Taunton, 2 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – KP scored all five runs in the first inning to pick up its 10th win of the season and hand Taunton just its second loss. Travis Crawford led off with a double and Rudy Gately was hit by a pitch. Shawn Legere and Brendan Sencaj had back-to-back singles to bring in the first two runs of the game. Max Robison plated Legere with a double and Matt Kelley (two hits) had an RBI single. Matt DiFiore brought in the fifth run with a sac fly. Quinn Garstka picked up the win on the mound, going six innings with four hits and two runs allowed, striking out five. Tommy McLeish closed things out for the Warriors, allowing two hits but throwing a clean seventh.
Milford, 3 @ Mansfield, 9 – Final
Sharon, 2 @ North Attleboro, 11 – Final
Softball
Attleboro, 18 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Attleboro scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to put away the Panthers and pick up an important road win. The Bombardiers got off to a great start, scoring three runs in the first. Leadoff hitter Lindsey Perry went 3-for-6 and scored three times, including in the first. Sarah Maher and Lauren Eby each drove in one in the first. Perry scored again in the second, taking home on a wild pitch. Attleboro added a fourth in the third, but Franklin rallied to cut the lead to one (4-3). Carly Johnson-Pellegri and Aislinn Lavery each had RBI. The Bombardiers responded with three more in the fourth, including back-to-back doubles from Lily Routhier and Eby. Franklin cut the lead down to 8-5 with a pair of runs in the bottom half, as Kiera Kotwicki drove in one and scored the other. Attleboro doubled the lead in the sixth. Merry Bosh had a big triple to bring in one. The visitors sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh and broke the game open, taking advantage of a couple errors to put together a rally. Perry doubled in a run and came in to score for the third time. Franklin kept battling and got three back in the bottom half, including back-to-back doubles from Georgia Harvey and Hannah Cacciapaglia.
Oliver Ames, 7 @ Canton, 5 – Final
Stoughton, 3 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Alyssa Edwards plated all of Stoughton’s runs with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth. Kate Bulger had a pair of hits and Sydney Menz had one for the Black Knights.
King Philip, 4 @ Taunton, 2 – Final (10 inn.)
Mansfield, 19 @ Milford, 11 – Final – Mansfield pounded out 18 hits and scored 19 runs to pick up a division road win. Following a six-run third inning, the Hornets held an 11-0 edge, but Milford answered with a pair in the bottom of the third. Mansfield scored twice in the fifth, but the Hawks rallied for three to make it 13-5. The teams each scored six runs in the sixth inning. Olivia DeTrolio had four hits to lead the Hornets and drive in three. Alanna Conley had three hits and a pair of RBI, while Cat Kipp continued to swing a hot bat with two hits and four RBI. Olivia Bovey had two hits and three RBI and Liv Madeira added two hits for the Hornets.
North Attleboro, 16 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – The first Sharon batter reached on a dropped third strike but then Kelly Colleran retired the next 21 hitters that she faced to pick up the no-hitter. She finished with 18 strikeouts. Mandi Hanewich, Ally Levine, and Shaelyn Burns all had three hits and three runs scored. Grace Simmons also had three hits and drove in four, while Colleran helped her cause at the plate with three hits, a homer, and five RBI. Maryellen Charette, Emma Hanwell, Mary Rogers, and Maddie Bailey each had a hit and a run scored for North.
Boys Lacrosse
Foxboro, 14 @ Canton, 2 – Final
Franklin, 13 @ King Philip, 6 – Final
Mansfield @ Milford, 4:30
North Attleboro, 15 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 6 @ Foxboro, 16 – Final – Foxboro won a battle of the top two teams in the Davenport division and took charge in the title race. Paige Curran continued to be tough to stop offensively, scoring five goals and assisting on two others. Val Beigel and Cate Noone each chipped in with four goals and Mya Waryas scored once and dished out four assists. Mary and Kate Collins each scored once with Mary adding three helpers and Kate assisting on one goal. Audrey Campbell made four saves to grab the win in goal.
King Philip, 3 @ Franklin, 14 – Final – Franklin handed KP its first league loss of the season and took control of the Kelley-Rex title race. The Panthers celebrated senior night and got contributions from all seven of its graduating players. Kenzie Baker had a strong game in the Franklin midfield and Anna Grasso played well in defense. Kate O’Rourke had a hat trick, Stella Regan had two goals and an assist, Jackie O’Neil had a goal and an assist, and Maura Cogavin had a goal. Brigid Earley made five saves. Junior Katie Peterson sparked the Panthers offense with four goals and a pair of helpers and classmate Kaitlyn Carney had three goals and one assist. Haley Izydorczak scored a pair of goals and Julia Marsden had one for the Warriors, who got six saves from freshman goalie Kaitlyn Parish.
