Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/20/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Milford, 46 vs. Brockton, 65 – Final

Boys Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)
Attleboro, 50 @ Taunton, 49 – – FinalIt came down to just one point as Attleboro clinched a win over Taunton, securing a 5-0 season and its first ever Kelley-Rex division title and first Hock title in indoor track. If Taunton had won, the Tigers would have clinched a three-way share with the Bombardiers and Mansfield. Attleboro earned a sweep in the long jump, led by Adrian Rivera’s leap of 19-01.50 followed by Kaidan Murray and Cashel Stuger. Stuger anchored the sweep of the 55M hurdles, taking first in 8.41 followed by Murray and Peter DelPozzo. Attleboro also got wins from Jacob Blazek (600M, 1:31.4), Damon Dugan (high jump, 5-08.00), and Chris Leonardo (shot put, 42-11.75). Dmitrius Shearrion (55M, 6.92), Conal Scully (300M, 37.49), Ryan Strawbridge (1000M, 2:43.49), Andrew Cali (1 Mile, 4:50.84), and Brayden Cali (10:24.23) all won for Taunton.

North Attleboro, 68 @ Sharon, 32 – FinalNathan Shultz took first in two events and North Attleboro swept three events to score a win over Sharon. Shultz was the winner in the 55M dash (6.80) and then anchored a sweep of the high jump (5-10.00) followed by Nathan MacDonald and Aaron Levesque. Levesque took first in the long jump, followed by MacDonald and Kyle Conroy for another sweep, and Brodie Clemente, Joseph Beckett, and Mark Etienvre swept the shot put in North’s win. North also got wins from Michael Simonian (300M, 39.29), Evan Tino (600M, 1:34.99), and Connor Peterson (1 Mile, 4:52.31). Sharon’s Karthik Pisupati won the 1000M, Adam Lessard was first in the 2 Mile race, and Alexander Gong took first in the 55M hurdles (8.51).

Canton, 32 @ Stoughton, 63 – FinalStoughton swept the 600M and the shot put, adding first place finishes in six more events and one relay in its win over Canton. Jett Tran-Burger was first in the 600M followed by Alex Huynh Joao Marotti whie Zachary Roos took first in the shot put followed by teammates Thomas Laz and Shawn Fargher. Jalen Castillo was a triple winner for the Knights, taking first in the 55M, the 300M, and the long jump while other winners for Stoughton included Thomas Brennan (1000M), Rinoldi Lauradin (high jump), and Hunter Tran (55m hurdles). Kyle Downing won the 2 Mile in 10:44.58 for Canton while Sam Vail set a new PR in the 1 Mile, taking first in 5:09.26.

Foxboro, 20 @ Oliver Ames, 72 – FinalOliver Ames won 11 of the 12 events, including both relays, on its way to completing a perfect 5-0 dual meet season to clinch the Davenport division title. Fabrice Fouron was the big winner for the Tigers, taking three first-place finishes to lead the way. Fouron won the high jump (5-02.00), the long jump (19-01.50), and the 55M hurdles (8.90) to register 15 points on his own. OA also picked up wins from Ashton Hart (55M, 6.95), Joshua Tocci (300M, 39.31), Wyatt Fritchman (1000M, 2:55.46), Ryan Sarney (1 Mile, 4:33.01), Alexander Pierce (2 Mile, 10:24.90), and Brayden Burton (shot put, 35-07.00). Foxboro’s Jared Ciora took first place in the 600M with a time of 1:35.12.

Mansfield, 65 @ Franklin, 31 – FinalMansfield took first place in seven events plus swept both relays to grab a win over Franklin. Jake Wall was a double-winner, taking first in both the 55M (6.79) and the long jump (21-06.25) while the Hornets also got wins from Riley Tremblay (1000M, 2:50.19), Chris Leonard (1 Mile, 4:39.97), Collin Stevens (2 Mile, 10:30.17), Evan Rawlings (high jump, 5-02.00), and Dylan Buchanan (55M hurdles, 8.54). Luke Sidwell (300M, 37.70), Tyler Powderly (300M, 1:28.58), and Emmett Lackey (shot put, 40-08.75) had wins for Franklin.

Milford, 39 @ King Philip, 60 – FinalAnchored by a sweep in the long jump and five more first place finishes, King Philip secured a win over Milford. Degen Granese anchored the sweep, taking first in the long jump followed by Luca Giardini and Turag Ikbal. Granese added a win in the high jump, Giardini took first in the 600M, Nathan Gebhard won the 300M, Noah Hurd was first in the 1000M, and Nathan Sylven won the 2 Mile race. Milford got wins from Patrick Delaney (55M), James Comisky (1 Mile), Marco Monteiro (shot put) and Samuel Borst (55M hurdles).










Girls Indoor Track (@ Reggie Lewis Center)
North Attleboro, 53 @ Sharon, 46 – FinalNorth Attleboro swept both the high jump and the shot put and recorded points in every individual event to land a close win over Sharon. Caroline Folan won the high jump followed by Sydney O’Connor and Meagan Dowd while Marissa Robinson took first in the shot put and was followed by Sienna Newth and Noemie Eugene. Dowd also took first in the 300M while Katie Galgoczy won the 2 Mile race. Sharon’s Simeone Dunbar won three events (55M, long jump, 55M hurdles) while Samantha Connors (600M), Sierra Robison (1000M), and Daphne Theiler (1 Mile) each finished first for the Eagles.

Canton, 30 @ Stoughton, 69 – FinalStoughton’s Shayla Ford was a triple winner and Elaine McCarty won two individual events to help the Black Knights take down Canton. Ford was first in the 55M (7.85), the 300M (46.84), and the long jump (15-03.00) while McCarty won the 1000M (3:30.67) and the 1 Mile (6:23.15). Also winning for Stoughton were Julie Richardson (600M, 1:49.32), Alexis Mederios (2 Mile, 14:19.71), and Annalisa Marckmann (shot put, 29-05.00). Canton earned wins from Katie Oliver (55M hurdles, 10.70) and Ella Lewis (high jump, 4-06.00). Lewis was also third in the long jump and second in the 55M hurdles while Oliver had a second place finish in the 55M dash.

Foxboro, 29 @ Oliver Ames, 69 – FinalOliver Ames had two of the top three finishes in eight of the 10 individual events and split the relays to secure a big win over Foxboro, completing a perfect 5-0 dual meet season to grab the Davenport division title. Johanna Holmes, Julia Maclaine, and Amelia Andre each took home a pair of wins for the Tigers, Holmes taking first in both the 600M (1:45.64) and the 1000M (3:17.05), Maclaine winning the 300M (45.66) and the high jump (4-08.00), and Andre taking the 55M (7.99) and the long jump (14-08.00). Taegen Hodges (1 Mile, 5:40.92), Katie Sobieraj (2 Mile, 11:34.83), Emily Meyers (shot put, 23-00.50), and Tatum Fritchman (55M hurdles, 10.95) also won for OA.

Mansfield, 53 @ Franklin, 47 – FinalMansfield took points from each individual event, getting two of the top three spots in five events to just edge out Franklin and finish the season at 5-0 for the Kelley-Rex division title. The Hornets got key points with a 1-2 finish in the 55M dash (Chloe Guthrie, Abigail Scott), the 1000M (Katherine Miller, Meghan Johnston), the 1 Mile (Norah Puleo, Alanna Conley) and the long jump (Anna Buckley, Elsie Roberts) plus first and third in the 55M hurdles (Buckley, Julia Pike). Mansfield also got key wins in the 600M (Caitlin Dumouchel) and the 2 Mile (Anna Moore). Franklin picked up wins from Sophia Cuneo (300M, 1:48.13), Abigail Griffith (high jump, 5-00.00), and Darby Nicholson (shot put, 30-08.50).

Milford, 68 @ King Philip, 29 – FinalKiyanni Simas won three individual events and Sydney Kalil won two more to help the Scarlet Hawks land a win over King Philip. Simas took first in the 55M dash, the long jump (a Scarlet Hawk sweep), and the 55M hurdles while Kalil was the winner in both the 1 Mile and 2 Mile races. Milford also got a win from Tatiana Chaplin in the 1000M. KP’s Grace Lawler (300M), Leah Vigevani (600M), and Ahunna James (shot put) had first place finishes.

Attleboro, 53 @ Taunton, 47 – FinalAttleboro took first place in six individual events and finished second in three of them for key points in a close win over Taunton. The Bombarders went first and second in the high jump (Rebecca Rainey, Madison Ellis), the long jump (Jahela Douglas, Aariana Ridge), and the shot put (Madison Morgan, Elayna Marinelli). Attleboro also had first place finishes in the 55M dash (Douglas), the 1 Mile (Emelia Smith), and the 55M hurdles (Angela Cooney(. Taunton got wins from Nia Mainer-Smith (300M), Phylicia Dias (600M), Kiley Quinlan (1000M), and Emersyn DePonte (2 Mile).

Boys Swimming
Attleboro, 85 @ Mansfield, 66 – FinalMansfield’s Rico Palanza and Xavier Gwynne each won an event, took second in another, and were apart of two winning relay teams. Palanza won the 50 free and took second in the 100 free while Gwynne was first in the 200 medley and second in the 100 backstroke. Senior Kevin McCarthy added a second place finish in the 200 free and a PR time for second in the 100 free while classmate Ryan Morley swam a pair of personal bests in the 100 breaststroke (third place) and the 500 free. Palanza, Gwynne, McCarthy and Morley teamed up to win the 200 medley relay, and the team of McCarthy, Neil Dalpe, Gwynne, and Palanza won the 200 free relay.

Sharon @ Oliver Ames, 4:30

Girls Swimming
Attleboro, 90 @ Mansfield, 61 – FinalAttleboro freshman Zuri Ferguson broke her third school record so far this season and qualified for states in a pair of events to help the Bombardiers take down Mansfield. After setting new marks in the 100 backstroke and 500 free earlier this year, Ferguson set a new record of 59.56 in the 100 butterfly, beating the record time of 1:01.2. Ferguson also won the 200 IM and was apart of the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays. Ferguson was joined by Natalia Kotnisz, Caroline Lynch-Bartek, and Ella Lynch-Bartek on the 400 free, which qualified for states. Caroline Lynch-Bartek added wins in the 200 and 500 free on top of the two relay wins. For Mansfield, Sofia Seifert set a new personal best and qualified for sectionals in a first place finish in the 50 free and also took first in the 100 breaststroke with another PR.

