Tag: Dillon Cupples

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/18/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Milford, 2 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Milford senior Wes Solomon dazzled in a complete game effort to lead the Hawks to a win on the road, sweeping the season series with the Bombardiers. Solomon allowed two runs with just two walks issued, striking out nine for the win.

Sharon, 3 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Sharon’s Dan Fishman and JD Rittenberg combined for a stellar pitching performance, allowing just one unearned run to help the Eagles split the season series with Canton. Fishman allowed just one hit in five innings of work with no earned runs allowed striking out two for the win. Rittenberg came in to close the door with two innings of work, striking out four. Offensively, Nate Yaffe had a pair of hits and scored a pair of runs, Dan Zagoren drove in a run, and Rittenberg drove in the other two for Sharon.

Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 13 – Final – Oliver Ames had its best offensive outing of the season, pushing across 13 runs to earn a win over Foxboro to split the season series. The Tigers scored two runs in each of the first three innings and then broke it open with a seven-run fourth inning. Jake Waxman was 2-for-3 including a home run, finishing with three RBI and two runs scored. Will Whiteside added a triple two RBI, and two runs, and Jack Morley found success from the nine-hole in his varsity debut with a hit, two walks, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. Matt Nigro earned the win on the mound, allowing just four hits and two walks in a five-inning complete game effort. He finished with just two runs allowed and six strikeouts. Tom Marcucella had two hits for Foxboro while Ryan LeClair and Sean Yoest each had an RBI.

Franklin, 13 @ King Philip, 8 – Final – Franklin’s offense stayed scorching hot to start the season, pushing across double-digit runs for the third straight game and fourth in the last five contests. Ryan Gerety (triple, three runs, RBI) and Nate Goode (double, triple, two RBI, three runs) spearheaded the attack with three hits apiece while Chris Goode (triple, two RBI, run), Jake Fitzgibbons (three RBI, double), and Jack Marino (two runs, two RBI) each had two hits. Jacob Jette got the win on the mound, allowing four runs while striking out seven.

Taunton, 5 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Taunton went on the road and grabbed their second straight win over the Hornets, clinching the series against their division rival. Senior Danny MacDougall earned the win on the mound, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out six. Shawn Cali came in for a scoreless inning of relief for the save. Offensively, Taunton put up two runs in the top of the first inning only for Mansfield to respond with two runs of its own. The Tigers went back ahead for good with three in the top of the third inning. Ty Cali drove in a pair of runs and scored twice, MacDougall helped his own cause with an RBI and a run scored, and Evan Cali had an RBI and two walks. Mansfield senior Ben Mintz went 2-for-3 with two RBI while Anthony Sacchetti also had an RBI. Freshman Jake Maydak had a strong relief appearance for the hosts, allowing just one hit and five walks, striking out five in five innings of work.

Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 8 – Final – North Attleboro knocked off Stoughton at Community Field to split the season series. Dennis Colleran continued to impress, picking up his third win of the season after a complete game effort with just two hits allowed. Retiring the side in order in each the third and the seventh, Colleran finished with 11 strikeouts. Offensively, the Big Red got a big boost from sophomore Derek Maceda, who had two hits and two RBI. Danny Curran added two hits while Gavin Wells and Justin Vecchiarelli each drove in a run.










Softball
Attleboro, 12 @ Milford, 0 – Final – The Bombardiers collected 20 hits as a team and Lora Woyton had her second straight strong performance in the circle as Attleboro completed a sweep of Milford. Woyton allowed just three hits while striking out nine in the win. Hailey and Lindsey Perry each smacked a home run, combining for six hits and five runs. Gabby Bosh, Lauren Eby, and Woyton each added three hits while Kayla Goldrick had a pair of doubles.

Oliver Ames, 10 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Oliver Ames’ offense roared to life with a nine-run second inning to break into the win column with a victory over Foxboro. Taylor Lake (1-for-2, run) and Katherine Farley (1-for-3, double, run) each had two RBI on the day and Maddie Homer scored two runs for OA. Lexi Galsband (2-for-5) and Madison Monteiro each had an RBI and a run scored in the second as well. Emma Varella pitched a complete game with four strikeouts for OA and helped her cause offensively by going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

King Philip, 8 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – King Philip got off to another strong start with a pair of runs in the first inning and went on to score in the third, fifth, and seventh to complete the sweep of Franklin. Charlotte Raymond had another stellar showing at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and a triple, knocking in one run and scoring three times. Sophomores Libby Walsh (home run, two RBI, two runs) and Sarah Cullen (two runs) each added two hits for the visitors while Meg Sherwood slapped a two-run triple and had a sacrifice fly to score a run. KP had a strong showing defensively behind pitcher Emma Sheehan.

Canton, 11 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon led 4-1 heading to the top of the sixth, but the Bulldogs rallied with 10 runs over the final two innings to secure the win and the sweep of the Eagles. Taylor Reynolds had another big game at the plate, going 2-for-4 and driving in four runs. Steph Trendell also went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and Abby Chin made a great catch at a crucial time in the game to help the Bulldogs grab the win. Freshman Jess Wright allowed one run over five innings, earning the win in her first career appearance. Trinity Payne went 2-for-2 at the plate and also struck out four as the Sharon starter. Savannah Gray was 2-for-4 and drove in two of Sharon’s four runs.

Mansfield, 0 @ Taunton, 9 – Final – Kelsey White continued her dominant season and Taunton recorded a fifth shutout in six games, having allowed only two runs so far this season. White allowed only one hit over seven innings, struck out 16, and walked none to pick up her fifth win. Angie Lynch (RBI, run) and Hanna Aldrich (RBI, two runs) each had a pair of hits for the Tigers and Callie Lake had the lone hit for the Hornets.

North Attleboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North trailed 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning but tied the game when Kelly Colleran scored on a passed ball. In the seventh, the Rocketeers rallied with four runs to secure the win. Emma Bailey, Chloe Mearn, and Mandi Hanewich all singled to load the bases. Emily Nardelli plated the game-winning run with a sac fly and then Colleran’s base hit scored a second run. The throw to the plate got away and Hanewich and Colleran were able to come around and score as well to add important insurance runs. Zoey McDonough tossed a complete game with 10 strikeouts to pick up the win. Nardelli also made a couple of big plays in the field, being part of two double plays.




Boys Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 4 @ King Philip, 17 – Final – For Oliver Ames, Ross Carroll scored a pair of goals, Remi Creighton scored once and had an assist, and Dillon Cupples picked up his first career goal and played “a fantastic overall game” according to head coach Ben Devlin.

Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 4 @ King Philip, 7 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Lily Brown scored four goals, two in each half, and the KP defense was on top of its game to pick up the home win and remain unbeaten this season. Peyton Mellman opened the scoring three minutes into the game and then Brown double KP’s advantage from a Morgan Cunningham assist. OA started to pile on the pressure in the second quarter but KP goalie Emily Campbell made a series of big saves to keep the Tigers off the board and preserve the 2-0 lead going into halftime. Emma Pereira took advantage of a quick self-start to get free and cut the lead to one in the third quarter. Brown and Cunningham scored back-to-back goals to push the KP lead out to three, but then Georgia Costello scored the first of her three goals on a free position in the final minute of the third. Emma O’Donnell had a strong quarter with a couple of big stops. Brown completed her hat trick with a bounced shot but then Costello matched it just 31 seconds later. Freshman Nicole McDonald went one on four on a transition and managed to pick the bottom corner and then Brown added another for a 7-3 lead. Costello scored on another free position with four minutes to go, but the Tigers got no closer.




Boys Tennis
Attleboro @ Milford, 3:45

Canton, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – Sharon senior Max Chen filled in at second singles and emerged with a hard-fought win as the Eagles completed a sweep of visiting Canton. Chen fought back from a one-set deficit to earn a 5-7, 7-6, 10-8 win. Sophomore Mehul Bhattacharyya secured a win at first singles while Matthew Lally moved to third singles and notched a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 win. Sharon won both doubles matches in straight sets.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro completed its season sweep of Oliver Ames, this time taking a 4-1 decision at home. The Warriors won all three singles matches in straight sets with junior Garrett Spillane picking up a 7-6 (7-0), 6-1 win at first singles, senior Justin Neale recording a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles, and junior Bo Canfield picking up a 6-2, 6-1 win at third singles. The team of seniors Jason Kandula and David Marroquin emerged with a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles for Foxboro while Oliver Ames freshmen duo Kahlil Bandran and Jiva Segaran won 6-1, 6-1 at second doubles.

Franklin, 5 @ King Philip 0 – Final

King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin picked up two wins on the day, finishing up its match with KP that was postponed from Monday. The Panthers prevailed 5-0 in both matches, winning in straight sets in each match. Liam Marr won both of his matches at first singles (6-3, 6-3 & 6-1, 6-0), Vayshnav Malhotra won twice at second singles (6-1, 4-1 (def) & 6-0, 6-0), and Drew Mahoney took care of business at third singles (6-0, 6-2 & 6-1, 6-3). Franklin’s first doubles team of Anish Gundimeda and Sameen Shaik won both of their matches in straight sets (6-1, 6-2 & 6-4, 6-0) while the duo of Thomas Broyles and Jay Gorgas lost just one total game in its four sets played (6-0, 6-1 & 6-0, 6-0).

