Girls soccer preview: Area teams headed back to the pitch

Recorder area girls’ soccer teams had some success last season. Greenfield won a state tournament game in the preliminary round, as did Franklin Tech. The Eagles’ state tournament win was the first in program history.

Frontier Regional qualified for the Division 4 state tournament. In league play, Frontier finished 3-5-2. Hampshire Regional won the Central, going 6-1-3 in league play.

Pioneer had the best local record in the Bi-County (7-3-2), finishing 8-10-1 overall. The Panthers lost in the Round of 32 of the state tournament. Pioneer only graduated one senior from last year’s roster. St. Mary’s took the league championship in the Bi-County. Mahar Regional also won a state tournament game before falling to Granby in the Round of 32. Athol missed the postseason but there is a quiet confidence coming out of Tool Town.

Greenfield finished 2-7-1 in the Pioneer North, with Hopkins Academy and Chicopee sharing the league championship.

There was a lot of turnover in rosters, several teams will need new players to step into bigger roles and perform for their respective squad. Time will tell if local squads can compete for league championships.

Here’s a closer look at each team.

Athol

Coach: Tim Cleveland

League/Division: Bi-County/4

Last Year’s Record: 4-11-3

Roster: Seniors — Hannah Cardoso, Maddisyn David; Juniors — Serena Nkengafe, Emily Abram, Alauna Choquette, Aliyah Choquette, Ava Adams. Sophomores — Lillian Cleveland, Sophie Roberts, Azaliah Seda; Freshmen: Ayzia Brit, Cindy Amaya-Navarette, Izabella Mallet, Annelise DeVries, Nevaeh Gregory, Rubi Montero; Eighth grade — Abigail Butler, Isabelle Tarara; Seventh grade — Vera Cruz.

Outlook: Athol has 15 returning players from last season. Hannah Cardoso should be a catalyst on offense for the Bears. It could be either scoring or playmaking for Cardoso. Fellow senior Maddisyn David will lead the defensive unit and could branch out for some offense here and there. David and Cardoso are the captains and are in their sixth season playing varsity soccer for the Bears. Vera Cruz and Annelise DeVries are two players who are developing as goal scorers. There is a lot of versatility on the roster, with multiple players able to play different positions. Alauna Choquette, Aliyah Choquette and Serena Nkengafe are technical players with good playmaking ability. With all the returners with experience, the Bears should be much more competitive in league play.

Franklin Tech

Coach: Jason Butynski

League/Division: Bi-County/5

Last Year’s Record: 8-8-4

Roster: Seniors: Layla Hammond, Sheyenne Ballentine, Kaelyn Mclean, Cayleigh Aldrich, Kim Ramirez-Martin; Juniors — Carly Walsh, Sofia Melnik, Bella Liebenow; Sophomores — Payson Lydne, Faythe Sobieski, Indira Wiles, Melyn Ramirez-Martin, Destiny Rodriguez, Kaylee Adamski, Jewell Gifford. Freshmen: Summer Williams, Bella Kimball, Lilliana Miller Aza Thompson.

Outlook:  There will be a lot of new faces for the Eagles. The program won its first ever state tournament game last season and has qualified for state tournament play the last four seasons. Faythe Sobieski scored 16 goals with four assists to lead the team. Layla Hammond added four goals with an assist. Kaelyn Mclean (senior, two goals, one assist) and junior Carly Walsh (three assists) return to lead the team. Sofia Melnik is new to the squad and will help in midfield with Hammond, Mclean and Walsh. Sheyenne Ballentine is the new keeper. Franklin Tech features a brand-new defense with players like Payson Lynde, Kim and Melyn Ramirez-Martin, Bella Liebenow and Bella Kimball.

Frontier Regional

Coach: Lauren Sullivan

League/Division: Central/4

Last Year’s Record: 8-8-4

Roster:  Seniors — Adelaide Ehle, Skyler Steele, Jazzy Hayes, Laila Brown; Sophomores — Mara Allium, Calli Gifford, Sadie Nichols, Maggie Nichols, Chloe Cusson; Freshmen — Abby Cendrowski, Danica Kopcza, Kayla Tudryn, Ahnna Berthiaume, Charley Harrington, Tilly Fahey, Madelyn Divincenzo, Sadie Colon, Hannah Lunt, Amelia Potter.

Outlook:  Steele returns to the striker position where she led Frontier in scoring last season. Frontier has a consistent presence in net with returning keeper Jazzy Hayes. The senior had 133 saves last season and spends time playing in the midfield. The Redhawks have some strong sophomores in Mara Allium, Maggie Nichols, Calli Gifford and Sadie Nichols.

Greenfield

Coach: Ben Johnson

League/Division: Pioneer North/5

Last Year’s Record: 4-13-3

Roster: Seniors — Tayler Bergeron, Valerie Bzomowski; Juniors —Natalia Cody, Annie Cobileanschi, Zephyr Jetzon, Sarah McCloud, Ella Rotkiewicz, Jalila Smith, Zee Torres; Sophomore — Savannah Porter; Eighth grade — Hederlin Bartolon, Kinsley Bergeron, Lexi Berry, Ivy Bettencourt, Lily Rouse.

Outlook:  Tayler Bergeron is closing in on 100 career points for her career. The senior forward needs 23 points for the milestone. Sarah McCloud plays a pivotal role in the midfield for the Green Wave. McCloud takes control of the game with her play and her communication with her teammates. Greenfield’s defense returns Annie Cobileanschi, who took last year off from soccer. Zee Torres and Cobileanschi will shore up the defense in the middle of the field. Valerie Bzomowski will start the season in net for Greenfield.

Mahar Regional

Coach: Chad Softic

League/Division: Bi-County/5

Last Year’s Record: 5-7-5

Roster:  Seniors — Stellina Moore, Mackenzie Matthews, Erin Parse; Juniors — Lexi Murcell; Sophomores: Lilah Paluk, Lexi Ares, Jaya McBroom, Jenna Nolette, Aubrey Johnson; Freshmen: Isla Burnham, Adalynn Almeida, Maggie Rogers, Carla Hardy, Marley Partridge, Lincoln Lyman, Khazey Rogalski; Eighth grade — Maggie Ringer, Elise Better, Lilly Bajnoci

Outlook: Mackenzie Matthews in net is the backbone of the Senators team. Lexi Ares and Lilly Murcell have a chance to be effective offensive weapons but first need to develop on-field chemistry. Stellina Moore is the left fullback, and the stopper is Jenna Nolette. The Senators should have a formidable defense, but the team will need to find consistent scoring to have success.

Pioneer Valley Regional

Coach: Kathleen Pillsbury

League/Division: Bi-County/5

Last Year’s Record: 8-10-1

Roster:  Seniors — Leah Potter; Juniors: Mystic Glenn, Kyra Goodwin, Maddie Keefe; Sophomores — Jaelyn Boliski, Lucianne Burnap, Lily Laprade, Maya Laprade, Dasia Young, Maggie Tsipenyuk; Freshmen — Dzelil Cecunjanin, Deveney Pillsbury, Amy VanDoren, Brooke Welcome. Eighth grade — Lillian May.

Outlook: The Panthers have a formidable front line consisting of Maddie Keefe, Dzelila Cecunjanin and Deveney Pillsbury. Maggie Tsipenyuk and Leah Potter anchor the defense. Lucianne Burnap’s endless motor fuels the midfield. The Panthers return almost their entire roster from last season. With the return of so many players with a tenacious mindset, the Panthers could be in line for a league championship.