Sharon @ Oliver Ames, 4:30

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Hockomock League MVP

Madison Ellis, Attleboro

Hockomock League All Stars

Olivia Hillman, Attleboro
Emelia Westwater, Attleboro
Ava Haggerty, Attleboro
Carly Fitzgerald, Canton
Erin Lane, Canton
Sarah Cunningham, Canton
Ellie Bohane, Canton
Kate Collins, Foxboro
Val Beigel, Foxboro
Mary Collins, Foxboro
Kaitlyn Carney, Franklin
Kate O’Rourke, Franklin
Kendall Jones, Franklin
Shaw Downing, Franklin
Kelly Holmes, King Philip
Sydney O’Shea, King Philip
Lily Brown, King Philip
Caitlin Dumouchel, Mansfield
Maddie Hunt, Milford
Julia Puccio, North Attleboro
Caroline Folan, North Attleboro
Georgia Costello, Oliver Ames
Ava Costello, Oliver Ames
Zofia Bangs, Stoughton
Kylie Thorpe, Taunton
Em Gannon, Taunton

Honorable Mentions
Sarah McMahon, Attleboro
Payton McDonough, Canton
Mya Waryas, Foxboro
Sophia Cuneo, Franklin
Molly Piller, King Philip
Maddie Brown, Mansfield
Stephanie Wong, Milford
Kelsey Briere, North Attleboro
Lily Gaskill, Oliver Ames
Natalie Kessler, Sharon
Kate Bulger, Stoughton
Kaysie DeMoura, Taunton

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars

Canton Keeps Rolling With Shutout of Mansfield

Canton field hockey
Payton McDonough settles the ball on a corner. Canton scored twice off corners to beat Mansfield at Alumni Field. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Josh PerryFollowJoshPerry


MANSFIELD, Mass. – Canton lost its opening two games of the season and gave up nine goals in the process. The Bulldogs were incorporating a lot of new faces in the defense and there was a learning curve. It is a curve that the team seems to have left in the rearview mirror.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

With a 2-0 shutout of Mansfield on Tuesday night at Alumni Field, Canton has won its last seven games and moved into first place in the Davenport division. Defense has been a major factor in that win streak, as the Bulldogs have allowed only one goal in those seven wins and are now second in the league in goals allowed.

“Our defense is really stepping up,” said Canton coach Chrissy O’Connor. “We definitely started out slow. That was definitely one of the areas that we were trying to fill in some lost spots from last year. The first two games, there were some growing pains there, but they’re really starting to gel together.”

Things didn’t start off comfortably for Canton on Tuesday. Mansfield has speed on the wings and the Hornets tried to take advantage of that in the transition game. Midway through the first quarter, Celia Puleo got free down the left and knocked a cross into the circle. Maddie Brown did well to bring the head-high pass down and get a shot on target, but Canton goalie Carolyn Durand was able to make a double save to keep it scoreless.

It was the best scoring chance of the game for the Hornets, who forced Durand into only one more save for the rest of the night.

Mansfield coach Theresa Nyhan said, “We lost it in the midfield, a combination of Canton making plays, poor decision-making on our part, and just not having enough people up on attack.”

Canton started to tilt the field, putting constant pressure on the Mansfield defense. Despite all the possession in the attacking half, Mansfield goalie Lily Danehy was largely untroubled. Ellie Bohane tried to create an opening 10 minutes into the game, but Sarah Cunningham’s shot on the turn went just wide.

It took 13 minutes for the Bulldogs to put a shot on target. A 10-yard shot through bodies off the stick of Maggie McCready was kicked aside by Danehy.

The second quarter was more of the same, Canton attacking in numbers and Mansfield repelling those attacks without allowing anything near the goal. After nine minutes, Bohane had a look that Danehy was equal to and, in the final minute of the half, Erin Lane’s goal-bound shot was blocked by Audrey Murphy before Danehy cleared the rebound.

“A lot of receiving issues, a lot of mistakes on our own that we need to clean up offensively,” said O’Connor about the lack of clear chances in the first half. “We do have a lot of different scorers, which is a positive, but we need to clean up some of the errors.”

While Canton was struggling at times to connect in the circle, a lot of the credit goes to Mansfield defender Caitlin Dumouchel, who seemed to always be in the right place to break up attacks and try to spring the Hornets down the other end.

“She’s a game changer for us,” Nyhan said of Dumouchel. “She’s a great last line of defense and an awesome first line of attack. It’s not just a whack, she carries out and she carries out with speed.”

After lacking the final touch in the first half hour, Canton wasted no time finding the opener after the break. Just two minutes into the third quarter, the Bulldogs got the game’s first corner and converted it into the game’s first goal. Cunningham played it out to Payton McDonough at the top of the circle. A touch put the ball onto Lane’s stick and she lifted a shot through traffic that found the back of the net.

Mansfield’s fast start on the break had faded and the Hornets were struggling to get anything going in the offensive end of the field. Dumouchel blocked an attempted shot off a corner and sent the outlet pass to Brown in the middle of the field, but her attempt to race forward was quickly stopped by the stick of Laura Valkanas.

The pairing of Valkanas playing as a sweeper behind Carly Fitzgerald, the lone returning defender from last season, and Sierra Abbott has been lights out since the second game of the season.

Canton had a good chance to double its lead 11 minutes into the second half, with Bohane firing a pass in front to Audrey Koen, but Danehy came through with a huge double save. Two minutes later, off another corner, the Bulldogs got their second. This time McDonough played a pass to Cunningham at the near post. The first tip was stopped but got caught under Danehy’s feet and Cunningham was able to poke it across the line.

“Which is one of the things we’ve been struggling with is our corners, just getting off a shot and things we’ve been working on,” said O’Connor. “So, I was glad to see the girls actually capitalize on corners.”

The fourth quarter was largely a stalemate, as Canton continued to hold possession but was wiling to play field position and hold onto its lead. Mansfield did try to make one late push to get back into the game, winning its only corner with six minutes to play only to move too early and wipe away the opportunity.

“It’s kind of the way things have been going for us,” Nyhan explained. “We have three returning varsity players. We’re young and we’re struggling scoring. So, when they don’t score early I think they feel disappointed and then they just put so much pressure on themselves. They need to relax and play.”

O’Connor knows there is still a long way to go in the season and a lot of potential twists in the division’s title race, but she is thrilled with the progress her team is making. “Definitely gelling a little bit more,” she said. “The girls really stepped up and every game there’s somebody different that’s improving. They’re really starting to come into their own.”

Canton (7-2-0) will host rival Foxboro on Friday, while Mansfield (3-4-2) will travel to North Attleboro.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview
Foxboro’s Mary Collins (left) battles for possession with King Philip’s Ally Beltramini during the 2020 season. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Attleboro

2020 Record: 5-3-6
Coach: Lindsey Antunes
With a large senior class full of experience, the Bombardiers are looking to make the tournament and a run at the Kelley-Rex division title. Attleboro has players back all over the field and could be a serious contender for the division crown.

The offense starts with returning All-Hockomock selection Madison Ellis, who enters her third year with the team. Ellis has been one of the best attackers over the past two years, leading the Bombardiers during last year’s abbreviated season and was third on the team as a sophomore. Classmate Sarah McMahon should see an expanded role this year and will be tasked with helping pace the offensive attack for Attleboro.

Defensively, the Bombardiers have senior Ava Haggerty back in the cage and that is a big boost for the defense. Haggerty has started since her sophomore year and is one of the most experienced goalies in the league. Stand out defender Emma Briggs will anchor the defensive unit in front of Haggerty. Senior captain Emelia Westwater and classmate Jordan Croteau highlight the midfield unit for Attleboro.

“We are looking forward to transitioning back into the 11v11 model and a more traditional season,” said head coach Lindsay Antunes. “We have a great senior class, who has been working diligently in the offseason which we feel will positively impact our program and our overall season.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Canton

2020 Record: 8-2-2
Coach: Chrissy O’Connor
After missing out on back-to-back league titles but just two points, Canton graduated a host of long-serving players. Despite those graduations, the Bulldogs return several key players who are looking to step into bigger roles and help the team get back on top in what should be another difficult Davenport division title race.

Canton will obviously feel the loss of the league’s co-leading scorer, Maria Femia, but the Bulldogs have a lot of attacking talent that should be able to make up for at least some of those goals. Junior forward Ellie Bohane is a three-year varsity player and her quickness on the wing and finishing ability have her poised for a breakout year. Senior Erin Lane has been a playmaker from midfield and classmate Payton McDonough is a skillful, physical presence in midfield or inside the circle. Senior Sarah Cunningham and junior Audrey Koen will also be factors in what remains a dynamic attack.

The defense will be a young group this season. Senior Carly Fitzgerald is the lone returning starter and will be the backbone of the defensive unit. Junior Carolyn Durand and Jackie Smith are vying to take over the goalie position and there are several younger players that look capable of jumping into the defense and contributing right away. Sophomore Maggie McCready will be one of the newcomers to keep an eye on this year.

“Offensively we have some versatility with several players with scoring potential,” said Canton coach Chrissy O’Connor. “While we have several slots to fill on defense, we have our returning starter Carly Fitzgerald, who will undoubtedly be the backbone of our defense.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Foxboro

2020 Record: 7-3-2
Coach: Melissa Bordieri
Foxboro slipped to third place in the Davenport last fall, but was only four points back of first-place Oliver Ames and went into the final week of the regular season with a shot at the title. The Warriors were impacted by graduation and transfers, so there will be some new faces in new spots this season, but there is still confidence that the pieces will come together for another division title challenge.

Even with the transfer of leading scorer Dylan Rappoli, the Warriors still have a lot of firepower up top. Senior Kate Collins will be the focal point at the center forward position, coming off a season in which she led the team with eight assists. Junior Mya Waryas and sophomore Mary Collins will be in the forward line and both have shown the ability to get into good scoring positions in the circle.

Midfield will be led by senior Paige Simoneau, who will bring much-needed experience. Alongside Simoneau will be junior Mia DiNunzio, who adds club experience to her time on varsity and adds a burst of energy. Sophomore Val Beigel is another dynamic player who can be counted on at both ends of the field. The midfield will play a big role in Foxboro’s team defense, but the Warriors can also count on two strong goalies. Senior Lilli Jones returns from varsity last year and Katherine Ferguson will make the jump up from JV and is expected to see some time this year as well.

“We’re looking good,” said Foxboro coach Melissa Bordieri. “We’ve got some new players and some returning players, so I’m feeling good about it. Trying to put players in the right position to get the maximum out of the team. I think, as a unit, we’ll be a competitor in our division for sure.”