Stoughton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final

North Attleboro, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North Attleboro and Stoughton completed their weather-delayed match from Monday and then clashed again on the new courts at Stoughton, and the Rocketeers prevailed victorious in both. North had the same lineup in both matches and swept doubles in both matches. The team of Connor Willis and Sayf Siddiq won their first match 6-0, 6-4 and took the second one 6-2, 6-1 while North’s second doubles team of Brody Carter and Niteesh Saravanan earned a 6-2, 6-1 win on Monday and a 6-0, 6-1 victory on Tuesday. Will Folan prevailed victorious in both of his matches at third singles (6-0, 6-0 & 6-2, 6-3) and, after not finishing a set on Monday, Sam Gallagher prevailed with a 1-6, 6-2, 10-7 win at second singles. Stoughton senior Waseem Sablon won both first singles matches, the first 6-0, 6-2 and the second 6-1, 6-0.




Girls Tennis
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro swept doubles play and didn’t drop a game at either first or second singles to defend home court against visiting Milford. Ella Lynch-Bartek and Lauren Anthony each won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively. In doubles action, junior Saharla Yusuf and freshman Maddie Fulscado secured a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles while senior Lauren Alberto and junior Ally Rebelo prevailed with a 6-1, 6-0 win at second doubles. Milford’s Lavinia Mocenni rallied from a one-set deficit to earn a 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 11-9 win at third singles.

Sharon, 4 @ Canton, 1 – Final – The Eagles earned a clean sweep in singles action and swept the season series against division rival Canton. Nayva Shukla (6-1, 6-1), Hannah Faberman (6-1, 6-1), and Allie Aguilar (6-0, 6-0) won at first, second, and third singles, respectively, while the team of Sree Dandu and Sasha Fein picked up a 6-1, 6-1 win at second doubles. Canton’s Lily Hazam and Olivia Durham emerged with a 6-4, 4-6, 10-4 win at first doubles.

Foxboro, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Foxboro singles players continued their dominance over their opponents, this time sweeping all three matches against Oliver Ames to pick up a 3-2 win. Athena Li and Pam Nelson each won 6-0, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while Sarah Prag picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. OA’s first doubles team of Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasilou earned a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles while Lizzie MacAdam and Elizabeth O’Brien teamed up for a 6-3, 6-4 win at second doubles for the Tigers.

Franklin, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final

Taunton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield won a pair of matches in three sets and that ended up the difference as the Hornets beat visiting Taunton. Aryanna Khosravini rallied for 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 win at second singles while the team of Ally McDavitt and Caroline Guravage bounced back from a one-set deficit to earn a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 win at second doubles. Mansfield also got wins from Kate Martin (6-2, 6-0) at third singles and Sarah Harrington and Alexis O’Keefe (6-2, 6-3) at first singles. Taunton’s Jocelyn Pagliuca earned a 6-3, 6-2 win at first singles for the Tigers.

Stoughton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro bounced back from a loss on the road on Monday to pick up a 4-1 win over the visiting Black Knights on Tuesday. The Big Red won two matches in singles action and swept both doubles matches to get the win. Haley Strom secured a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles while Lauren Hunt didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of juniors Lauren Consentino and Kyna Sha rallied from a one-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 at first doubles while junior Julia Curren and freshman Aroushka Banerjee won 7-5, 6-3 at second doubles. Stoughton’s Allie Lada picked up a 6-4, 6-1 win at first singles.




Boys Outdoor Track
Sharon, 73 @ Canton, 62 – Final – For Canton, Kyle Downing had a trio top three finishes, including a win in the 1 Mile race, while Sam Vail finished first in the javelin (99’1″). Downing crossed the finish line at 4:56.8 to win the mile, took second overall in the 800M (2:14.8), and was third in the high jump (5’0).

Foxboro @ Stoughton, 3:45

Taunton, 70 @ Franklin, 66 – Final

Girls Outdoor Track
Sharon, 62 @ Canton, 74 – Final – Canton moved to 3-0 on the season with a win over visiting Sharon. Maeve Morrissey was a double-winner for the Bulldogs, taking first in both the javelin and the discus. Kayla Camille added a first-place finish in the 400M, finishing in a winning time of 67.6.

Foxboro @ Stoughton, 3:45

Taunton @ Franklin, 3:45

Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 vs. North Quincy, 2 – Final – Taunton completed a big come-from-behind win to knock off North Quincy in five sets and stay unbeaten on the year. Colin MacDougal and Faisal Mass stepped up to provide pivotal front row defense down the stretch to help secure the win. Tyler Stewart was hard to stop with 28 kills, 15 digs, four blocks, and four assists, Jakob Thorpe added eight kills, 11 digs, and four aces, and Mattia Casagrande chipped in with 11 kills. Travis Nunes played well defensively with 10 digs while Daniel Medina finished with 46 assists and seven digs.

Wrestling
Sharon, 40 @ Taunton, 27 – Final – Sharon won eight total matches, including five by pinfall, to earn a win on the road over Taunton. Cameron Birnbaum (126), Aaron Cashton (145), Philip Varvak (170), Alex Danilkovas (195) and Erik Rabin (285) all recorded pinfall victories for the Eagles while Connor Pfeifer (120, 12-4), Nasaiah Teixeira (152, 6-5), and Cormac Horlbogen (182, 3-2) each won by decision. Taunton picked up wins from Michael Leskoski (106, fall), Xavier Sandoval (132, 7-2)m Ben Mandeville (138, 4-0), Christian Balmain (160, 5-4), and Logan Frank (220, fall).

Canton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 47 – Final – North Attleboro had a dominating performance at home against Canton, winning six matches by fall, two by major decision and one by decision to blank the Bulldogs. Braxton Ferro (132, 1:09), Andrew Faris (138, 1:56), Ethan Smith (145, 3:14), Jaad Ismail (160, 5:09), Alex Warsofsky (220, 0:59), and Keysun Wise (285, 1:04) each won by pinfall for the Rocketeers. Chris Galligan (152, 17-9), Greg Berthiaume (182, 19-5), and Austin Dean (195, 6-0) also won for North Attleboro.

Milford Tops Oliver Ames To Claim Hockomock Cup

Milford boys soccer
The Milford boys soccer team poses for a team photo with the Hockomock Cup trophy. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Just over a year ago, an injury forced Milford keeper Kevin Gomes to the bench at the start of double overtime in the D2 South Sectional Final against Nauset.

Milford boys soccer Oliver Ames boys soccer

Up stepped Leo Oliveira, who went on to make a huge save in penalty kicks to help the Scarlet Hawks secure the sectional crown.

Fast forward to Monday night in the Hockomock Cup Final, a battle between the Kelley-Rex division Hawks and Davenport division champion Oliver Ames, and the roles were reversed.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Oliveira had to exit the game with an injury early in the fourth quarter and in stepped Gomes, who came up with a colossal save on an indirect kick from inside the area as Milford claimed the cup with a 2-1 win on the road to finish the season undefeated.

“We know they are a powerhouse, always a top team, always a state championship contender…so this game to me is like a district final,” said first-year Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “For me, these were the two best teams in Eastern Mass. and they put on a show. It was a back-and-forth game, chances both ways, full of excitement, and I couldn’t be more proud of Milford, and couldn’t be more proud of OA for the battle they put up.”

The Hawks scored twice in the opening 10 minutes of the second half but the Tigers pulled one back before the end of the third quarter to set up the frantic finish.

A low cross from Oliver Ames’ Brady deVos in the 78th minute was first touched by a Milford defender before Gomes handled it, giving the Tigers an indirect kick inside the box near the end line on the right side, about 10 yards from goal. Colin Milliken touched the ball in play and Matthew Nikiciuk blasted a rocket from close range but Gomes stood tall and pushed the ball over the bar to keep the Hawks ahead.

Milford boys soccer Oliver Ames boys soccer

“Me and Leo love each other, we practice together every day,” Gomes said. “Right when I saw he was hurt, I knew I had to do it for him. Because last year against Nauset, he did the same for me. He won it for us. He was upset from the injury but I wanted him to leave happy so I told him I got this, I was going to do it for him. I just had to be confident, calm down, and play my game.

“It was a close play but the angle they were in, there was only one way they could try and get it in and it was all power. So I had my teammates marking, lining up in front where they could and I just had to be confident and be strong when I approached it. It was the best feeling after saving that.”










The ensuing corner bounced around the box twice but was finally cleared away. OA had another attacking free kick a minute later but the service sailed wide. Chris Tocci came up with key clearances in the final seconds as OA continued to press.

Milford boys soccer Oliver Ames boys soccer

“It was a great game, a lot of fun,” said OA head coach John Barata. “Just one or two things separate the teams in a game like this. We hit the crossbar, they cleared a ball off the goal line and the game changes completely if those go in. Two nice goals [from Milford] but not goals we’ve given up all year. The challenge for us is the way it happened. The loss isn’t bad because it was a fantastic game, definitely a state final atmosphere, and we’ve been in them before so we know, and that team is excellent.

“The boys are a little more disappointed because of the errors. It wasn’t that they were dominated…sometimes it’s better to lose a game being dominated and not one that at times, you were on the front foot and better. But they have special players…their two best players put the two daggers in.”