Milford, 3 @ Mansfield, 9 – Final
Oliver Ames, 17 @ North Attleboro, 10 – Final – OA moved even with North in the league standings with a big road win. Catie Wilson continued to be a strong presence in the OA attack, scoring seven goals and dishing out a pair of assists, while Jess Widdop was strong in goal with 10 saves. Georgia Costello added five goals and a helper for the Tigers. OA coach Rylie Dalzell credited the defense for picking up the win. Taylor McAndrew caused turnovers and grabbed ground balls and Alyssa Kiff led the team with her communication at the back.
Sharon, 9 @ Taunton, 10 – Final – Cali Melo scored four times and Taunton scored a last-second goal to pick up its first win of the season. Maddison Szala had a hat trick, Aria Cordeiro had two goals, and Sarah Clark found the back of the net for the Tigers. Athena Merck and Bailey Garte each had three goals and an assist for the Eagles. Keira Lydeard had a pair of goals and Anna Hertzel had one in the loss. Tess Letendre had 11 saves and helped keep Sharon in the game right to the end.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin’s Vayshnav Malhotra and Sameen Shaik both won in straight sets without dropping a game as the Panthers picked up a 5-0 win over Attleboro. Both Malhotra and Shaik won 6-0, 6-0 while senior Drew Mahoney added a 6-2, 6-1 victory in third singles action. The duo of senior Thomas Broyls and sophomore Jay Gorgas secured a 6-2, 6-1 first doubles win while junior Tyler Fitzpatrick teamed up with sophomore Ahan Shetty for a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton won at top two singles, but OA showed off its depth by winning at third singles and winning both doubles matches. Kylash Ganesh had a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles to get things started for the Tigers. Top doubles pair, Patrick Dolan and Alex Efremidas, pulled out a 6-2, 7-5 win for a second point and Alex Vasilou and Ben Dias clinched the win for OA with a 6-4, 7-5 hard-fought victory at second doubles.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final
Taunton @ King Philip, 3:45
Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final
Canton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – After dropping the second set, Oliver Ames’ Mia Corradini prevailed with the win in the third set tiebreaker to complete the 5-0 sweep for the hosts. Corradini took second singles 6-3, 3-6, 10-6, Hannah Farber added a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, and Elizabeth O’Brien was victorious 6-2, 6-2 at third singles. OA also swept doubles action with Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou taking a 6-2, 6-2 verdict at first doubles, and Olivia Querzoli and Marina Mierzwinski prevailing 6-1, 6-3 at second doubles.
Foxboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final
Milford @ Mansfield, 3:45
Sharon, 5 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final
Boys Volleyball
King Philip @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 6:00
Milford @ Bellingham, 6:00
Taunton vs. Brockton, 5:15
Baseball
Mansfield, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final (8 Inn.) – Mansfield pushed across the tying run in the top of the sixth and then scored three in the top of the eighth to secure an extra innings victory on the road at Attleboro. The hosts took the lead in the bottom of the third after Owen Taber singled, stole second and third, and eventually scored on an error to make it 1-0. After being shutout over the first five innings, Mansfield plated the tying run. Conner Zukowski was once again the catalyst for the offense with a leadoff double, and scored on a one-out single from Anthony Sacchetti. In the top of the eighth, Sacchetti struck again with one-out, this time with a solo home run to left field to make it 2-1. Jared Fraone tacked on two key insurance runs with a two-run, two-out double to left to bring Andrew Slaney and Connor Curtis home. Aaron Blinn had another strong start on the mound, allowing one run on three hits and two walks, striking out seven in six innings of work. Jake Maydak got the win with a scoreless inning of relief, and Curtis recorded the save, getting three strikeouts including the tying run at the plate for the final out. Billy Saltmarsh pitched well for the Bombardiers, allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks, striking out six in six innings.
Sharon, 2 @ Franklin, 12 – Final (6 Inn.) – Locked in a one-run game through three innings, Franklin scored nine runs over the final three innings, punctuated by walk-off grand slam from Eisig Chin, to take a win over Sharon. The visiting Eagles took a 2-1 lead on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the third but Franklin quickly took the lead back with two in the bottom half, added two more in the fourth, one in the fifth, and six in the sixth to end the game. Chin finished 3-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored while Chris Goode also went 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored to pace the Panthers. Jack Marino and Evan Raider also drove in a pair of runs each for Franklin. Ethan Voellmicke earned the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings with no hits allowed, three walks, and three strikeouts. Drew Yaffe drew the bases-loaded walk for the Eagles and Will Hippler had an RBI single in the first inning to put Sharon ahead 1-0.