2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Franklin

2020 Record: 11-0-2 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Coach: Michelle Hess
Franklin has won back-to-back league titles and enters the season on a run of 30 league games unbeaten (26-0-4) going back to 2018. After graduating 11 seniors from the Hock Cup champions, the Panthers will be inexperienced at several spots this season, but there is confidence in the new players that they can step in and keep Franklin’s impressive run going this fall.

It is in attack that the Panthers will have a lot of new faces, but Franklin coach Michelle Hess sees a lot of skill from the new group, and a willingness to get into dangerous positions. Junior midfielder Kaitlyn Carney is back after tying for the league lead with 22 points last year (15 goals and seven assists). Her aggressive personality will be a major factor in getting the Panthers into the attack. Defensively, Franklin is quick and experienced. Seniors Kate O’Rourke and Kendall Jones are both returning to provide leadership at the back. Senior Jill Fenerty is carrying an injury into the season, but the Panthers will hope she returns quickly.

“We are looking forward to defending our 2-year title and working hard towards a three-peat as champions,” said Hess. “Although we are inexperienced and have some positions to fill from last year, I feel we have players that will step up nicely into their new roles and do a great job.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

King Philip

2020 Record: 8-3-3
Coach: Lisa Cropper
King Philip lost three games last season and all three were to league champ Franklin, by a combined four goals, including a one-goal loss in the Hock Cup final. The Warriors graduated their three starting forwards from last year, but return a roster that is as experienced (15 seniors) as any in the league and KP coach Lisa Cropper will be hoping that they have enough experience to end her former team’s two-year run at the top of the Kelley-Rex.

While the three all-stars are no longer leading the line for the Warriors, there is still plenty of firepower up top. Seniors Sydney O’Shea and Jen Daniels will be expected to take on bigger responsibilities and get into good goal-scoring positions. Sophomore Mara Boldy and freshman Makenzie McDevitt are a pair of newcomers to watch and could provide an instant burst of energy in the KP attack. Sophomore Kelly Holmes will run things from the center of midfield and senior Christina Gifun provides support for both the attack and defense.

The strength of the team should be an experienced back line. Seniors Morgan Cunningham, Lily Brown, and Haley Izydorczak are strong on-ball defenders and, if anyone gets through the first line of pressure, senior Molly Piller is always there at sweeper to clear the ball. Junior Haley Bright will be stepping in to be the new starting goalie.

“We should have some good depth and play about 14 kids rotating thru the lineup,” said Cropper. “Losing all three starting all-star forwards and goalie to graduation, we have some big shoes to fill at both ends of the field, but we should be solid in the midfield and on defense with a senior-heavy team.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Mansfield

2020 Record: 2-7-3
Coach: Theresa Nyhan
Mansfield will be leaning on its senior leadership this season but it will need to be a complete group effort as the Hornets are looking for key contributions from both its juniors and sophomores on the roster. There are seven seniors on the roster with captains Celia Puleo (striker) and Caitlin Dumouchel (defense) leading the way on each end of the field.

Puleo spearheads a veteran offensive unit as she is joined by classmates Sadie Mello and Maddie Brown, giving the Hornets a trio of experienced players in its attack. Dumouchel is the anchor of the defense with senior Bethany Sears and junior Hallie Popat currently in the mix. Head coach Theresa Nyhan expects to see some new faces emerge both offensively and defensively as the season progresses throughout.

Senior Grace Bertolino is just one of six players back from last year’s team and is going to control the midfield for the Hornets, getting up the field to get involved with the attack while also transitioning back to help solidify the defense. Junior Danni Cuzzi and sophomore Lola Varricchione look to fill out the midfield for the Hornets. Junior Lily Danehy made the switch from the field to the cage last season and returns as the starter this year.

“The Hornets are excited to get back to the traditional field hockey format,” Nyhan said. “Team play, fluidity and communication will be tenets of Hornet success!”




2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Milford

2020 Record: 0-9-2
Coach: Tim Dowd
The Hawks will be putting a major emphasis on defense this season, hoping to establish a solidified front and work their way up the field against the always tough Hockomock League competition.

Senior captain Maddie Hunt returns in the cage for the second straight season, and she has played against a lot of tough competition already. Her experience will be key as the Hawks look to improve each game. Seniors Emma Tredeau and Stephanie Wong are also captains for the team and they’ll be counted on their leadership both on and off the field.

Head coach Tim Dowd is not only counting on his captains to lead the way but the entire senior class. Carmela Bon Tempo, Ashley Maldonado, Gill Meaney, and McKenna Smith will all play key roles for the Hawks this season. Tredeau and Smith will be the focus of the offense alongside Tessa Scrimgeour and Stella Portes as Milford looks to build cohesion on the offensive end of the field. Newcomers Sam Fazo and Lindsay Casman will be in the mix as well.

The midfield could be the strength of the team with dynamic players Jordan Douglas and Ashlynn Ringo — both juniors — ready to take a big step forward this year after getting experience at the varsity level last year. Bon Tempo will be joined by Sophia Soares and Hailey Beagle to help strengthen the defense in from of Hunt.

“We’re looking forward to a great season and getting back to the normal rules of play,” Dowd said. “As a team, we’re going to be focused on defense first and try to give our goalkeeper as much help as we can. We’re also going to try to work hard as a team and stay positive.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

North Attleboro

2020 Record: 3-10-0
Coach: Karen Folan
Expectations are high for the Rocketeers this season with a strong mix of experienced seniors and juniors back in the fold. With key players back at all positions, North Attleboro is looking to get back into the mix for the Davenport title.

North Attleboro will try to be on the front foot this year, using speed and skill to apply pressure to opposing defenses. Senior captain Zoe McKeon is back for her second year up front and will be a target for the Rocketeers’ talented midfield unit. Senior captain Kelsey Briere will provide key leadership both on and off the field and will be joined in the midfield by junior Julia Puccio, the team’s leading scorer last season and All-Hockomock selection. Puccio is among the top players in the league and will be an important link in the transition game for North.

The midfield also will feature junior Caroline Folan, another two-year member of the varsity program. Her speed will help North get the ball up the field as the Rocketeers push from defense into offense, setting up teammates in the circle. Junior Ava Mckeon will add a strong defensive presence to the midfield while still firing drives on net from the top of the circle.

“We have high expectations for ourselves this season,” said head coach Karen Folan. “With a core line up of experienced players that mesh well, there is a drive to generate lots of offensive pressure. We will look to keep the energy on the field high by utilizing the depth on our roster.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Oliver Ames

2020 Record: 9-1-2 (Davenport division champions)
Coach: Sharon Lawrence
Oliver Ames edged Canton and Foxboro to win the Davenport title in 2020. In each of the last three seasons that the Tigers have played in the division, they have come out on top. OA will have a challenge to make it four straight titles, as the Tigers graduated 11 seniors (eight of which were two-year starters), but there is a lot of talent returning to keep the expectations high going into the new year.

With nine returning seniors, eight juniors, and two sophomores that saw significant minutes last season, OA has reloaded to take on the league’s best. The key for the Tigers will be rebuilding the defense, after graduating an entire back line. Junior Maddie Proia will be the anchor on that end of the field. Senior Ava Costello will be the driving force in the midfield, which is loaded with experienced seniors, and she is a key to the Tigers getting forward into the attack.

Senior Georgia Costello is the team’s top returning scorer and the combination between the twin sisters will give OA plenty of chances in transition. The Tigers will also return junior Julia Maclaine and sophomore Erin Cottam, who were both vital to OA’s title run last year. The speedy wingers give the Tigers a consistent outlet and both showed a nose for the goal. Depth will also be a strength, as OA coach Sharon Lawrence believes her bench can step in to produce and give fresh legs.

“We are a brand new team this year with lots of re-positioning,” Lawrence said, “but we are improving every day and building on our passing game. There is magic in the air with our season back on track, and I know good things and lots of goals are in our future this fall.”




2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Sharon

2020 Record: 0-11-0
Coach: Paulina Kosmadakis
Sharon has four captains this season and they will be leading the way as the Eagles look to improve each and every game, getting better as the season progresses.

Seniors Abby Gott, Rachel Glass, Ashley Young, and Shiraz Becker are all captains for the Eagles this team with Young back in the fold after missing last season due to injury. Young and Glass will help in all areas of the field while Becker and Gott will make up a strong forward line for the Eagles. Head coach Paulina Kosmadakis has been impressed with the captains’ heart, determination, and “true grit” so far.

Junior Natalie Kessler will start in the cage for the Eagles, who are looking to improve on the defensive end as they tackle an incredibly tough schedule against Hockomock foes. Sophomore Jane Hendrixson joins the varsity squad this year and will be an important piece of the Eagles’ defense.

“The girls have been working hard to try and be more of an offensive team,” Kosmadakis said “Sharon’s defense has always been strong but as an overall team, we are looking forward to playing both sides of the field this year.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Stoughton

2020 Record: 5-7-0
Coach: Dan Mark
Varsity experience will be in short supply for Stoughton this season. The Black Knights graduated 20 players from last year’s team and return only four starters. This will be a season of transition, as a host of new faces get acclimated to playing against Hockomock competition, but with hope that the talent could carry the team to a playoff spot.

Senior Zofia Bangs scored 10 goals last season and she is back to give the Black Knights a consistent goal-scoring threat. Senior Mia Allie is also back at forward and will be looking to step into a bigger role and take advantage of more chances this season. Seniors Kate Bulger and Sydney Menz will bring athleticism to the midfield and senior Melody Casna will be stepping into goal this season. Although the Black Knights will have 11 seniors on this year’s roster, the vast majority will be getting their first varsity appearances.

“We lack experience at many key positions,” said Stoughton coach Dan Mark, “but the [returning] players will supply stability and experience for less experienced players.”

2021 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Taunton

2020 Record: 0-2-8
Coach: Liz Hathaway
Taunton are another team that will be turning to youth this fall. The Tigers graduated eight seniors from a team that only saw the field four times in a very abbreviated season. There will still be plenty of speed and athleticism on display for Taunton, which has consistently proven over the past few seasons to be a tough team to beat even for the top teams in the league.

Senior forward Ashley Amaro scored three times in four games last year and will lead the line for the Tigers, using her ability to carry the ball and her speed to stretch the opposition. Junior Caelen O’Leary is a newcomer to the attack, who will offer Amaro a good partner up top. Senior Kylie Thorpe returns in the midfield and has been an important player supporting both the defense and the attack. Senior Emily Gannon is back in goal and will once again be one of the league’s top shot stoppers. Junior Thalia Nogueira is going to be a key player in the Taunton defense, with her aggression and leadership needed in a young group.

