Western Mass Pioneers Keep Winning Streak Going
A strong defensive display and an aggressive attack gave the Pioneers an edge as they reclaim the top spot in the USL League 2 Northeast Division.
After missing the game against Albany Rush, Western Mass Pioneers forward Scott Testori took no time to get on the score sheet against Black Rock FC as the Pioneers won 5-0.
“We feel like we’re on top of the world right now,” said left-back Jared Smith, who assisted two goals from corner kicks. “We still haven’t conceded this season and we’ve been scoring early in every game, so we haven’t really struggled yet.”
Before the Pioneers could assert dominance in the match, center-back Aiden Kelly switched a ball toward Zach Sauer, who headed the ball in the path of Patrick Gryczewski. The Pioneer winger then whipped the ball into the front post where Testori put it past the goalie to break the deadlock.
The Pioneers took control of the game, not allowing Black Rock to connect five consecutive passes in the first half.
In the 19th minute, Camilo Cami won the ball back after a Black Rock throw-in and raced down the left wing before putting in a cross. Testori leaped and met the ball with a scissor-kick that forced a save from Black Rock keeper Christian Herluf Braae-Andersen.
From the resulting corner kick, Jared Smith put a cross into the center of the box for Alec Hughes to head in the Pioneers’ second goal of the night.
“I’ve been struggling with my delivery for the last few games,” Smith said. “But I was working on it yesterday at practice and today during warm-ups so I was confident that the ball would go where I wanted it to.”
In the next 10 minutes, the Pioneers held onto possession before pushing quickly high up the pitch. Gryczewski and Hughes had chances that required Braae-Andersen to make two saves.
In the 30th minute, Braae-Andersen made yet another save as Hughes followed up on a deflected shot from Gryczewski. However, Braae-Andersen allowed a corner and Smith sent the ball to the far post for Aiden Kelly to head home.
With the score at 3-0 before the half, the Pioneers dropped deeper and slowed down the tempo.
In the second half, Black Rock took the front foot but struggled to find spaces in the attacking third or to create chances.
While pressing a goal kick, Hughes found a loose ball in the box in the 46th minute but put his shot wide.
Testori had a similar result when he recovered the ball in the following goal kick but found the side-netting.
Black Rock then kept the ball and engaged the Pioneers’ pressure at midfield.
In the 60th minute, Gryczewski won the ball back in midfield and burst past the Black Rock defense. As he approached the box, Gryczewski slid a pass through two defenders and found Alec Hughes arriving towards goal. The striker tapped the ball into the right side of the goal for his second of the game.
Coach Federico Molinari then subbed off Hughes, Gryczewski, and Cami for Augustine Boadi, Laurie Goddard, and Mamadi Jiana.
In the 69th minute, the Pioneers sentenced the game as Ali Talabi took his first touches to play a through ball into the path of Jiana. The University of Albany forward took out a defender and skipped past Braae-Andersen before tucking the ball into the back of the net.
Five goals ahead, the Pioneers enjoyed lengthy spells of possession and only gave up one shot on target late in the game — which Cersosimo dealt with effortlessly.
Black Rock FC will face Seacoast United on Tuesday, June 4th at 4 p.m.
Next Friday, the Pioneers face off against second-place Seacoast United Phantoms at the Lusitano Stadium at 7 p.m. The game will be the first encounter between the three front-runners — including Vermont Green FC — in the 2024 season.