NORTHFIELD — In a Homecoming Weekend match, the Pioneer Valley Regional girls soccer team blanked McCann Tech, 4-0, in independent play on Saturday afternoon.
Deveney Pillsbury of Pioneer looks to make a move against McCann Tech, Saturday in Northfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Jaelyn Boliski of Pioneer eludes the defense of McCann Tech, Saturday in Northfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Maddie Keefe of the Pioneer Valley Regional girls soccer team charges up the field against McCann Tech, Saturday in Northfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Brooke Welcome of Pioneer battles for position with McCann Tech, Saturday in Northfield. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
Maddie Keefe continued her strong start to the season with a goal and an assist for the Panthers. The aspirations are high in Northfield for the club. The Panthers (6-1-2, 5-0-1) and Mahar Regional (5-1-2, 5-0-2) are at the top of the Bi-County standings. In the Division 5 MIAA power rankings, Pioneer is 11th in the state.
“My biggest hope is making Western Mass. and making a good fight in that,” Keefe said. “We could easily win league. But I would absolutely love to win Western Mass. Either this year or next. That would be a huge goal for me. That’s something I’ve been building on since freshman year. We’ve come closer and closer each year.”
Keefe has 10 goals for the Panthers this season. The scoring came from four different players in the independent win over the Hornets. Amy VanDoren opened the scoring in the first half for Pioneer.
VanDoren side-stepped a defender and laced a shot past the McCann Tech keeper to give Pioneer a 1-0 lead.
“We are all just out there focused on playing as a team,” Pioneer coach Kathleen Pillsbury said. “Winning as a team and losing as a team. Supporting each other and lifting each other up.”
Just a few minutes later, Keefe scored on an assist from Leah Potter. The lefty launched a shot from outside the 18-yard box that found the net by the left post.
The goal gave Pioneer a 2-0 lead. Later in the half, VanDoren took a ball to the face that split her glasses. Unbothered, VanDoren used a brief substitution to find a back up pair of spectacles.
The Panthers got some insurance in the second half. Dželila Cecunjanin sent a perfect corner kick to the penalty area that found the feet of Potter. The senior one-touched the ball into the net to give Panthers a 3-0 lead.
Keefe set up Cecunjanin for the last goal of the contest. Keefe’s pass found Cecunjanin in the middle of the field before the freshman lifted a perfect, high-arching shot just under the crossbar for the final score of the game.
Maggie Tsipenyuk made seven saves for the Panthers.
