The Frontier boys soccer team capped off its summer on a high note over the weekend.

The Redhawks competed in the Pioneer Valley Summer Soccer League to prepare for the upcoming fall season and had great success in the B Division. During the regular season, Frontier went 9-1-1 to earn the top seed in the playoffs.

Taking on West Springfield B in the quarterfinals last week, the Redhawks advanced with a 4-0 victory. In the semifinals against Ludlow Ideal B, Frontier once again picked up a 4-0 win to earn a spot in the championship game, where it took on second-seeded Chicopee at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow on Saturday.

Chicopee was the only team to beat the Redhawks during the regular season but Frontier avenged that loss in the title game, racing ahead 3-0 before taking home the championship with a 3-1 victory.

“This was a very successful season for us,” Frontier coach John Paciorek — who coached the team alongside Nate Donovan, Tom Johnson and Wes Smith — said. “They were an amazing team. We had a strong group this summer. The best pleasure in the world is watching them play, get better and have a great summer. It was a really fun summer with them. The only downfall is it makes the summer go by quick.”

Henry Pleasant, PJ Donovan and Ian Paciorek were the Redhawk goalscorers in the championship game against Chicopee, and midfielder Gus Radner was named the MVP of the game. 

While winning is great, the summer is all about improving for the high school season, which will get underway in September.

Frontier had 34 players on its summer team, showcasing a high level of interest in the program. While not all were there for every game, Redhawk players had 14 games throughout the summer to improve and work on their craft. John Paciorek said he saw that improvement each time out.

“We rostered 34 but between vacations, prior commitments and work schedules, it wasn’t abnormal to have between 16-18 per game,” John Paciorek said. “There were new challenges every week. My favorite part was watching them get better and better out there.” 

Where did Paciorek see the most improvement? It depended on the player, as each made strides in different categories. 

“Everyone is so different,” he said. “Some grew by being more physical challenging for the ball. Some grew tactically. Some completed their passes better. Some made strides in their conditioning. You need time to run and sweat on the field to build up that endurance and they all did that.”

Players on the Frontier team ranged from upcoming eighth graders to rising seniors. For the younger players, the league offers a chance to see what high school soccer is like ahead of the fall 2024 campaign.

“They might be inexperienced but you see their touch get better,” Paciorek said. “Physically they get better. Their endurance gets better. As that happens, you see the confidence build and nine weeks later, you have a robust player.”

The Redhawks open their varsity season on Sept. 2 against Chicopee Comp, hoping the extra time on the pitch in the summer can lead to another run at an MIAA Div. 4 state title.