ORANGE — An avalanche of offense sent the Mahar Regional girls soccer team into the Round of 32 after an 8-0 win over Pathfinder in preliminary play in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament at a rainy Woodward Complex on Friday.
Contributions came from up and down the roster for the Senators.
“To get these prelims games, it is nice,” Mahar coach Chad Softic said. “You get a home game. Everyone is feeling good about themselves and everyone contributes. I thought we played well tonight.”
Chad Softic huddles with the Mahar Regional girls soccer team before their game against Pathfinder in the MIAA Division 5 preliminary round, Friday in Orange. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Maggie Ringer of Mahar Regional moves up the field against Pathfinder, Friday in Orange. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Lexi Ares of Mahar Regional chases after possession against Pathfinder, Friday in Orange. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Erin Parse of Mahar Regional makes a pass against Pathfinder, Friday in Orange. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo 
Lily Bajnoci of the Mahar Regional girls soccer team lets go of a shot against Pathfinder in the MIAA Division 5 preliminary round, Friday in Orange. Credit: ADAM HARGRAVES / Staff Photo
The 29th-seeded Senators advance to play at No. 4 Hopkins Academy. Mahar has some familiarity with the Golden Hawks. Hopkins Academy (15-3-1) went to the Western Mass. Class D championship game, losing to perennial powerhouse Granby.
“We haven’t played them in a couple years but they are talented,” Softic said. “A lot of club soccer players who are super talented. They play year round. They will be a handful.”
Lily Bajnoci led the offensive attack with a hat trick for the Senators. Bajnoci scored in the fifth minute and the 21st minute to give Mahar a 2-0 lead. Her third goal came in the second half.
“I was just trying to be there for my team,” Bajnoci said. “I wanted to help them and show what we are capable of doing.”
Isla Burnham and Lilah Paluk both netted their first varsity goals in the victory. Mahar had three other players find the net in the balanced scoring attack. Burnham played defense for most of the season.
“Always great,” Softic said. “Isla (Burnham) played stopper on our defense for most of the year. To reward her is awesome. It was a beautiful goal.”
Bajnoci scored her first goal on a semi-breakaway. The forward shot from just outside the 18-yard line to give Mahar a 1-0 lead. Her second goal came on a corner kick. After fighting for possession, Bajnoci turned around and fired for her second goal of the game.
Erin Parse set up Paluk in the 29th minute to send Mahar into the intermission with a 3-0 lead. Parse finished with two assists for the Senators.
Adalynn Almeida, Lexi Ares, Jaya McBroom also scored in the second half for Mahar. Ares and Almeida registered assists in the victory. Jenna Nolette added an additional helper for the offense. Mackenzie Matthews and Khazey Rogalski combined for five saves in the shutout.
Southwick 9, Athol 0 — The 46th-seeded Bears could not get out of the MIAA Division 4 state tournament preliminary round after a loss to the 19th-seeded Rams at Whalley Park.
Frontier 8, SICS 0 — The 42nd-seeded Bulldogs could not hang with the 23rd-seeded Redhawks in the MIAA Division 4 state tournament preliminary round in South Deerfield. The Redhawks advance to play No. 10 Littleton at Littleton Middle School on Monday at 6:15 p.m.
Danica Kopzca, Skyler Steele and Maggie Nichols each had two goals for Frontier. Mara Allium and Abby Cendrowski also found the net. Jazzy Hayes and Kayla Tudryn both had two saves in the combined shutout. Nichols had two assists for the offense.
Football
Lynn Vocational Technical Institute 38, Franklin Tech 32 — The 12th-seeded Eagles jumped out to a 24-8 lead on the fifth-seeded Tigers but couldn’t hold on for the upset in the MIAA Division 8 state tournament Round of 16 at Manning Field in Lynn.
Lynn Voc. advances to play No. 4 Cape Cod Regional in the Round of 8.
Volleyball
Nipmuc 3, Athol 0 — The sixth-seeded Coyotes swept the 27th-seeded Bears in the MIAA Division 4 state tournament Round of 32 in Upton. Set scores were 25-10, 25-14 and 25-18. Giana Vaillancourt had four kills, five assists and 13 digs for the Bears. Bella Barton added seven digs to help the defense.
Saint John Paul II 3, Mohawk 0 — A road trip to Hyannis for the 29th-seeded Warriors resulted in a sweep at the hands of the fourth-seeded Lions in the MIAA Division 5 state tournament Round of 32. Final set scores were 25-11, 25-15 and 25-5.
Ayer-Shirley 3, Frontier 1 — No. 16 Ayer-Shirley ended 17th-seeded Frontier’s season in the MIAA Division 4 state tournament Round of 32 in Ayer.
Non-tournament
Football
Pathfinder 28, Frontier 21 — The Pioneers edged the Redhawks in non-tournament play at Legion Field in Palmer. Noah Poreda reached 1,000 yards rushing for the season and scored a touchdown for Frontier. Konnor James and Ty Skroski also found the end zone. Lineman Max Hunter scored on a two-point conversion for the Redhawks.