“We do have some returning speed and ball handlers that we will be really counting on,” said Taunton coach Liz Hathaway. “Our returning players do demonstrate a good field awareness that translates well both offensively and defensively.”

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/27/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Attleboro, 1 – FinalOliver Ames scored one run in each the fourth and fifth innings and that was enough offense for junior pitcher Jack Richardson. Richardson didn’t allow an earned run in a complete game effort, striking out seven to get the win. Offensively, Will Whiteside went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI and Ryan McKenney added a hit and an RBI.

Canton, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final (8 Inn.)Canton erased a one-run deficit in the top of the sixth and then tacked on three runs in the top of the eighth to earn a win in extra innings on the road. The Bulldogs totaled eight hits on the day with Cam Sanchez (run) chipping in with two and six others registering one. Sawyer Julier-Albert drove in a pair of runs and scored once while Matt Chafin and Andrew Middleton each had one RBI. Zach Peters allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts in five innings of work. Matt Quan, Andrew Butler, and Nico Bonanno each tossed a scoreless inning in relief.

Foxboro, 6 @ Milford, 12 – FinalMilford took advantage of eight hits and nine walks to score 12 runs and get a win at home over visiting Foxboro. Mario Lee drove in three runs for the Hawks while Evan Cornelius (run) and Grant Scudo (two hits, run) each had two RBI in the win. Carter Scudo added a pair of hits, a pair of runs, and one RBI for Milford, who scored six runs in the second inning to take a 7-2 lead and pulled away for good with four runs in the sixth. Ryan LeClair went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run for Foxboro while Sean O’Leary added three hits and an RBI.

Sharon, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – FinalFranklin erased an early one-run deficit, scoring once in each the second and third with two big insurance runs coming in the fourth inning. Ethan Voellmicke tossed 4.1 innings of shutout ball with just two hits allowed, striking out nine to get the win. James Kuczmiec came in to get the save with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts. Offensively, CJ Jette had a pair of hits including a double, and drove in one run, Marcus Baker slapped a pair of hits, Jake Fitzgibbons drove in a run, and Jack Marino had a hit, a walk, and scored a run.

North Attleboro, 2 @ Taunton, 9 – FinalTaunton scored once in each of the first four innings, tacked on two more in the fifth, and pulled away for good with three runs in the sixth to knock off visiting North Attleboro. Ty Cali (run, RBI) and Colby DeCouta (run, RBI) each had two hits for the Tigers while Danny MacDougall had four stolen bases, three runs, and two RBI in the win. Matthew Ferrara got the win on the mound with two runs allowed on 10 hits and one walk, striking out two in 6.2 innings of work.

Stoughton, 2 @ King Philip, 9 – FinalJunior Shawn Lagere and senior Conor Cooke hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning and King Philip never trailed in a win over Stoughton. Stoughton cut the deficit in half with a run in the top of the third but KP answered with four runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth inning. Cooke finished with three runs and a pair of stolen bases while Lagere had two stolen bases and two runs.










Softball
Attleboro, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – FinalLindsey Perry picked up her fourth win of the season, tossing a one-hit shutout on the road to lead the Bombardiers. Perry carried a no-hitter in the final inning before OA registered its first hit. Perry struck out seven and issued just one walk in the win. Attleboro played solid defense throughout and offensively the Bombardiers had 17 hits as a team with Hailey Perry accounting for three hits and Brenna Morse and Meghan Gordon each with two. Taylor Lake had the hit for OA while Katie Melendy allowed five earned in a complete game effort.

Milford, 0 @ Foxboro, 10 – Final

Franklin, 13 @ Sharon, 2 – FinalFranklin found its offense late in the game, pulling away to pick up its fourth win of the season. The Eagles kept it close early, trailing by just four after four full. Sophomore pitcher Ally Foulsham had four strikeouts for Sharon.

Mansfield, 8 @ Canton, 7 – FinalMansfield jumped out to an early need, Canton rallied to jump in front in the fifth inning, but the Hornets were able to come back and scored two runs in the top of the seventh to secure the win. After taking a 1-0 lead in the second, Mansfield scored four times in the third. Jill Koppy got it started with a lead off single, followed by hits from Ashlyn Conley, Alanna Conley, and Abby DeCoste. The Bulldogs answered back with four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to go up 6-5. Hits from Casey Moussette and Molly Kucharski led to the tying run for the Hornets in the sixth. In the seventh, DeCoste, Callie Lake, and Moussette each had hits to plate the game-winning runs. Canton got one back in the bottom of the seventh but the Hornets held on. Lake, Moussette, and Kucharski each finished with three hits for Mansfield, which had 17 as a team.

Taunton, 4 @ North Attleboro, 0 – FinalTaunton scored a pair of runs in each the second and seventh innings while Kelsey White was lights out in the circle as the Tigers passed their toughest test to date. White allowed just two hits and issued one walk while striking out 14 batters. McKenzie McAloon drove in two with a base hit in the top of the third to give the visitors the lead. Taunton tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh with Angie Lynch and Kylie Thorpe coming in to score their second runs of the game. North Attleboro sophomore Zoey McDonough had a strong showing in the circle with four runs allowed (three earned) on six hits and four walks, striking out five.

King Philip, 10 @ Stoughton, 1 – FinalKing Philip set the tone early with three first inning runs and never looked back in a win on the road. The Warriors added four runs in the third and three more in the fourth. Sophomore Sarah Cullen belted out a team-high three hits (including a triple) along with three RBI and one run scored while Mia Bennett also drove in three runs on a pair of hits. Sophomore Charlotte Raymond (two RBI, two runs), freshman Ava Lanza (two runs), and freshman Maddie Paschke each had two hits in the win. Junior Emma Sheehan earned the win in the circle, allowing one run on three hits and one walk, striking out five in a complete game effort. Sydney Menz hit a triple for Stoughton while Nicole Baker and Julie Powers each hit a double.




Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – FinalOliver Ames won all three singles matches in straight sets to secure a win over visiting Attleboro. Junior Kylash Ganesh picked up a 6-0, 6-3 win at first singles, junior Rapheal Vache earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at second singles, and freshman Nick Westerbeke prevailed 6-1, 6-1 at third singles to give the Tigers the win at home. Attleboro’s Alejandro Jimenez and Malachi Jefferson emerged with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win at first doubles while the pairing of Kyle Neuendorf and Tyler Rocchio didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.

Mansfield, 2 @ Canton, 3 – FinalBy sweeping all three singles matches, Canton defended home court with a 3-2 decision over visiting Mansfield. Suraj Ramanathan earned a big win at first singles with a 6-1, 6-4 score, Max Kupferman added a 6-2, 6-2 win at second singles and Minh Duong prevailed 6-2, 7-5 at third singles. Mansfield won both doubles matches with Kai Schirmacher and Nikhil Lankipalle taking a 6-4, 6-2 win at first doubles while Adam Elsner and Jonah Fine won 6-4, 6-3 at second doubles.

Milford, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – FinalFoxboro swept all three singles matches and added another point from doubles play in a 4-1 win over visiting Milford. Garrett Spillane was victorious 6-2, 6-1 at first singles, Justin Neale earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles, and Jason Kandula walked away with a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of Bo Canfield and Visruth Chavalam took care of business at first doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 win. Milford’s second doubles team of seniors Connor MacLeod and Mike Tersarotto secured a 7-5, 6-2 win.

Franklin, 3 @ Sharon, 2 – FinalFranklin’s Vayshnav Malhotra emerged from a three-hour marathon match at second singles with a three-set victory to give the Panthers a 3-2 decision over Sharon. Malhotra won the first set in a tiebreaker, dropped the second set, and then prevailed in a back-and-forth third set, the score finishing 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-5. Liam Marr (6-2, 6-2) added a win at first singles while the team of Thomas Broyles and Jay Gorgas (7-5, 6-4) battled to a tight win at second doubles.

Taunton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – FinalNorth Attleboro dropped just one total game in a clean sweep against visiting Taunton. Jonah Manso, Sam Gallager, and Will Folan all won in straight sets in singles action while both of North’s double teams — Connor Willis and Sayf Siddiq at first doubles and Brody Carter and Niteesh Saravanan at second doubles — won 6-0, 6-0.

King Philip, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – FinalKing Philip won both doubles matches in straight sets and junior Jon Cohen emerged with the deciding point for the Warriors in a win on the road. Cohen picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at third singles to give the match to the visitors. The team of Diego Nieto and Jackson Hom dropped just one game in a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles while juniors Adam Gousie and Connor Connor Sachleben earned a 6-2, 7-6 (1) win at second doubles. Stoughton’s Waseem Sablon battled to a 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 win at first singles while Rayan Sablon secured a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles.




Girls Tennis
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – FinalAttleboro defended home court with a singles sweep and one more win in doubles in a victory over visiting Oliver Ames. Ella Lynch Bartek (6-3, 6-1), Lauren Anthony (6-1, 6-4), and Tina Lam (6-2, 6-3) all won in singles action while Maddie Fulscado and Kyra Johnson emerged with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win at second doubles. OA’s first doubles team of Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou recorded a 6-0, 6-2 win for the Tigers.

Canton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – FinalCanton picked up a close win on the row, scoring points with a pair of singles wins and one from doubles action. Rachel Kupferman didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Laura Correal rallied for a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2 win at second singles, and the first doubles pairing of Lily Hazam and Olivia Durham notched a 6-2, 6-1 win at first doubles. For Mansfield, Alexis O’Keefe was victorious at third singles 6-4, 6-2 while Ally McDavitt and Alexis Togue teamed up for a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles.

Foxboro, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final Foxboro’s second doubles team of Sara Brennan and Emily Stow rallied from a one-set deficit to earn a win to complete the sweep on the road over Milford. Brennan and Stow picked up a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win while the team of Abby Costa and Alyssa Cloherty notched a 6-2, 6-0 win at first doubles. Athena Li (first singles) and Sarah Prag (second singles) each won 6-0, 6-0 while Maggie McAuliffe earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles.

Sharon, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final

North Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – FinalNorth Attleboro freshman Lauren Hunt emerged from a back-and-forth evenly matched first singles match with a tiebreaker win in the third set to clinch the deciding point for the Rocketeers in a win over Taunton. Senior Haley Strom rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles while Kyna Sha and Lauren Consentino battled to a 6-1, 7-6 (3) victory at second doubles. Hunt prevailed with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (11-9) win at first singles to clinch the match. For Taunton, Kayla Parrett secured a 6-4, 6-4 win at second singles and the team of Brooke Bell and Sam Parrett battled to a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win at first doubles.