After a scoreless opening 40 minutes, the Hawks took the lead less than five minutes into the second half. Senior Leo Coelho helped the Hawks transition into offense by splitting a pair of defenders and feeding a pass to Lucas Da Silva, who took a touch and was fouled five yards outside the box.

Coelho took the free kick, bending a left-footed shot towards the far post and just under the bar and out of the reach of OA keeper Drew Nickla.




Just six minutes later, the visitors tacked on another goal. A big clearance from Julio Dasilva was tracked down by Lucas Da Silva, and he was able to beat a defender along the right sideline before launching a high arching ball that eluded the keeper and fell just under the bar into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

Milford boys soccer Oliver Ames boys soccer

“Two phenomenal goals from two phenomenal players,” Pinto said. “They can flip a switch and turn the game around in a second. If Leo gets half a chance, he can make it a goal. And Lucas scored from no angle, he didn’t have any options inside so just chipped it.”

Nickla came up with a big stop on a Coelho free kick in the 54th minute and the Tigers came back down and found the back of the net on the other end. After being dispossessed, OA senior Kevin Louhis tracked back to steal the ball back. He took one touch forward before unleashing a rocket that found the top left corner from 35 yards out to make it 2-1 in the 58th minute.

Although neither team scored in the first half, there were still chances from both sides. Milliken unleashed a blast in the 7th minute that was swallowed up by Oliveira. And minutes later, Milliken put another shot on goal that was denied and Dillon Cupples had a bid on goal but Avi Seri was there for the Hawks to clear it off the line.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Just seconds later, Nikiciuk rifled a free kick from 40 yards out that hit off the crossbar and stayed out.

“We knew they’d be a top team…we said if we could give them a game we’d be happy and I think we did more than give them a game but we’re not happy [with the result],” Barata said. “It’s sad for the seniors but ultimately, if you have to end this year…when we look back, we went 12-1, won the division, and played the team who was probably picked to win it all this year. And we had a chance to play, what a blessing.”

Milford boys soccer finishes the season without a loss at 10-0-3, with two of the draws coming on cancellations. Oliver Ames finishes the season at 12-1.

Milford boys soccer Oliver Ames boys soccer

OA Prevails In Battle of Unbeatens Against Canton

Oliver Ames boys soccer Brady deVos
Oliver Ames’ Brady deVos (right) celebrates with Matthew Nikiciuk after deVos’ first half goal. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
 NORTH EASTON, Mass. – There might not be a state tournament this season, but Monday night’s game between Oliver Ames and Canton certainly felt like a playoff game.

Oliver Ames boys soccer

Both teams entered the Davenport heavyweight clash undefeated but only one, the Tigers, walked out still without a loss. Oliver Ames built a two-goal lead and added a key insurance strike in the fourth quarter to earn a 3-1 decision over the Bulldogs.

The battle between the top two teams in the Davenport division delivered with high intensity throughout, stout defensive efforts, a pair of class goals, and some fourth quarter drama.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“It was like a playoff game, a great game,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “They were well prepared, they came out with a very playoff tactic to get the win. We came in with our tactic to win, we were both playing this game to win no doubt about that. They don’t let you play your game, and we didn’t let them play their game so maybe it wasn’t the best either team has played…it was very intense, but that’s what Canton OA is right? We haven’t had this energy or feel in other games. And we expect the same type of vibe there.”

Oliver Ames scored early in the second quarter and doubled its lead with a goal just minutes into the second half but the Bulldogs took advantage of an opportunity in the 55th minute to get back into the game, halving the deficit.

That goal seemed to give the visitors some life and resulted in Canton’s best passing sequence of the game. Senior Abdul Barrie combined with sophomore Jorge Sanchez, the former getting some space in the corner and whipped a service in. Junior Jacob Crugnale got a touch to the cross but his bid was inches off, hitting off the far post and staying out, keeping the hosts ahead 2-1.

Oliver Ames boys soccer

A minute later, the Tigers built quickly out of the back with senior Colin Milliken carrying possession into the middle third, springing classmate Dillon Cupples out wide on the left. Cupples connected with senior Kevin Louhis, who worked around a defender to get to the corner of the area and Louhis blasted a curling shot inside the far post to make it 3-1 just seconds after the Bulldogs nearly tied it.

“Oliver Ames is a great team, they are strong everywhere on the field, really well organized,” said Canton head coach Danny Erickson. “We knew we’d have to play a rather mistake-free game to beat them and we didn’t. We played great moments, I was really proud of our work ethic but we kind of drifted in moments and let them take the game.

“The game really came down to moments, some bounces and some weird mistakes cost us the game. We had a brilliant opportunity with probably our best build up of the game, three of four great passes in a row that led to a great opportunity that hit the far post, and then as soccer goes, a good team will make you pay for missing opportunities and they went down and Kevin scored a banger.”










The game started as expected with two of the best defenses in the Hockomock League this year. OA entered the contest having surrendered just one goal while the Bulldogs had just two goals against. Both defenses shined in the opening 20 minutes, taking away chances and denying passing lanes.

Canton boys soccer

Canton looked to get in behind the defense on a great ball from Colton Mirlianiy but OA senior Ben Cohen, who had a very strong game at outside right back, did very well to recover and thwart the chance.

Canton boys soccer

Meanwhile, Canton keeper Giovanni Ruggeri was up to the task on a low shot from distance from Cupples in the 12th minute, and Barrie intercepted a pass in the area, taking away a combination between Milliken and Cupples.

OA opened the lead in the 23rd minute on a free kick from Matthew Nikiciuk after he drew the foul. On a direct kick from just over 30 yards out, Nikiciuk blasted a low shot that skipped into the area and senior Brady deVos made a run right to the penalty spot and got a touch to it, changing the direction just enough to catch the keeper going the wrong way.

The Tigers went on to double their lead just minutes into the second half. Anthony DaCosta touched the corner into play and Milliken drove a cross into the area that hit off a Bulldog defender and into the net for an own goal.

Canton got on the board late in the third quarter after high pressure resulted in a turnover. Crugnale applied a lot of pressure, getting a piece of a pass out of the back to knock it free. Mirliani latched onto it, taking a touch with his left to set up a blast from 30 yards out that caught the keeper off the line and snuck under the bar to make it 2-1.




The Dogs nearly had the equalizer just before the third quarter came to a close. On a free kick from straight away from just over 25 yards out, Mirlinani touched to Barrie, who skipped on shot on goal that was spilled on frame but junior Dylan Baird’s bid on the rebound was just over the bar.

Canton boys soccer

Canton continued to press in the fourth but Louhis was able to put the game away with his strike in the 67th minute.

“The maturity factor of the seniors is finally paying off for us,” Barata said. “We allowed them to get in and Abdul whipped a wonderful ball in and it ricocheted off the post and suddenly it’s 2-2 and the momentum has shifted. Sometimes with younger kids, you might panic but our senior experience showed today.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“Danny has them well prepared, they know how to play tactically and they are well prepared and ready to go. We didn’t put them away early when we had the chance and it became a much tougher game in the second half. But it was great to have Kevin put in that third goal because then it was done.”

The two teams will clash again on Wednesday as Oliver Ames (7-0) travels to Canton (4-1-2) on Wednesday for a 6:15 PM kickoff. The Tigers can clinch at least a share of the Davenport title with a draw, and can clinch it outright with a win.

“We hadn’t talked about [the division title] until today, we talked about today being a championship game for us, Canton coming in undefeated,” Barata said. “But whenever you play Danny and Canton, you know they will be prepared so it’s a good game to get ready for the tournament, but this is like a tournament game for us this year.”

Oliver Ames boys soccer
Canton boys soccer

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/21/20

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Two days after suffering a 4-0 loss, Attleboro battled to a scoreless draw with the Hornets to earn a point. Mansfield goalie Jack Lansbury-Casey had a strong outing in net with eight saves.

Canton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Canton scored two minutes into the third quarter and that was enough for the Bulldogs in a win on the road. Sophomore Jake McCabe converted a feed from junior Jacob Crugnale for the lone tally of the match. David Floyd had a solid outing in net for the Rocketeers with eight saves.

Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Foxboro sandwiched a pair of third quarter goals around a tally from Stoughton to earn two points and a season sweep of the Black Knights. After a scoreless first half, Foxboro’s Max Beigel opened the scoring in the 44th minute, tucking his show low to the left into the back corner for a 1-0 advantage. Rhuan Carvalho helped bring the Black Knights level, sending a perfectly paced through ball to Joao Marotti, who was fouled in the box for a pen. Carvalho blasted a left-footed shot that Foxboro keeper Nick Penders got his fingertips to but the ball kissed off the post and in to bring Stoughton level at 1-1. The deadlock lasted less than 10 minutes as Matt Angelini raced onto a loose ball behind the defense and hit a left-footed shot on the run just inside of the far post. Stoughton keeper Nolan Gerome had a strong outing with eight saves.

Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of first quarter goals a minute apart and held on the rest of the way to earn two points at home over visiting Taunton. Ben Moccia opened the scoring for the Panthers, finishing off a feed from Charlie Amante for a 1-0 advantage. Just a minute later, Ryan Witt set up Ethan Cain, who scored for the third straight game, for a 2-0 lead. Taunton sophomore Riley Rebello cut the deficit in half with an unassisted goal in the second quarter.

