WESTHAMPTON — During Brad Miller’s 16 seasons as head coach of the Longmeadow boys soccer team, he won three Western Mass. championships and led the Lancers to an undefeated season and Division I state title in 2019.

So considering Hampshire Regional went to the Final Four two of the last three seasons (a quarterfinal loss in penalties the outlier) and won a Western Mass. Class B title a year ago, it only made sense for Miller to apply for the head coaching position when Dan Moynahan stepped down in the offseason.

Miller is now the man in charge of the Raiders’ prestigious boys soccer program, and he’s looking forward to maintaining the standard that has been set by previous teams.

“I think that we have a legitimate chance to win every game that we're in,” Miller said. “So that's kind of the mentality we have, and what I'm hoping to instill in them. And I think that if the cards fall and we peak at the right time, we have a legitimate chance of making a deep run in Western Mass. and also in the state tournament.”

Moynahan spent about two and a half decades at Hampshire, and shaped the Raiders into a Hampshire County powerhouse over the years. So it would be completely normal if it took the players and Miller himself a few games or weeks to adjust to one another.

Yet that doesn’t seem to be the case thus far.

Hampshire is 2-0 to start the year – outscoring its opponents 5-1 – and the chemistry between the players and coach is right where it needs to be.

“There’s definitely a solid level of respect on all sides,” Miller said. “The start of the season has been positive, and we had a hard-fought win in an aggressive game the other night that was good for the overall team vibe. Right now, we’re just trying to stay grounded and play it one game at a time.”

After saying goodbye to seven talented seniors — including Aidan Miklasiewicz (all-time points leader at Hampshire), starting center midfielders Aidan Moynahan and Vincent Zononi, as well as goalie Liam Pond — the Raiders have big shoes to fill all over the field.

Senior captain Brendan Stevenson has seen his role increase tremendously. Miller thought he was one of the best overall talents on Hampshire last fall, and now that he’s stepping into more of a defined role as a senior, his production rate is going to skyrocket. He netted the game-winning goal in the Raiders’ 1-0 win over Monument Mountain on Thursday.

Elsewhere, Colin Holt slides in to replace Pond in the box as Hampshire’s goalie. Holt is very instinctive, according to Miller, and has great footwork to help play the ball and be a passing option for the Raiders’ defense. Owen Miller is a do-it-all player who can impact the game from every part of the field, whether it be the attacking, middle or defensive third.

Those three, along with budding talent across the board, should propel Hampshire to yet another deep postseason run in 2024.

“Brendan, I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the league,” Miller said of Stevenson. “He’s an excellent midfielder and leader, and was arguably Hampshire’s best overall player last year. Colin Holt, our goalie, is an excellent player, and Owen Miller has proven to be a dangerous player. Those three for sure, and there are a lot of other strong players that are getting better and better.”

Smith Academy, Granby primed for more success

The two rivals met on Thursday in what was both teams’ season opener. Every bit of it lived up to the billing, as yet again the game was decided by one goal – just as it has in every meeting since 2019.

Smith Academy is sure to be a dominant force in Hampshire County yet again. The Falcons have eight seniors on their roster this fall, including midfielder Cameron Graves, who led the team in total points in 2023.

The Falcons won the Western Mass. titles in 2021 and 2022, and most of Smith Academy’s players were involved in that run. They know what it takes to win at a high level. And that’ll continue to be the expectation in Hatfield.

“We have guys who have won a couple Western Mass. championships,” Smith Academy head coach Jason Duncan said. “Our expectations are to qualify for the Western Mass. tournament and be a tough out, and qualify for states. We want to be a team that’s very difficult to score on. And if we do that, we’ll be a difficult team to beat.”

As for Granby, they’re in the exact same boat. Seven seniors, some terrific juniors who are relied upon on a daily basis, and a team that holds 12 returning players – all of which helped out when the Rams won the 2023 Western Mass. Class D title as the No. 7 seed.

Head coach Todd Dorman has a skilled midfield trio of Gavin Moreno, Jake Gagnon and Riley Goodhind, a potent attacker in Tristan Moe, and strong defense led by seniors Cody White and Cole Fuller.

Considering most of Granby’s offensive contributors are back in a Rams uniform, their eyes are fixated on hoisting another Class D plaque.

Dorman wants them to control what’s in front of them first.

