Field Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Madison Ellis scored the lone goal of the game three minutes into the fourth quarter, giving Attleboro a road win over the Tigers and a sweep of the season series (both games finishing 1-0). Olivia Hamilton picked up the assist on the game-winner and Ava Haggerty made eight saves to preserve the shutout. Taunton goalie Em Gannon turned away 10 shots while Kylie Thorpe, Kaysie DeMoura, Thalia Nogueira, and Jasmine Lucier played well for the Tigers.
Canton @ North Attleboro, 6:00
Foxboro, 4 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Franklin, 6 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Franklin scored three goals on either side of halftime to earn a season sweep of the Hornets. Kendall Jones opened the scoring (from Raena Crandall) and Emily Carney and Kaitlyn Carney each scored once in the second quarter to give the visitors a 3-0 lead at the break. Payten Crandall added two goals in the second half, Haley Wernig had a goal and an an assist and Emily Carney added two more helpers.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 7 – Final – Seven different players found the back of the net for the Warriors, as they earned their 12th win of the season. Lily Brown opened the scoring with what turned out to be the game-winner eight minutes into the game and senior Veronica Nowakowski wrapped up the scoring with her first career goal in the fourth quarter. Kelly Holmes and Margo Riley each scored once and assisted on two goals apiece, while Sydney O’Shea and Mara Boldy each had a goal and an assist. Makenzie McDevitt also scored for KP and Christina Gifun and Abby MacDonald both had assists.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Georgia Costello scored in the final second of the first quarter for what turned out to be the game-winner for the Tigers. Erin Cottam assisted on the opener and then doubled the lead with a goal just 30 seconds into the second quarter. Tyla Delamere got the assist on the second goal. The Tigers had 25 penalty corners and put more than 30 shots on goal. Stoughton goalie Melody Casna stood on her head to keep the Black Knights in the game, making 29 saves in a remarkable performance.
Volleyball
Attleboro, 1 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – In a very evenly matched contest, Taunton prevailed with a hard-fought 3-1 win (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-22) over the visiting Bombardiers. For Attleboro, freshman Julia Leonardo recorded 29 kills and 14 digs, Natalie Brojek dished out 34 assists to go along with 13 digs, Lilly Boedeker added 24 serve receptions and 12 digs, and Kate Petrosso recorded four blocks and seven kills.
Foxboro, 1 @ Sharon, 3 – Final
Canton, 3 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Canton swept North Attleboro 26-24, 25-10, 25-20 to stay within one match of division-leading OA. The Bulldogs had a strong match at the net, recording seven blocks as a team and getting good balance in the attack. Taylor Reynolds was a key to the offense with 30 assists, while adding two kills and two aces. Anna Verille continued to be strong on the back row with 19 digs.
Franklin, 3 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – The Panthers rallied after dropping the first set to remain in the hunt for the league title. Franklin won 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-4. Taylor Lacerda had a great all-around performance with two aces, 11 kills, and nine digs. Julia Kelly led the Hornets with 11 kills and added six aces and six digs. Nicole Santos and Elyssa Buchanan (nine digs) each had five kills, Christina Lydon had 13 assists, and Jackie Zelic had 10 digs for Mansfield.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – KP maintained its one-match lead on Franklin with a sweep of Milford. The Warriors won 25-8, 25-22, 25-16 and can clinch at least a share of the league title with a win in their next match. Samantha Asprelli had a strong game on the back row and the service line with 10 aces, seven digs, and 21 service points won. Stella Bailey added five aces and 13 service points won and Sofia Reidel added nine digs. Sami Shore led KP at the net with 10 kills and three blocks and Emily Sawyer chipped in with eight kills.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – OA swept Stoughton (25-17, 25-15, 25-17) to move within one win of clinching at least a share of the division title. Kelli Crowley was a standout for the Tigers with her aggressive play at the net. Hadley Rhodes set the OA offense in motion with 22 assists and Maddie Homer was dominant on the back row with 21 digs. Sarah Hilliard led the way with 14 kills and five aces.
Freshman Julia Leonardo (12) led the way for the Attleboro attack, helping the Bombardiers rally from 2-1 down to win a five-set match with Milford. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Momentum is a funny thing. You never know exactly when it might turn and if you’ll be able to get it back. On Tuesday night, Attleboro grabbed momentum midway through the fourth set and never let it go.
The Bombardiers rattled off five straight points to go ahead by seven in the fourth, keeping the match alive and forcing a decisive final set. Attleboro kept its foot on the gas and pulled away in the fifth to earn a 3-2 (13-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-21,15-7) victory over Milford, sweeping the season series with the Hawks and putting the Bombardiers just one win away from clinching a rare playoff spot.