Milford, 2 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – King Philip battled back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring right before the halftime whistle and then just seconds before the final whistle to grab a point over visiting Milford. Junior Avi Seri put the Hawks ahead in the eighth minute on an assist from Leo Coelho, who scored in the 31st minute on an assist from Arthur Tome to make it 2-0. King Philip cut the lead in half with less than a minute to go in the first half when junior Stephen Griffin converted a free kick. And then with just 12 seconds left, Conor O’Neill buried a service from Evan McCoy to bring the Warriors level at the death.

Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames exploded for six second half goals to earn a big win at home over visiting Sharon. The Tigers built a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals from Mathias Taylor (from Ben Cohen) and Anthony DaCosta (from Colin Milliken). Senior Brady deVos added a second half brace for the Tigers while Milliken, Kevin Louhis, Dillon Cupples, and Jared Goldman also scored. Senior Ryan Ventura and freshman Joey Carney added assists.










Girls Soccer
Mansfield, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Cathryn Cooney scored twice in the second quarter to lift Mansfield to a win on the road. Olivia Salisbury and Kelsey Hubler combined to keep a clean sheet for the Hornets.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game.

Foxboro, 9 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Alyssa Vandenboom scored three times and Jordyn Collins and Erin Foley each scored twice, as Foxboro’s offense clicked into gear with a big road win. Kailee McCabe recorded five points on the day, finishing with one goal and four assists, and Katelyn Mollica added three, scoring one and assisting on two. Meghan Burke, Jordan Carman, and Collins all had one assist in the win. Stoughton coach Hermes Lima credited the leadership of seniors Mackenzie Manning, Nikki Anderson, and Rebecca DeSousa for keeping the Black Knights going. He said the team had several good attacks for forward Shayla Ford but just couldn’t find the finish.

Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Clare Bowen’s hat trick keeps the Panthers rolling along, having won all six of their games so far this season and extending their lead to six points in division standings (second-place KP plays on Thursday). Jamie Tanner and Riley Fitzpatrick also scored for Franklin. Izzy Arnold had a pair of assists, while Norah Anderson, Erin Quaile, and Tanner each had one helper apiece.

Oliver Ames, 4 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Sharon’s goal came on a first half penalty kick by Sofia Goclowski that put the Eagles ahead 1-0 but the Tigers scored four straight to get the win on the road. Katie Gibson (assist), Camryn O’Connor (two assists), Emma Pereira, and Carly Gibson scored for OA. Lucinda Cotter notched an assist for the Tigers.

Golf
Canton, 147 @ North Attleboro, 156 – Final – Another day, another new golfer steps up to lead the Bulldogs as Conor Hunter fired a match-medalist even par round of 35 as Canton notched a win on the road at Heather Hill Country Club over North Attleboro. Will Gefteas and Owen Donovan each chipped in with a 37 while Aiden French carded a 38 for Canton. Sophomore Jake Gaskin led the Rocketeers with a team-low round of 37, Sam Gallagher added a 38, Jordan Paradis shot a 40, and Tyler DeMattio finished with a 41.

Taunton, 194 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin earned its eighth straight win to start the season behind an impressive two-under par round of 33 from senior Jack Paterson. Sean Connelly added a 38 in the win while both Nolan Norton and Pat Dolan carded rounds of 39. Spencer Andrews was Taunton’s top performer, coming in with a team-low round of 44.

King Philip, 158 @ Milford, 173 – Final – King Philip went on the road and earned a win over Milford at the Hopedale Country Club. Jared Curran was the match medalist, shooting a team-low round of 36 to pace the Warriors. Mike Matheson added a 37 and Gavin Croke chipped in with a 42 for KP.

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/16/20

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Milford, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first 40 minutes of play, Milford found the back of the net twice to earn two points on the road. The Hawks scored once in the third quarter and once more in the fourth. Junior Avi Seri put Milford ahead on an assist from classmate Chris Tocci, and then a fourth quarter goal from Felipe Guerra (from Victor Botelho) made it 2-0.

Sharon, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final

Foxboro, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames scored a pair of goals on both sides of halftime to earn a series sweep of visiting Foxboro. Kevin Louhis (from Dillon Cupples) opened the scoring for the Tigers, who had four players find the back of the net. Brady deVos doubled the lead before the break on a pass from Matthew Nikiciuk. Nikiciuk (from Anthony DaCosta) and Colin Milliken (penalty kick) scored in the second half for OA.

Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – King Philip leveled the match just before halftime but Franklin came out and took the lead back with an early goal in the second half and held on to even the season series between the two rivals. Ben Moccia converted a feed from Tyler Powderly in the 26th minute to give the Panthers the lead but Tadhg Keller answered in the 35th minute on a long free kick to make it 1-1 at the break. Franklin’s Ethan Cain (from Charlie Amante) scored the game-winning goal in the 46th minute and the Panthers held on the rest of the way.

Taunton, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – For the second straight game, Mansfield scored the game-winning goal in the second half to earn two points against Taunton. Aiden Steele scored off a corner from Ethan Scholes for the lone goal of the game. Jack Lasbury-Casey earned his first shutout in his first career start. MHS coach Steve Sheridan said Colin True had an amazing day in the midfield and both Evan Eames and Michael Caridi played well defensively.

Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final










Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 4 @ Milford, 5 – Final – After failing to find the back of the net in the first three games of the season, Milford edged a shootout against Attleboro to pick up its first win. Dani Atherton proved difficult to contain, scoring four goals for the Hawks, while Jillian Michelson added a goal and two assists. Briley Harnois had a goal and three assists for the Bombardiers, giving her six points in two games this season. Atherton got her first of the night four minutes into the game and added a second before halftime. Michelson also got one in the first half but Bethany Alves (first career goal) and Cassondra Stuger, both assisted by Harnois, kept Attleboro within one at the break. Atherton added two more in the third quarter, while Harnois got one, as Milford led 5-3 heading to the fourth. In the final quarter, Harnois set up Jamie Davies for her first varsity goal, but the Hawks held on to take the two points. Milford coach Lou Colabello called the win “a good morale boost” heading into next week’s games with King Philip.

Canton, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Canton scored twice in the fourth quarter to pull out a win on the grass at Sharon, stay perfect on the season, and remain two points ahead of the pack in the Davenport division. Mekhala Costello, Olivia Rodman, and Gabriella Herivaux scored the goals for the Bulldogs. Sarai Costello had two assists and Emily McCabe had one helper. Sharon played well throughout, keeping Canton’s attack at bay for the bulk of the game. Wendy Wooden had the goal for the Eagles.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin scored twice in the first quarter and held off a late charge by the Warriors to earn a hard-fought win in the rain and stay perfect on the season. The Panthers wasted no time getting on the board, as Sydney St. Marie scored after 90 seconds. Eight minutes later, St. Marie set up Anya Zub to double the lead. The lead remained two goals until the fourth quarter. Ava Tormey got KP back within one as she knocked in a rebound, which was the first goal the Panthers have allowed this season.. The goal sparked the Warriors and they put the Panthers under pressure for the final 13 minutes, but Franklin’s defense held on for the win. Julia Bertone and Rachel Welch combined to make seven saves for Franklin, while KP keeper Emma Glaser made nine saves.

Mansfield, 2 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – The Hornets earned their first win of the season behind the first career goals for Amira Walcott and Olivia Homsi. Olivia Salisbury and Kelsey Hubler combined for a second clean sheet in as many days. Mansfield had plenty of chances, forcing Taunton goalie Isabella Anslow into 20 saves.

North Attleboro, 7 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Steph McKenna and Emma Pratt continued their impressive weeks, each scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist, as the Rocketeers won for the second straight game and stayed unbeaten on the season. Coming off a hat trick on Wednesday, McKenna scored a pair of goals and assisted one, while Pratt scored one (her third of the week) and had an assist. Tess Collins added a goal and two assist for North, while Maggie O’Brien and Lily Adams scored their first varsity goals. Brayden Rice, Charlotte Moynihan, and Caroline Ferrin had assists.

Golf
Mansfield, 158 @ Oliver Ames, 155 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its biggest win of the season, knocking off a previously unbeaten shorthanded Mansfield squad. Senior Logan Domenico made a 15′ putt for a birdie on the 8th hole, finishing with a match-low score of 35. Senior Kosta Spiliakos, junior Jake Kaplan, and freshman David Rogers all shot 40 for the Tigers. For Mansfield, Ryan Dow and Joseph Gormley each had a team-low round of 39n while Cian Goulet and Nate Morreale each carded a 40.

2020 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Milford’s Lucas Da Silva and Oliver Ames’ Colin Milliken battle for possession during the 2019 season. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2020 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Attleboro

2019 Record: 6-9-3
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Peter Pereira
One more goal scored or one goal less allowed could have changed the entire outcome of the 2019 season for the Bombardiers, who suffered six one-goal losses and three draws. Now with more varsity experience under their belts, Attleboro is aiming to surprise some teams in the hunt for the Kelley-Rex division title this season.

