By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
Norah Anderson, Junior – Franklin
Defense has been Franklin’s hallmark for a while now. The Panthers finished 2019 with clean sheets in 11 of their final 12 games, allowing only an extra time goal to Oliver Ames in the playoffs, and opened last season with a string of shutouts. Goals are hard to come by against Franklin and Anderson has been a major reason why. The junior has been a mainstay at the heart of the defense for the past two seasons, coupling her physical presence with a good reading of the game. Tall and strong, Anderson is willing to mix it up with opposing forwards but she’s also just as capable of making a key interception or cut out an attack without the need of stepping into a challenge. A strong aerial threat at both ends of the pitch, Anderson is important on set pieces and has grown into a leadership role in the defensive corps. She has also shown increasing calm in possession, which will help the Panthers build from the back. Franklin is looking to defend its league title and Anderson will help keep things strong at the back to give the Panthers a solid foundation.
Dani Atherton, Junior – Milford
The Hawks had a relatively young squad last season, trying to build experience while also moving into the Kelley-Rex division. The switch in divisions didn’t seem to have any effect on Atherton, who continued to score goals at an impressive rate, despite being the focal point of some of the league’s top defensive units. Atherton scored a team-high eight times last year, which was good for third-best in the Hock. A player who seems to be just as fast with the ball as without it, Atherton is hard to contain. Her skill in possession and low center of gravity allow her to make quick cuts and find small seams in the defense that you don’t see until she’s through. Don’t let her size fool you, Atherton may not be the biggest striker in the league but she is willing to take the contact and keep moving towards goal. Once she gets in the box, there are few better in the league at finding the back of the net. Having a player like Atherton leading the line will give the Hawks a big boost as their still young squad faces up to a full season and a possible playoff push.
Emily Dunlea, Junior – Attleboro
Attleboro has been on the brink of a playoff run the past couple of seasons, narrowly missing out on the postseason. This fall, the Bombardiers will have to reload with the loss of top scorers Briley Harnois and Bella Salviati and top playmaker Jessica Gates. Dunlea has the potential to be a player Attleboro can build around. Tall and strong, with quick feet, Dunlea showed glimpses of being a creative force last year, whether playing up top or dropping into the midfield. She has a good eye for a pass and reads space well, finding spots to collect the ball as well as angles to slip a pass into her teammates. Her physical play in the box makes it hard for defenders to dislodge the ball from her and Dunlea has demonstrated a cool finish when she gets a look at goal. This season should see Dunlea step into a bigger role, and see more of the ball, giving her more opportunities to find the killer pass or try and find the back of the net. Attleboro is still looking to find that elusive postseason berth and there will be a lot of new faces in new spots this fall, but Dunlea is one of the players the Bombardiers hope will be ready for the challenge.
Shayla Ford, Junior – Stoughton
Last fall was a tough one for the Black Knights, who picked up one point in the shortened season, but Ford continued to be one of the team’s standout performers even as the results were hard to come by. The team’s leading scorer in 2019, Ford showed the versatility in her game in 2020 by dropping back from her striker position to utilize her speed in the defensive third. Ford’s ability to cover a lot of ground helped her cut out dangerous attacks and her skill on the ball made her comfortable in possession even under pressure. One of the leaders on the team, Ford can play multiple positions and produce wherever she’s lined up. As a striker, she can take on defenders one-on-one and makes smart runs into space to open passing lanes for her teammates. Ford has definitely been a handful for opposing defenses since her freshman year and now she has shown that she can be a handful for their attacks as well. Stoughton will be looking for growth under second-year coach Hermes Lima and, wherever she is positioned, Ford will be instrumental in getting the Black Knights back into the win column.
Gabriella Herivaux, Senior – Canton
Last fall, Canton’s attack was loaded and the Bulldogs won the Davenport title and advanced to the first-ever Hock Cup final. This year, Canton will move on from high-scoring forwards Olivia Rodman and Eliza Diletizia, but that could open up more opportunities for Herivaux. The senior striker has played in the shadow of her fellow attackers for the past couple of seasons but will have the spotlight to herself in 2021. Quick and skillful, Herivaux can play through the middle or drift out to the wings and take on the outside backs. She scored five times and had four assists last year but Herivaux could find more chances in the box this season as the team’s top returning scorer and the focal point of the offense. Herivaux’s size makes her the match of opposing center backs, especially on set pieces, but she’s also got the speed to race past them, the touch to slip through small spaces, and the creativity to pick out a finish even from tough angles. This could be a breakout year for Herivaux and the Bulldogs will be hoping that she can hit new scoring highs to help them retain the league title in what should be a crowded top of the Davenport table.
