Frontier Regional School was finally able to break the proverbial glass ceiling last fall, bringing home the area’s first western Massachusetts soccer championship in the Division III boys’ tournament.
Now the Red Hawks are back for more and their youth feeder system is starting to pay dividends. Even with significant graduation losses, they still appear to be the consensus favorite to win the Schmid Division.
Area rival Athol High School should also be part of the league title talk despite graduating the league’s highest-scoring and most exciting player.
It’s a battle of attrition over in the McGrath Division, where three of the four teams are dealing with low roster numbers. The only squad not affected by it is defending champion Mahar Regional School, which has its eyes on back-to-back titles. Greenfield High School finished second but the Wave, Pioneer Valley Regional School and Mohawk Trail Regional High School are all in the same boat. If someone emerges and can challenge Mahar, things could get interesting.
Action gets underway Tuesday with Mahar facing Franklin Tech in an independent match. On Thursday, Greenfield is at Drury, Pioneer goes to Mahar, Athol hosts Hopkins and Frontier travels to Easthampton. Mohawk doesn’t open its season until Sept. 12 at Pioneer.
Here’s a closer look at the seven area teams:
Frontier
The youth programs in the Frontier district are starting to pay off for Red Hawks head coach Dale Totman.
Very few teams can survive 13 graduations, but Totman has been able to put together a deep, talented and balanced roster that is favored to win the Schmid and may be good enough to make another WMass title run.
At least Totman thinks so.
“I’m expecting to compete for the league title and I expect we can compete for the western Mass. title,” he said. “The overall talent pool is still very good and the commitment level is great. The confidence from last year has totally carried to over to this year’s team. Everyone believes that we can do it again.”
One reason for his optimism is because of a veteran back line and two quality goalkeepers.
Senior Dan Bronke returns to a center back spot and will be joined by classmate Sam Schecterle. Senior Keaton Warren is slated to start at right back and Alex Gheorghita will step into a starting role as the left back.
Sophomore Peter Bronke comes up from the junior varsity to take over as the starting goalkeeper, and Totman received a surprising gift in the form of Noah Jacques, another sophomore who transferred from Greenfield. Although he’ll serve as the backup, Totman is also working with him as an outside back and outside midfielder.
“He may end up playing a field position,” said Totman. “I like him as an athlete and I like his potential.”
Frontier’s midfield may be more dangerous than last year. Junior Zach Hamilton and sophomore Doug Haineski are the starters in the middle, senior Ian Newman will take over on the right side and new senior Shaurav Ghale, who’s originally from California, will start on the left side.
“Zach is a pure center mid,” said Totman. “He’s smooth and a pure passer and he can finish, too. … Shaurav is a good player and he’s got a great left foot.”
His starting midfielders are both first-year starters, but juniors Tyler Mayrand and Ethan LaFleur gained experience last season and are blessed with blazing speed, according to Totman.
The Red Hawks have plenty of reserves who can step in to provide quality minutes when called upon.
Totman said Ari Vanegas, a sophomore, will be the first forward off the bench, while junior Ben Arnold will get his share of minutes.
Sophomore Hunter Wells will work his way into the rotation at either midfield or forward, while classmates Tim Barrington and Kip Newman will fill in at outside midfield.
Ben Morse, just a freshman, has impressed Totman early on and will have a regular role in the midfield.
Others who will vie for playing time include junior Noah Graves (defender), freshman Tenzin Tsundue (midfield) and new junior Loay Helaly, who hails from Egypt.
“Everyone is working extremely hard. It’s just a matter of getting it to come together,” said Totman. “A bunch of guys have to step up who haven’t had a lot of playing time, but they’re talented players and I believe they can do it.”
Athol
The Red Raiders have also benefited from their strong youth program, and last year’s 10-win season and runner-up finish to Frontier in the Schmid.
Now head coach Dave King needs to replace a goalkeeper and four players who combined for 44 goals and 72 points.
