SOUTH DEERFIELD — Two goals from Ian Paciorek, including the overtime game-winner, lifted the No. 3 Frontier boys soccer team over No. 6 Pittsfield, 2-1, during the quarterfinal round of the Western Massachusetts Class B tournament on Thursday.
The Red Hawks trailed, 1-0, after the first half, but a pair of goals from Paciorek pushed the hosts into the semifinal round.
“Last year and the year before, he was the guy that just found a way to get goals for us,” Frontier head coach Evan Horton said. “It’s been harder for him this year I think because of his injuries, because of his illness, he hasn’t been able to be that guy as much.
“I think the last week or so, we’re seeing that re-emergence of him and that’s exciting, especially as we get into playoffs,” Horton added.
Paciorek’s first tally came during the 45th minute on a penalty kick, after Generals goalie Reese Cook-Dubin (five saves) was a tad too aggressive on a race to a loose ball, taking down a Red Hawks attacker in the box, leading to a PK call from the officials.
Frontier’s senior striker stepped up in the moment, scoring on a strike to the right side of the net that Cook-Dubin managed to get a hand on, but couldn’t knock down, as the Red Hawks evened the game 1-1 early in the second half.
Chances continued to come for the hosts as Frontier held a majority of the possession in the follow-up frame, even without Paciorek on the pitch as No. 9 was subbed out of the game for stretches to ease discomfort from a noticeable limp from the goalscorer.
Since neither team could find the go-ahead goal in regulation, extra time was needed and despite not being 100%, Paciorek still managed to be just as dangerous of a threat.
During the 85th minute, Paciorek gathered a feed from Xavier Fripp, then dribbled right through an open lane within the 18-yard box and scored on a low, worm-burner to serve as the hero in the Red Hawks’ Class B opener.
Thursday’s thriller was another come-from-behind performance for Frontier and Horton feels his team has learned how to overcome these adverse situations since joining the Holley league this season.
“I told the boys at halftime, this is not what we’re used to, but I knew it was what we needed to be used to,” Horton said. “We’ve had a number of these games against really good teams and we’ve fought our way back into a lot of them.”
The quarterfinal showdown was also a rematch of a Sept. 15 meeting between the two teams, a game Frontier won, 5-0. Even though Pittsfield only entered Thursday’s match with five wins to its credit, Horton wasn’t surprised Thursday’s affair was as close as it was.
“You get into Western Mass., it doesn’t really matter what your record is,” Horton said. “You know everybody is going to elevate their play for this game, so we 100% expected a fight. I was not surprised to go down 1-0 to them at all.”
Armando Coreas grabbed the Generals’ lone goal during the 25th minute, seconds after a throw-in from the visitors went uncleared by the Red Hawks defense. Coreas then kicked it past a diving Jack Cusson near the midway point of the first half.
Cusson, Frontier’s goalie, made five saves in the win.
While Thursday’s result will go into the official MIAA standings as a tie, the win sends the Red Hawks to the Class B semifinal for a clash with No. 2 Pope Francis.
“They’re a young team, but they play in the Smith [league], they’re good, they’re ranked No. 2 in the region for a reason,” Horton said.
Class C
Mount Greylock 5, Franklin Tech 0 — The Mounties were too much for the Eagles in their opening round loss.
The defeat counted as Tech’s third straight.
Class D
Turners Falls 3, Smith Academy 1 — Three first-half goals catapulted the Thunder past the Falcons in the quarterfinal clash.
Yolvin Ovalle-Mejia, Rojelio Galvez and Kainen Stevens all scored early for Turners, before Smith got one back in the second half.
Oscar Higuera broke through for Smith past Thunder goalie Jackson Cogswell, who concluded with six saves. Callan Payne took the loss as the Falcons keeper, but totaled 10 saves.
Turners, the No. 2 seed, will play No. 6 Gateway in the semifinal round.
Girls soccer
Class B
South Hadley 4, Frontier 0 — Hannah Haesaert’s hat trick highlighted the Tigers’ victory against the Red Hawks.
Ally Fleury matched Haesaert in total points in the win with three assists, while Natalie Rios (goal) and Taylor Bullough (assist) picked up points too.
South Hadley goalie Olivia Athas earned the clean sheet with four saves.
Up next for the fourth-seeded Tigers is No. 7 Wahconah in the semifinal round.
Class D
Palmer 1, Pioneer 0 — Pioneer came up short, falling to fifth-seeded Palmer at home.
The Panthers were the No. 4 seed in the quarterfinal-round match.
Volleyball
Class C
Lenox 3, Franklin Tech 0 — The Eagles were held off the board in the loss to the No. 1 Millionaires.
Tech fell to 14-6 overall in the defeat.
Non-playoff games
Boys soccer
PVCICS 4, Greenfield 1 — The Dragons snapped their 10-game losing streak with the win over the Green Wave.
Jack Herman, Julian Lee-Choi and Sean Wallace (two) found the mesh for PVCICS.
Greenfield’s single goal came from Jack Laurie.
Pioneer 2, Mahar 0 — Judah Glenn pocketed career point No. 100 for the Panthers in their final game of the season.
Glenn scored both Pioneer goals to finish with 101 career points.
Aaron Meuse, a freshman goalie, earned the shutout for the Panthers.
Volleyball
Mohawk 3, Ware 1 — The Warriors won their last match of the season, thanks to strong outings from Emma Canaday and Emmalee Inman.
Canaday contributed five aces, five kills and five assists, while Inman attained six aces and five kills. Maddie Finn also played well finishing with 12 assists.