Longtime head coach Peter Pereira is counting on that experience to translate into leadership on and off the field. Senior goalie Zackary Brown is back in net for the Bombardiers and is showing more confidence inside the area. Senior Joey Soucy is making the transition to defense and will play alongside classmates Jayden Lockhart and Andrew Fasoldt. Junior Cashel Stuger is also back in the mix defensively while seniors Henry Marini and Alejandro Jimenez could factor into the defensive unit as well.

Jackson Singer emerged as a strong option in the midfield in his first season with the Bombardiers and should be a big piece again this year. Singer will pair up with Hugo Henriquez to give Attleboro an experienced duo in the heart of the pitch. Seniors Ben Fasoldt, Emilio Amaya, and Tyler Sar will all be apart of the midfield while juniors Tom Russo and Emilio Ticas should see valuable minutes for the Bombardiers. Freshman Alex Vecchioli has shown a lot of versatility so far and could play in a variety of roles.

Up front, Attleboro will be relying on a combination of speed, tough, and work effort as they challenge opposing defenses. Depending on the pairing, Attleboro will be able to attack in a variety of ways. Seniors Justin Lurssen and Connor Paquin as well as juniors Liam Bischoff and Yianni Skordas will all see time in the attack. Sophomore Esvin Morales emerged as one of the top attacking threats a year ago and will be among the top finishers in the league.

“We have a good group of seniors and hope that this experience will pay off,” Pereira said. “We believe we will have a more competitive, more mature, and more balanced team.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Canton

2019 Record: 4-12-2
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Danny Erickson
The Bulldogs were very young during the 2019 season with just a half dozen seniors on the squad, but that meant plenty of young players were able to gain valuable on-field experience at the varsity level. Now the Bulldogs will be looking to contend in a very competitive Davenport division in the shortened 2020 season.

The defense will be the backbone of the team this season as the Bulldogs have a lot of experience at the centerback position. Senior captain Matt Giglio is back for his third year with the squad after being a key piece in each of the previous two years. He will be joined in the middle of the defense by Will Keefe, who anchored the Dogs’ backline last year and earned All-Hockomock honors.

Junior Dylan Baird had a breakout sophomore season and will be one of the main pieces in the midfield. After a down season for Canton on the offensive end as a whole last year, Baird’s presence in the midfield will help create opportunities going forward. Up front, the Bulldogs are counting on senior Colton Marliani to be a go-to scoring threat.

Canton already suffered a big blow as senior captain TJ McCabe, who has been with the squad since he was a freshman, will miss the season due to injury. On the flip side, the Bulldogs are getting a boost with the addition of Abdul Barrie. Barrie played in the youth leagues in Canton but will make his CHS debut this fall and could make a big impact for the Dogs.

“I think the rule modifications will challenge us all equally,” said longtime Canton head coach Danny Erickson. “But after a week or so of training, to me, it’s still soccer.”

Foxboro

2019 Record: 7-8-3
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Dan Ambrosio
The Warriors had a sour taste in their mouth at the end of last season, losing the last game of the year to miss out on the playoffs. While Foxboro won’t have the chance to get back to the postseason this year, the Davenport division title is certainly in reach.

Foxboro graduated a couple of stalwarts (Joe Cusack, Dylan Barreira, Will Morrison) that were important pieces of the squad in each of the last couple of seasons, but there are plenty of experienced players back from last year’s seven-win squad plus a handful of new faces anxious to make their mark. Seniors Max Beigel and PJ Frost will give the Warriors plenty of leadership and experience, especially in the midfield and attacking third. Foxboro will look to play quick, using the counterattack to hit on the break.

After giving up nearly two goals a game a season ago, the Warriors are aiming to tighten up the back as they navigate through a very competitive Davenport division. First-year head coach Dan Ambrosio is also counting on new players like John Hollis and Ryan Flaherty to make an impact during the shortened season.

“We are a tight-knit group who like to have fun playing the game and look forward to representing our school and town,” Ambrosio said.







Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Franklin

2019 Record: 9-7-4
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Fran Bositis
With returning players in most areas of the pitch and a trio of top midfielders in the Hockomock League, the Panthers should be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex title, although it could be one of the most competitive seasons since the league split into two.

With just 10 games and all six teams in the Kelley-Rex possible contenders, there is little margin for error. The Panthers will be put to the test right away as they take on Milford, who won the Davenport two years in a row and went to the D2 State Final last season, in the opening week. But longtime head coach Fran Bositis has plenty of talent on his roster to try and make a push for the division title. It all starts in the midfield with a trio of returning starters in Ethan Cain, Tyler Powderly, and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Terry O’Neill.

All three bring something different to the table which will make Franklin’s midfield among the most dynamic in the league. Powderly’s speed on the wings will give defenses fits while Cain will bring plenty of creativity as the Panthers push forward. O’Neill won’t be able to dominate in the air like he did a season ago thanks to the new modifications that ban headers, but the junior is also such a calming presence with the ball at his feet and will help Franklin keep possession. Ben Moccia, who started in the midfield a season ago, is moving up top to the number 9 spot, while Charlie Amante, Ryan Witt, Jack Moran, and Kevin Proenca will also see time in the attack.

The Panthers have some new faces in the defensive unit. Will Fox is the lone returning starter and has impressed in the early stages of the season. Sam George, Robbin Tappin, and Karl Gruseck will all factor into the Panthers’ defense while Aidan Griffith, Nelson Martinez, and Connor Scagliarini will be options for Bositis to play either defense or in the midfield. Newcomers Trey Lovell and Rex Cinelli could see valuable minutes right away. Former Panther standout goalie Freddie Backmann, who is without a season at Regis College, is mentoring Luc Boudreau, this year’s starting keeper for Franklin.

“I think that we have a very good group of athletes (soccer players) who have worked real hard in preparation for this season,” Bositis said. “I know that they are all excited to be playing and that they are looking forward to competing against the other Kelley-Rex teams and putting themselves in a position to challenge for a league championship.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

King Philip

2019 Record: 8-5-6
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Mike O’Neill
King Philip was the surprise team of the 2019 season, overcoming a large amount of inexperience to take third in the Kelley-Rex and qualify for the state tournament. While the Warriors won’t sneak up on anyone this season, the skill and experience they return should put them in the mix for the division title.

Second-year head coach Mike O’Neill has strong players in all areas of the pitch, starting with senior captain Evan McEvoy. A four-year player with the program, McEvoy is coming off a breakout season in 2019 and will be among the top midfielders in the league. He will control the pace for the Warriors from the center of the pitch, working with fellow captain Alex Leon, who will use his speed to patrol the wings and get in behind the defense. Both Caleb Waxman and Stephen Griffin made an impact last season and should see expanded roles in the shortened 2020 season. Sophomore Matt Crago is a new face that could make a splash in his first year.

The Warriors should have one of the top defenses in the league again this season. Senior captain Aidan Lindmark is back in goal and his distribution skills will factor in heavily to how KP plays out of the back. Jeremy White had a strong 2019 season at center back and will bolster the Warriors’ backline when he returns from injury. In the meantime, four-year player Ajae Olsen, who is normally patrolling the wing or up top, will have his versatility on display as he slides into the centerback spot.

“Our players and coaches are thankful that we are at the point where we can have a season,” O’Neill said. “So much work and sacrifice have gone into getting the Hockomock League schools to this moment. I’m looking forward to some excellent and competitive soccer. I expect every game to be extremely competitive – there are no easy games in the Hock. Five wins may win the division.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Mansfield

2019 Record: 6-7-5
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Steve Sheridan
With just 10 games scheduled for the season, every game – from the first to the last – is going to be important. No one understands that more than the 2020 Hornets, who came up just short of the state tournament last year. After a slow start, Mansfield became one of the toughest teams to beat down the stretch, finishing on an eight-game unbeaten streak that featured an upset of division champion Oliver Ames but came just one point shy of postseason play.

With the postseason not in the picture for this year, the focus shifts on the division title. The Hornets are hoping to carry the momentum from the end of last season into this year. Mansfield will have a mix of veterans and inexperience in its defensive unit. Senior captain Evan Eames will be the centerpiece of the group alongside classmate Michael Jeans, who missed all of last season due to injury. Sophomores Grady Sullivan and Nate Kablik round out the Hornets’ back four while senior captain Eric Sullivan will take over starting in goal.

Senior captain Tommy Lanzillo will run the show from the center of the pitch, helping the Hornets transition from defense to offense. Lanzillo is strong with the ball at his feet and will help distribute as the Hornets hit on the counter. Senior Colin True and juniors Matt Hyland and Dan Rowe will join Lanzillo in the Hornets’ midfield. Junior Dylan Buchanan is back for his third year with the squad and will play up top alongside Aiden Steele.




Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Milford

2019 Record: 18-1-2
2019 Finish: D2 State Finalists
Coach: Antonio Pinta
Milford arrives in the Kelley-Rex division with a huge target on its back. Coming off back-to-back Davenport division titles and a trip to the D2 State Final a season ago, the Hawks enter their new division as the favorite. But game in and game out, Milford can expect to get everyone’s best.

First-year head coach Antonio Pinto might be new to the varsity position but has been with the program during this successful run as an assistant and JV coach. It will all start with the reigning HockomockSports Player of the Year and Hockomock League MVP Leo Coelho, who can play just about any position on the pitch at a high level. If there is a need to shut down a high-powered offense, you might see Coelho playing defense. Or if the Hawks need a boost offensively, he can just as easily move up front and provide creativity in the final third.

