Matt Cence records a season-high three assists.
By Adam Kysiak
For the sixth straight season, the Western Mass Pioneers (9-2-1) have made the playoffs after a win over Albany Rush (2-1-9). The Pioneers opened up their 12th game of the season with an offensive onslaught, scoring four goals in the first 35 minutes of action. Jose Bustamante, Augustine Boadi and Robert Lyons all found the back of the net throughout 90 minutes of play.
It was forward Matt Cence that opened up these chances, tallying three assists, including back-to-back crosses to Boadi, scoring twice in five minutes. “We need Matt, his speed, strength… he is a great key player on our team and [we will] need him going into the playoffs,” said Boadi. Cence and Boadi were the two biggest factors on the offensive end tonight, running down the field and creating opening lanes with skillful moves and passes.
“At the end of the day, it is a great win and we are looking forward to beating NEFC and hopefully Vermont Green to go on and win the league,” said Cence. This is Cence’s first season playing for Western Mass, previously playing for Farmington High School and winning MVP for the state tournament in 2021. “I am hopeful for the opportunity to play, I am thankful for Coach [Federico Molinari], it has been a great experience and the guys on the team are awesome.”
Boadi and Cence play with and against each other, as Cence operates in the midfield for UMass Amherst while Boadi plays up front for Bryant University. “It is always good to play against our teammates in [the fall], but I am pretty sure we will take care of them,” Boadi said jokingly.
Boadi isn’t the only Pioneer that reps the Bulldogs, as Santiago Blasco-Gomez, Jaiden Willems, Jorge Veintimilla Martinez and Mamadi Jiana all play for Bryant.
Bustamante and Lyons also made an impact for the Pioneers, scoring a combined three goals throughout the match and spacing the field for their teammates to get more scoring opportunities.
With the final stretch of the regular season coming to an end shortly, Western Mass has scored 41 goals and conceded only six, giving them the best goal differential in the Northeast Division.
“We are a team that defends with ten players and attacks with ten players,” said Head Coach Federico Molinari. The Argentine coach has pushed the Pioneers to score and defend relentlessly, helping them with their second 5-0 win this season (previously beating Seacoast 5-0, Boston City 9-0 and Albany Rush 6-0 earlier on). “We score goals with [fullbacks], center backs and [other positions], and that is because of our forward pressure… the mentality is defend as a team and attack as a team.”
Western Mass will face off against NEFC on Monday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m.. The game will be hosted at Alumni Stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts. The match can be streamed on NBC Sports Engine.