“They have not given up,” Attleboro coach Mary Katherine Runey said. “Even when we’re behind in game three, we’re already thinking we need the momentum at the end of game three to go into set four. Those are the things we emphasized, and our defense. When our defense is on fire, we can really showcase what we have to offer on offense.”
Milford came out on fire, dominating the opening set and controlling all aspects of the match. The Hawks won seven of the first eight points and never allowed the Bombardiers to get going. Aliza Syed was strong at the net, winning points with either hand and limiting the free swings for Attleboro’s standout freshman Julia Leonardo.
Sarah Brogioli added a big block to make the score 15-9 and Syed followed with a kill off the blocker. After a few errors and a good swing by Leonardo, Brogioli added a kill to make the score 20-11 and then an ace that got the Hawks within two points of a first set win.
There must have been something about that end of the court because over the first four sets, Milford’s 1-0 lead in the fourth was the only lead that either team had from the right-side bench.
Attleboro looked like a completely different team in the second, in what turned out to be almost a mirror images of the opening set. Setter Natalie Brojek opened the set with six straight at the service line, including three aces. Lexi Starks ended the run with a kill and an ace, but the Bombardiers had a little energy on their side.
Leonardo started to find a rhythm on the outside, hammering one of her six kills in the second. After a kill by middle hitter Kate Petrosso, Leonardo then came up with a block on the edge and Summer Pereira found the court with her serve to put Attleboro up eight.
“We were managing her and then, I don’t know, she made a few adjustments and we didn’t adjust back,” said Milford coach Tammy Webber. “Unforced errors, mental mistakes, they can’t miss a serve and then we miss a serve. You’ve got to take advantage when you have the ball and we didn’t.”
Starks tried to keep the Hawks close with a good swing and an accurate tip, but Gabby Bolduc answered for Attleboro and Leonardo kept firing darts on the outside. Petrosso hit one off the blockers to close out the set and even the match.
“It’s Natalie’s job to decide when it’s time to switch it up,” said Runey. “We’ve talked a lot about controlling the rhythm of the game and if we keep playing the game on the left side of the court then we need to go to the right and if we keep playing it tight to the net then we need to set the back row.”
When the teams switched sides, the momentum seemed to follow the Hawks, who jumped in front 6-1 to start the third. Brogioli had a kill and then earned a point by laying out for a dig that managed to find open court on the other side of the net. Maeve Driscoll had an ace and the Hawks led 13-7, but Attleboro managed to hang around.
Down 18-11, the Bombardiers won six of the next seven points, but Starks had a big kill to end the run and restore some comfort for the visitors. Leonardo painted the line with a kill to keep the set alive, but Syed closed it out on the next point with another kill.
A kill by Starks put the Hawks up to start the fourth, but Delia Barthel’s hit put the Bombardiers 3-2 . Things went back and forth until Petrosso had a kill that Milford’s defense could only hit up into the ceiling. Petrosso followed that with a pair of aces and Attleboro led 8-5. Brojek added a service point when another dig found its way into the rafters and then Leonardo started to catch fire with a couple of kills to make it 16-9.
A block by Starks kept things tight, 17-14, a great tip by Leonardo gave Attleboro breathing room. Brianna Frissora had a block and Bolduc an ace to extend the lead and force a final set.
“Doesn’t matter if you’re leading, behind, whatever, momentum in volleyball is so unpredictable,” Webber explained. “No matter how good you are, you just never know. They came in low and then got high and it’s the game unfortunately.”
Milford also won the first point in the fifth, but Attleboro won the next three. A good swing by setter Emily Croteau helped get one back for the Hawks but Leonardo answered with another kill. At this point in the match, Brojek was serving Leonardo no matter where she was lined up, as the freshman had a pair of kills from the back row in the fifth.
“She is by far the most aggressive person on the court,” said Runey of Leonardo. “She wants the ball all the time. She is definitely someone who works tirelessly on her game and she wants to be that go-to player. The leadership role that she’s taken on that court, even as a freshman, is awesome to see.”
An ace by Bolduc put the Bombardiers on the brink and fittingly it was Leonardo who closed the match with another kill. Attleboro is now just a win away from clinching a spot in the postseason. While the Bombardiers (and the Hawks) are well-positioned in the power rankings, Runey wants her team to get that ninth win and seal a spot.
She said, “It would mean so much more to earn that playoff opportunity. I don’t want to settle for just being in the top 32, I want us to earn that spot because these girls fight every single game. I believe in them all the time, but it would mean a lot for them to see that they can finally believe in themselves too.”
Attleboro (8-7) will try to clinch a playoff spot with a trip to Taunton on Thursday. Milford (7-7) will try to bounce back with matches against the league’s top two teams, King Philip and then Franklin.
Football
Oliver Ames, 20 @ Taunton, 45 – Final 1st Quarter: (T) Nathan Keenan 31-yard field goal; (T) Jacob Leonard 61-yard pass to Trent Santos, N. Keenan XP good; (T) Faisal Mass 54-yard fumble recovery return, N. Keenan XP good.