Kailee McCabe, Senior – Foxboro
Even in a strange, abbreviated season, Foxboro could count on McCabe to continue dominating the middle of the pitch, as she earned league MVP and All-New England honors with her third straight impressive season. For the third straight year, McCabe reached double digits in goals, tying teammate Jordyn Collins with a league-high 11 tallies in 2020. Her aggression in midfield is hard to match and she propels the Warriors forward, whether carrying the ball out of the defensive third, making a key interception and turning it into a quick transition, or making a run through the heart of the opposition defense. With Collins plying her trade at Bryant this fall, McCabe may be counted on for even more in the attack, and with her strength, shooting ability, and skill in possession, she’s capable of being among the league’s top scorers again this year. Foxboro should be right in the mix for the Davenport title this fall and McCabe is the engine that keeps the Warriors going.
Steph McKenna, Senior – North Attleboro
North Attleboro bounced back from a rebuilding season in 2019 and finished at .500 in 2020, winning more games in the shortened season than in the previous fall. One of the reasons for North’s turnaround was increased goal scoring and McKenna provided the attacking impetus early on with all five of her goals and her lone assist coming in the opening two weeks of the season, including a hat trick against Stoughton. A hard-working forward, McKenna consistently ran into the channels, giving the midfield an outlet pass when pressured. She rarely gave up on a ball, keeping defenses on their toes and starting the North press high up the pitch. On a team that tried to keep things compact and be solid defensively, McKenna worked hard to create chances on the break and her hold up play enabled the Rocketeers to get up the field and allowed her teammates to get involved. It was a relatively inexperienced North roster last season and expectations are higher this fall, even in a league that looks as balanced as ever, so McKenna’s goal-scoring threat will be crucial to the Rocketeers moving up the Davenport standings.
Katie Miller, Senior – Mansfield
Some players to watch are easy to pick out just by looking at the stat sheet at the end of the season and others play different roles for their teams that are harder to quantify. Miller won’t lead the league in goals or assists but she is a key to the Mansfield midfield, covering tons of ground in front of the Hornets defense to break up opposition defenses and play the right pass to transition into the attack. A lanky, physical presence in the center of the pitch, Miller doesn’t shy away from a tackle and is smart about her positioning to intercept passes and knows when she needs to step into a challenge. Her position keeps her from creating a host of chances in the final third, but Miller’s passing accuracy makes it difficult for the opposition to get turnovers that would put the Hornets under pressure. Mansfield has a chance at regaining the league title this fall and Miller will be at the heart of the Hornets’ success.
Camryn O’Connor, Senior – Oliver Ames
Last season, the Tigers brought home the inaugural Hock Cup title with a win against Canton and this year OA will be looking to beat the Bulldogs to the Davenport title as well. One of the key players in that title quest will be O’Connor, who is the most dynamic playmaker that OA has in the middle of the pitch. Capable of playing as a striker, in behind the forward line, or in the center of the park, O’Connor’s range of passing and vision help the Tigers spring into the quick transitions that they like best and get the ball out to OA’s host of speedy wingers. With skills to take on defenders and create passing or shooting space, coupled with her aggression and physicality, O’Connor is hard to take the ball off of and can be the driving force in OA’s midfield. On her day, she is capable of taking over a game. OA’s direct style of play is no secret, and O’Connor is solid on set pieces, and if they can get consistent performances from O’Connor in the midfield it gives the Tigers an added dimension to their attacks.
Ella Pisani, Junior – King Philip
Last season was always going to be one of transition for the Warriors, as they moved away from a class headlined by the program’s two all-time leading scorers, Chloe Layne and Avery Snead. During the shortened 2020 year, Pisani emerged from the shadows of that talented class and showed that KP has plenty of playmaking ability left on the roster. Pisani scored seven times and racked up four assists for the Warriors last year, showing off an array of skills on the ball to elude markers and create space for a shot. Her close control on the edge of the box will keep all defenders on edge and also open lanes for her teammates to run into. Pisani also showed composure in the box and a talent for finishing off her chances. The Kelley-Rex looks wide open this fall and with Pisani returning after a year of experience at the varsity level, KP knows that it has strength in attack to take on the best teams in the league.