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Buoyed by a three-run second inning and another strong start from freshman Nolan Gordon, Foxboro secured a 4-1 decision over visiting Canton. Foxboro got three straight walks from Ben Angelini, Matheiu Sullivan, and Tom Marcucella to load the bases, and Jack Watts’ sacrifice fly brought in the first run of the game. Louis Carangelo drew a two-out walk to load the bases again and Ryan LeClair delivered a two-run single to push the lead to 3-0. Canton got one back in the top fo the fifth on a two-out RBI single from Sean Sullivan but Foxboro restored the three run lead in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Caranagelo. Gordon tossed a complete game for the win, allowing one run on three hits and four walks, striking out nine. Zach Peters pitched well in relief for the Bulldogs, allowing one run on four hits and two talks, striking out three in four innings.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – After Oliver Ames plated two runs in the top of the third inning to tie the game, North Attleboro responded with four runs in the bottom half to take the lead back for good. The Rocketeers staked a 2-0 lead on a two-run single from Dillon Harding in the bottom of the second but OA’s Nathan Carpentier and Patrick Finnerty had back-to-back RBI singles to bring the visitors level. In the bottom of the third, Tyler Bannon (walk) scored after a throwing error on Derek Maceda’s bunt, Danny Curran singled in Maceda, and Harding collected another two RBI, this time on a two-out double to center to make it 6-2. Maceda added an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to extend the lead to 7-2. David Floyd picked up the win for the Rocketeers, tossing a complete game with two runs (none earned) allowed on five hits and no walks, striking out 10. Ian Kelly pitched well in relief for the Tigers, allowing one run on one hit and three walks, striking out five in 2.2 innings.
Softball
Franklin, 16 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (5 inn.) – Franklin pushed across seven runs in each the second and third innings on its way to a big win on the road over Sharon. Marley Allen led Franklin’s offense with three hits while Aislinn Lavery, Kiera Kotwicki, and Sarah Boozang each had two hits in the win. Kotwicki also drove in a team-high four runs while Katy Liberman and Julia White each drove in three runs apiece. Kotwicki pitched three scoreless innings with one hit and one walk allowed and Madison Bergeron pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Attleboro, 14 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Attleboro pounded out 20 hits on its way to a win on the road over Mansfield. Mansfield led 1-0 after one inning, but the Bombardiers found a groove at the plate and pulled out a big road win, scoring four in both the third and fourth innings, two in the sixth, and four more in the seventh. Lindsey Perry got the win the circle, striking out six with one walk and six hits in a complete game effort. Perry helped her cause big time at the dish, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored while Sarah Maher (two runs) and Lily Routhier (four runs) each added four hits as well. Kayla Goldrick had a three-run home run in the third that sparked the offense and Rylie Camacho added two hits. The Hornets jumped in front when Callie Lake singled and aggressively advanced to second. She reached third on a passed ball and came home on a ground out by Liv Madeira. Mansfield got one back in the fifth when Cat Kipp singled to plate Molly Kucharski. The Hornets scored a third in the seventh. Julia Kelly singled and came around to score on an Olivia DeTrolio base hit. Mansfield finished with seven hits as a team, including a pair for Alanna Conley, who also made a nice defensive play in left.
North Attleboro, 7 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – North trailed 1-0 heading to the top of the seventh but rallied with seven runs to pull out the win. Mandi Hanewich started things with a one-out triple and tied the game on a single by Ally Levine. Kelly Colleran singled Levine to third and the winning run came in on a double steal. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Emma Hanwell knocked in one, Grace Simmons walked, and Maddie Bailey brought in two more with an infield single. Colleran dominated on the mound, striking out 15 and taking a no-hitter into the seventh (despite trailing 1-0). Colleran and Levine each finished with two hits and Shaelyn Burns reached base three times.
Milford, 0 @ Taunton, 15 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton scored two in the first, added five in the second, and then sealed the win with an eight-run fourth. Liv Mendonca (three innings) and Cate Larson (two innings) combined on the shutout, allowing only two hits. Angie Lynch powered the Tigers on offense, going 2-for-4 with a homer, five RBI, and two runs scored from the leadoff spot. Ava Venturelli (1-for-3) drove in two and scored three runs. Brooke Aldrich (1-for-3) also drove in two and Hayley Krockta (2-for-3) and Katelyn Bizarro (2-for-3) each drove in one.