2nd Quarter: (OA) Collin Williamson 6-yard rush, Sean Friel XP good; (T) Evan Perrotta 2-yard rush, N. Keenan XP good.
3rd Quarter: (T) E. Perrotta 4-yard rush, N. Keenan XP good; (OA) Robert Jenkins 77-yard rush, S. Friel XP good; (T) N. Keenan 1-yard rush, N. Keenan XP good; (OA) C. Williamson 34-yard rush, XP blocked.
4th Quarter: (T) Jose Touron 7-yard rush, N. Keenan XP good.
Boys Soccer
Milford, 3 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – Milford built a two-goal lead by halftime and tacked on an important insurance goal in the second half to pick up two points on the road over King Philip. Eduardo Santana scored twice and assisted on the middle goal for the Hawks, who pushed their unbeaten streak to seven games. Santana opened the scoring on a pass from Dylan Borr and then set up Artur Tome to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage. Tommy Tommy Lomuscio cut the deficit in half but Santana secured the two points with his second goal, this one assisted by John Borges. Milford head coach Antonio Pinto praised his back line for a strong defensive effort.
Girls Soccer
King Philip, 8 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Ella Pisani scored three times, all in the opening 17 minutes of the first half, and had five total points as KP rolled to a road win against a shorthanded Milford. Sarah Harper, Paulina Baczkowski, Heidi Lawrence, Eilish McGowen, and Alyssa Legere each scored once for the Warriors and Sara Cullen and Lauren Casper combined for four saves to record the clean sheet. Mikayla Thompson, Kylie Anderson, Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn, and McGowen all added assists.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Franklin exploded for four goals in the first quarter, including a hat trick from Shaw Downing, and never looked back in a win over Attleboro. Downing opened the scoring just over two minutes into the game and then scored twice more before the first quarter expired, assisted by Emily Carney on the second and Kaitlyn Carney on the third. Downing assisted on the other goal in the period, setting up Kaitlyn Carney. Haley Wernig also had a hat trick for the Panthers, scoring once in the second, third, and fourth quarters while also setting Kaitlyn Carney up for a goal.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Sarah Cunningham scored a pair of goals as Canton secured a key two points against Oliver Ames.
King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – King Philip raced out to a three-goal lead after two quarters to secure a win on the road over Taunton. The Warriors had three different players score in the opening half with Sydney O’Shea opening the scoring off an assist from Mara Boldy, who had the third goal of the half off of a pass from freshman Makenzie McDevitt. Junior Lauren Barreiro had the middle goal of the first half on an assist from O’Shea. Senior back Lily Brown scored the final two goals for KP, the latter assisted by freshman Abby MacDonald.
Mansfield @ Milford, 3:45
North Attleboro, 4 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin took care of business on Senior Night, earning a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-13, 25-15) over the visiting Bombardiers. For Attleboro, freshman Julia Leonardo recorded nine kills while both Kate Petrosso and Delia Barthel played well at the net.
Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final
King Philip, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – King Philip kept its undefeated season going with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-9, 25-10) over Taunton. Emily Sawyer led a balanced offensive attack for the Warriors with 14 kills while Sami Shore added nine kills in the win. Both Liv Carey and Ahunna James (three aces) added five kills in the win while Samantha Asprelli notched eight digs. For Taunton, Mikayla Cleary played well with eight kills, two blocks and an ace, Angie Lynch added four kills, two blocks, and an ace, and Anna Abouzeid had a strong game with 12 assists, two aces, and two kills.
Mansfield, 1 @ Milford, 3 – Final
North Attleboro, 3 @ Sharon, 2 – Final
Golf
Stoughton, 186 @ Canton, 140 – Final – Canton capped an undefeated season with a big win at home at Blue Hill Country Club, knocking off the visiting Knights of Stoughton, claiming their sixth straight Davenport division title. The Bulldogs had all four of their scorers share medalist honors as Mekhala Costello, Will Gefteas, Conor Hunter, and Mike Leonetti all came in with a 35 to lead the way. Anthony Hern followed a strong showing at Hocks with a 39 for Stoughton while Pat Smith added a 44.
Milford, 170 @ King Philip, 151 – Final – King Philip clinched the Kelley-Rex division title outright with a win over Milford at Wentworth Country Club. Pat Reardon carded a medalist round of 36 to lead the way for the Warriors. Mike Matheson added a 37 while both Tim Hartwell and Jared Curran shot a 39 for KP. Anthony LaPierre had a great round for the Hawks with a team-low round of 37 while Nate Lawrence shot a 39.
