Frontier boys soccer coach Evan Horton made his team do something none of them were looking forward to last week: rewatch last season’s MIAA Div. 4 Round of 16 loss to Monomoy. 

It wasn’t the way the Redhawks hoped to end their 2023 season. After losing just one game during the regular season, Frontier marched to the Western Mass. Class B championship game, where it fell to Hampshire in extra time. 

Still, the Redhawks had the state tournament to avenge that loss, but a few costly mistakes allowed Monomoy to pull off the upset in South Deerfield and end Frontier’s season prematurely. 

It was important for Horton to show his 2024 team — many of which were on last year’s squad but were resigned to the bench, with nine seniors on the Redhawks roster — that game, as it illustrated when you have a record as impressive as Frontier’s was, everyone is targeting you. 

This year, that bullseye shouldn’t be directly on the Redhawks. 

Of those nine departed seniors, two — Nico Fasulo and Chanhee Son — were All-State players. Eight of those nine seniors were starters and key cogs in the lineup.

What Horton couldn’t have foreseen was goalkeeper Owen Babb and midfielder Chanmin Son, two of the underclassmen starters from a year ago who were expected to lead Frontier this year, departing the program as Babb headed to Deerfield Academy while Son is playing on a club team in Connecticut.

It would be easy to underestimate the Redhawks this fall with all they’ve lost. Do so at your own peril, as Horton believes Frontier has players who have been waiting in the wings and are embracing the opportunity to earn minutes this fall.

“We lost a lot of guys with a lot of talent,” Horton said. “Nobody cares about Frontier soccer this year. You aren’t going to get much media attention, you won’t be ranked all that high. The only people who can prove everyone wrong is them. The guys last year wanted that senior class out because they were the ones playing. Now they’re gone, you have what you wanted and you need to step up.”

Jack Cusson, who backed up Babb in net as an eighth grader last year, will step in as the starting keeper this fall. 

Diego Frazier, a third year varsity player, will return to start at centerback and has shown strong leadership as a junior. He’ll team up in the back end with Ben Cachiguango, another senior with plenty of experience. 

Casey Bestler comes to Frontier and is a player Horton is excited to work with on the defensive end, while Eric Larsson, Gus Radner and Max Millette will run the midfield, a group Horton said has impressed. 

TJ Donovan and Ian Paciorek will be two of the players tasked with trying to make up for the goal production lost by Nico Fasulo and Rosco Palmer up front while Tavo Vincent-Warner and Grayson Bishop are a few players who will see time on the wing. 

“It might look like a motley crew but in reality, these guys have been playing together for a number of years and have been working together all summer,” Horton said. “It’s very clear they have a chip on their shoulder and they have high expectations of themselves. They really want to show people how good they are and are willing to work to get there.” 

In years past, the Redhawk lineup has typically remained the same, without much variation mid game. That won’t be the case this fall, as all 18 outfield players on the varsity squad are expected to get minutes in each game as Horton shifts to a new look formation that needs a plethora of bodies to work.

Those players will be getting their first run of the season on Labor Day, when Frontier opens the season against Chicopee Comp for a Monday night tilt on the road.

“We can’t just rely on a few guys to save us,” Horton said. “It really needs to be a team effort this year. Sometimes you see a team get down late and guys abandon the game plan because they feel they have to do it all themselves. That thought doesn’t exist in this group. They have to win together and they know that. It’s encouraging as a coach. If you’re on varsity, you’re going to play. It might be five minutes but with what we’re trying to do, we need all 18 guys to make it happen. I’m encouraged so far.”

Here’s a closer look at how each team is shaping up heading into the season:

Athol

COACH: Justin Brown

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Tri-County North/5

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 14-5, lost in Div. 5 Preliminary Round

ROSTER: Jack Waslaske, Landon Collins, Nigel Williams, Landon Mallette, Brent Boudreau, Trace Flynn, Karim Thompson, Cooper Smith, Drake Wing, Ayden Cowen, Caunor Mason, Aiden Desreuisseau, Dillon Boudreau, Noah Kapise, Marcus Testa

OUTLOOK: It was quite an impressive turnaround from the Bears, which went from one win in 2022 to reaching the state tournament last fall.

Athol will look much different this season, as 11 of its 20 players from last year departed, nine of those being starters.

Waslaske, Collins and Mallette are returning seniors and will lead the defense for the Bears while Wing, a sophomore, looks to take another step forward after starting in net last fall.

Juniors Boudreau and Thompson are returning midfielders whose roles will increase.

Franklin Tech

COACH: Kurt Richardson

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Tri-County South/5

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-10-1

ROSTER: Bennet Bardwell, Riley Pereira, Aiden Lucas-Mullen, Mason Thursten, Owen Heilman, Jack Gancarz, Sorin Marin, Coldy Leete, Carter Leete, Lucas Gadway, Jaxon Kotright-Clark, Nick Prasol, Loki Rhodes, Nate Trude, Cody Yetter, Lucian Yolosenco, JD Stockwell, Kaiden Price, Jacob Thomas

OUTLOOK: The Eagles hope to return to the state tournament. Kotright-Clark and Gancarz were offensive options last year while Thursten and Marin also factored in scoring wise for Tech a season ago.

