Pereira has memorable season for Men's Soccer
North Adams, MA- When MCLA Men's Soccer Coach Adam Hildabrand recruited Dylan Pereira he was well aware of his ability to score. Pereira attended Western Massachusetts soccer power Ludlow High School and had a decorated career in the process. Even with his fanfare, not even Hildabrand expected the season that Pereira put together in 2013.
The freshman forward led MCLA with 11 goals which placed him second in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. The eleven goals are the most in a season for a Trailblazer since the 2000 season when Jeremiah Thorpe also recorded 11. Thorpe took 18 games to record the number while Pereira only needed 15.
Pereira burst onto the scene by being named the Offensive MVP of the Norwich Cadet Classic during their opening weekend after recording a whopping six goals in a pair of Trailblazer victories. The flurry of goals earned him the MASCAC player of the week along with the inaugural rookie of the week award. Pereira would go on to claim the conference's rookie of the year award, marking the first time in school history that a Trailblazer earned the award.
Pereira readily admits that he didn't know what to expect entering his first season in a Trailblazer uniform. "I expected to compete for time and hopefully score a few goals, but after the Norwich classic, I gained a nice boost of confidence that I could compete at this level right away," the first year forward explained.
His success quickly became the focal point of opposing team almost immediately following the opening spurt. The changing game plans from the opposition forced Pereira to adjust his own game. His diverse skill set allowed him to remain productive throughout the semester.
When asked about his talented freshman's ability to score Hildabrand commented "He has the rare ability to score from inside the box as well as outside which makes him difficult to defend." After his initial outburst, Hildabrand noted that opponents quickly changed their game planning to stop Pereira from getting free.
"After his initial burst, he was always marked man to man. Defenses attempted to become more physical with him, which in turn made him adjust. We also changed our game plan to move him around in hopes of creating scoring chances," Hildabrand stated.
Being marked on the soccer field is nothing new to Pereira. During his time at Ludlow High School, teams were well aware of his offensive prowess. Ludlow claimed a state championship during Pereira's junior season before being tripped up in the Western Massachusetts final as a senior.
The high school to college transition is always difficult, but in Pereira's case it was evident from the onset of practice. "In college, we focused more on possession rather than direct runs. It took some time to get used to, but I simply tried to adjust to what the program needed," he referenced.
What the Trailblazers' need is for Pereira to continue his ascension as one of the conference's best. MCLA finished the year with a mark of 5-9-1 overall, but boasts a very talented group of freshman. At times in 2013, MCLA would have five or six freshman on the pitch at one time.
Pereira knows that improving on his season won't be easy, especially in the MASCAC. However, he is aware that he and his teammates will have to adjust to become better in the offseason. "We know what is ahead of us and that it won't be easy," he explained. "But we all know where we want to be at the end of the day which is why we compete."
While opening day is months away, Pereira and his teammates already have their sights set on big things to come.