King, assisted once again by former Athol player Tyler Guerin, will stick to a traditional 4-4-2 formation, and his first order of business is to decide who will start in goal, a battle between juniors Colby Mason and Jordan Carrasquillo.
Both goalies played JV last year, and King said both are extremely athletic, have good hands and possess good foot skills. Mason, who got a start and a win last year when Lorenzo Carra was out with an illness, may have a slight edge, but King said it was still too close to call.
Seniors Colin Fish and Josh Herk, both in their third year on varsity, will anchor the central defense. Fish is also another offense threat with a booming and accurate shot. They’ll be flanked by senior Riley Carey and sophomore DJ St. Jean, both second-year players.
“The combination of Fish and Herk gives us a solid backline,” said King.
King will go exclusively with underclassmen in the midfield, which is led by junior Hayden Herk (5-5—10), the team’s leading returning scorer. Classmate Justin Blake will also play in the middle, while new sophomore Angel Rivera (from Georgia) and freshman Bryce King start on the outside.
Senior third-year varsity player Anthony Negron will start at one forward spot. His tireless work ethic was on display during standout efforts in scrimmages against Oakmont and Smith Academy.
He’ll be joined up front by junior Matt Logan, who moves into as starting role after being a reserve behind 2015 area scoring champion Tyler Lajoie.
King is still looking to fill several spots on his bench, but freshmen Mason Tarbell and Parker Deleo have been tabbed as the top reserves. Tarbell has already shown a nose for the net, scoring a goal in each scrimmage.
“We’re solid through the middle of the field with Negron, Blake, Fish and the Herks,” said Coach King. “I love the team’s mentality to compete hard each and every day… Our team depth is a concern as is finishing in the offensive third.”
Mahar
Graduation claimed three players and 47 goals from the Senators’ lineup, but head coach Dan Guertin is ready to reverse roles and play plenty of defense to repeat as McGrath champion.
The timing couldn’t be better. Mahar returns its top four defenders and top goalkeepers.
Senior co-captains Zach Duguay and Levi Baruch are the mainstays and will lead the unit, which includes classmate Connor Arsenault and junior Connor McCarthy. Freshman Simon Powell, will be an option off the bench, as will be junior Tyreece Younger, who returns to the sport after playing back in the middle school.
Senior Bryce Cleveland returns as the starting goalkeeper, and he’ll be backed up by junior Roger Hamlett.
The midfield will have six players available from four classes to start the season. Senior Hunter Apteker, juniors Brennan Mailloux and Cecil Talbot, and sophomore Damian Harris are returning, and freshmen Sam Parsons and Jamie Temple are both coming up from the middle school team.
Guertin likes what’s he’s seen from Temple.
“He has incredible field vision and a great touch, he’s just a little on the small side,” said the coach.
Matt Jenks is the only returning forward with any experience, although Talbot and new junior Issak Reinikainen could see plenty of minutes up front.
Guertin is hoping veteran Jack Temple (1-9—10), a junior, can return from a fractured leg during the offseason and help the Senators’ playoff push. He’s projected to be out until at least mid-October. His younger brother will fill in while he’s sidelined.
“We could easily play defense with the best teams,” said Guertin, who lost his entire offense from 2015. “I feel we can be .500 but it depends on how much the young kids can step up. I hope we can put it together early and have a good season.”
Greenfield
Trying to replace graduated seniors is tough enough some years. Trying to replace a two-time all-league goalkeeper with a thin roster is even more difficult.
That’s what Green Wave head coach Kent McGahan is facing after finding out sophomore keeper Noah Jacques left for greener pastures at Frontier.
McGahan said he will go with sophomore Hunter Campbell as the starter to open the season.
Greenfield is returning its top two scorers from a year ago: junior John Diaz (8-1—9) and senior Silvian Popusoi (5-3—8). Diaz is a forward, while Popusoi will move from midfield to forward based on the situation.
The only other upperclassman returning is senior defender Fahrah Day.