The Hawks are far from a one-trick pony with both Lucas Da Silva (eight goals, seven assists) and Joao Pedro Da Silva (six goals, three assists) back in the mix this season. Replacing the Hockomock’s leading scorer in Pedro Araujo (25 goals, 11 assists) will be tough but we saw the Hawks do just that when Araujo took over for former HockomockSports Player of the Year Wallison de Oliveira.

Defensively, the Hawks will be strong up the middle. Junior Kevin Gomes returns to start in goal for the Hawks after getting valuable experience there during last year’s season and deep playoff run. And junior Chris Tocci is back in the heart of the defense at centerback after a breakout sophomore campaign. While the new regulations will certainly challenge the Hawks defensively with heading and slide tackling banned, Milford should have a big advantage offensively because of their strong possession skills.

“I’m very excited to be out there with the guys this season,” Pinto said. “We are ready to play no matter what the rules and conditions are! We’re ecstatic to have a season.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

North Attleboro

2019 Record: 9-7-4
2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Geoff Burgess
The Rocketeers and head coach Geoff Burgess have found a recipe for success over the past couple of seasons and will be looking to replicate that again this year. Defense always comes first for the Rocketeers, who allowed just 0.68 goals per game last year. While every team is being forced to make changes because of the new modifications due to COVID-19, the Rocketeers might be affected more than most with heading, slide tackles, and shoulder-to-shoulder challenges banned.

But the Rocketeers have adjusted during the preseason and will be relying on defense and goalkeeping once again this season. Replacing two-time HockomockSports Best XI selection Kyle Briere in net won’t be easy but the North Attleboro is turning to junior David Floyd, who is one of the most athletic players on the team this season according to Burgess. The Rocketeers also boast one of the best centerback combinations in the league with seniors Justin Silva and Donovan Carter back in the fold this year. With a season of experience playing together, it will be tough for teams to find ways to get by the defense anchored by that duo.

While defense remains a top priority for the Big Red, that doesn’t mean North isn’t a dangerous team in the attacking third. As they’ve shown over the past two seasons, speed can kill. Relying on the counterattack and set pieces for the majority of their offensive chances, North brings back senior forward Matt Conley (one goal, five assists) to try and beat defenses with his speed and skill. Junior Connor Ward will have a lot to say about the pace the Rocketeers play at as he orchestrates the team from the center of the pitch.

“With an abbreviated season and a large senior class, we hope to challenge OA for the league title,” Burgess said. “This will obviously be a huge challenge but our defense will be tough to breakdown and you can’t lose if the other team does not score.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Oliver Ames

2019 Record: 15-4-0
2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinal
Coach: John Barata
Oliver Ames has reached the D2 State Final three times since 2014 and with a large group of experienced and skilled players back from last year’s team that went 15-4, another trip to the finals might have been in the cards for 2020. But with postseason canceled due to COVID-19, the Tigers are looking to make as big of an impact as they can.

After a four-year stint in the Kelley-Rex, one that included a pair of division titles (2017 and 2019), the Tigers are back in the Davenport division where they won five titles in the first six years after the Hockomock split. OA brings back nine players that either started or saw a good amount of minutes on the pitch last year, highlighted by HockomockSports Best XI selections Colin Milliken, Brady deVos, and Kevin Louhis. Milliken will help the Tigers transition from defense to offense from his center mid spot, Louhis will be a go-to option on the offensive end, and deVos is back to anchor the defense for the second straight season.

The Tigers will have plenty of options to go along with Milliken (10 goals, 14 assists) and Louhis (4 goals, 9 assists) in the attacking third. Jimmy Keane (six goals, one assist) bolsters the midfield while Anthony DaCosta (six goals, one assist) has improved each of the past two seasons and will be a handful for opposing defenses. Senior Matthew Nikiciuk really emerged as a force in the middle of the pitch last season and will be a big part of the offense, especially through set pieces. Both Mathias Taylor and Dillon Cupples burst onto the scene a year ago and will be in the mix as the Tigers push forward.

Senior goalie Drew Nickla returns in net after a strong year in 2019. The Tigers graduated the most from the defensive unit so the early challenge will be developing chemistry quickly in the backline. Head coach John Barata is also looking for Ben Cohen, Michael Haikal, and Hector Bucio as viable options for the Tigers while sophomore Jake Williams and freshmen Ryan Linhares, Joey Carney, and Diego Rivera are new faces to keep an eye out for.

“We are looking forward to competing this fall and enjoying the opportunity to grow as people and players,” Barata said. “This is a unique situation for a very unique group of players and we are going to make the best of it and play the best soccer we can. These young men are fantastic and we are going to have a great time this season regardless of the on field results…but we hope to have a few of those too!”




Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Sharon

2019 Record: 6-7-5
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Scott Nathan
The Eagles enter the 2020 campaign with a chip on their shoulder, coming up just one point shy of the state tournament a year ago. While Sharon can’t make up for that with a tournament appearance this year with the playoffs canceled due to COVID-19, the Eagles can certainly make some noise while challenging for the Davenport division title.

Sharon said goodbye to a handful of experienced veterans including Michael Baur, Brian Higgins, and Isaiah Stessman, but first-year head coach Scott Nathan has a group of proven players plus a bunch of news faces eager to make their mark. Senior captain Bryce Nathan and junior captain James Zhang will lead the way both on and off the pitch this year as the Eagles compete for the Davenport crown.

Bryce Nathan is one of the most versatile players in the league, playing anywhere from defense to striker during his tenure with the Eagles. Zhang, fresh off an impressive sophomore campaign, is very confident with the ball at his feet and does a nice job distributing from the center of the pitch. Sophomore Matthew Baur is back in goal after getting a varsity season under his belt. Rhys Davis and Brandon Mauricio highlight a list of returners defensively while Coby Jacobson, Samid Khandaker, Adam Landstein, Aaron Livshin, and Daniel Zagoren are all back with varsity experience as well.

The Eagles will focus on a sound defense first before transitioning into offense. Patience will be key this year as Sharon looks to make the most of each opportunity as they push forward. Brady Daylor, Malachi Diaz, Adam Eastman, Daniel Fishman, Amjad Kordab, Jack Landstein, Rohan Prakash, Elliot Pototsky Nicholas Rincon, Aaron Tamkin, Jeffrey Xiang, and Tony Yang are new to the varsity level and will be looking to make an impact on the pitch for the Eagles in 2020.

“The game will be different…for players, coaches, referees, and fans,” Scott Nathan said. “I am just happy for the boys that they have the opportunity to play the game they love!”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Stoughton

2019 Record: 3-13-2
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jon Grant
With a year of experience under coach Jon Grant, the Black Knights are aiming to have a bounce back year and compete with the top teams in the Davenport division.

There were plenty of bumps in the road during the 2019 season but Stoughton certainly showed some bright spots, including wins over Mansfield and Canton. Now the Black Knights will try to compete in each game and string some results together. Captain Nolan Gerome returns in goal for Stoughton and is among the best keepers in the league. Opposing head coaches have raved about saves Gerome has made over the past couple of seasons and he will be the anchor of the Black Knights’ defensive unit.

Playing in front of Gerome will be senior captain Ryan Sears and junior Owen Roddy, who both played valuable minutes last year. With a good amount of experience and skill in the back, Stoughton is hoping defense will be a cornerstone for the 2020 season. Grant is looking for Rhuan Carvalho to be a top playmaker for the Black Knights, distributing from the center of the pitch to create some offensive chances.

“Our goal for this year to improve on last season,” Grant said. “This year the players came in to the short season fairly well conditioned and with a great attitude. All the players are so grateful to have this opportunity to be back out on the field. This will definitely help us in this short season.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Taunton

2019 Record: 2-9-7
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Taylor Whitters
It’s easy to look at Taunton’s record from a season ago and make assumptions, but upon further review, the Tigers were in just about every game they played. Five of the nine losses were decided by just one goal and the Tigers had a league-high seven draws; one goal either way and the Tigers were that close to a spot in the tournament. It goes to show how competitive the league was and how important each goal is.

With a strong nucleus of players back from last year’s squad, the playoffs wouldn’t have been such a far reach for Taunton this season. But with the postseason not in play, the Tigers will shift focus on being a darkhorse in the Kelley-Rex division title hunt. The new modifications will make it tough for all teams when it comes to defending, but it will also benefit something that Taunton has plenty of: speed. The Tigers plan on utilizing their pace on both ends of the pitch, getting behind the defense on one end while using their speed defensively to fend off opposing offenses.

Taunton will be strong up the middle with senior Travis Nunes back in the heart of the pitch and sophomore Riley Rebello back to anchor the defense. Senior Hunter Cabral will give the Tigers flexibility by playing in both the midfield and up front. Head coach Taylor Whitters is looking for sophomores Joseph Renquinha Jr., Aidden Fitting, Quincy Jones-Sylvia, Jonathan Trinh, and Nathan Keenan to all be in the mix this season.