Stoughton, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final




Boys Outdoor Track
North Attleboro, 88 @ Canton, 48 – FinalCanton’s Deyontai Dennis took first place in four different events: the 400M hurdles (58.3), the 110M hurdles (16.3), the long jump (20’9.5″), and the triple jump (44’9.5″).

Franklin @ Milford, 5:00

King Philip, 39 @ Mansfield, 97 – FinalMansfield took first place in 14 of the 16 events to earn a big win on senior day. Seniors Trevor Flint took first in the 1 Mile (4:44.2), Ryan Rispoli won the 2 Mile (11:01.6), Stephen Saba added a first place finish in the javelin (118’6), and DaSean Peters-Wolfe clocked a new PR with a first place time of 22.8 in the 200M. Jake Wall qualified for nationals and broke his own school record with a leap of 23’2 in the long jump.

Girls Outdoor Track
North Attleboro, 80 @ Canton, 56 – FinalFor Canton, Tayla Mendez-DeGraw broke the school record in the 100M (12.5) and anchored the winning 4×400 team (52.0).

Franklin @ Milford, 5:00

King Philip, 63 @ Mansfield, 73 – FinalMansfield took first place in both relays and swept the javelin for key points in a close win over visiting King Philip. Caitlin Dumouchel won the javelin for the Hornets with a throw of 109’9″, Kelsey Hubler was second at 69’8″, and Aimee Cowles took third at 68’4″. In the 4×100 relay, Abbie Scott, Meghan Driscoll, Brooke Penney, and Anna Buckley teamed up to cross first in 51.1 while the Mansfield 4×400 relay team of Katie Miller, Norah Puleo, Caitlin Dumouchel, and Anna Darlington won that event in 4:11.6. Dumouchel picked up her third win with a first-place time of 67.2 in the 400M hurdles.

Wrestling
North Attleboro, 48 @ Taunton, 30 – Final

Oliver Ames, 21 @ Milford, 44 – Final

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/13/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Foxboro, 2 @ Attleboro, 17 – FinalAttleboro scored two runs in each of the first three innings and then exploded for 11 runs in the fourth inning to collect its first win at its new turf field. Cam Foster, Matt McMahon, and Jake Gorman led the offensive charge for the hosts with three hits apiece while Eric Laurila scored three runs. Gorman also picked up the win on the mound.

Canton, 12 @ Taunton, 8 – FinalLocked in a one-run game through three innings, Canton’s offense caught fire in the top of the fourth inning with nine runs in an offensive packed win on the road at Taunton. Sawyer Julier-Albert clubbed three hits, including a double and a triple, with three RBI and two runs scored while Nico Bonnano had one RBI and one run scored on three hits to pace the Bulldogs’ offense, which totaled 13 hits. Steven Burbank and Matt Quan both drove in a pair of runs with two hits apiece, scoring once in the win. Taunton junior Dawson Bryce had a team-high three hits, driving in two runs and scoring twice.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 10 – Final (5 Inn.)Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game.Franklin’s Jacob Jette allowed just one hit in a five-inning complete game effort while the Panthers’ offense had its second double-digit scoring effort in the last three games. Jette issued three walks while striking out eight to earn the win. Jack Marino and Ben Jarosz each went 1-for-2 for the Panthers, driving in a pair of runs while scoring once themselves. Chris Goode added an RBI and two runs scored while freshman Henry DiGiorgio had a hit, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. North’s Gavin Wells came in with a pinch-hit to break up the no-hitter in the top of the fifth.

Sharon, 5 @ Mansfield, 6 – FinalMansfield struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth to prevail in a see-saw battle with visiting Sharon for the Hornets’ third win of the season. The hosts jumped out to a three-run lead in the bottom of the second inning but the Eagles responded by pushing across five in the top of the third to seize the lead. Cody Geddis clubbed a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to help put the hosts ahead for good. Junior Jared Fraone drove in two runs with a double in the game while Anthony Sacchetti had the other RBI for the Hornets, who had seven hits total and drew four walks. Luke Urban added two hits in the win. Mansfield senior Ben Mintz earned the win in relief, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with just one two hits and one walked allowed, striking out three. For Sharon, Nate Yaffe went 3-for-3 with two RBI while Ethan Pototsky (hit, run, two walks) and Justin Brown (RBI, run) each helped contribute to the scoring.

Oliver Ames, 3 @ King Philip, 7 – FinalKing Philip pushed across three runs in the third, one more in the fourth, and put the game out of reach with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shawn Lagere reached base four times for the hosts, drawing two walks along with a double and scored three times to help spark the KP offense. Conor Cooke added two hits, scoring both twice while Eli Reed had a triple in the sixth and came in to score. Jake Burns allowed two runs in four innings of work while Tommy Martarano tossed three innings with one run allowed. For OA, Joe Cicchetti (RBI), Nate Fulford, and Patrick Finnerty each had extra bases hits, Jadon Ricci chipped in with a pair of hits, and Jake Waxman and Nate Carpentier each drove in a run.

Stoughton, 10 @ Milford, 4 – FinalStoughton’s offense set the tone early with four runs in the top of the first and pulled away with three more in the fifth and two in the top of the sixth to secure a win on the road at Fino Field. Offensively, Brandon Mantilla-Mercado led the way going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI for the Black Knights, Kyle Doolin added two hits with two runs and two RBI, and Brady Conlin scored twice on a pair of walks. Doolin pitched into the sixth inning to earn the win, allowing three earned runes on six hits and four walks, striking out six. Jonah Ly tossed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to close the door.










Softball
Attleboro, 6 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final

Franklin, 1 @ North Attleboro, 13 – Final (6 Inn.)Zoey McDonough had her second strong start of the season, picking up the win with six strikeouts and just one walk over six innings. McDonough also showed resilience by pitching well with runners on base. Kelly Colleran continued to dominate at the plate with another three hits (her fourth straight game with at least three hits to start her varsity career). She was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Ally Levine also went 3-for-4 with a double and drove in four runs. Emily Nardelli had a pair of hits and made a nice running catch in shallow right field. Belle Clarkin and Chloe Mearn both has strong games defensively at the corners. Julia Forman capped the game with a deep drive that scored Maddie Bailey.

Taunton, 21 @ Canton, 0 – Final (5 Inn.)Taunton continued its perfect start to the season and recorded its third shutout in four games. After plating one in the top of the first, the Tigers exploded for 10 runs in the second inning to break the game open, added four more in the third, and then six in the fourth. Taunton pounded out 23 hits as a team. Kyleah Plumb went 3-for-4, scored twice, and drove in three runs, Hanna Aldrich went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, Kelsey White went 3-for-3 with a homer, four RBI, and three runs scored, Tayah DaCosta was 3-for-4 with two RBI, two doubles, and four runs scored, and Hayley Krockta went 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored. White also got the start in the circle, allowing one hit and striking out nine in three innings. Olivia Mendonca pitched the final two innings for Taunton. Sarah Kelly and Taylor Reynolds had Canton’s two hits in the loss.

Mansfield, 11 @ Sharon, 1 – FinalMansfield bounced back after a pair of losses and got back to .500 on the season with the road win. The Hornets didn’t get going until the fourth inning when they took advantage of three hits and aggressive base running to score three runs. Mansfield added five runs on five hits in the fourth and then tacked on three more in the sixth. Casey Moussette went 3-for-4 and Olivia Madeira and Callie Lake both had a pair of hits, including a triple apiece. Lake also had an outfield assist, throwing a runner out at the plate from center field in the third inning. Alanna Conley, Ashlyn Conley, Nicole Kobasa, Molly Kucharski, and Liv DeTrolio each had a hit for the Hornets. Trinity Payne started for Sharon and struck out eight, while also scoring the lone run for the Eagles. Ally Foulsham went 3-for-4 in the loss.

King Philip, 18 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – FinalKing Philip continued its torrid start to the season under new head coach Kate Fallon, earning its fourth win in a row to begin the 2021 campaign. The Warriors clubbed 22 hits as a team with Sarah Cullen (three RBI, triple, two runs), Maddie Paschke (two runs), and Meg Sherwood (two runs) each collecting three hits on the day. Sophomore Libby Walsh drove in four runs on two hits, including a home run, and Jordan Bennett knocked in three runs on two hits, including a triple. Caitlin Miller blasted a fifth-inning home run for the Tigers while Katherine Farley and Emma Varella each had a hit for OA.




Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 10 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final North Attleboro earned a season sweep over division foe Oliver Ames with a 10-6 win on the road. For the Tigers, sophomore goalie Noah Isleib made 21 saves, Ross Carroll found the back of the net four times, and Remi Creighton had two assists and one goal.

Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 4 @ North Attleboro, 9 – FinalAfter letting the lead slip away in the final minute on the road, North Attleboro bounced back with a big defensive performance to knock off OA and split the season series. OA head coach Gen Rogan praised the effort of goalie Emma O’Donnell in the second half as well as the defensive unit of Emilee Nuss, Lili Lozano, and Taylor McAndrew.

Foxboro, 16 @ Sharon, 3 – FinalSophomore Paige Curran scored six goals and assisted on another to lead the Warriors to a second straight win over division rival Sharon. Ella Waryas added a hat trick and Lilly Vey scored twice and had an assist, while Maddie Maher made five saves in the win. Jenna Goldstein had a pair of goals and Molly McAlevey had the other for the Eagles, who got nine saves from goalie Tess Letendre.




Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – FinalFoxboro swept all three singles matches in straight sets and picked up another win in doubles action to break into the win column for the 2021 campaign. Garrett Spillane picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win at first singles, Justin Neale didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second singles, and Jason Kandula earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Bo Canfield and Justin Kandula emerged with a 6-4, 6-2 win at first doubles for Foxboro. Attleboro’s Alejandro Jimenez and Tyler Rocchio won 6-0, 6-3 at second doubles.

Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 5 – FinalCanton defended home court with a sweep over visiting Taunton to move to 4-0 on the season. Junior Suraj Ramanathan, freshman Max Kupferman, and senior Minh Duong all won in singles action for the Bulldogs. Sophomores Jorge Nebril Gayubo and Jad Antoun emerged with a victory at first doubles in a third set tie-breaker while junior Kevin Moltenbrey and sophomore Davis Lamb won at second doubles.

