Cougars Soccer Set to Kick Off Campaign

Men's Soccer 2024 Season Preview 

Men's soccer will get the 2024 campaign started this week, opening with a home game on Thursday, September 12th at 4pm. Holyoke will kick off their season in an unorthodox fashion, opening against not just any regional opponent, but against their local rival, Springfield Technical CC.   

Leading the Cougars into the fray is the team's sole returner Tanner Joseph (Holyoke, MA / Hampshire Regional HS) who was part of the 2023 team that went to the Region XXI (New England) semifinals last October. Joseph brings a wealth of experience to a team full of freshmen and will lead by example with his relentless work rate and determination. Among the strong group of freshman joining Joseph is a quartet of players from Chicopee Comprehensive High School that includes Lucas Castro (Chicopee, MA) and Nicolas Tobin (Chicopee, MA). The talented pair will likely find themselves as mainstays on the Cougar's backline. Both of Castro's parents are former HCC soccer players; his father Jose played for the men and mother Stephanie (Russell) played for the women.

Men's soccer will dive into regional competition right from the beginning of the season, magnifying the importance of a strong start. Any win over their rival Rams is a big one for Holyoke and a season-opening victory would be extra sweet. Let's go Cougars!

Photo: Joseph during the 2023 season.