Jacob Quinn scored with two minutes to play to lift Pioneer to a 2-1 win over Smith Academy in a McGrath Division boys’ soccer game Thursday afternoon in Northfield.
The game-winning goal came after Pioneer controlled much of the play. Sophomore Julian Trenholm, who has taken over a starting position this season, got the ball about 40 yards away from the goal, took a few touches and sent a ball into the box to Quinn. He stood near the penalty stripe 12 yards from the goal, received the pass and turned and buried a shot.
“I’m very pleased with the effort,” Pioneer coach Don Frasor said. “We tied them 1-1 last year. This year, we dominated possession throughout the game. Smith did a really good job shutting things down at the top of the box, but we stuck with it.”
Pioneer led 1-0 just 14 minutes into the game when Jordan Loughman finished off a feed from Eli Koester. Smith Academy came back in the 25th minute to tie it as Ryan Herlihy scored on a pass from Lucas Wajtowicz.
Ryan Underwood made three saves to earn the win. Matt Bouley made eight saves in the loss.
Renaissance 2, Athol 1 — Isaiah McCaskill scored two goals in the first half, including the eventual game-winner three minutes before intermission, and visiting Renaissance School snagged a 2-1 victory over Athol High School in a Schmid Division boys’ soccer game Thursday night at O’Brien Field in Athol.
Athol (5-3, 3-3) took a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute when Colby Mason tallied with an assist from Hayden Herk.
Renaissance (3-1-3, 2-1-2) tied things eight minutes later on McCaskill’s first goal of the night. Three minutes before halftime, McCaskill outleaped Athol defenders on a free kick, heading the ball into the back of the net to put the Phoenix ahead, 2-1.
“McCaskill is fast,” said Athol coach Dave King. “He was a man amongst boys. He dominated the middle of the field and was pretty much the difference in the game.”
Renaissance outshot Athol, 13-10, with Jordan Carrasquillo recording 10 saves in the Red Raider net.
Athol hosts Granby High School in a rare Saturday contest at 3:30 p.m.
Athol 5, Greenfield 0 — Four different players found the back of the net as visiting Athol High School picked up a 5-0 victory over Greenfield High School in an independent girls’ soccer game Thursday in Greenfield.
Shelby Mailloux, Angelica Baptista, Ally Raymond and Amber Mahony all scored for the Red Raiders (3-5), while an own-goal accounted for the final tally. Raymond had two assists, while Mahony and Peyton Parker recorded single helpers. Athol led 2-0 at halftime.
Greenfield (0-8) was led by goalkeeper Dina Samake, who recorded a highlight-reel save with six minutes left despite her team trailing 5-0.
“Dina Samake was outstanding in goal again,” offered Greenfield coach Patrick Garland. “Her effort, despite the scoreboard, is indicative of the whole team. I was pleased we continued to play hard for the full 80 minutes.”
Athol hosts Gardner on Saturday. Greenfield visits Hopkins Academy Tuesday.
Easthampton 2, Mohawk 0 — A pair of second-half goals from Frances Powers was the difference as visiting Easthampton High School broke a scoreless first half open en route to a 2-0 win over Mohawk Trail Regional High School Thursday in Buckland.
The teams played a scoreless first half before Powers put Easthampton (4-4-2) ahead 1-0 in the 50th minute on a goal from Powers. She made it 2-0 with a strike 10 minutes later. The Eagles held Mohawk (2-4-1) off the board from there.
“It was one of those growing-pains type of games,” admitted Mohawk coach Steven Tomi. “We played very well the whole first half. Our defense was great. But in the second half, we made some mental mistakes and that’s something we need to improve.”
Lilly Seaver recorded eight saves in another fine effort between the pipes for the Warriors, which host Gateway Regional High School on Tuesday.
Hopkins 3, Pioneer 1 — Emily Raymond tied the game in the 34th minute, but Hopkins Academy tallied twice in the second half to knock off Pioneer Valley Regional School, 3-1, in girls’ soccer action Thursday in Hadley.
Hopkins (5-2-2) took a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute on a goal by Juliette Cook before Raymond tied it for Pioneer (4-2-1) thanks to an assist from Kaylee Gibson.
Samantha Jenks put the hosts up 2-1 in the 52nd minute before Cooks scored her second of the game 10 minutes later to provide an important insurance goal.
Leah Fuess recorded 20 saves in net for Pioneer, which was outshot 42-6.
The Panthers are right back at it today when they host Mount Everett Regional School at 4 p.m.
Frontier 5, McCann Tech 0 — Jenna Martin scored two goals and Frontier Regional School blew things open with four goals in the second half en route to a 5-0 victory over McCann Technical School in an independent girls’ soccer game Thursday in South Deerfield.
Natalie Denkiewicz, Kaitlyn Mackin and Victoria Speth also scored for the Red Hawks (5-1-1), while Cambrie Hamilton and Kaitlynn Devine notched two assists apiece. Lexa Boyden came out of the Frontier goal to record an assist.
The Hawks held a commanding 28-1 advantage in shots, with Boyden and Marisela Ackerman combining for the shutout.
Frontier travels to Smith Vocational & Agricultural High School Tuesday.
FC Tech 5, Commerce 0 — Franklin County Technical School scored five times in the second half to defeat High School of Commerce, 5-0, in a Tri-County League girls’ soccer game Thursday in Turners Falls.
The teams battled through a scoreless first half before Eagle Brooke Adams buried a pass from Amber Merritt eight minutes into the second half. Four minutes later, the Eagles were awarded a penalty kick and Kate Garcia buried it to put Franklin Tech ahead, 2-0.
Franklin Tech finished the scoring with three goals in a three-minute span. Olivia Whittier scored in the 72nd minute on an assist from Garcia, and Abi Corey scored on an assist from Whittier two minutes later. Whittier completed the scoring with her second of the game in the 75th minute on an assist from Tabi Hamilton.
“The first half we really played down. We had no energy and were flat. We were playing scared,” Franklin Tech coach Dan Prasol said. “In the second half, the girls were able to turn it around and play to the potential that we they are capable of, and they got positive results. Hopefully the girls can carry this type of energy and their play from the second half into next week.”
Hamilton and Morgan Pendrisseach played in net to combine on the shutout. Both players made one save. Shealeigh Martin made nine saves in the loss.