Attleboro @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:00
Oliver Ames, 169 @ Foxboro, 168 – Final – Foxboro finished the regular season with one of its best wins of the season, taking down visiting Oliver Ames. Matt Fossella led the way for the Warriors with a team-low round of 41, Jack Rounds and Jack Watts each added a 42, and Dylan Pothier came in with a 43. OA sophomore Sean Kearns was the medalist with a round of 40, Jo Jo Gaultier and Jake Kaplan each shot a 42, and Daniel Paul finished with at 45.
Junior Ahunna James, pictured against OA in the Fall 2 season, will try and help KP repeat as division champs. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2020 (Fall II) Record: 1-11 Coach: Mary Katherine Runey
There is a lot of excitement surrounding the program as the Bombardiers are set to take the court for their second season, but first full season, under head coach Mary Katherine Runey.
The Bombardiers boast a large senior class featuring a lot of returning players along with a handful of juniors and even some freshmen ready to make an immediate impact on the court this Fall. It all starts with senior captains Lilly Boedeker, Marissa Conroy, and Summer Pereira, who will provide key leadership both on and off the court. Boedeker is the anchor of the defense as the libero while Pereira is making the switch to the right side to provide key blocking plus another offensive option.
Options will be vital for sophomore setter Natalie Brojek, who is back for her second season on the team as the setter. Seniors Delia Barthel, Holly Berg, Kate Petrosso, and Gabby Bolduc are all returning players and are joined in the roster by classmates Corina Lugo, Celina Lugo, Ellie Amaral, and juniors Brianna Frissora and Tigin Bombardier. Petrosso and Frissora will take care of business at the net as middle hitters while freshman Julia Leonardo could see time right away as an outside hitter.
“As a program, we are certainly looking to continue to build and grow,” Runey said. “Last year, we had to learn to play together and figure out which pieces of the puzzle work together. This year, we continue to work hard to minimize errors, control the pace of the game, and learn how to win. I believe that hard work will pay off this season.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 10-2 Coach: Pat Cawley
Canton made it 13 league titles in the past 14 seasons when it edged Sharon to the Davenport title a year ago. This season, the Bulldogs will have a lot of new faces, as only five players return from 2020’s abbreviated campaign, but there still remains a lot of enthusiasm for a new season and the potential to rebuild for yet another title challenge.
Senior Sydney Gallery returns as the team’s middle hitter after a solid season contributing off the bench. Gallery has improved and seen her playing time increase each season and will now be one of Canton’s primary weapons. Seniors Anna Verille and Tayla DeGraw will add to the attack on the outside. Both saw significant minutes as juniors and can also provide points from the service line. Sophomore Jess Wright is a newcomer that could make an instant impact on the outside as well. Senior setter Taylor Reynolds is back to run the Bulldogs offense and put the hitters in the right spots. She is also a strong presence on the back row defensively. Seniors Amaiah Christian, Katie Dever, Ella Lewis, Kelly McDonald, and Jess Vo will all see the floor and add depth to the Canton roster.
“What we lack in experience, we make up in work ethic and desire,” said Canton coach Pat Cawley. “This year’s team is motivated and anxious to keep the strong Canton volleyball tradition going! Led by a great group of seniors, the entire team has the same goal – to play at the highest level possible and to be the best they can be!”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 3-9 Coach: Vicki Santana
This will be a season of transition for the Warriors, who return only five players from last year’s team. Despite graduating 10 seniors and only featuring two seniors on this year’s roster, Foxboro is excited about the potential of its younger players and looking to grow as a team over the course of the new season.
Juniors Sami Sloan and Mallorie Meyer will both step into bigger roles after gaining some varsity experience as sophomores last year. They are part of a big junior class (eight players) that will be counted on to carry the Warriors this fall. Both Sloan and Meyer have been working not only on their hitting but also the defensive part of the game to be able to help in the back as well as the front row. Junior Alyssa Cloherty will be the setter and classmate Shannon McElhinney will take over as the libero and both have shown capable of making smart decisions with the ball on the back row.
“I am seeing a lot of talent and can’t wait to see how the team performs,” said Foxboro coach Vicki Santana. “Our focus is to build team chemistry for the team to be successful. As long as the players are ready to put in the work this fall, I am anticipating a successful year.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 12-1 Coach: Samantha Elliott
Franklin has won at least a share of the past three Kelley-Rex titles and last year also claimed the first-ever Hock Cup. Even while graduating important players, like leading hitter Ally Bonnet-Eymard, the Panthers continue to build squads that look ready to compete for the title every season.
The strength for the Panthers is at setter. Senior Cailyn Mackintosh is a three-year starter and one of the best passers in the league. Her ability to spread the ball around and hit spots opens up the floor for the offense and makes Franklin hard to match up against. Sophomore Taylor Lacerda will be one of Mackintosh’s top targets this year following a strong freshman season on the outside. Senior Lindsey Tarantola will be the main threat in the middle and senior Brigid Earley will be back at opposite. Defensively, the Panthers will count on senior Meghan Linkkila, who will be moving from defensive specialist to libero this season, to control the back row.