Boys Lacrosse
Milford, 1 @ Bellingham, 13 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 16 @ Bishop Feehan, 4 – Final – In a battle of unbeatens, Franklin rolled to a big win over Bishop Feehan with a dominating performance on the road. The Panthers built an 11-3 lead by halftime and didn’t allow a second half goal until three minutes left in the game as Brigid Earley had five saves in net and Anna Grasso played well defensively. Kaitlyn Carney paced the offense with six goals and two assists, Katie Peterson (three assists) and Kate O’Rourke each had a hat trick, Kenzie Baker added two goals, and Jackie O’Neil (goal, assist), Lindsay Atkinson (goal, assist), and Stella Regan (two assists) each had two points apiece.
Milford, 9 vs. Bellingham, 3 – Final – After a slow start that resulted in a mere one-goal halftime lead, Milford turned it on with a big second half to pull away from Bellingham. Aislinn Bennett scored a pair of first half goals and Fiona Jordan added one to give the Hawks a 3-2 lead at the break. In the second half, Carly Haley had a pair of goals and an assist, Emily Croteau scored once and had one assist, and Erin Michelson added a goal and one helper. Caitlyn Bangert turned away 11 shots in net while Mya Mitchell and Sophia Soares anchored a stellar defensive effort for the Scarlet Hawks.
Boys Tennis
Foxboro, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Foxboro sophomore Ryan Fossella and freshman Luca Meyer overcame a 0-3 deficit in the third set to prevail in a tiebreaker, clinching the final point for the Warriors’ 3-2 win over Canton. Fossella and Meyer, playing at first doubles, won the first set 6-4 but dropped the second 4-6 to force the deciding third set. Canton raced out to a 3-0 lead before Fossella and Meyer rallied and won the third set 7-6 (7-1) in the tiebreaker. Foxboro also picked up a win at second doubles from sophomores Visruth Chavalam and Nate Cote (6-1, 3-6, 6-3) as well as freshman Raj Jetty at third singles (6-2, 6-0). Max Kupferman and Suraj Ramanathan won at first and second singles for the Bulldogs.
North Attleboro, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – North Attleboro went on the road and took all five matches in straight sets to knock off host Taunton. Senior Will Folan picked up a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, junior Brody Carter added a 6-1, 6-2 verdict at second singles, and freshman Darren Liang grabbed a 6-1, 6-0 third singles victory. The first doubles team of Griffin Rodden and Arnav Raghuvanshi emerged with a hard-fought 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) win for the Rocketeers while sophomore Quinn DiFiore and senior Aashman Gupta prevailed 6-0, 6-2 at second doubles.
Mansfield, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Mansfield won all five matches, all in straight sets, to secure a road win over Oliver Ames. Sophomore Kailash Elumelai secured a well-played 6-3, 6-3 win at first singles, freshman Neema Khosravani took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles, and sophomore Iniyan Karruppusami completed the singles sweet for the Hornets with a 6-2, 6-3 victory at third singles. The team of Benson Delaney and Jonah Fine earned a 6-3, 6-1 first doubles win while Jesse Colchamiro and Jacob Weiner earned a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win at second doubles.
Sharon, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – In a battle of undefeated division leaders, the Davenport-leading Eagles of Sharon handed Franklin its first loss of the season. Sharon secured the victory with a pair of wins from both singles and doubles action for a 4-1 verdict. Alex Budovalcev earned a 6-3, 6-1 win at second doubles and Jacob Slavsky added a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at third singles. The team of Mitch Weiss and Ruemon Bhattacharyya overcame a one-set deficit to emerge with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win. The team of Sava Kassev and Hyojae Park also prevailed in three sets, taking a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 win at second doubles for the Eagles. Franklin’s Vayshnav Malhotra earned a 6-2, 6-3 win at first singles.
Girls Tennis
Taunton @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Franklin, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – The Davenport-leading Eagles of Sharon swept all five matches, handing Kelley-Rex leading Franklin its first Hock loss of the season. Navya Shukla took a 6-1, 7-5 win at first singles, Ale Aguilar added a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles, and freshman Judy Song prevailed 6-0, 6-0 at third singles for the Eagles. The team of juniors Abby Vilk and Sophia Oh earned a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles and the Eagles got another point from freshman Olivia Landstein and junior Ellie Zhao at second doubles (7-6 [5], 6-0).
