November 5, 2026

Pope Francis girls soccer win Western Mass

REGIONAL
By Josh Mitchell

Pope Francis girls soccer won the Western Mass Class A Championship, defeating Northampton, 3-2. (IObserve photo/courtesy of Wendy Harrington)

SPRINGFIELD — In what ended up being a back and forth game, the top seeded Pope Francis Preparatory School girls soccer team defeated No. 3 Northampton in the Western Mass Girls Class A Championship 3-2, Monday, Nov. 2, at Springfield Central High School. 

To start off the game, Cardinals’ co-captain Mila Dillard took the ball down the left sideline and lofted it over the keeper’s head and into the net, giving them a 1-0 lead. But with five minutes to go in the first half, Northampton’s Lilah Sage tied the game.

In the second half, Dillard scored giving Pope a 2-1 lead. Just about 90 seconds later, Northampton took a corner kick, and after a scramble for the ball, Olivia Buscone scored, tying the game 2-2. 

With under 12 minutes to go, Rylan Waskiewicz took a shot near the box that was blocked by the goalie. On a bounce, Chelsea Breenan one timed it, making it 3-2.

“We kind of had to prove to not just ourselves, but all of us from Mass that we’re good and we’re here to stay. Hitting some adversity last year, from not winning was rough. So, this year coming back on top was a good feeling to have,” Dillard said. 

“We knew it was going to be a close game. We knew it was going to be a battle. It could come up to having a mistake happen, winning or losing the game. I think it was really great to see throughout the game that they grew into how difficult is was going to be,” said Pope Francis head coach Brent Dillard.  

With the state playoffs up next for the Cardinals, these games will be the last ones where Mila is coached by her father. It’s something she said she really cherishes. 

“It has been a really cool, full circle moment. He’s my first coach, and now he’s going to be my last youth coach which is really special to me. And I feel like it is really cool to see him and myself and the program kind of grow together throughout the years,” Dillard said. 

The Pope Francis Girls soccer team is the fourth seed in the state tournament and will play the winner in the matchup between Nipmuc Regional and Oakmont Regional in the round of 32.