“I have high expectations for these players but more importantly they have high expectations for themselves,” said second-year Franklin coach Samantha Elliott. “This team is striving to continue proving themselves and working hard to be the best they can be, and hopefully, that is another Hockomock title.
2020 (Fall II) Record: 11-2 Coach: Kristen Geuss
When you look at the class that graduated from last season, the Warriors certainly lost a lot of talent from a team that won a share of the Kelley-Rex division title. But this is a program that doesn’t have many rebuilding seasons, they simply reload.
The Warriors have several returning players that will play a significant role this season. Senior captain Stella Bailey will take over as the primary setter, and she’s a confident player that can run the offense very well (136 assists last season). Bailey will have two very good options to work with in senior captain Liv Carey and junior captain Ahunna James. Not only is James one of the most lethal hitters in the league (124 kills last season), she’s a very good defender (104 digs) and server (94.6 serve percentage) as well.
King Philip will lean heavily on a pair of seniors to lead the way defensively in the back row with Samantha Asprelli taking over as libero and classmates Sofia Reidel and Gianna DeLorenzo as defensive specialist options. The graduation of the team’s top hitter and blocker Nicole Coughlan leaves a big void at the net but junior Sami Shore gained some key experience last year as she prepares to give the Warriors a boost at the net. Junior Emily Sawyer is a new addition that has been promising in the preseason as a middle while senior Molly O’Brien has played well on the right side. Juniors Kiera Hagen, Missy Canning, and Olivia O’Neil as well as sophomores Kate O’Neil and Shea Mellman are all battling for time on the court.
“I am very pleased with how prepared the players have come back from last season, they have been working very hard at practice,” Geuss said. “I think we will be strong on both offense and defense. The players are ready to go and are looking forward to a more normal season!”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 6-6 Coach: Tara DeGirolamo
For the second season in a row, Mansfield will have a new coach. The Hornets are turning to JV coach Tara DeGirolamo this fall and hoping that a mix of experienced returning players and some new faces can help them pose a challenge to defending league champs Franklin and King Philip.
Mansfield will run its offense through senior hitter Julia Kelly. A three-year-starter, Kelly is a versatile layer who rarely takes a rotation off and gives the Hornets a lift on both attack and defense. The middle should be a big threat as well with senior Nicole Santos and junior Alexandra Scibilia giving the Hornets good net presence. Senior Christina Lydon and junior Isabella Flint will be back at the setter position and senior Nora Buckley adds to the attack on the right side. Sophomores Elyssa Buchanan and Anna Goulet and junior Lily Verheggen will be new hitters to add depth for the Hornets. Defensively, senior Lauren Knight will lead the back row with senior Calysta Robyn and junior Jackie Zelic able to step in and provide defensive cover as well.
“The Hornet volleyball team has a great group of veteran and new players rounding out the roster this season,” said DeGirolamo.
2020 (Fall II) Record: 4-8 Coach: Tammy Webber
Volleyball is back in the fall and the Scarlet Hawks are hoping to make it back to the postseason with a strong core of players on the roster.
Despite only four seniors on the roster, head coach Tammy Webber has a lot of experience on the squad after a lot of the players experienced the varsity level for the first time during the Spring. One player who has been around for a long time is senior outside hitter Sarah Brogioli, an All-Hockomock selection from last season. Not only is she one of the top hitters in the league, but she is also a top defensive option for the Hawks. A big advantage for Brogioli and the rest of the Hawk hitters is having junior Emily Croteau back at setter. Croteau emerged as the team’s top setter during the Fall 2 season so she knows the pace of the varsity level and has some options to distribute too.
Beyond Brogioli, Croteau will have two experience middles to work with. Senior Lexi Starks is a good two-way player, providing the Hawks with some good swings on offense and key blocks defensively. She can also rotate all the way through the lineup, playing defensively in the back row. Junior middle Aliza Syed had a really strong sophomore season and can be really hard to stop when she gets into a groove; she’s also a strong server for the Hawks. Carley Haley, Jess Douglas, and Molly Hartman will anchor the back row for Milford.
“With the players we have returning, we are hoping to challenge the top teams in the league,” Webber said.
2020 (Fall II) Record: 2-9-1 Coach: Courtney Lambrese
It has been four seasons since North Attleboro ended Canton’s reign atop the Davenport division. Last year, the Rocketeers were rebuilding after graduating a big senior class and there were some growing pains but first-year coach Courtney Lambrese has eight seniors returning and will hope that experience can carry North to a much better 2021.