Frontier

COACH: Evan Horton

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Moriarty/4

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 17-3-1, lost in Div. 4 Round of 16

ROSTER: Ben Cachiguango, TJ Donovan, Will Reading, Tavo Vincent-Warner, Sam Bakare, Max Millette, Gus Radner, Ian Paciorek, Eric Larsson, Carter Miller, Adrien Pazmandy, Diego Frazier, Tristan Valderrama, Casey Bestler, Xavier Fripp, Henry Pleasant, Grayson Bishop, Grayden Gifford, Jack Cusson

Greenfield

COACH: Erich Leaper

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Schmid/5

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 11-7-1, lost in Div. 5 Preliminary Round

ROSTER: Liam Grahame-Lawson, Malcolm Briggs, Nathan Gheorghita, Arthur Fitzpatrick, Alex Smith, Chay Mojallali, Sam Eckstrom, David Louvens Jean Noel, Clivens Carter Michel, Jack Laurie, Caleb Thomas, James Iavorschi, Hendrix Barlow, Cole Cross, Isaac Tripp, Colby Sheperd, Dylan Collins, Leo McDonald

OUTLOOK: Carter Michel was a Schmid All-League performer last year and returns as a forward for the Wave this fall.

Thomas and Laurie will join him up front as scoring options. Briggs is set to lead the defense, Mojallali will be a factor on the back end and in the midfield while Grahame-Lawson will see time in goal but can also shift to the back line.

After a state tournament appearance last year, Leaper said he’s hoping his squad can build off that and achieve even more this fall.

“We want to build on that to win the league and Western Mass., while being competitive in the state tournament,” Leaper said. “Our offensive unit is experienced and productive. Our roster is well balanced age wise, but the youth of our team continues to grow and build the program. Greenfield soccer is working hard to improve our soccer ability, further build and advance the program and improve our status in the region.”

Mahar

COACH: Dan Guertin

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Moriarty/5

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 13-5, lost in Div. 5 Round of 16

ROSTER: Tristan Gaj, David Phelps, Mathieu Soucy, Brayden Gates, Caissie Richard, John Vallejos, Matt Vitello, Jackson Burnham, Coltin Fausett, Clayde Thompson, Caio Barreto, Lucas Briand, Ian Nutter, Isiah Whitmore

OUTLOOK: The Senators will look almost like a brand new team this fall, losing 11 seniors from last year’s squad while Sam Connors and Luke Connors — two players Guertin had high hopes for — are now playing at the prep level.

Soucy is one of the few players returning with experience, but may need to move from his typical defensive spot to the midfield.

Phelps bring speed up front, Richard has shown promise early on, Vallejos is a strong defender, Vitello is another player who could be thrown in on the back line, Gaj has been the Sens goalkeeper but may make the move to the outfield while Fausett has seen time in goal during the preseason, showing promise there.

“We’ve done a decent job around here building a defense that can function and communicate,” Guertin said. “We just don’t have the bodies to play both offense and defense like last year where we were so balanced. So, we’ll probably have to pick one to do that day.”

Pioneer

COACH: Michael Italia

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Schmid/5

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 10-8-1, lost in Div. 5 Preliminary Round

ROSTER: Gavin Gammell, William Glazier, Alex McClelland, Kurt Redeker, Alexander Sabin, Braeden Tsipenyuk, Mtan Lerman-Smith, Judah Glenn, Jackson Campbell, Matt Richotte, Dani Paquet, Jackson Glazier, Hayden Girard, Hayden Killeen, Thad Loud, Jacoby Stumpo, Brody Welcome

OUTLOOK: The Panthers go from a young, inexperienced team last year to a veteran team with state tournament experience this fall.

McClelland and Glenn provide speed up front, Campbell can function between a forward spot and the midfield, Redeker is back to control the midfield while Gammell leads the charge in goal.

“Each player has greatly increased their technical skills as well as achieving a better understanding of tactical nuances that impact the ebb and flow of the game,” Italia said. “As a whole, [we are] working toward combining the sum of [our] parts into a well balanced team with our goal to successfully compete in the Western Mass. and MIAA tournaments.”

Turners Falls

COACH: Matt Kolodziej

LEAGUE/DIVISION: Independent/5

LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 6-5-1, lost in Div. 5 Preliminary Round

ROSTER: Freilyn Jose Abarua Corona, Johnny Bartolon, Jameson Betters, Moises Borrayes, Jackson Cogswell, Rogelio Galves, Robert Goff, Cameron Johnson, David Klempner-Siano, Noah Kolodziej, Curtis Kretchmar, Bennett Lanoue, Avery Miner, Yolvin Ovalle-Mejia, Mario Pareja, Brian Penaos, John Ramirez Martin, Kainen Stevens, Aras Wiles

OUTLOOK: The first year bringing the varsity program back was a smashing success for the Thunder, which made it to the state tournament.

After losing only two seniors, Turners is hoping to build off last year and make a second run at states.

Klempner-Siano suffered an injury early in the season but is back healthy this year and will be a key cog.

Cogswell, Ovalle-Mejia and Ramirez Martin are returning captains, while Ovalle-Mejia was Turners’ top goal scorer a year ago.