WESTHAMPTON — Mike McColgan stepped in to save for the Hampshire Regional boys soccer team.

Again.

The Raiders sophomore keeper, who filled in for Nick O’Hare two games last season, made his first start this year in a 7-0 win over South Hadley on Tuesday.

This time he succeeded Giannis Iatroudis, who played 11 games in goal for the Raiders this year, posting nine clean sheets.

Iatroudis left the program and the country Sunday to return home to Greece.

He was living with his cousin Alex Rizos’ family on a 90-day student visa with a plan to apply for a longer stay.

“He tried to get an extension with the visa, but it couldn’t go through. He had a problem with that,” Rizos said. “It was mainly because of the visa. We decided as a family it was a better idea to finish high school in Greece and come back next year for college.”

Iatroudis arrived in mid-August and competed with McColgan for the starting job. Iatroudis stood 6-foot-3 with a long wingspan and showed athleticism in goal.

The Raiders started Iatroudis in their season opener against Monson, and he made eight saves in a 2-0 win over the defending Division 4 state champion Mustangs.

“Very fearless player out there. He was always someone we could count on,” Hampshire senior Matt Babyak said. “We’re going to miss Yianni back there.”

Hampshire will also miss Iatroudis’ personality. He adjusted to the change in language and culture quickly to find a niche with the soccer team.

“He had no fear or reservations about adapting to American culture, language, and making close friends with the soccer team,” Hampshire senior defender Graham George said. “Those are qualities that made me really respect and admire Giannis as a person.”

Babyak lives next door to the Rizoses and saw Iatroudis often.

“He was always a great guy, always upbeat. We all seemed to love him, there was no tension or anything,” Babyak said. “He was always a guy to make you laugh with some sayings that he brought over from Greece that we always found comical. That was a personality we loved to have on the team.”

McColgan, a shorter keeper who plays with a more calculated style, fills the net.

“I have been playing with Mike since I was 10 years old,” George said. “He doesn’t take many risks as a keeper, and I don’t mind that quality in my last line of defense in front of the goal.”

McColgan didn’t need to do much in the Raiders’ win over South Hadley. He made one save diving to his left in the 64th minute, but Hampshire already led 6-0 at that point. There were two crosses he snatched out of the air and a long pass before the South Hadley attacker could make a play on the ball.

“Definitely some big shoes to fill. Yianni is a good goalie,” McColgan said. “It was good to get a slower start back.”

The Raiders’ back four had to adjust to a more vocally demanding keeper.

“I definitely like to yell at my players a lot,” he said. “I like to talk a bit more.”

Hampshire (10-1-1) won its third game in a row and sixth out of its last seven. The Raiders qualified for the postseason two weeks ago and lead the Holley League with a 5-0 record.

Coach Dan Moynahan doesn’t expect a drop off in play with McColgan in net.

“Nothing’s changed,” he said.