Franklin, 5 @ North Attleboro, 0 – FinalIn a battle of two of the top teams from each division, Franklin secured a pair of three-set tiebreaker wins and won three more in straight sets to beat the Rocketeers on the road. Liam Marr impressed in a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles while juniors Vayshnav Malhotra and Drew Mahoney came away with wins after a third-set tiebreaker. Malhotra battled back to win 3-6, 6-1, 10-4 while Mahoney also came back from a first-set deficit with a 2-6, 6-2, 11-9 win. Senior Anish Gundimeda and junior Sameen Shaik prevailed with a 6-3, 6-4 win at first doubles while junior Thomas Broyles and freshman Jay Gorgas had a strong showing in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.

King Philip, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – FinalKing Philip went on the road to Easton and won all five matches to get its first victory of the season. Senior Nick Putney didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, junior Brady Jannek earned a 6-3, 6-2 win at second singles, and junior Jon Cohen picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win at third singles. The team of Jackson Hom and Connor Sachleben secured a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles while Noah Ihley paired with Adam Gousie for a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles.

Milford, 1 @ Stoughton, 4 – FinalStoughton won in straight sets in all three singles matches and added another win in doubles play to defend home court against visiting Milford. Waseem Sablon was impressive in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles while Rayan Sablon replicated that success at second singles with the same score. Junior Anish Sinha added a 6-0, 6-1 at third singles while the team of Murtaza Khalil and Ben Dias picked up a 6-3, 6-2 win at second doubles.

Mansfield, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – FinalSharon junior Ruemon Bhattacharyya emerged with a hard-fought win at first singles as the Eagles swept singles play in a win against visiting Mansfield. Bhattacharyya earned a 6-3, 7-5 win, freshman Mehul Bhattacharyya didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second singles while junior Max Chen secured a 6-1, 6-2 win at third singles. Juniors Mitch Weiss and Jonah Nathan added a 6-1, 6-3 win at second doubles for the Eagles. Seniors Kai Schirmacher and Nikhil Lankipalle prevailed at first doubles 6-4, 3-6, 10-8.




Girls Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – FinalFoxboro continued its dominance in singles action and added one more win in doubles play in a road win at Attleboro. Athena Li (first singles) and Pam Nelson (second singles) each walked away with a 6-0, 6-0 win while Sarah Prag took home a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles. Maggie McAuliffe and Abby Costa added another win for the Warriors with a 6-0, 5-7, 6-0 decision at first doubles. Attleboro’s Emma Pion and Olivia Meier emerged with a 7-5, 6-2 win at second doubles.

Canton, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – FinalCanton’s Laura Correal prevailed with a three-set win at second doubles to help the Bulldogs pick up a win on the road. Correal secured a 6-2, 0-6, 6-2 win for the deciding point, Rachel Kupferman (first singles, 6-0, 6-0) and the first doubles team of Lily Hazam and Olivia Durham (7-5, 6-3) also picked up wins for the visitors. Cayeesha Charles won 6-1, 6-1 at third singles for Taunton while the team of Morgan Smith and Riley Roderick earned a 6-4, 7-5 win at second doubles.

North Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – FinalTaking two wins in singles play and two more in doubles, Franklin defended home court against visiting North Attleboro. Junior Vedika Vinayak rallied for a 0-6, 7-5, 6-3 win at first singles while freshman Hailey Morin took home a 6-3, 6-2 win at second singles. Juniors Jessica Pingeton and Chloe Barca battled back to secure a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 win at first doubles while junior Amulya Jayam and sophomore Shriya Rajesh prevailed victorious at second doubles, 6-4, 6-3. North Attleboro’s Lauren Hunt won 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 at third singles.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – FinalKing Philip defended home court with a sweep of singles play, adding one more win from doubles play, to knock off visiting OA. Katarina Schneider (6-0, 6-0) didn’t drop a game at first singles, Mia Valencia (6-0, 6-1) only lost one game at second singles, and Sammie Taylor emerged from third singles with a 6-3, 7-5 win, The team of Ahunna James and Shea Mellman added a 6-3, 6-0 win at first doubles. OA’s second doubles team of Kate McLaughlin and Grace House prevailed with a third-set tiebreaker win, 6-3, 3-6, 10-5.

Stoughton, 5 @ Milford, 0 – FinalStoughton went on the road and won all five matches in straight sets to earn a sweep of host Milford. Brooke Bulger picked up a 6-2, 7-5 win at first singles, Allie Lada didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 victory at second singles, and Lena Allie battled for a 6-2, 6-3 win at third singles. Emily Pham-Nguyen and Emilia Lada teamed up for a 6-0, 6-1 win at first doubles while Stoughton’s second doubles pairing of Nadia Prokopiuk and Stefani Reznikow added a 6-1, 6-1 win.

Sharon @ Mansfield, 3:45




Boys Outdoor Track
Milford @ Attleboro, 3:45

Franklin, 44 @ Mansfield, 92 – FinalMansfield earned a sweep in three events and two first and second in two more to pick up a big win over Franklin. Jake Wall, who won four events, won the long jump at 22’9” with Xavier Manuel (19’2”) taking second and Dylan Buchanan (18’10”). The Hornets also swept the triple jump (Wall – 42’7.75”; Dana Johnson – 38’6.25”; Manuel – 36’10.25”) and the 110M hurdles (Buchanan – 16.3, Evan Rawlings – 18.4; Ryan Munroe – 18.5). In the 2 Mile race, Riley Tremblay crossed first in 10:42.8 with Tim Corkery (10:52.7) taking second while Jack Taylor (137’) and Stephen Saba (118’2”) took first and second, respectively, in the javelin. Wall added wins in the 100M (11.) and the 200M (22.6) while the Hornets also picked up wins from Caden Riley (52.5 – 400M), Aengus McGill (92’7” – discus), Charles Newcomb (39’8” – shot put) and the 4×100 relay team (DaSean Peters-Wolfe, Isaiah Kinds, Munroe, Buchanan – 45.4).

Girls Outdoor Track
Milford, 78 @ Attleboro, 56 – FinalAttleboro picked up first place finishes from Elayna Marinelli (89’1”) in the shot put, Amber Masse (63’) in the discus, Kamsi Igbobi (32’11.5”) in the shot put, Cassondra Stuger (32’11.5”) in the triple jump, and Rebecca Rainey (4’8) in the high jump.

Franklin, 60 @ Mansfield, 76 – FinalMansfield senior Tessa Lancaster won a pair of distance events and freshman Norah Puleo took first in one race while anchoring the final leg of a winning relay team as Mansfield beat Attleboro. Lancaster took first in both the 1 Mile (5:40.4) and the 2 Mile (12:36) while Puleo finished strong to earn first — and a PR — in the 800M (2:27.3). Puleo ran the final leg of Mansfield’s 4×400 relay team, joining Anna Darlington, Caitlin Dumouchel, and Rosie McIntyre to win in 4:14.3. Mansfield’s 4×100 relay team of Abigail Scott, Meghan Driscoll, Erika Penney, and Colleen Waters won in 50.8.

Wrestling
Canton, 29 @ Oliver Ames, 45 – Final
Stoughton, 19 @ Foxboro, 36 – Final
Milford, 38 @ Franklin, 31 – Final
Mansfield @ King Philip, 3:45
Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Crockers Each Score Twice as KP Sweeps Mansfield

King Philip Field Hockey
KP senior Isabelle Crocker (22) scored a pair of goals for the second game in a row as the Warriors earned a season sweep of Mansfield. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Josh PerryFollowJoshPerry


WRENTHAM, Mass. – With the modified 7-on-7 rules for field hockey this season, and all the space that leaves on the field, speed is more important than ever. It’s just two games into the season, but King Philip has wasted no time finding top gear.

Behind two goals apiece from Isabelle and Grace Crocker, the Warriors rolled to a 5-1 win against Mansfield on Thursday afternoon at Macktaz Field, sweeping the home-and-home against the Hornets ahead of next week’s matchup with defending league champion Franklin.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“It starts from the defense,” said KP coach Lisa Cropper. “With only six field players, you can’t chase all the way to the corners, so we kind of took the protect the house, protect the circle, and just shadow them. You’re also not running as much that way. Then we work it out just like a fast break. You outlet the ball and go right down the sideline into space.”

She added, “Our kids are so fast, if we just dump it into space no one is going to catch them.”

The teams played a tight, one-goal game on Tuesday and the second encounter started in similar fashion with Mansfield having a several early chances denied by KP goalie Makenzie Manning (seven saves). Once KP settled into its style of play, the Warriors took off and never looked back.

Abby Nixon (three assists) caused problems on the left wing all game and it was her run into the circle that led to the opening goal. The senior hit a cross just in front of goal that Kelly Holmes had first crack at but the ball slid to Isabelle Crocker at the far post for a tap in.

Sydney O’Shea also found room on the left to test Mansfield goalie Lily Danehy, as KP was able to keep the majority of the pressure in its attacking half of the field. Mansfield managed a couple of breakouts down the right with Grace Danehy and Abby Varricchione heavily involved, but Manning kicked aside a shot from Lindsay Devine on the only ball that got through on net.

KP doubled its lead just three minutes into the second when Nixon got free on the left and put a ball into the middle. Grace Crocker reacted first to the loose ball and knocked it through a crowd and in. Nixon was proving to be a handful. She made a long run and had a shot cleared off the line then was able to make a run from half, with Grace Fernandez on her shoulder the whole way, and force a save out of Danehy.

“Abby Nixon is doing phenomenal,” said Cropper. “She’s the one creating a lot of havoc out there with her speed and her stick work and the others are picking up the loose ends.”

With just two minutes to go before halftime, Isabelle Crocker got free on the right side and fired a shot to the far corner to make it 3-0. It was her fourth goal of the young season.

Cropper explained, “She’s so fast and she has a quick release and I’ve been telling the kids as soon as you have daylight in the circle then shoot it. I don’t care if it hits the goalie, she can’t smother it in this game, so then someone’s going to get a rebound.”

Any hope of a second half comeback was dashed just two minutes after the break when Nixon blocked an attempted clearance and found Grace Crocker alone in front. Danehy made the first stop but Crocker was able to get the rebound and finish for a four-goal advantage. KP was peppering the Mansfield goalie but Danehy came up big in the third quarter to keep it 4-0. Eight of her 11 saves came in the second half.

The Hornets got on the board with two minutes left in the third. Caitlin Dumouchel picked out Lola Varricchione right in front of goal and the freshman managed to squeeze it past Manning and just over the line for her first varsity goal.

Grace Danehy set up Abby Varricchione for a chance in the first minute of the fourth quarter but the shot went just wide. Six minutes later, KP put the game away. Nixon was again the playmaker, slipping a pass to Paige Berdos and she blasted it into the back of the net.

