Western Mass Pioneers Confirm the Return of Alec Hughes for the 2024 Season

The striker led last Summer's Northeast division of the USL League 2 and this Fall's Atlantic 10 in goals.

Photo Courtesy of the Western Mass Pioneers

Alec Hughes was projected to be first round pick when he declared for the MLS SuperDraft in December. After going un-drafted, the striker from Glastonbury, Connecticut, will return with his goalscoring talents to the Western Mass Pioneers this summer.

Hughes scored 10 goals for the Pioneers last summer, leading the Northeast division and finishing tied for fourth among all USL League 2 players. After returning to UMass Amherst in the fall, he scored 15 goals in 19 starts including 10 goals in Atlantic 10 games. He also led the Atlantic 10 in scorer points this past season.

“He’s very, very good,” said Pioneers head coach Federico Molinari. “He’s so fast, he’s so strong and he creates a lot of opportunities for himself.”

As a six-foot-four striker, Hughes dominates in aerial play and likes to break in behind the defensive line to get chances. At the end of the Fall season, he was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was voted into the Atlantic 10 First-Team.

Despite not being drafted, several MLS teams have kept close contact with him. In December, the Blazing Musket’s Josh Nye mentioned him as a prospect the New England Revolution should consider for the SuperDraft.

“He spent his spring break training with an MLS team,” Molinari said. “And I’m guessing I’ll lose him for a week this summer so he can go train with another MLS team.”

Hughes will participate in a few Spring training games with the UMass Minutemen before heading over to Ludlow after finishing his final exams.

The transfer is still pending league and federation approval.