEY – Pioneer girls soccer head coach Matt Killeen had no choice but to implement a new strategy for his Panthers team during Friday’s practice.

Killeen and Co. — ranked seventh in Western Mass. Class D — had just found out their first-round matchup would be against No. 2 Hopkins the following day (Saturday). The Golden Hawks (15-1-1) came into Saturday’s contest having scored 70 goals already this season, and the Panthers watched their opponent’s offensive prowess live against Greenfield earlier in the week.

So, Killeen switched Pioneer’s formation to a 5-4-1, having 10 players (including goalie Kyler McClelland) focused primarily on defense.

And although the Panthers only had one day to perfect the game plan, they played as if they had been doing it all year. A late 75th minute Hopkins goal put the Golden Hawks through to the Class D semis, 1-0, on Saturday, but Pioneer played toe-to-toe with one of the most prolific scoring teams in the region.

“First of all, let me give Hopkins all the credit,” Killeen said. “They play beautiful soccer. We went to watch them versus Greenfield, and they run the diamond midfield to perfection… We didn’t play the prettiest formation today, and they only had one day to prepare. We put everybody behind the ball, and they executed. It’s not the way we typically play, but they locked in. I’m proud of them.”

Hopkins attempted 31 shots, 10 of which were on goal. The 21 that went awry speaks to the feisty play and pressure of the Panthers’ defense. McClelland made nine saves for Pioneer, including a terrific diving attempt midway through the second half that kept the game knotted up at zero at the time.

“I can’t believe how perfect they played that after one day of doing it,” Killeen said. “Our defensive mids were always there, everybody was in perfect position at all times. They just made all the little plays that you need to stay in a game like this against a team like that. The girls did a great job playing the angles and pressuring when they needed to and covering for each other.”

For a young team like Pioneer, one that plays eight middle schoolers, the experience of a game like Saturday and the experience they will gain from the upcoming MIAA Division 5 state tournament is invaluable.

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The Panthers have a bright future, and they showed that competing against the No. 2 seed in Class D. Next up is one more non-playoff game before the state tourney begins.

Southwick 5, Frontier 0 – The Redhawks couldn’t find enough scoring opportunities to match the Rams’ five goals on Saturday, as their tournament run ends briefly in the Class B quarterfinals.

Frontier will play one more non-playoff game before turning its attention to the MIAA Division 4 state tournament while Southwick prepares for a date with South Hadley.

Boys soccer

Pioneer 5, Mount Everett 1 — The top-seeded Panthers looked the part on Saturday in their Western Mass. Class D opener against the No. 8 Eagles, scoring three in the opening 20 minutes to roll into the semifinals with a 5-1 victory in Northfield. 

Pioneer will face No. 4 Smith Academy in the semis on Tuesday night at 6:15 p.m. in Northfield.

Judah Glenn opened the scoring, taking a pass from Kurt Redeker and slotting it into the open goal to give the Panthers () the early lead. Two minutes later Glenn scored again, knocking in a cross with an outside of the foot volley off a dish from Jacoby Stumpo. 

Alex McClelland smashed in a shot off a pass from Glenn in the 20th minute to give Pioneer its 3-0 lead at the half. 

Glenn completed his hat trick off, scoring off a cross sent in by Jackson Campbell in the 49th minute before McClelland closed out the scoring in the 60th minute, bashing in a shot from 25 yards out. 

Gavin Gammell made three saves in the win. 

Smith Academy 3, Turners Falls 1 – The fourth-seeded Falcons led 1-0 at halftime and put a pair in the back of the net after intermission to advance to the Class D semifinals with a 3-1 win on Sunday in Hatfield.

Cajun Benson, Cameron Graves and Jack Brady all scored for Smith, which will travel to play at Pioneer in the semis.

Turners Falls scored an own goal to break up the shutout in the waning minutes. Jackson Cogswell made six saves for the fifth-seeded Thunder.

Late Friday results

Volleyball

Sci Tech 3, Pioneer 0 — Sophia Wood had five digs, one kill, five assists and one block in the Panthers’ loss Friday. 

Jacobia Tyminski (three aces, nine digs, two kills), Louise Flagollet (12 digs, two kills, two blocks), Greta Lewis (two aces, six digs, one kill), Taylor Chase (three aces, 10 digs) and Maggie Tsipenyuk (one ace, six digs, one kill) played well in the loss.