“Despite everything that has occurred in recent months, we have one of the most versatile and technically sound teams that Taunton High School Boys Soccer has seen in a long time,” Whitters said. “This group of young men have the number one factor in the success of any team: chemistry. They have the willingness to play for the team, not for themselves. I feel with their talents, abilities, and desire to work together as a unit, we will be a team to watch in our division this season.”

Oliver Ames Ousted In South Semis By Unbeaten Nauset

Oliver Ames boys soccer Drew Nickla
Oliver Ames junior goalie Drew Nickla reaches out to save a cross from Nauset in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
SANDWICH, Mass. – The Oliver Ames boys soccer team entered Thursday night’s D2 South Semifinal with a tall task against unbeaten Nauset.

Despite a spirited second half effort and a saved penalty kick, the Tigers were unable to complete their upset bid, suffering a 1-0 loss to the Warriors after a late goal.

The top-seeded Warriors extended their unbeaten streak to 44 straight games to advance to the D2 South Final against Milford. The last time Nauset lost was in the D2 South Semifinals in 2017 via penalty kicks to OA.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“I think the second half was much better than the first,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “I think they took it too us for about 50% of the [first] half, then the rest of it was a little more back and forth. We had some chances but they had more dangerous chances. They are a strong team. They are fast, they want to impose their style of play and they were able to do that. They a very good team, John [McCully] has done a great job. They are #8 in the country for a reason, they are no joke.

“I thought we played very well and have a lot of guys that will learn from this experience. They’ll remember how this felt, and the extra work that it takes. We had one or two bad mistakes and they punished us for it. Overall, I thought it was a great second half for us.”

The lone goal came in the 73rd minute of play. A ball over the top found Nauset’s Anthony Lovati, who controlled the ball and took a touch forward despite OA’s plea for handball. Lovati connected with Shavar Champagnie in the area, who was quickly met with a pair of OA defenders on his back.

Champagnie alertly played the ball back to the top of the area where senior Sebastian Headrick calmly ran onto it and placed a shot through traffic and into the bottom corner for the eventual game-winner.

The Tigers quickly switched to three in the back, throwing numbers and services forward, but the Nauset backline used its height to prevent any balls in behind. OA had a corner in the final seconds and put all of the players in the box, including the keeper, but were unable to get on the end of it before a Nauset clearance.

“For the most part we dominated,” said Nauset head coach John McCully. “Don’t get me wrong, Oliver Ames made it difficult for us. It was very difficult for us to get any rhythm today because we’re used to ball dominance. We didn’t have a lot of that, even though we controlled at times. And 0-0…it would have been a crying shame [if we didn’t win].”

OA keeper Drew Nickla was called into action in the 12th minute when Nauset’s Connor Cushing delivered a service to the back post that was met by Lovati but Nickla was perfectly positioned and tipped the bid over the bar.

While changes were hard to come in the first, Oliver Ames’ best opportunity came in the 19th minute. Anthony DaCosta played classmate Kevin Louhis wide on the left flank. Louhis used his speed to beat his defender before poking a cross to the edge of the six-yard box, but the service was in-between DaCosta and Dillon Cupples and a Warrior defender was quick to clear.

Nauset had two golden chances before the end of the half but couldn’t convert. William Schiffer got on the end of a throw-in from Lovati but his chance smacked off the crossbar. Just under 10 minutes later, Nathan Watring set Schiffer up right in front but his shot was over the bar.

Louhis had the first good chance of the second half in the 54th minute. After working his way around a pair of defenders, he cut near the top of the 18 and ripped a left-footed shot but a Nauset defender was able to reach out and make the block. OA’s lone shot on goal came off the foot of Louhis with a low shot from distance that was saved.

“We actually built up in the midfield well at times, but the challenge was then you run into a wall of six in the back,” Barata said. “And they weren’t soft, they come through hard. Ultimately I thought we did well, I am pleased with the guys. I am sad for the seniors because they’ve done a lot of good work for the program. But I thought they went out in a great blaze. It was a close game, they scored with seven minutes left in the game. Problem was, there was no time to bounce back. We pressed, we put everyone up for that last corner but they have a lot of big bodies in there.

“I think the guys did a really good job playing the game and they should leave here with their heads held high. They’ll learn and then we’ll come back, we’ll bounce back.”

The Tigers held the Warriors without a good chance in the run of play for the majority of the second half with strong play from defenders Matthew Nosalek, Jonathan Freeman, Brady deVos, and Harrison Ahearn, along with center mids Matthew Nikiciuk and Colin Milliken. Nauset had a free kick from 20-yards out denied by the wall, and Nickla came up huge with a save on a low shot to his right on a penalty kick in the 64th minute.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“We were a little worried with the long throws and set pieces against a strong team but today he was pretty outstanding and stellar on all the throws and set pieces,” Barata said of Nickla. “And the PK was a great save.”

Just under 10 minutes after the penalty stop, the Warriors cashed in for the lone goal of the game.

Oliver Ames boys soccer finishes the season at 15-4.

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 11/08/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Football
D1 South
#2 Franklin, 28 vs. #3 Brockton, 14 – Final
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (B) Devonte Medley 10-yard pass to Ahmik Watterson, XP good; (F) Thomas Gasbarro 6-yard pass to Jack Nally, Parker Cheuvront XP good; (F) T. Gasbarro 4-yard rush, P. Cheuvront XP good; (F) Owen Palmieri 32-yard rush, P. Cheuvront XP good.
3rd Quarter: (B) Isaiah Laguerre 68-yard touchdown, XP good; (F) T. Gasbarro 62-yard pass to Cole Lakatos, P. Cheuvront XP good.
4th Quarter: No scoring.

D2 South
#3 King Philip, 6 @ #2 Mansfield, 34 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (M) Jack Moussette 9-yard pass to Cincere Gill, Michael DeBolt XP good; (M) J. Moussette 46-yard pass to C. Gill, M. DeBolt XP good; (M) J. Moussette 18-yard pass to Everett Knowlton, M. DeBolt XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) C. Gill 11-yard rush, M. DeBolt XP good; (KP) Robert Jarest 19-yard pass to Andrew McKinney, XP failed; (M) J. Moussette 24-yard pass to C. Gill, 2pt rush failed.
4th Quarter: No scoring.

D3 South
#3 Stoughton, 12 @ #2 Duxbury, 38 – Final
1st Quarter: (S) Clayton Rahaman 72-yard pass to Jordan Emile, XP failed; (D) Will Prouty 5-yard rush, Brett Souza XP good.
2nd Quarter: (S) Oluwole Fabikun 23-yard fumble return, 2pt pass failed.
3rd Quarter: (D) B. Souza 24-yard field goal; (D) W. Prouty 1-yard rush, B. Souza XP good.
4th Quarter: (D) Tim Landolfi 1-yard rush, B. Souza XP good; (D) W. Prouty 25-yard pass to Brady Madigan, B. Souza XP good; (D) T. Landolfi 6-yard rush, B. Souza XP good.

D5 South
#4 Foxboro, 0 @ #1 Canton, 15 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
1st Quarter: (C) Safety; (C) Owen Lehane 22-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: O. Lehane 31-yard field goal.
4th Quarter: (C) Johnny Hagan 15-yard rush, O. Lehane XP good.

Non-playoffs
Milford, 7 @ Hopkinton, 20 – Final

Taunton, 15 @ Weymouth, 14 – Final – Taunton scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to erase a 14-point deficit, winning on the final play of the game with a two-point conversion. Josh Lopes scored on a five-yard run and Collin Knorr drilled the extra point the half the Wildcats’ lead. After a penalty on Weymouth, the Tigers had one untimed play and Lopes plunged in from one-yard out to make it 14-13. The Tigers went for the two-point conversion and the win. Danny MacDougall took a jet sweep, escaped a swarm of tackles, and fired a pass back across the field to quarterback Trent Santos for the two-point conversion and the win.

Boys Soccer
D2 South
#12 North Attleboro, 1 @ #4 Oliver Ames, 1 – Final (OA wins, 5-4 on PKs) – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Not much could separate the Tigers and the Rocketeers on the pitch in a D2 South quarterfinal matchup. The teams were tied 1-1 after 80 minutes of play, and then played a pair of scoreless 10-minute overtime periods to send the game to penalty kicks.

“North was outstanding today on the defensive side of the ball,” said OA head coach John Barata. “Their goalie [Kyle Briere] was simply amazing. He must have saved close to 20 shots and some were from three to six yards out. No doubt that is one of the best performances by a goalie I’ve ever seen.”

Junior Kevin Louhis finished off a cross from sophomore Mathias Taylor in the 15th minute to put Oliver Ames ahead. North Attleboro leveled the match with five minutes to go when Andrew Tolfa buried a free kick chance.

“Our boys played well and with lots of poise and control today,” Barata said. “We maintained possession of the ball on all three thirds very well and broke the lines often. However, we did not capitalize on all our opportunities. We need to find the back of the net on a few of those close range opportunities.”

In the penalty kicks, both sides converted on their first three chances. North Attleboro missed on its fourth chance but Briere came up with a save to keep it tied, and both teams scored on their fifth chance to send the game to the sudden death round of pens. Barata inserted Brendan Cross in goal for the sixth chance and North was off the mark. Junior Anthony DaCosta buried his shot into the top right corner to clinch the win. Colin Milliken, Taylor, Dillon Cupples, and Louhis converted PKs for OA.