Baseball
Oliver Ames, 7 vs. New Bedford, 11 – Final – Oliver Ames got off to a great start with four runs in the first inning but New Bedford answered with seven runs in the second and never surrendered that lead for a win at Frothingham. For OA, Ian Kelly had a big day with three hits and three RBI, Andrew Rodgers added three hits, and Jack Richardson, Jake Waxman (two hits, two runs), Patrick Finnerty, and Joe Cicchetti each had an RBI for the Tigers, who only allowed three earned runs.
Sharon, 7 @ Mansfield, 15 – Final – Mansfield’s bats stayed hot at the start of the game and it carried throughout as the Hornets secured a 15-7 win, their third victory of the week and fourth straight overall. Sharon carried a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first inning after an RBI single from Dan Okstein, but the Hornets took advantage of four straight walks to start the game and pushed across all four of them for a 4-1 lead. Mansfield really broke it open in the bottom of the second, plating eight runs — all but one coming with two outs. Connor Curtis had an RBI double, Jake Maydak drove in two with a triple, Brian Butler knocked in two more with a double, and both Aiden Jones and Conner Zukowski drove in a run to make it 12-1. Butler and senior Jeremy Rotenberg each had two hits for the Hornets while Zukowski (three stolen bases), Anthony Sacchetti, and Jimmy Gilleran each scored twice. Okstein finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, as well as two scoreless innings in relief, for the Eagles while Will Hippler added two hits and three runs and Ryan Baker drove in a pair.
Softball
Milford vs. West Haven (CT), 11:00
Attleboro, 6 vs. Holliston, 3 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 10 vs. Concord-Carlisle, 7 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Kaitlyn Carney scored five goals and had three assists and the Panthers went on a 4-0 run in the second half to pull out a win over Concord-Carlisle in a rematch of last year’s D1 East final. The Panthers controlled the first half, winning 6-of-7 draw controls, forcing the Concord goalie into six saves, and going 11 minutes before allowing a shot on goal on the other end. Carney opened the scoring inside the first minute with a sidearm finish and then her pass from behind the cage picked out Kenzie Baker to double the lead. Carney then intercepted a clearance and threw a skip pass to Lindsay Atkinson to make it 3-0 after eight minutes. Brigid Earley came up with a couple of big saves with nine minutes left in the half and the Panthers extended the lead with a free position goal from Kate O’Rourke and a good dodge at the crease by Jackie O’Neil. The visitors got one back before halftime and carried the momentum through the break. Earley (eight saves) came up with a big point-blank stop early in the second half, but the Patriots scored twice to make it 5-3 with 20 minutes to go. Katie Peterson set up Carney to move back in front by three, but Concord-Carlisle scored two straight and it was a one-goal game with 16:23 to go. Carney got her fourth of the day cutting across the middle and then she set up Baker for her second. O’Rourke finished from a free position to make it 9-5 and then Carney fired in another strong sidearm shot to push the lead back to five with less than nine minutes to go.
Milford, 11 vs. Norwood, 8 – Final – After six straight games on the road to start the season, Milford earned a hard-fought win in its first home game of the season. Junior Carley Haley scored just under a minute into the contest to set the tone for the Scarlet Hawks, who built a 5-4 advantage by halftime. After Norwood pulled level at 7-7, the Hawks came out of a timeout with four straight goals to run away with the win. Emily Croteau (three goals, two assists), Aislinn Bennett (four goals), and Haley (three goals, one assist) each scored a pair of goals in the second half to lead the balanced attack. Caitlin Bangart had a standout performance in net while senior Emma Tredeau anchored a strong defensive effort.
Baseball
Canton, 10 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Canton senior catcher Sean Sullivan threw out the tying run at third in the top of the seventh and junior Matt Lesser finished off the save in the same at-bat for the final out as the Bulldogs outlasted King Philip on the road. The Bulldogs scored in each of the first innings, taking advantage of a handful of KP defensive miscues to eventually lead 8-3 after four innings. King Philip cut the deficit down to just a run with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by back-to-back RBI doubles from Brendan Sencaj and Rudy Gately. Jay Kelleher’s single — Canton’s fourth straight to start the sixth — brought in Matt Chafin and Jack Digirolamo (three hits) to put the visitors ahead 10-7. KP bounced right back in the bottom half with two runs of its own, a long triple from Sencaj (three RBI) to bring in Matt Kelley and Shawn Legere. KP got the tying run on with a single and a steal, but Sullivan gunned him down at third after a ball in the dirt. Travis Crawford also had two hits and two RBI for the Warriors.
