Below is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail RyanLanigan@HockomockSports.com.
Football
Three Hockomock alums were on the winning side as WPI edged out MIT over the weekend. Stoughton’s Dan Eckler threw for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns, completing nearly 80% of his passes. On the ground, Eckler ran for 58 yards and a touchdown. Just like last year, Eckler’s favorite target was Franklin graduate Brandon Eccher, who caught six passes for a team-high 63 yards and a touchdown. WPI junior Marcus Middleton appeared on the gridiron for the first time since high school and caught a pass for 16 yards. For his efforts, Dan Eckler was named the Liberty League’s Offensive Performer of the Week.
Taunton’s Devi DeCourcey had six total tackles, including a sack, and added a pair of pass break ups to help Bridgewater State beat Curry 42-21. OA grad Nick Cidado completed his first collegiate pass and had four punts, including a long of 48 yards. Fellow OA grad Carlton Williamson was the leading rusher for the Bears with 80 yards on 13 carries.
Mansfield’s George Busharis completed 26 passes for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Castleton’s 21-10 season opening win over Plymouth State. Foxboro’s Alton George played for Plymouth State and recorded a tackle for loss.
A trio of former Hockomock players played their way onto the box score in Framingham State’s 42-6 win over Endicott. Foxboro’s Derek Gilreath made his debut and hauled in his first career catch on a 14-yard play. Mansfield’s Greg Donahue notched a tackle for the Rams. On the other side, Franklin’s Craig Anderson had three total tackles and had a sack.
Foxboro’s Ty Spencer hauled in two touchdown passes for Fitchburg State for his 16th and 17th career touchdown catches. His 17th career TD catch is now tied for 2nd on the Falcon’s all-time receiving touchdown list. Taunton’s Asante Easter had three total tackles for the Falcons while Canton grad Sterlin Garvin made his collegiate debut with a 19 yard kickoff return.
There were a lot of Hockomock alum that made an impact in UMass Dartmouth’s 41-6 win over Mount Idea. Canton’s Anthony LaRose was one of the more productive players on defense with six tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss. Mansfield’s Lou Petrella added a pair of tackles with 1.5 sacks. Taunton’s Marcel Flynn had five tackles and Mansfield’s David Collins had a tackle. On offense, Taunton’s Terrence Gibson’s first college game saw him get eight carries for 30 yards. For Mount Idea, Mansfield’s James Comer had a tackle.
In Westfield State’s big 44-21 win over Nichols, Stoughton graduate Pat Raeke registered five tackles for the Owls. Mansfield alum Nick Bosari made his college debut with a pair of tackles. For Nichols, Brett McEvoy started his sophomore year with a team-high 14 tackles and had three tackles for loss. McEvoy also had punting duties for the Bison, with six punts, a long of 51 yards and two punts placed inside the 20.
Canton’s James Bourikas made his collegiate debut, register a tackle in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s 37-0 blanking of Norwich football.
Worcester State suffered a 41-28 setback to Salve Regina over the weekend. For the Seahawks, Franklin grad Robert Dellorco had a tackle. For Worcester State, Mansfield’s Aurian Dawkins had six tackles and fellow former Hornet Dylan Finerty had five tackles and a tackle for a loss. Recent Sharon grad Adrian Lingo made his collegiate debut with a pair of tackles.
Western New England opened up their 2015 campaign with a 34-14 win over Springfield and one former Hock alum was a big reason for the Golden Bears’ strong defensive performance. Former OA standout Dean Soucie recorded eight tackles and also recovered a fumble. For Springfield, OA alum Colin Lozzi had three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Stoughton’s Brandon Alves had a pair of tackles as well.
Men’s Soccer
Former Canton standout Scott Levy assisted on the game winning goal for Bentley in 3-1 win over Caldwell.
North Attleboro graduate Josh Ocel converted a penalty kick in the 105th minute to give Brandeis a 2-1 win against Hardin-Simmons in Texas. It was Ocel’s first goal of the season
Foxboro grad Sawyer Fleck recorded his first assist of the season, setting up the Bears’ opening goal in a 3-1 win. Fleck’s direct kick found the head of Jonathan Pires for the opener. Sawyer’s younger brother Riley Fleck (FHS 2015) made his collegiate debut in the game.
A pair of Hockomock alums have helped the Curry men’s soccer team to a 3-0 start to the season. OA grad David Stapleton scored a goal and had an assist in an 8-0 win over Lyndon State. Before that, Stoughton’s Steven DePina had a goal in the Colonel’s 10-1 over Wheelock.
Canton graduate Chris Murray collected his first two goals of the 2015 season as WPI cruised to a 4-1 win over Worcester State. Murray’s first goal came in the 21st minute off a free kick and then added his second in the 52nd minute.
Women’s Soccer
Oliver Ames graduate Kristina Simonson picked up two assists for Babson over the weekend. The Beavers notched a 6-0 over Simmons as Simonson had an assist in each half.
Former Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman scored her first goal for Boston College last week. After transferring from Maryland to Boston College this season, Berman scored in the 30th minute and BC went on to beat Harvard 2-1. Berman assisted on a goal for the Eagles over the weekend but BC suffered a 2-1 setback to St. John’s in overtime.
Mansfield alum Kelly English tied a career-high with 12 saves in net for Nichols women’s soccer team and the Bison picked up a 4-1 win over Mount Holyoke. In Nichols’ 2-1 setback to Clark, English made nine saves in net.