PDL: Pioneers Unveil Schedule
- Updated: March 6, 2017
The Western Mass Pioneers will kick off their 20th season in May after the squad revealed its PDL schedule for the upcoming season.
While the club commences its 14-match PDL fixture list May 13, the Pioneers’ first opportunity to hit the pitch will come May 10 for a first-round U.S. Open Cup match, which will likely pit them against Bay State Soccer League side GPS Omens. U.S. Soccer will announce the first-round matchups on Apr. 12.
“It is great for the team to qualify for the Open Cup,” Pioneers head coach Federico Molinari said in a club release. “There is a lot of history here, and it is important for us to play well.”
The first time the Pioneers qualified for the Open Cup was in 1998, when they reached the second round. The furthest the team advanced was in 2005, when they hosted MLS side Chicago Fire in a third round game.
“Last year, we qualified for the playoffs and the Open Cup” Pioneers General Manager Greg Kolodziey said in a club release. “That’s the mission again. Hopefully, we can host an Open Cup game and win enough to have a good season and qualify for the postseason.”