Foxboro, 2 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Franklin pushed across three runs in the first inning, two more in the third, and never looked back in a win under the lights over Foxboro. Evan Raider and Henry Digiorgio had back-to-back sacrifice flies to plate a run apiece and Jase Lyons had a two-out RBI single to plate Chris Goode (HBP) to seize and early 3-0 advantage. Digiorgio added an RBI double to score Goode (double) in the third, and Lyons added another RBI base hit to extend Franklin’s advantage to 5-0. Eisig Chin added an RBI triple in the sixth for the Panthers, and Joe Tirrell brought two home with a base hit to left. Jacob Jette got the win on the mound for the Panthers, allowing two runs (one earned) one three hits and one walk, striking out four. Ryan LeClair had two hits and scored a run for Foxboro.
Softball
Mansfield, 13 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – Mansfield made it three wins in a row with a shutout of Sharon. Julia Kelly and Amanda Schwarz combined on a one-hitter for the Hornets, who also pounded out 14 hits as a team. Mansfield took a 4-0 lead in the first. Callie Lake singled and would score on a base hit by Liv Madeira. Jill Koppy and Molly Kucharski also had RBI singles in the inning. The Hornets doubled their lead in the second. Kelly led off with a double and would score on an error, while Madeira and Alanna Conley both drove in runs with singles. Mansfield completed the scoring in the third with five more runs. Lake drove in one and Casey Moussette plated a pair. Madeira and Conley each finished the day with three hits and Lake had a pair.
Milford, 3 @ North Attleboro, 6 – Final – North continued to get dominant pitching to extend its win streak to four games. Zoey McDonough was in the circle and struck out 15 batters, while allowing only five hits and a walk, to pick up the victory. Mandi Hanewich had a pair of hits, a walk, and two RBI to pace the offensive attack. Kelly Colleran had a double and drove in two, while Emma Hanwell and Ally Levine each had a hit and an RBI. Maryellen Charette and Shaelyn Burns both had a hit and a run scored for North.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:45
Canton, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – For Oliver Ames, Ben Reardon (two goals, three assists) and Ryan Jaco (three goals, two assists) each had five points while Wyatt Fritchman recorded a pair of goals. Noah Isleib was terrific in net for the Tigers with 21 saves.
North Attleboro, 13 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Behind a strong defensive effort and a standout performance from Jared Vacher at the face off X, North Attleboro secured a quality win over a quality opponent on the road at Sharon. Vacher won 12 of 18 face offs in a battle of two of the top faceoff specialists in the Hock against Sharon’s Ben Shocket. Senior Clayton Billingkoff scored a team-high five goals to pace the offense while senior Connor Ruppert added four goals. JT Gallagher had a big game in net with 10 saves for the Rocketeers.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 15 – Final – Julia Marsden, Makenzie McDevitt, and Morgan Cunningham each recorded four points to lead King Philip to a big win over visiting Attleboro. Both Marsden and McDevitt scored four goals apiece while Cunningham had one goal and three assists.
Oliver Ames, 8 @ Canton, 12 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – The Bulldogs remain unbeaten and in a tie for first in the division by holding off the Tigers. Canton closed out the half with four straight goals to take a two goal lead into the break and extended the lead to as many as five goals in the second half. Emily McCabe led the way for the hosts with four goals and two assists. OA held a 4-3 lead midway through the opening half. Hailey Bourne got her first to start the scoring before McCabe answered back. Canton then jumped in front when Carly Fitzgerald’s pass in front was tipped home by Ella Yeaton. Catie Wilson tied it for OA and Gergia Costello made it 3-2. After Devan Spinale tied it again, Bourne got her second and Wilson added another for a 5-3 lead. Off the draw, McCabe found Shannon McGrann for a goal to cut the lead to one and McGrann tied it three minutes later from a free position. Spinale and Fay Gallery added two more, the last coming with 22.1 on the clock, for a 7-5 lead. Early in the second half, Costello got OA within one but Allie McCabe spun through the heart of the OA defense to restore the two-goal lead. Jess Widdop made a couple of saves on Canton free positions before Emily McCabe dodged from the top and found her way to goal. McCabe added another just seconds later to make it 10-6. A steal by Olivia O’Rourke led to a goal for Wilson but Yeaton found McCabe cutting through the middle to make it 11-7. Allie McCabe added her second for the Bulldogs before Wilson wrapped up the scoring in the final minute. Elyse Broderick made seven saves in goal for Canton.