North will look to be aggressive on offense, utilizing the strength of senior outside hitters Amira Boory and Sara Carter. Senior Madelyn Corsetti will give the Rocketeers another look in the middle, adding some balance to the attack. All three move well at the net and should also be effective in the block. Senior Katherine McHoul will be the setter and is joined in the back row by senior defensive specialists Ava Dunlevy and Julianne Chen. It is a defensive unit that Lambrese praised for its ability to read the hitter and be aggressive getting to the ball.
“This will be my fourth season with the program, I am looking forward to taking on a new role as the varsity coach with the group of athletes we have,” said Lambrese. “Overall, I’m excited for the talent and drive this team expresses and to see their successes this season.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 8-4 Coach: Chelsea Cunningham
Head coach Chelsea Cunningham always has high expectations for her Tigers, and this year is no different. OA boasts some key returners on the court while Cunningham is excited to integrate some new faces into the lineup after the void left by graduation.
Anytime you can bring back your starting setter, you’re already at an advantage and the Tigers have one of the better ones in the Hock in senior captain Hadley Rhodes. She learned a lot last year and can spread the ball out to the weapons the Tigers have. Rhodes can also get involved in the attack as a solid option at opposite hitter. Another key piece to the puzzle will be junior Maddie Homer, who is a three-year starter and the team’s libero. Homer’s veteran presence will help solidify the back row for OA.
Senior captain Shannon Willard will be in the mix as a setter as well while junior Courtney Raymond is poised for a breakout season as a middle hitter after gaining valuable experience during the Fall 2 season. Sophomore Sarah Hilliard learned what the varsity level is all about and is back as one of the main hitting options for OA.
“Returning to more ‘normal’ practice in athletics is exciting enough as it is and being able to continue working with such wonderful student-athletes makes it even better,” Cunningham said. “This group is full of new faces and they all bring something unique to the team. This season, some of our main goals include playing “our” game, always being ready to compete, and making every moment count. I am privileged to coach another season for such an amazing, supportive, and competitive program and cannot wait to see what’s in store for us!”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 9-3 Coach: Bill Schustek
Sharon is coming off one of the best seasons in program history. The Eagles won nine times last season, picked up a very rare win against perennial power Canton, and finished just a game behind the Bulldogs, narrowly missing out on the program’s first league title. Graduation will have taken its toll, with Sharon losing its top hitters from last year, but first-year coach Bill Schustek will be hoping the momentum can carry over into 2021.
Although the Eagles lost the top four players from last season, they do return eight players with varsity experience. On the front row, seniors Simone Dunbar and Erin Schustek will be the primary weapons. Dunbar will be a threat in the middle, along with classmate Savannah Gray, and Schustek will be on the outside with help from junior Tess Letendre. Senior Trinity Payne is another strong player at the net, either in the middle or on the right side. Emily Rubenstein is in her third year as the starting libero and is the leader of the back row.
“Without a dominant hitter, we will need to be a defensive and ball control focused team to have success this year,” said Schustek. “Our goal for the season is to qualify for the state tournament.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 3-8-1 Coach: Felicia Baptista
With key players back in key positions, Stoughton is looking to bounce back after a down year during the abbreviated Fall II season. Kiara Scardina, Patrik Oliveira, and Vanessa Philemond give the Black Knights a solid core of veterans to build around for the 2021 season.
The Davenport is wide open this season with most teams graduating the majority of their lineup from a season ago. That means every team is in the mix and whoever is playing best down the stretch might be the one to take it. Scardina, a junior captain, got a lot of experience as a sophomore last year and will anchor the back row. Oliveira took over as setter last year and now has a good amount of playing time under his belt and will be ready to set the Stoughton offense in motion. Philemond will be one of the go-to options for Oliveira from her middle hitter spot, and she will also help set the tone defensively with her blocking.
Head coach Felicia Baptista, in her second overall season but first full Fall season, will be looking for some of the younger players to step up this year, including sophomore outside hitter Annalia Eschleman, sophomore outside hitter Maya Ashu, and freshman Angelina Barry, who will see some time as a defensive specialist.
“The fall 2021 season is one we are ready for,” Baptista said. “We are so happy that this season could go back to normal and start the fall season on time. Our program has worked hard all summer to make sure they were ready for August preseason this year. We have a large team this year and each one of them brings something different to the team which makes us that much stronger.”
2020 (Fall II) Record: 3-9 Coach: Toby Chaperon
Taunton won two of its first three matches in Fall II but only won once for the remainder of the season, as the Tigers went through the teeth of a loaded Kelley-Rex division. Taunton will have nine seniors on this year’s roster, many of which saw significant playing time last year, so there is hope that the Tigers can build on the experience of 2020 and be more consistent this fall.
