Western Mass Pioneers

Western Mass Pioneers is an American soccer team based in Ludlow, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in USL League Two, the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

Western Mass Pioneers
Full nameWestern Mass Pioneers
Nickname(s)Pioneers
Founded1998 (1998)
StadiumLusitano Stadium
Ludlow, Massachusetts
Capacity3,000
OwnerCelso Correia
Head CoachFederico Molinari
LeagueUSL League Two
20191st, Northeast Division
Playoffs: Conference Final
WebsiteClub website

The team plays its home games at Lusitano Stadium, where they have played since 1998. The team's colors are red, black and white.

History

In August 1997, the USISL announced it had awarded an expansion franchise to Gremio Lusitano, an amateur soccer club based in Ludlow, Massachusetts. The USISL had set a condition for new teams which prohibited ethnic team names which prevented the club from using the name Gremio or Lusitano. Therefore, the region's newspaper, the Springfield Union-News, held a week-long "name the team" contest which resulted in the selection of Pioneers.[1] In October 1997, general manager Rick Andre named Leszek Wrona, who had both played for and coached Gremio Lusitan, as head coach of the Pioneers.[2] In September 1999, the Pioneers expressed an interest in moving up to the A-League after winning the USL D-3 Pro League.[3] However, the team elected to remain in the D-3 Pro League. In 2001, John Voight replaced Wrona has head coach. Wrona would return in 2005, leave in 2007 and return again in 2008. By 2003, the team was fielding ten Junior Pioneer youth teams which competed in the Super Y-League.[4] Through all these years, the team has remained under the ownership of Gremio Lusitano.

On December 22, 2009, following the exodus of teams from the USL to the new North American Soccer League, the Pioneers announced that they would self-relegate, and play in the USL Premier Development League in 2010.[5]

Players

Notable former players
See also: All-time Western Mass Pioneers roster

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Year-by-year
Year Level League Reg. Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup
1998 3 USISL D-3 Pro League 3rd, Northeast Division Semifinals 2nd Round
1999 3 USL D-3 Pro League 1st, Northern Champion Did not qualify
2000 3 USL D-3 Pro League 5th, Northern Conference Finals Did not qualify
2001 3 USL D-3 Pro League 7th, Northern Did not qualify Did not qualify
2002 3 USL D-3 Pro League 1st, Northern Quarterfinals Did not qualify
2003 3 USL Pro Select League 3rd, Northern Did not qualify Did not qualify
2004 3 USL Pro Soccer League 3rd, Northern Did not qualify 2nd Round
2005 3 USL Second Division 1st Final 3rd Round
2006 3 USL Second Division 6th Did not qualify Did not qualify
2007 3 USL Second Division 6th Did not qualify 2nd Round
2008 3 USL Second Division 6th Quarterfinals 2nd Round
2009 3 USL Second Division 7th Did not qualify 2nd Round
2010 4 USL PDL 6th, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2011 4 USL PDL 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify 1st Round
2012 4 USL PDL 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2013 4 USL PDL 4th, Northeast Did not qualify Did not qualify
2014 4 USL PDL 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify 2nd Round
2015 4 USL PDL 5th, Northeast Did not qualify 1st Round
2016 4 USL PDL 2nd, Northeast Divisional Playoff Did not qualify
2017 4 USL PDL 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify 1st Round
2018 4 USL PDL 3rd, Northeast Did not qualify 1st Round
2019 4 USL League Two 1st, Northeast Conference Final Did not qualify
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Honors
  • USL League Two Northeast Division Champions 2019
  • USL Second Division Regular Season Champions 2005
  • USL D-3 Pro League Northern Division Champions 2002
  • USL D-3 Pro League Champions 1999
  • USL D-3 Pro League Northern Division Champions 1999

Head coaches
  • Leszek Wrona (1998–2001, 2004–2006, 2008–2010)
  • John Voight (2002–2003)
  • Tom d'Agostino (2007)
  • Joe Calabrese (2011)
  • Federico Molinari (2012–present)

Stadia

References
  1. Soccer invades WMass Union-News (Springfield, MA) – Tuesday, August 12, 1997
  2. Wrona will coach Pioneers Union-News (Springfield, MA) – Tuesday, October 14, 1997
  3. Pioneers explore new route Union-News (Springfield, MA) – Friday, September 17, 1999
  4. Pioneers notebook – Andre to head soccer operation Union-News (Springfield, MA) – Wednesday, February 19, 2003
  5. "Pioneers head to PDL in 2010".
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