Early in the second half of Bridgewater State’s opening MASCAC game of the season, at Mass. Maritime (in a rematch of last year’s MASCAC Tournament title game), a corner was played to the far post. The initial shot caromed off the crossbar and into the six. Senior center back Hector Bucio was in the right place to settle it and hook the ball over the line, giving the Bears the lead (it finished in a 1-1 draw).
It was the second goal of the season for the former Oliver Ames standout (in four games) and the 10th of his trophy-laden Bridgewater State career. Bucio, who played forward for the bulk of his high school career, only switching to defense as a senior, has been an ever-present for the Bears since walking on campus.
He has started all 59 games that he’s played and has 26 total points (10 goals and six assists) despite most often lining up in the back line. Bucio has been named to the all-conference team the past three seasons (on the first team for the last two) and last year was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-New England team, while helping the Bears win their third straight MASCAC regular season title and second tournament championship of his career.
All of that success in his college career is just fueling Bucio for one more run at a trophy.
“I can’t do it without my team and I’m so grateful for them and for my coaches who push me to do well,” Bucio explained. “It feels great getting that recognition and it’s kind of my motivation to do well. It’s like all the hard work is paying off.
He added, “It becomes an expectation.You just want to do well and to improve. It’s my senior year, so just trying to have a good season and have no regrets.”
Bucio was named a captain this season and he tries to lead by example, which includes putting in the work in the offseason so that he’s ready for the start of the new campaign.
“My goal is to not just say it but to do the work,” he said. “It starts by having that desire to do well and get better.”
That mindset was ingrained in him during his time at OA, where he won four straight league titles (one in the Kelley-Rex division and three in the Davenport) and the 2022 Div. 2 state title. Bucio credits his OA career for teaching him what it takes to win a championship, something that he’s carried with him to Bridgewater State.
“You have to come in and work hard,” he said. “Preparing for a championship is not an easy thing to do. It takes a lot of hard work in the offseason and training sessions, just keep improving.”
Bucio added, “I was prepared to play at a high level and on the big stages, especially tournaments and all that, and part of that is you come in in-shape, you’ve had good coaches, have good connections, and that definitely helps. My work rate coming in, being a step ahead, that’s what I strived for.”
Despite all of the success in his career, there is one moment that will always stand out above the rest.
OA trailed Hopkinton 2-1 with just five minutes remaining in the 2022 state title game. Head coach John Barata called a timeout and made an adjustment, sending Bucio (who had been a forward for his first three seasons) up top. Craig Churchill lofted a ball to the back post and Bucio followed it, rose highest, and headed the ball off a defender and into the net for a dramatic equalizer.
The celebrations from the tying goal were still going on when Bucio’s classmate and center back partner Jake Williams found Casey Milliken, who chipped it over the keeper to stun the Hillers and win OA’s second state title (and the first of three in a row).
“It was incredible,” Bucio reflected. “It was the best moment of my soccer career. It’s something I always look back to. To look back on it, it was just a dream to get back into the game and then win it at the end. Even just playing in the game, it was a great atmosphere, great crowd, and all I could ever ask for.”
Making the move to center back that season, Bucio sacrificed his goal-scoring numbers to fill a position of need for the team. It turned out to be a seamless transition.
Bucio said, “I had some of the skills, my speed for sure and being tall and winning headers, and just being calm on the ball and being technical on the ball. What I had to work on was my one-on-one defending.”
The move has continued into college, where Bucio has primarily lined up at center back, although his 10 goals show that he hasn’t completely lost his striker’s instinct in front of goal. Experience is a key attribute for a defender: reading the game, anticipating play, knowing when to be aggressive and when to sit back.
While he jumped right into the lineup as a freshman at Bridgewater State, Bucio admits that, going into his fourth year, he feels more comfortable than ever at center back. Not that it’s taken any of the edge off how much work he wants to put in.
“Being at this stage, every game is a big game and the more experienced you are as a player, the more comfortable you are, the more confident you’re going to be that guy who’s going to step up and keep a clean sheet or be that guy to calm the team down when things aren’t going as well,” he explained.
While Bucio is focused on bringing home another title and living up to the high expectations for the program (which was picked to win the MASCAC in preseason polls), he’s also enjoying one more season on the pitch.
“I always look back to when I started playing to now, and it goes by so fast,” he said. “I have a lot of fun playing this game and it’s definitely going to be sad when it’s my last game, whenever that may be. I just leave everything I have out there and play every game like it’s your last.”
“I’m still playing the game I love and with my teammates that I have really good connections with and I’m just very grateful.”
Josh Perry is the Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com and can be reached at JoshPerry@hockomocksports.com.