“We are very happy,” Barata said. “Before the season started our goal was to get into the state tournament, win the Hockomock Kelley Rex and win at least one game in the tourney. At this point everything is just a bonus. We have to prepare now for the top team in the state and one of the top teams in the country. We look forward to moving on.”

Oliver Ames Overcomes Early Deficit To Rout GNBVT

Oliver Ames boys soccer Jimmy Keane
Oliver Ames junior Jimmy Keane stretches out for a ball in the first half against Greater New Bedford. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Oliver Ames head coach John Barata admits there aren’t many positives to falling behind early in a tournament game, but there was one thing the Tigers learned about themselves on Sunday afternoon.

“It showed our ability to come back,” Barata said.

The fourth-seeded Tigers fell behind twice in the opening half against visiting Greater New Bedford but answered each time, and then some, on their way to a dominant 6-2 win over the 13th-seeded Bears.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“If it happens again, we won’t be panicked,” Barata said of the lesson learned from the win. “Ideally, we won’t want to go down but if we are, it was good it was early in the game because you have plenty of time and you don’t have to change your plan. We didn’t change our game plan.”

The visitors stunned the Tigers by taking the lead less than three minutes into the game. A long ball over the top from GNBVT defender Alexander Vieira Silva Macedo fell in behind the OA defense, drawing the keeper off the line. Landon Amaral won the race to the ball though, nodding a header past the keeper and into the open net.

But as Barata noted, the Tigers didn’t change their plan and their offense answered. The hosts knocked on the door plenty of times before breaking through. Kevin Louhis forced the keeper into a terrific diving game in the 5th minute, and Colin Milliken had his curling shot handled in the 7th minute.

The pressure paid off in the 16th minute as Milliken intercepted a pass from the Bears just over midfield. After a touch forward, the junior midfielder played a perfect through ball between the GNBVT defense that Louhis to run onto and finished at the far post to make it 1-1.

Despite the hosts having the majority of play, the Bears took another lead. Another ball over the top found space in behind the defense, Amaral took the service down and tucked in a low shot to put GNBVT back in front, up 2-1 in the 24th minute.

“We got a little panicky early and we didn’t play our brand,” Barata said. “Credit to [Greater New Bedford], they came prepared to play that long ball. They didn’t have a lot of shots, they used that long ball. Once we tightened up the backline, everything was better for us.”

Similar to their response after going down the first time, Oliver Ames was back on the offensive nearly immediately. Junior Brady deVos’ long shot was deflected that gave Louhis a chance with a header in the area but it was right at the keeper in the 26th minute.

OA pulled level four minutes later as right back Harry Ahearn connected with Dillon Cupples near the top of the box. Cupples had his bid blocked by a defender but the ball fell right to Jimmy Keane, who latched onto it with a low blast into the back of the net to make it 2-2 in the 30th minute.

This time the Tigers took advantage of their momentum, earning a free kick from 25 yards out. Junior Matthew Nikiciuk blasted a right footed past the wall and into the far corner to give the hosts their first lead of the game, up 3-2, in the 31st minute.

“I hope the guys felt reassured they could come back,” Barata said. “Once we got the lead, we definitely we weren’t going to give it back. The key was the get the goals and then be disciplined enough to not give another one back.”

The second half was all Tigers, who put on a clinic in the final third over the course of 40 minutes. Peppering the net with 10 shots on goal, OA cashed in for three more goals.

But before the OA offense could get in full gear, the defense came up with a big stop. Dominek Borden flicked a header off a throw in that eluded the keeper but defender Jonathan Freeman made the stop with a header before the ball could cross.

Cupples doubled the hosts’ lead in the 59th minute. After having his pass blocked by a defender, the ball popped up and Cupples blasted a wicked volley from 25 yards out that dipped under the crossbar for a 4-2 lead in the 58th minute.

Two minutes later, Louhis played Anthony DaCosta in with a through ball. DaCosta took a touch to cut the ball back onto his right foot and blasted a shot near post top shelf that gave OA a 5-2 lead.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The Tigers’ grabbed their third goal in a six-minute span when Mathias Taylor blasted a shot from a step inside the box that was saved, only for Louhis to race in and bury the rebound.

“It’s a great time of year to have these chances and have the ball go into the back of the net,” Barata said. “Hopefully we have many more to come. Greater New Bedford did a great job, we knew it would be a tough game. Sometimes that first [playoff] can almost be the toughest. It’s not always the toughest, I can’t really explain it, but you want to get that first one. Our journey is tough, we’re in for a battle next time out with either Somerset-Berkley or North Attleboro.”

Oliver Ames boys soccer (14-3-0) will host the winner of #5 Somerset-Berkley and #13 North Attleboro with a date and time still to be determined.

Oliver Ames Ends Regular Season On High Note

Oliver Ames boys soccer Brady deVos
King Philip’s Caleb Casseta-Waxman pressures Oliver Ames junior Brady deVos in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
ByRyanLanigan_2016FollowRyanLanigan_2016
 
 
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Heading into its regular season finale, the Oliver Ames boys soccer team had an opportunity to snap a rare two-game skid and head into the state tournament on a positive note.

But without two of its top players (Colin Milliken and Anthony DaCosta, both out with minor injuries) and a strong King Philip squad with a similar mission standing in its way, the Tigers knew it wouldn’t be an easy task.

Behind a pair of second half goals, Oliver Ames emerged with a win to finish the season on a high note, taking a 2-0 decision over the Warriors to finish the season at 13-3-0.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“It’s always positive to get a result, we played well in the last two games, it’s just the results didn’t go our way,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “So it’s nice to have a complete game where you actually play well, do pretty good things, and then get the win. Credit to KP, that’s a wonderful team that Mike [O’Neill] has done a great job with.”

After an even first half, the Tigers were able to capitalize on a free kick 10 minutes into the second half and grabbed a second goal just minutes later to take control of the game.

Junior Keanu Lakay drew a foul just outside the area while cutting into the center of the pitch to give the hosts a free kick from 25-yards out. Junior Matthew Nikiciuk fired a low shot to the right of the wall, with the ball skipping off the slick turf and finding the corner at the far post to give OA a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute.

The momentum stayed with the Tigers and the hosts quickly grabbed a second goal. Junior Dillon Cupples played a ball wide to classmate Kevin Louhis, who took a few touches before using a cheeky chip to find Cupples in behind the defense.

The King Philip defense swarmed to the ball but Cupples took a touch to put the ball back on his right foot and he fired a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 in the 43rd minute.

“It was a relatively even match in the first half, and into the second half too,” said King Philip coach Mike O’Neill. “We gave a bad foul away in a very bad spot, we know not to do that so it was a mental lapse on our part. But credit to OA, that was a terrific finish. Grant Orzell is a very good goalie and it’s hard to beat him off a free kick, and that shot was buried.

“And that next five minutes, as they say, they had their tail up and they were recalling coming at us. They were winning 50-50s, and that was more a scrum than anything but they were quicker to the ball and they finished so all the credit to OA. It’s a terrificly coached team, Coach John has done a great job this year.”

Both sides had strong possession in their own thirds throughout the first half but chances were at a premium with both defenses playing well.

OA had the opening chance of the game when Cupples played senior Matthew Nosalek wide, who then whipped a cross into the area but senior Nicholas Farley flashed a header wide in the 5th minute. Louhis registered the first shot on goal in the 17th minute but his low bid was handled by KP keeper Aidan Lindmark.

King Philip had its best chance come in the 27th minute as sophomore Caleb Casseta-Waxman connected with senior Brian McCarthy. McCarthy ripped a shot from 20 yards out that forced OA keeper Drew Nickla to make a leaping one-handed save over the bar.

“That was grep prep game for us because they move the ball nicely, they are aggressive, they are strong,” Barata said of KP. “We’ll see teams like that in the playoffs so for us it was the best preparation, and then to get a result was a nice positive to finish the regular season.

“The postseason is all about getting guys to show up and play, and also who’s going to step up for you. So today was a good indication that we have guys who are able to step up and willing. We were missing two of our best players, two of our leading scorers so it was nice to see us bounce back and play a good brand of soccer even without them on the pitch. And we got to play our seniors for the majority of the game, so it was to go into the postseason with a positive vibe.”

King Philip’s best chances came in the final 10 minutes of the game. In the 70th minute, Evan McEvoy fired a shot that required Nickla to handle on the bounce off the slick turf, and a minute later, McEvoy set up Owen Teixeira but his bid was over the bar.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The Warriors now find themselves in the same situation as Oliver Ames. King Philip heads into the regular season finale on home against Feehan with a two-game skid but a chance to get back on track before the playoffs.

“In many ways I think we’re fortunate because we play OA and Feehan, so we’re playing really good competition going into the tournament which I think helps keep us sharp,” O’Neill said. “But we’ve talked about it as a team, and we have to understand that we need a certain mentality going into tournament play. There’s such a small margin between good teams, and it usually comes down to one moment here or there. But I’m happy we have Feehan on Wednesday because its another good team to help us get ready.”

Oliver Ames boys soccer (13-3-0 Hockomock, 13-3-0 overall) awaits its seed and matchup for the MIAA tournament while King Philip hosts Feehan on Wednesday at 6:00.