“You have to sub at the right time because if someone makes the run, then they can’t quite make the run back and if they’re in too long then they can’t get there,” said Mansfield coach Theresa Nyhan about defending with the new rules. “The defense is hard.”

Mansfield kept going even as legs were starting to tire. A nice passing combination from Alexandra Burnham to Lilly O’Brien to Celia Puleo forced Manning into a good save. Then Dumouchel teed up Emma Kelly but her quick shot smacked the post and stayed out.

Nyhan added, “We had chances early. KP had all six kids in the circle, so it’s just foul, back to the 25, foul, back to the 25, and we were not smart with our 25-yard hit options. We’ll be working on that at practice. They certainly took advantage of their opportunities.”

King Philip (2-0) will host undefeated Franklin on Tuesday in a battle of the first place teams in the Kelley-Rex. Mansfield (0-2) will host Taunton on Tuesday.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

2020 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Hockomock League Field Hockey
Foxboro and Canton enter the season as the favorites in the Hockomock League’s Davenport division. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2020 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Attleboro

2019 Record: 9-8-3
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Lindsay Antunes
The Bombardiers had one of their best years in recent memory during the 2019 season and with a strong group of returning players, are looking to carry that success over to 2020.

While replacing HockomockSports Player of the Year Anna Beck will certainly be a tough task, the Bombardiers have a lot of talented players back ready to take advantage of the pace and space that comes with 7v7 field hockey — a new rule modification this season. There is a lot of firepower in the Attleboro offense, a group that has played together before and is always looking to set each other up. Senior captains Amanda Burns (five goals, nine assists), Campbell Compton, and Hannah Webster will spearhead the attack alongside junior Madison Ellis (seven goals, six assists).

Attleboro’s defensive unit is coming along, showing plenty of progress in preseason alone. With some open spots up for grabs on defense, potential candidates took advantage of offseason club teams to improve their game. Senior Kiara Murray will be an important part of the backline while junior Ava Haggerty returns in net after a stellar sophomore season.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the accomplishments and success of this team this season,” said Attleboro head coach Lindsay Antunes. “The strong leadership skills, the positive attitudes and the confidence my players have this season is amazing to see given the nature of this season and all of the changes and challenges. We have a lot of returning players with tremendous skill, paired with new additions to our roster who are sure to make an impact this season.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Canton

2019 Record: 12-4-3
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Chrissy O’Connor
Expectations are high in Canton as the Bulldogs, one of the perennial league powers year in and year out, will be looking to repeat as Davenport division champions. A big reason for that optimism is the amount of returners from last year’s squad that had 12 wins, just one league loss, and a division-best 61 goals scored.

Senior captain Maria Femia played a part in nearly half of those goals, finding the back of the net five times while recording a Hockomock-best 27 assists. She’ll work alongside Meghan LaBelle (nine goals, eight assists) to form one of the most dangerous attacking units in the Hockomock League.

Beyond Foxboro, one of the biggest challenges the Dogs will face this year is the new rule modifications. Just six players plus a goalie will grace the field at one time, meaning a lot more space to cover. Add in the fact the girls have to wear a mask while wearing a mouthguard.

Allie Gefteas and Lizzie Tassinari will be key pieces in the Canton lineup as well. While defending will look a bit different this year with breakaways more of a concern than penalty corners (which aren’t allowed), the Dogs have senior Riley O’Connor back in net. O’Connor has been one of the top goalies in the Hock the past two seasons and is very aggressive off her line.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to be back on the field this season,” said Canton head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “Our team has worked hard to be here and they do not take it for granted. Our seniors who have played together since a young age deserve to have a competitive and fun season. We look forward to getting started with games next week.”

Foxboro

2019 Record: 13-2-5
2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Melissa Bordieri
Last year’s Davenport division race came down to just one game, with Canton taking the title with two more points than Foxboro. With just 10 games on tap this season, the Warriors know each point is vital if they want to try and knock off the Bulldogs atop the division.

Replacing Jaime Notarangelo won’t be easy but the Warriors have options and depth as they navigate the new rules of 2020. Foxboro is coming off a 13-win season that ended in the D2 South Quarterfinal round.

Senior Ella Waryas will be a key piece in the middle of the field for the Warriors this season. Her ability to play strong defense and then transition into a key piece of the offense will be vital in the new 7v7 style. Sophomore Mya Waryas (seven goals in 2019) had a breakout season and could be an important part of the Foxboro attack in 2019. The Warriors will also see production from senior Molly McElhinney, juniors Kate Collins and Mikayla Doherty, and sophomore Dylan Rappoli (four goals, four assists in 2019).

All-Hockomock selection Shannon Egan is back to anchor a defensive unit that was the best in the Hockomock League last season with just 11 goals allowed. And on top of that, senior Hannah Trombley is back in the cage to anchor the defensive unit.







Hockomock League Field Hockey

Franklin

2019 Record: 15-3-2
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Michelle Hess
When you look at the talent the Panthers possess on their roster this season, it’s hard not to immediately think what kind of run they could go on in the postseason. Unfortunately, there aren’t any playoffs this season so Franklin’s focus zeroes in on one thing: repeating as Hock champs.

A year removed from going undefeated against league opponents, the Panthers enter the 2020 season as the favorites to take home another Kelley-Rex title. For starters, Franklin has its top three scorers back from last year’s team that scored a Hockomock-best 91 goals. Amanda Lewandowski (20 goals, 10 assists), Stephanie Bell (14 goals, eight assists), and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Kaitlyn Carney (14 goals, eight assists) combine to make the Panthers one of the most lethal teams in the region.

Franklin’s offense even more of a boost with the return of senior captain Sara Carney (who missed last season with an injury) and junior forward Jill Fenerty.

Senior captain Neilee Hess anchors the defensive unit as the starting goalie. Hess’ experience will be vital as Franklin has some new faces on its defensive unit, including Molly Collins, Kendall Jones, and Kate O’Rourke. Freshman midfield Sophia Cuneo could make an impact right away.

“I am extremely proud of my team and how they have adapted to the modifications,” said Franklin head coach Michelle Hess. “They have taken a situation that could have put a damper on their enthusiasm and shared with me that they are just ready to get to work. They have a Hock Title to defend and these modifications are not going to stop them from accomplishing their goal of a Back to Back Kelley-Rex Title!”

King Philip

2019 Record: 10-7-3
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Lisa Cropper
King Philip had a lot of new faces last year, but there wasn’t a huge drop-off from the team’s success of the back-to-back title-winning seasons, as the Warriors finished in second place in the Kelley-Rex division and picked up a win in the postseason. With returning players all over the field, KP has high expectations to challenge Franklin for a league title this fall.

Speed will be one of the strengths for the Warriors, who will try to take advantage of experience on the wings in the new 7-on-7 format. Seniors Abby Nixon and Paige Berdos are both coming off strong seasons in the attack and senior midfielders Grace and Isabelle Crocker will push forward to add more threats in front of goal.

Experience will be a key to the defensive effort this year, starting in goal with senior Makenzie Manning, who has been on of the league’s top shot stoppers (and showed it in the season-opening win against Mansfield). Junior Molly Piller had a very strong sophomore season and will be the team’s sweeper, while juniors Christina Gifun and Morgan Cunningham and senior Alli Beltramini are all back as part of the defensive unit.

“We have a lot of experience, but I’m not sure how much that will help us with no penalty corners and only six field players,” said KP coach Lisa Cropper. “Hopefully our depth and overall team speed will help to cover all that empty space out there this year.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Mansfield

2019 Record: 12-7-2
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Theresa Nyhan
Longtime Mansfield head coach Theresa Nyhan is excited to see what the 2020 version of the Hornets can do on the field this season. The new rule modifications have taken some players off the field, making it 7-v-7, but that opens up a lot of space on the field.

That space benefits the Hornets as Nyhan says her squad has speed in both the attacking and defending ends of the field. But the new rules also bring a pair of intriguing challenges. First will be figuring out a new substitution pattern that keeps players fresh for 60 minutes, and the other is adjusting the offense without penalty corners — not only for gameplan purposes but for the active rest players can get while setting up.

The Hornets have a large number of seniors and juniors on the team this year, hoping that experience will translate to success on the field. Tai-captains Abby Varracchione, Alex Burnham, and Grace Danehy lead the way for the Hornets and will be vital to the success of the squad. Seniors Fiona Katz, Stori Rounds, and Emma Kelly will bolster the forward group, Lindsay Devine, Grace Fernandez, and Ally McDevitt provide depth to the midfield, and Bella Deberghes, Lily O’Brien, and Leah Sheehan are important pieces to the defensive puzzle.

Juniors Caitlin Dumouchel, Celia Puleo, Maddy Brown, and Grace Bertolino should factor in this season while sophomore Lilly Danehy will take over as the starting goalie. Nyhan expects freshman Lola Varracchione to be an impact player at the varsity level right away.

“The Mansfield field hockey community wants to thank all who have worked long and hard to make a season possible,” Nyhan said. “We are grateful seniors have a “senior season” and look forward to competing!’




Milford

2019 Record: 4-12-2
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Tim Dowd
The Scarlet Hawks saw improvement during the 2019 season and are hoping that upward trajectory continues into 2020 under new head coach Tim Dowd.

Milford will be leaning on its three captains to lead the way: Maddy Carneiro, Olivia Macleod, and Olyvia Whyte. All three have been cornerstones of the program and will be leaders both on and off the field.

Maddy Hunt will start in the cage for the Hawks, who will be putting a lot of importance into the defensive side of the ball. With the new rule modifications meaning there will be more breakaways, the Hawks are hoping to have good numbers defensively to give Hunt as much help as possible.

Offensively, the Hawks will turn to speedy juniors Emma Tredeau and Stephanie Wong to try and take advantage of all of the space on the field. With just six field players, conditioning and positioning are going to be of the utmost importance.

“It’s certainly going to be an interesting season as we all try to adjust to the modifications and a new way of approaching the game,” Dowd said. “We’re just focusing on working hard and keeping a positive attitude.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

North Attleboro

2019 Record: 6-8-4
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Karen Folan
North Attleboro finished third in the Davenport division last season, just two points out of a playoff spot, but will not only have to contend with the typical top two of Canton and Foxboro but will also have Oliver Ames in the division this year and the modified 7-on-7 rules, which should make this an interesting fall.

The Rocketeers have a strong group of returning players that they can count on and expectations of being competitive in every game, but also are trying to adapt to new positioning and the much quicker transitions that come from having fewer players and more space on the field. Senior forwards Lauren Abusheery and Emma Bailey will look to take advantage of those openings to create scoring chances, while sophomores Ava Spencer and Caroline Folan are newcomers that have shown a scoring touch in the preseason.