The middle should be a strength for Taunton this season. Senior Mikayla Cleary and junior Hayley Krockta give the Tigers good size and athleticism both while attacking and defending. Senior Angie Lynch is a supreme athlete and has shown flashes of being a major weapon on the outside as she learns the nuances of the game and that position. Senior Dani Lofgren will be the libero. A good passer, Lofgren is another player that is growing into her role. Senior Jess Foley will help out defensively on the back row. Junior Anna Abouzeid is the new setter for the Tigers. Taunton coach Toby Chaperon said Abouzeid is athletic and has a good volleyball IQ and they are working on refining her play in the setter position.
Boys Soccer
Canton, 1 @ Braintree, 1 – Final – Jake McCabe converted a corner kick from Charlie McKinney as Canton secured a point on the road in the season-opener.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 0 @ Bishop Feehan, 0 – Final – Attleboro senior Ava Haggerty turned away eight shots to earn a shutout in the Bombardiers’ first game of the season.
Volleyball
Attleboro, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro scored nine of the final 11 points in the first set, overcoming an early deficit to grab a 1-0 lead and went on to take a 3-1 win on the road (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 26-24). Freshman Julia Leonardo paced the Bombardiers with 17 kills, Natalie Brojek added eight aces and 20 assists, and Kate Petrosso clinched the win with a big block for the final point.
Taunton vs. New Bedford, 5:30
Golf
Oliver Ames, 162 @ North Attleboro, 168 – Final – A pair of sophomores tied for a team-low score for OA while a senior and a junior rounded out the scoring as the Tigers took a win at Heather Hill. Sophomore Sean Kearns and David Rodgers each shot 39 while senior Jo Jo Gaultier and junior Daniel Paul each carded a 42. North Attleboro’s Jake Gaskin had a pair of birdies to finishes with a match medalist round of 37 (two over par).
Mansfield, 274 @ Milford, 278 – Final (6 cards) – Mansfield went to extra cards for the second time in the early season and once again came out victorious. After beating North on five cards last week, it took six cards for the Hornets to sink the Hawks. Seniors Cian Goulet and Ryan Doherty led the way by each shooting a 42, senior Hunter Tang added a round of 45, sophomore Cody Nieratko fired a 47 and both freshman Brendan Vokey and sophomore Nathan McClean each shot 49. For Milford, Jacob Hipolito shared medalist honors with a round of 42 while Nate Lawrence and Anthony LaPierre each shot a 43.
Foxboro, 167 @ Canton, 141 – Final – Canton’s depth was on display as the Bulldogs had all of its scorers shoot under 40 for the day. Conor Hunter was the match medalist with a low-round of 34, Charlie Cohen added a round of 35, and Mekhala Costello, Aiden French, and Mike Leonotti each finished at 36. Jack Rounds had a strong showing for the Warriors with a round of 35.
Volleyball
Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Mansfield pulled away to win two straight to get a 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 25-20) win at home over Attleboro. Olivia McGrath (24 digs, six kills, five aces), Julia Kelly (23 digs, five aces), Sarah Dooling (11 digs, eight kills), and Isabella Flint (10 digs, nine assists) all had strong showings defensively for the Hornets. Alina Nowakowski added 10 kills and three blocks while Kacey Veiking dished out 20 assists to go along with 10 digs. For Attleboro, Ana Leonardo and Natalie Brojek each had seven kills, Lilly Boedeker added 16 digs, and Kate Petrosso had a strong showing at the service line.
Canton, 3 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Buoyed by a strong team defensive performance, Canton went on the road and earned a 3-0 (25-21, 25-8, 25-19) sweep of North Attleboro. Jackie Morrissey and Taylor Reynolds (nine aces) ran the court well with a combined 22 assists while Angie Elias (12 kills, four aces, six digs) and Liz Bickett (10 digs, five kills, two blocks) played well for the Bulldogs.
Stoughton, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final
Sharon, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force a deciding fifth game but Sharon prevailed in an incredibly tight battle, 3-2 (25-16, 25-19, 24-26, 21-25, 15-13). For OA, junior Hadley Rhodes had 25 assists, senior Jordan Bennett added 15 kills, senior Sarah Morley recorded 48 receptions and 21 digs, and senior Allie Zwerle chipped in with 12 digs and four aces.
Milford players celebrate after the final point of their come from behind, five-set win at Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – In a shortened fifth set, getting off to a good start is paramount. After battling back to even Wednesday night’s match at two sets apiece, Milford carried the momentum over, winning seven of the final set’s first eight points and never looking back.
The Hawks came back from down a set twice in the match before finally pulling out a 3-2 (17-25, 25-7, 19-25, 25-14, 15-7) road victory that completes a hard-fought season sweep of the Bombardiers and moves Milford back to .500 on the year.
“The consistency wasn’t there tonight, that’s for sure,” admitted Milford coach Tammy Webber, who praised her team for being able to battle and still come out with the win. She added, “That’s a sign of growth that they were able to do that because I’d say in the past we would’ve folded in the fifth set.”
