WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Long before the opening whistle at Pine Cobble School on Sunday, players from Williamstown and Lenox were already catching up. Some had spent years sharing the same field each summer. Others were playing their first season. Despite different backgrounds and experience levels, they all had one thing in common: a love for soccer that never faded.

 

That passion has helped fuel the continued growth of the Berkshire County Masters Soccer League, a more than 20-year-old organization that has become a home for former players looking to stay connected to the sport while building friendships throughout the county.

 

For first-year Williamstown manager Mary Summers, this season has been one of rebuilding and renewed momentum.

 

After taking over the program alongside Steve Nafziger this season, Summers said Williamstown’s roster has nearly doubled.

 

“We only had maybe 15 dedicated players last year,” Summers said. “This year, with Steve and me managing the team, we were able to find about 30 committed players.”

 

The growth isn’t limited to Williamstown. After shrinking during the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has expanded from six teams to seven this season.

 

“There used to be far more teams pre-COVID, but then teams broke up and people moved,” Summers said. “Finally, the league is growing again.”