Foxboro, 18 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mya Waryas scored five goals and dished out two assists and the Warriors rolled to another big league win that keeps them in a tie for first place in the Davenport division. Paige Curran (two assists) and Mary Collins (one assist) each added four goals apiece for Foxboro, which also got two goals and an assist from Cate Noone, a goal and an assist from Kate Collins, a goal and two assists from Val Beigel, and a goal from Grace Riley. Audrey Campbell made 10 saves to pick up the win in goal.
Taunton, 3 @ Franklin, 20 – Final – Franklin had over a dozen players find their way onto the scoring sheet in a big win over visiting Taunton. Kenzie Baker and Jamie Tanner finished with three goals apiece to pace the offense. Cali Melo, Maddison Szala, and Aria Cordeiro each scored for Taunton.
Sharon, 2 @ North Attleboro, 15 – Final – Bailey Garte scored both goals for Sharon and Ava Jacobson had an assist.
Boys Tennis
Taunton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – Oliver Ames defended home court by winning all five matches against visiting Taunton. The freshmen duo of Alex Efrimidas and Patrick Dolan had a standout performance in the win, both playing strong at the net to secure a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles.
Mansfield, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon secured a pair of wins in both singles and doubles play to grab a win over visiting Mansfield. Sophomore Matthew Lally emerged victorious after a tenacious battle with Mansfield freshman Neema Khosravani, taking first singles 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 10-8. Freshman Jacob Slovsky added a 6-4, 6-4 win at third singles for the Eagles. Seniors Ruemon Bhattacharyya and Mitch Weiss won at first doubles (6-1, 6-1) while juniors Kevin Li and Hyojae Park took the win at second doubles for the Eagles. Mansfield sophomore Kailash Elumalei rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 10-6 win at second singles.
Milford, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, North Attleboro’s first doubles tandem of junior Griffin Rodden and sophomore Arnav Raghuvanshi prevailed in a third set tiebreaker to complete the five-match set for the Rocketeers. Rodden and Raghuvanshi won 6-2, 5-7, 10-7 while sophomore Tim Le and junior Brody Gaulin rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 victory at second doubles. Senior captain Will Folan secured a 6-0, 6-0 first singles win, junior Brody Carter added a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and freshman Darren Liang took home a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles.
Girls Tennis
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Elizabeth O’Brien overcame a one-set deficit to earn a win in a third-set tiebreaker to complete the sweep on the road over Taunton. O’Brien rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 win at third singles, Hannah Farber added a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, and Mia Corradini prevailed with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win at second singles. The team of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper grabbed a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles while Marina Mierzwinski and Olivia Querzoli battled to a 6-3, 6-3 second doubles win.
Sharon, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Sharon won both doubles matches in straight sets to highlight a 4-1 win over Mansfield. The team of senior Ritu Sreeram and sophomore Sophia Oh grabbed a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles while seniors Alice Zaniewski and Rachel Rashukin emerged with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second doules. Junior Ale Aguilar added a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles.
Stoughton, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro swept both doubles matches in straight sets and added two more wins from singles action to secure a win over visiting Stoughton. The senior tandem of Saharla Yusuf and Tina Lam grabbed a 6-2, 5-1 (inj.) win at first singles, and sophomores Kyra Johnson and Presley Biller didn’t drop a single set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles for the Bombardiers. Senior Ella Lynch-Bartek added a 6-1, 6-2 first singles victory and sophomore Maddie Fulscado earned a 6-0, 6-3 win at second singles. Stoughton’s Stefani Reznikow emerged with a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles.
Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 97 @ Milford, 39 – Final – Attleboro’s Kaiden Murray took first in three individual events as Attleboro grabbed a big win on the road over Milford. Murray won the 100M, the 110M hurdles, and the long jump while Chris Leonardo was a double-winner in the shot put and the discus. Jack Blouin and Ethan Sylvia went 1-2 in the 1 Mile, and Sylvia added a win in the 800M for the Bombardiers. Adrian Rivera was second in the 200M dash (won by Jordan Rivera-Silva), took third in the high jump, won the triple jump, and was apart of the winning 4x100M relay team. (with Rivera-Silva, Zyeem Charles, and Josh Codella)
Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 73 @ Milford, 63 – Final – Emilia Smith and Jahela Douglas each won a pair of events to lead the Bombardiers to a close win over Milford. Smith anchored a sweep of the 1 Mile (followed by Taylor DeCristoforo and Bailey Ellis) and the 2 Mile (followed by DeCristoforo and Kacey Parker), and Douglas took first in the triple jump and led a sweep of the 200M (followed by Alexis Cincotta and Sophia Lyons). Rebecca Rainey led a sweep of the 400M hurdles (along with Zenda Gjoni and Allie McNamara) and Aariana Ridge won the long jump (followed by Natalie Berganza and Katerina Trieb).
