Girls soccer: Pioneer scores four second half goals to defeat Gateway (PHOTOS)

NORTHFIELD — The Pioneer girls soccer team can score goals in a hurry. 

Hosting Gateway on Tuesday, the Panthers found themselves in a scoreless game at the half as the Gators defense did a good job of keeping the ball away from their goal. 

That changed quickly in the second half. Natalie Rios put Pioneer on the board first and the Panthers tacked three more on before the game ended to walk away with a 4-1 Bi-County victory.

“We had a lot of possession,” Pioneer coach Matt Killeen said. “We were able to push up the field. Over time, defending the whole game, I think [Gateway] got a little worn down. We were able to use our speed and the girls worked really hard.”

The Gators were keyed in on Panthers star forward Hailey Ring, who scored 10 goals in the opening three games of the season. While Ring was held to one goal on Tuesday, it opened things up for players like Rios and Maddie Keefe — Keefe finished with a pair of goals. 

“We knew Ring was a hell of a player from last year,” Gateway coach Matt Bonenfant said. “They had a couple other girls step up for them today. I thought we played good in spurts. We had four corner kicks in a row early in the game. It was similar to how we played them last year. We’re still learning and growing. We’re a little dinged up and kids are playing different positions. They’re giving their teammates 110 percent. We’re close to turning things around.”

It was Rios who put Pioneer (3-1) on the board first, receiving an on-target pass from Dani Teasca after getting behind the Gators defense. With just the goalie to beat, Rios made a move and sent the ball into the empty net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead. 

Teasca set up the Panthers’ second tally. The midfielder sent the ball up the right wing to Keefe, who took a dribble before blasting the ball just inside the right post and into the goal to give Pioneer a two-goal cushion. 

The Panthers’ third goal was once again set up by Teasca, sending a through ball into Keefe who darted in and finished the shot to give Pioneer a 3-0 lead. 

Gateway (0-4) netted a late goal. The Gators earned a corner kick and sent it into the box where a Panther defender knocked it away. The ball rolled out to Gateway’s Willow Hicks, who one-timed the bouncing ball into the goal from outside the box, cutting the lead to 3-1. 

It didn’t take long for Pioneer to answer, as just minutes later Keefe got behind the Gators defense and dished it over to Ring, who buried it into the open goal to close out the 4-1 win for the Panthers. 

“Hailey and Maddie are two of the fastest players in our league,” Killeen said. “Nat’s doing a great job over on the wing. The speed can be tough at the end of games.” 

The win makes it three in a row for Pioneer, which is gaining some early momentum on the season. While happy with the win streak, Killeen said his team will need to take it to another level as the heart of the season approaches. 

“We’re a young team overall,” Killeen said. “We have some really experienced players who are doing a great job. The young girls are learning and doing a great job. We have some tough games coming up. We’re happy to have the last three wins but we’re going to have to take it up a level the next few games.” 

Athol 2, Greenfield 0 — Make it five wins in a row to open the season for the Bears, which scored both their goals in the first half to earn a Bi-County League win over the visiting Green Wave on Tuesday. 

Samantha Mailloux and Maddison David were the Athol goal scorers, with Kylah Blundon tallying an assist. Ava Adams made six saves in the victory. 

Franklin Tech 7, Pathfinder 1 — A fast start propelled the visiting Eagles to a dominant Bi-County League victory on Tuesday in Thorndike.

Franklin Tech scored two minutes in and led 3-0 after just eight minutes en route to a 7-1 win.

Anne Kolodziej paced the offense with a hat trick, while Mia Marigliano thumped in a pair of goals for the Eagles (3-1). Sofia Moreno (two assists) and Mady Lynde also found the back of the net in the win, while Ella Kolodziej dished out two assists and Ripley Dresser and Samantha Duncan also added helpers. Goalie Kylee Gamache notched a pair of saves.

Franklin Tech returns home for a key Bi-County League game against Greenfield on Thursday night.

Frontier 5, Ware 1 — Carly Robertson poured in a hat trick, scoring twice in the first half and once in the second half, to lead the Redhawks to a win over host Ware on Tuesday. 

Maddie Bennett opened the scoring for Frontier on an assist from Maddie Fagan before Jazzy Hayes found the back of the net off a pass from Skyler Steele. Alli Pacoriek and Fagan each had an assist on Robertson’s first half tallies to give Frontier a 4-0 lead at the intermission. 

Jill Worden had the assist on Robertson’s second half score. Jocelyn Antes made six saves in the win. 

Easthampton 3, Mahar 0 — The visiting Eagles broke open a 1-0 halftime lead with a pair of tallies over the second 40 minutes en route to a 3-0 Pioneer League North win on Tuesday at the Woodward Complex in Orange.

Easthampton outshot Mahar by a 14-6 margin. Senators goalie Alivia Patch made seven saves in net.

“Every game feels like groundhog day so far this year,” offered Mahar coach Chad Softic. “The girls are working hard and we can play with everyone for long stretches but our mistakes are magnified when you struggle to score.”

Four Rivers 3, Stoneleigh Burnham 1 — The Otters had three different girls find the back of the net to defeat the Owls in Greenfield on Tuesday. 

Tirzah Skelton, Sylvia Guillaume and Aida Potter were the Four Rivers goal scorers in the win. 

Late Monday results

Athol 2, Mahar 1 — Kyluh Blundon and Liz Mailloux found the back of the net to help keep the Bears unbeaten with a win over rival Mahar on Monday in Athol. 

Blundon opened the scoring by smashing home a rebound off a shot from Mailloux. Mailloux then scored in the second half on a blast from outside the box. 

Logan Burke made a penalty kick for Mahar’s lone goal. Ava Adams made 13 saves for Athol while Alivia Patch stopped 11 shots for the Senators.