Attleboro has struggled in the opening set of its last two matches (at Taunton and at Milford) and found it hard to climb back out of the early hole. On Wednesday, the Bombardiers came out with extra energy and an emphasis on starting quickly. It worked.
The Bombardiers used a 7-0 run to turn a 6-3 deficit into a 10-6 lead in the first. Gabriella Bolduc gave Attleboro an early spark with a couple of kills and Summer Pereira stepped up in the middle with three blocks in the first. After Milford answered with three straight, Attleboro rattled off 10 of the next 14 points to take control of the set.
“Playing on the road is always difficult,” said first-year Attleboro coach Mary Katherine Runey. “Our fans aren’t there and we’re staying on the bus until we’re allowed to come in and that’s definitely taking a hit on us, but I was excited to get back at home because I know we have way more energy.”
Krista Greening had a good swing off the Milford block for a point and then Ana Leonardo fired in an ace. Elise Fauerbach had a block for the Hawks to try and stall Attleboro’s momentum but Natalie Brojek had a kill and then Pereira closed out the first with another block.
“The block has not been there all season and the defense has really taken a hit,” Runey said, “but tonight the switch was flipped and Summer was hot and I was so happy to see it. She really need that for her own play and I was happy for her.”
After such a great start, it looked like Attleboro was on its way, but the second set was all Milford. The Hawks scored 13 of the first 14 points in the set and then closed it with the final eight points to earn a lopsided point in the match.
Cressida Michalowski had three aces during the first portion of the set. Lexi Starks had a bump drop in for a point and Sarah Brogioli started to heat up on the outside. During the final run to close out the set, Starks added a pair of aces and Aliza Syed scored with a tip and a block. The combination of Brogioli on the outside and Syed in the middle was tough for Attleboro to contain.
Webber said, “I’m happy with the balance of our hitters this year. We have a good mix of strength and finesse and consistency. It’s been good.”
The hosts quickly set aside the difficult second set and got back to the strong serve-receive game that they played at the start of the match, but a Syed kill had the Hawks up 14-11. Attleboro didn’t panic and scored the next seven points to take the lead.
Pereira got it started with a block that fired up the Bombardiers and Kate Petrosso had a big swing in the middle to tie the set at 14-14. Milford kept things close but a couple of errors a service point from Lily Boedeker gave Attleboro a cushion to restore its lead in the match.
Milford seemed to thrive in the even numbered sets. With Attleboro leading the fourth 7-6, nine of the next 10 points to put themselves in front to stay. Starks got it going with a kill and then a well-place tip and Brogioli had back-to-back aces for a 15-8 lead. Brojek answered with a nice tip over the block but Brogioli had a pair of kills and Michalowski had an ace.
After Fauerbach scored with a swing off the Attleboro block, Syed added a kill. Brogioli closed out the fourth with another big hit on the outside.
“If the other team gets three or four in a row, then they start to lose their confidence in themselves,” Runey explained. “We need to develop our winning mindset and as soon as they see that start to slip away it really takes its toll on their confidence.”
Now that Milford was back in it, the Hawks made sure to close things out. Syed had a kill and a block and Emily Croteau added an ace as the visitors scored the first four points of the fifth set. Michalowski added back-to-back aces, the first hitting the top of the net before dropping in, and Attleboro never recovered. The Bombardiers got no closer than four and the Hawks pulled away to get the win.
“You never want to have to come back in the fifth set,” said Webber. “Our serving has been our go-to so far this season and when it fails us it really affects our game and we scored a lot of points of it but we really needed it in the fifth game.”
After starting with two tough matches against league-leading Franklin, Milford (2-2) has built a little momentum heading into two matches against King Philip.
“We were trying not to gauge our whole season off of Franklin,” Webber said. “It was a little measuring stick, but we knew we could play better than that and we played better this week.”
Attleboro (1-3) will look to rebound when it hosts Mansfield on Monday.
Volleyball
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – In its first match since winning the D2 State Championship in 2019, Canton picked up a 3-0 (25-11, 25-19, 25-14) win over rival Stoughton. Senior Liz Bickett played well in the middle with five kills, a pair of blocks, and two aces while junior Taylor Reynolds ran the court well and added seven aces.
Taunton, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Attleboro opened the season with a win against Taunton, giving head coach Mary Katherine Runey a victory in her debut. The Bombardiers won the opening set 25-21, but Taunton bounced back with a 25-13 win in the second set. Attleboro responded by wining the next two sets, both by 25-20. Kate Petrosso led the hosts with seven kills and Natalie Brojek added five. Brojek and Ana Leonardo both had a team-high four aces. Libero Lilly Boedeker was strong defensively with 10 digs, while Marissa Conroy added eight. Gabby Bolduc had a strong third set to help Attleboro regain the lead in the match and a strong service set from Holly Berg helped the Bombardiers close out the match in the fourth.