“I anticipate us qualifying for both tournaments,” Dorman said. “Everybody wants to repeat, but that’s a long way away, and it’s a long season. Right now, we need to work on our fundamentals and focus on how we can improve both individually and as a unit rather than worry about something that’s so far away.”

Frontier embracing underdog role

The Redhawks lost nine seniors from last year’s 18-3 team, eight of which were starters and key cogs in the lineup.

What head coach Evan Horton didn’t foresee, however, 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.

“The guys last year wanted that senior class out because they were the ones playing,” Horton said. “Now they’re gone, you have what you wanted and you need to step up.”

Elsewhere in Hampshire County

Belchertown fell to Frontier in a Class B semifinal game last fall after seemingly living in the regional title game (four straight) every year prior to that. The Orioles went 10-7-3 and won a state tournament game before falling in the Division 3 Round of 16. So far this season they are 0-2, but they’ve played two terrific teams in West Springfield and Longmeadow. Belchertown will be led by All-State goalie and senior captain Jack Mandeville, senior captain Joe Borelli in the midfield and seniors Ian McDonald and Joseph Yoon. The Orioles should once again be competitive in their league.

First-year head coach John Fillio inherits a Hopkins Academy team that struggled (4-8-6) last season, but has all the tools to right the ship in 2024. Hopkins has a team full of seniors, a dozen to be exact. Seniors Alex West, Chase Simonich and Liedson Miranda are the players to watch, as is junior James Andersen.

Holyoke was winless (0-14-2) entering its final two games of the season last fall, but it outscored its final two opponents by a combined 7-1 to end the year with two consecutive victories. The Purple Knights only graduated four seniors and brought back several key players, including Landon Koziara, Arthur Mazzu, Christian Piedra and Ryan Kennedy.

Northampton pieced together a respectable year in 2023, going 10-8-1, but fell in the first round of both the Western Mass. and state tournaments. Now in head coach CJ Holt’s fourth year, the Blue Devils are hoping to take that next step forward in the postseason. Junior Jasper Cantor and sophomores Sam Busone and Will Senn-McNally are capable of scoring in bunches. The club opened up its season with an 11-0 thumping of Monson earlier this week, powered by three goals from Busone.

Andrew McCaul steps into season No. 4 with Gateway, and the Gators are looking to take steps forward from their 4-9-3 mark in 2023. Senior captains Ivan Chepurenko and Mason Labranche are a dynamic duo that can certainly help Gateway do so this fall.

Just like a year ago, the PVCICS girls team combined with the boys team to create a huge coed group of 29 players for head coach Mike Locher. The Dragons (11-7-1 last season) joined a stronger league for this season in hopes of strengthening their rating for the Western Mass. and state tournaments. Teddy Scott, Nolan Gage and Owen Wallace lead the way for PVCICS.

The 2022 state champion South Hadley Tigers lost in heartbreaking fashion in last year’s state tournament, falling in penalty kicks to end their season. Now in year No. 2 under head coach Mike Gauthier, South Hadley hopes to grease the wheels and revisit some of the success it had in the past. Jack Chagnon, Carlos David, Matt Gillis, Anthony Adams and Noah Carillon are five players to help do just that.

Smith Vocational won seven games straight in the middle of last season, and that stretch ultimately buoyed them to a Tri-County League title in 2023 – the first one in 22 years. Behind six seniors and a big roster of 22, the Vikings are hungry for more this fall. Josh Cole, Cameron Ball, John Peters, Jacob Maloney, Kaleb Jorritsma and Henry Sadler lead the way for head coach Ryan Della Penna.

Amherst lost six seniors from last year’s squad, one that finished the season 4-10-4 and missed both tournaments. The Hurricanes tied South Hadley 2-2 and lost to western Mass. powerhouse Ludlow 2-0 so far this season. They’re an improving team with a half dozen more seniors this fall under head coach Matthew Travis. Brothers Daniel Nunes Saravia and Victor Nunes Saravia are players to keep an eye on.

Easthampton started the season with an emphatic 3-0 win at Wahconah on Wednesday, with senior Finn Garvey recording a goal and an assist to pace the offense. The Eagles are hoping to flush last year’s 4-13-2 mark and perform better for head coach Andrew Lawrence this fall. Seniors Sam Barr and Jason Sigda are expected to produce alongside Garvey in 2024.