Westfield boys soccer coach Andrew Joseph found out via text message only days before tryouts were set to begin.
Jack Fortier, a junior for the Bombers, heard two weeks prior to the start of the season.
In a fall season shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic, New England Revolution Academy product Thaddeus “TJ” Liquori planned to suit up for the black and red for one last go-around with those he spent his childhood playing travel soccer with.
For Joseph, it was like getting the band back together.
“Just to go back a little further, these 04′s and a couple 03′s all grew up playing together with what was Westfield United Soccer Club back then and now Westfield FC,” Joseph said.
“I was the coach of that team from when they were second graders up until when they were seventh graders,” he added. “They’ve known each other for a while and that was a big thing. It was always in the back of your mind a little bit, like what would it be like if we could get all these guys playing together again. It was a fun thought I would have in my mind.”
As it turns out, the pandemic would end up turning that “fun thought” into a reality.
While Liquori had plans to attend Worcester Academy this fall, the strict restrictions COVID-19 had on preparatory schools led him to defer for a year and instead seize the opportunity to play with his friends.
“It was a weird year," Liquori said. "I was supposed to go to Worcester Academy this year, I had decided on that but through the summer COVID got worse and it wasn’t looking like the best option for the year, so I decided to stay local and play for Westfield for this short season.”
According to Joseph, Liquori’s decision exemplified the quality of character he possesses, especially under the rarest of circumstances.
“It’s tough to be that wise when you’re a 16-year-old,” Joseph said. “To be that wise and kind of recognize this as an odd opportunity and a chance to play with the kids that you grew up with and your little brother, it says a lot about his perspective at this age when there’s probably a lot of pressure to stay sharp, keep the level up and play at the highest level you can.
“You recognize that you can take some time and reignite those connections with his high school friends on the field and play with his little brother a little bit,” he continued. “He was able to see the situation for what it was and make the most of it."
Leading up to Monday night’s season finale versus No. 5 Agawam, Liquori has made the most of the opportunity.
In seven games, the junior has been the key catalyst offensively for Westfield (6-1), recording team-highs in goals (7), assists (7) and points (14).
“It’s super cool, a lot of these kids were all on the same team growing up through elementary school and coach Joseph was my first ever coach,” Liquori said. “It’s also good that we’re winning too, we had a good season and were a good team this year.”
Two of the main beneficiaries of Liquori’s return were Fortier and senior Dom Rinaldi, who have combined for 10 goals and four assists this season.
Fortier, who began playing with Liquori around the age of eight, called him “probably one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with.”
“It was great to have him back, having him in the midfield with me is a lot, lot better,” Fortier said. “We were missing that one key player to get the team going. Me, Thad and Dom in the midfield was really, really good. I think us three work really well together, we have good chemistry.”
While expectations for the Bombers this season were already high heading into the year, the insertion of Liquori into the starting 11 elevated that confidence even more.
“We were already gonna be pretty solid, I think people involved with the program knew that this was gonna be a strong year for us anyway before he decided to play,” Joseph said.
“As far as mentality goes, I think these guys were already expecting to do some damage," he added. “Then to add him in there just adds that much more dangerousness when we’re going forward and in possession.”
While depth is typically a concern at the high school level, Liquori’s unexpected emergence for Westfield minimized those worries for Joseph.
“Now all of a sudden we got guys coming off the bench that typically would’ve started and it just helps all over the field,” Joseph said. “It helps keep guys fresh, it helps in a lot of areas.”
As his abbreviated stint with Westfield comes to a close, Liquori is prepared for the next step in his journey, which is to stick with his original plan and attend Worcester Academy.
He won’t forget this brief pit stop, though.
“I’m glad I did whatever I needed to do this season to help out,” Liquori said.
“Just the fact that I got to play with my old friends and have this one season under my belt, I know this is a small chapter, but it was fun," he added. "I’m glad I got to do it.”
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