Chris Ricca, a senior captain for the Eagle Hill School, finished his career with an impressive combination of football skills, leadership and sportsmanship leading the Pioneers to their first River Valley Athletic League title.

Striker Ricca scored seven goals during the play-offs for the Hardwick, Massachusetts school, including a hat-trick in the semi-finals against Putney School from Vermont in a 7-1 win.

In the quarter-finals against Berkshire Art and Technology Charter School, he struck two goals in a convincing 5-0 win.

The championship game pitted the Pioneers against the Wildcats of the Dublin School, New Hampshire, with Ricca bagging a brace in a 4-0 win.

Ian Kelly, the team’s coach, said: “After four years at Eagle Hill, Chris has become the best one-on-one attacking player that I saw this season.

“His ability to beat defenders opens up the field for the remainder of his skill set.

“It gives him a chance to distribute the ball to team-mates accurately both in the air and to their feet.

“It also opens up scoring chances where he is able to pick corners with ease. He was the leading scorer for our team this season.”

Eagle Hill School educates students identified with learning disabilities by providing an intimate and encouraging community that honours the individual, values learning diversity, and cultivates international mindedness.

Located in the rolling hills of Central Massachusetts and with an enrolment of 220, the campus sits on 200-plus acres and houses 190 students.

They come from 27 states and ten countries with an average class size of six.