McGahan’s sophomore class will primarily occupy the offensive half of the field. He is planning to use Alejandro Diaz, Asir Areta and Anjou Kang-Stryker in a Popusoi-type role, alternating between midfield and forward. Ben Hernandez and Brendan DiAugustino are also expected to play midfield.
McGahan will also be relying on four freshmen to absorb a good amount of playing time. Peter Balan and Dan Marin are being looked at for defender/midfielder roles, while Alex Tirrell and Tyler Duncan will be worked in as midfielders of forwards.
“I think if we can get some more subs we’ll be OK,” said McGahan. “We can be one of the more skilled teams in the league. Size-wise we’ll be fine, speed-wise, we’ll see. I think we’re going to be able to compete.”
Pioneer
Don Fraser takes over the Panthers after coaching youth soccer in Florida (where he lived for 19 years) and locally since he returned four years ago.
He will try to keep things moving forward with only one senior on the roster, that being defender DaShawn Sadri.
Fraser will have plenty of building blocks for the next two seasons, and his junior class can provide some valuable leadership. Those 11th graders returning include defender Jordan Loughman, midfielder Dana McRae (5-2—7) and forwards Eli Koester and Tristen Orloski.
Starting goalkeeper Ryan Underwood returns to lead the sophomore class. His backup will be Joel Emberley and both players are also capable defenders if either of them are needed in the field.
Nathan Mousseau is another defensive option, while Jack Loud, Gabriel Norwood and Alex Taylor all return as midfielders.
Fraser will also work freshmen Noah Keith, Jacob Quinn and Julian Trenholm into the lineup.
Fraser cautioned that all positions are projections and could change depending on a specific need.
Mohawk
Although the Warriors could be a good team if they develop some depth, head coach Larry Poirier will have them ready to go come opening day.
He has solid group of veterans led by three seniors — Hunter Gibson (midfield/forward), Aidan Sandvik (midfield) and Ben White (central defense).
Four juniors will help shore up the middle of the field as well as a few other spots. Avery Miraglia is projected as a defender/midfielder, although he’ll likely see more time on defense with the Warriors’ thin backline. James Harrison and Matt Taylor will switch between midfield and forward, and Bennett Boucias will play in the midfield.
Wyatt Bandy-Page, a freshmen who will see time at multiple positions, comes up from JV.
At least one of Poirier’s new freshmen will get his feet wet early — Souahn Crawford, who’s currently the only goalkeeper listed on the roster. His other newbies are Guiseppi Galbagni (midfield/forward), Raven Suvceda (forward/midfield) and Adam Benjamin (defender/midfield).
“There’s not much experience and we have a lot of new players, but they’re coming with a good attitude” said Poirier. “We’re going to work hard every day.”
FC Tech
The Eagles return nine starters and 12 players overall from last year’s squad, so head coach Kurt Richardson is hoping they can take an upward move in the TCL North.
Franklin Tech’s offense could become rather dangerous with four returning regulars, including team goal-scoring leader Ryan Campbell (7-0—7), who is just a sophomore. He’ll be joined up front by junior Joel Farrick and sophomores Jake LaBelle and Jovanni Ruggiano.
“(Campbell) is the real deal,” offered Richardson. “If he keeps progressing, he could be a very dominant force in the near future.”
Sophomore Reuben Galvez (4-3—7) and junior Jacob Desbiens will be the mainstays on an improving midfield.
Richardson has a solid veteran presence in the backfield with five returning players — seniors Ben Lucia and Martin Burbee, junior Jaxon Rollins and sophomores Will Turn and Eddie Ovalle. Sophomore Grayson Funk returns for his second year in goal.
Richardson added that he has other players he’s still evaluating, as well as promising freshman class.
“We’re starting where we left off. ; we didn’t lose too many starters, both of on defense, and we have kids that can hopefully fill in.
“We’re still young, so that’s promising,” he added. “Maybe we won’t see the results we’re looking for right now, but they have a year’s worth of varsity experience. I just want us to be competitive.”