In the midfield, senior Nora Dluhy is a consistent performer wherever she lines up and sophomore Julia Puccio has the speed and ball control to weave through defenders. Senior Emily Daby will lead the defensive unit and can also step up into the midfield and carry possession, which will be a big help with the new rules. Senior Hannah Bachand will take over in goal this season.

The team is excited to start games this week,” said North coach Karen Folan. “I’ve told them to enjoy each minute on the field and to make the most of the shortened season and the unique situation.”

Oliver Ames

2019 Record: 9-10-0
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Rou
Coach: Sharon Lawrence
There are a lot of familiar names on Oliver Ames’ roster this season, highlighted by 11 seniors and eight returning starters from last year’s team. The Tigers have experience all over the field and could be a dark horse in the Davenport division title race.

With the game reduced to six field players due to the rule modifications, there is plenty of space on the field. That fits right into OA’s gameplan as the Tigers are looking to utilize their speed and passing game to jump-start their offense. Like many teams in the league, Oliver Ames will be shifting to lines similar to an ice hockey team. With a total of 24 players on the team, there is plenty of depth so head coach Sharon Lawrence will be using her deep bench to keep fresh legs on the field throughout the game.

“We are all just happy to be together and have a season,” Lawrence said. ”They have all worked so hard and deserve it!  Getting outside to play together is a mental and physical win for all.”

The heart of the team lies in the midfield as the Tigers have a strong mix of talent and experience. Senior captain Maggie Woods, a HockomockSports.com First Team selection last season, gets it done on both ends of the field, a big part of getting Oliver Ames transitioned from defense to offense. She will be joined by senior Sofia Anestam, junior Ava Costello, and sophomore Julia Maclaine in the midfield.

The Tigers return two dangerous attacking players in junior Georgia Costello (nine goals, five assists in 2019) and senior Haley Gilman (five goals, one assist). Without penalty corners, OA will lean on its speed up front to try and beat the defense and score in the run of play. The defense will be anchored by senior captain Emily Han, who has a lot of experience at the varsity level and senior Abbey Boyce.




Hockomock League Field Hockey

Sharon

2019 Record: 2-13-3
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Paulina Kosmadakis
Former Sharon standout Paulina Kosmadakis is back with the program, this time taking over as new head coach. And after an improved 2019 season, Kosmadakis is hoping the program continues heading in the right direction in 2020.

The Eagles broke into the win column last season and Kosmadakis has liked what she’s seen from her team so far in the preseason. It starts with the team’s four captains: Sam Sherman, Ashley Young, Jill Parker, and Yesha Sharma. Kosmadakis said that the group has brought a new, competitive edge to the program.

Offensively, the Eagles strength is on fast breaks. Improved passing has led to some odd-man rushes and the opportunity to go one-on-one with defenders. It also comes as a result of a lot of space on the field due to the modifications to the rules. On the flip side, the Eagles are adjusting to the new intensity that 7v7 field hockey brings. Kosmadakis plans on using as much of her bench as possible with a lot of subbing throughout the game.

“I believe that the team is really stepping up their competitive edge and going to “Shock the Hock” both defensively and offensively,” Kosmadakis said. “I am excited for this season and the seasons to come!”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Stoughton

2019 Record: 2-15-2
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Dan Mark
After a two-win season in 2019, Stoughton will look to bounce back this fall with an experienced group, with 20 seniors on the roster, which faces the tough test of trying to compete with the top teams in the Davenport division, and it starts right away with two games against defending league champ Canton in the first week.

The Black Knights should be capable of scoring goals this year with a speedy forward line getting extra space to work with the new 7-on-7 rules. Senior forwards Haley Nelson and Morgan Lessa will be the leaders in the attack and have the skills to put defenders on the back foot. Juniors Zofia Bangs and Mia Allie are new forwards that add depth to the attack this season.

Seniors Sarah McGrath and Kat Billo will shore things up in the midfield and try to help cover for the backline. Senior Lena Allie jumps in goal this season after a solid year with the JV team last fall.

“The biggest obstacle with the modifications is only having six field players and a goalie on the field,” said Stoughton coach Dan Mark. “I plan on using line shifts like in ice hockey. We have a large senior-dominated team, so hopefully that experience should help us.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Taunton

2019 Record: 5-12-1
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Liz Hathaway
Looking back at last year’s standings, if there’s one team’s record that isn’t indicative of how good a team was, it’s Taunton. The Tigers had a stellar defense, allowing just 30 goals in total, playing close games against some of the top teams in the league including KP, Foxboro, and Canton.

Defense will be a strong suit of the Tigers once again this season. Even with the changes to the game with the new rule modifications, Taunton will hang its hat on the defensive end. Junior Emily Gannon is a major part of that, returning as the starting goalie after a breakout sophomore season. Gannon had over 100 saves last season, five shutouts, and allowed one or fewer goals in 10 of the 18 games played.

Gannon will have a familiar face in front of her as Jocelyn Pagliuca enters her third season as a key piece of the Tigers’ defense. With that much experience in the defensive end, expect Taunton to be among the toughest groups to break down.

The Tigers are hoping to find the back of the net more during the 2020 season. With last year’s leading scorer back in Alana Tavares, there’s a good chance that happens. Tavares, who has been on the team since eighth grade, will be among the top threats in the league. Having more space will allow Tavares to use her speed to get behind the defense and attack the net. Taunton head coach Liz Hathaway is expecting big contributions from junior Ashley Amaro and senior Skylar Rheaume as well.

“This season will be different but we are up for the challenge and we are grateful to have a season,” Hathaway said. “The girls have been working hard to keep the season going.  They are also working hard and embracing the 7 vs. 7 format.”

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/14/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Softball
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Thursday, 5/16 at 3:30.
Foxboro, 3 @ Medway, 15 – Final

Boys Tennis
Milford @ Attleboro – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.

Sharon @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/28 at 3:45.

Taunton, 5 @ Coyle & Cassidy, 0 – FinalTaunton earned a sweep over city-rival Coyle & Cassidy, winning four matches in straight sets and another by default. Brett Beaulieu (first singles) and Charlie Fiske (second singles) each won 6-2, 6-0 while Dylan Kullas didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of Trevor Hart and Ryan Hebert earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro @ Franklin – Postponed to Thursday, 5/16 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Sharon – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/28 at 3:45.
Taunton vs. Coyle & Cassidy – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.

Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro @ Franklin, 3:45

Milford, 73 @ Canton, 53 – FinalMilford’s Hugo Lopes broke a 20-year old school record, running a 50.5 in the 400M and also anchored the Hawks’ 4×100 relay team to clinch the victory over the Bulldogs. Canton’s Junior Sainvil was first in both the 100M dash (11.2) and the long jump, and took second in the triple jump (40′). Lucca Terenzio was first in the triple jump for Canton (41’4), won the 110M hurdles (16.3), and took second in the long jump.

North Attleboro, 101 @ Foxboro, 34 – Final

Taunton, 23 @ Mansfield, 113 – FinalMansfield took first place in all but two events to run away with a win over Taunton and clinch the program’s third straight Kelley-Rex division title. Andrew Williams continued his stellar Spring season, winning three events: 110M hurdles (16.2), the long jump (21’0), and the high jump (5’10). Other winners for Mansfield included Anthony Comer (100M dash, 11.1), Owen Mullahy (1 Mile, 4:49.6), Jason Windvogel (400M, 52.1), Patrick Heavey (800M, 2:02.5), Joe Cappelletti (200M, 23.2), Mike Mullahy (2 Mile, 10:28.4), Ethan Thevenot (triple jump, 36’10), Colbey Eason (shot put, 49’7) and Dan Rapoza (javelin, 140’3). The Hornets also won both relays with the 4×100 (Thevenot, Cappelletti, Vinnie Holmes, Jack Barry) finishing in 47.4, and the 4×400 (Jack Moussette, Raffi Marzella, Stephen Saba, Windvogel) clocked in at 3:51.5.

Oliver Ames, 74 @ King Philip, 52 – FinalOliver Ames’ Aaron MacDonald finished the dual meet season with another terrific performance winning four events to help the Tigers beat King Philip. MacDonald won the 400M (52.3), the 200M (23.7), the triple jump (40’6), and the long jump (20’3) for the Tigers. Other winners for OA included Sean Flaherty (400M hurdles, 59.4) Ryan Petrillo (110M hurdles, 16.1), Rory McLaughlin (800M, 2:06.0), and Quinn Proudler (javelin, 123’0). OA’s 4×100 relay team (Ashton Hart, Jaiden Daly, Chucky Akanegbu, Harrison Webster) won in a time of 47.0.

Stoughton, 95 @ Sharon, 41 – Final

Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro @ Franklin, 3:45

Milford, 66 @ Canton, 61 – FinalCanton’s Chloe Pennacchio and Maddie Rousseau each won a pair of events and placed in another but the Hawks squeaked out the victory. Pennacchio took first in the 1 Mile (5:46) and the 2 Mile (12:54) while taking third in the shot put. Rousseau won both the 100M hurdles (15.3) and the triple jump (31’6) while taking third in the long jump (15’8.5). Sarah Collins was also a double winner for the Bulldogs, taking first in the 400M hurdles and the 400M.

North Attleboro, 112 @ Foxboro, 24 – Final

Taunton, 29 @ Mansfield, 107 – FinalMansfield senior Amanda Mangano won four events, classmate Julia Hill won three events and the Hornets had three freshman win to earn a big win over Taunton and the program’s first division title since 2016. Mangano took first in the 100M (12.6), the 200M (26.0), the long jump (15’11), and the high jump (5’0) while Hill crossed first in the 400M hurdles (70.7), the 100M hurdles (17.8), and won the triple jump (34’1.25″). Freshman Caitlin Dumouchel set a new PR by nearly a foot, winning the javelin (92’1), Kate Miller took five seconds off her best time winning the 1 Mile (5:29.9), and Maria Sevastos crossed first in the 400M (64.2). Other winners for Mansfield included Grace Doyle (800M, 2:28.9) and Jessica Alestock (2 Mile, 12:31.0 [PR]). The Hornets also swept the relays, the 4×100 (Emily Quitzau, Alexis Kiyanda, Gabrielle Devlin, Lindsey Golden) winning in 52.3 and the 4×400 (Sevastos, Mikaela Maughn, Miller, Doyle) clocking in at 4:48.9.

Oliver Ames, 67 @ King Philip, 69 – Final

Stoughton, 56 @ Sharon, 80 – Final

Boys Volleyball
Milford @ Norwood, 5:00