Baseball
Foxboro, 10 @ Norwell, 3 – Final – Foxboro pushed across six runs in the top of the first and that was all the support freshman Nolan Gordon needed in his first career start as the Warriors broke into the win column. Gordon allowed three runs on five hits and one walk, striking out five in six innings of work to get the win. Offensively, senior Jack Watts set the tone from the leadoff spot with a three-hit, three RBI performance while Sean O’Leary added three hits and Mike Marcucella had two hits.
King Philip, 10 vs. Norton, 3 – Final – The offense came early and often for the red-hot Warriors, who combined to score six runs in the first two innings and four runs between the fourth and fifth innings in a non-league win over Norton. An RBI double from Brendan Sencaj got things going, and then a base hit RBI from Rudy Gately quickly made things 2-0 for the hosts. In the second, Will Astorino (double) and Brendan Weddleton (single) both scored on a two-run single from Travis Crawford, who then scored on a fielder’s choice from Shawn Legere, who came around to score on a wild pitch. Crawford (triple) came home to score on an RBI from Matt Kelley in the fourth to extend the lead to 7-3. Crawford added an RBI in the fifth, and then scored along with Weddleton on a double from Kelley. On the mound, sophomore Tommy McLeish allowed three runs in 3.2 innings of work with three strikeouts. Mark Tagerman (2.1IP) and Kelley (1IP, 1K) closed the game out in relief.
Mansfield @ Milford – Postponed to TBD.
Taunton, 4 @ New Bedford, 1 – Final
Softball
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Walpole, 3 – Final (8 inn.) – Oliver Ames had the bases loaded in the top of the eighth but was unable to push across the go ahead run, and a pair of errors led to a walk off win for the host Rebels. OA took the lead in the first when Maddie Homer singled, stole second, and scored on a hit from Emily Martin (two hits). OA added another run in the third when Lexi Galsband knocked in Paige Taylor to make it 2-0. Katie Melendy tossed an eight-inning complete game for the second straight day, striking out three while allowing no earned runs and only four hits.
Mansfield, 5 @ Foxboro, 8 – Final – Foxboro scored all eight runs in the first three innings and then held off the Hornets to get the win. The Warriors plated three runs in the first, two in the second, and three more in the third. Mansfield had 10 hits on the day with Cat Kipp, Liv Madeira and Jill Koppy each recording two while Callie Lake, Casey Moussette, Alanna Conley and Liv DeTrolio each adding one. Amanda Schwarz and Julia combined to strike out three, allowing eight hits and five walks.
Stoughton, 9 @ Brockton, 2 – Final – Stoughton won its third straight game and second in as many days, this time knocking off the Boxers for the second time this season. Kerry Driscoll had a great performance in the circle, only allowing four hits with three strikeouts in a complete game effort. Offensively, Alyssa Edwards for 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI, Driscoll helped her own cause with three hits (two doubles) and two RBI, Julie Powers also had three hits (one double), and both Sydney Menz (two hits), and Katie Bulger (3 RBI) had a big day at the plate.
Boys Lacrosse
Mansfield @ Attleboro, 3:45
Franklin, 21 @ Sharon, 7 – Final – Franklin found the back of the net nine times in the opening quarter and established a 16-4 lead by halftime in a win on the road over Sharon. Luke Davis paced the offense with six goals and an assist while Tyler Sacchetti (four assists) and Jayden Consigli (three assists) each scored four goals apiece. Justin Alexander had a big day at the faceoff X, going 16-for 21 in the first half.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ King Philip, 17 – Final – Wyatt Fritchman and Wes Tower each scored one for the shorthanded Tigers.
Milford @ North Attleboro – Postponed to TBD.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 2 @ Mansfield, 16 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Ava Adams scored six goals and Lola Varricchione scored four goals and had three assists to lead the Hornets to a big divisional win. Attleboro, which was shorthanded with players on a school trip, stayed close in the first half, cutting the lead to 5-2, but Mansfield would score the game’s final 11 goals to earn its second win in a row. Stella Moore added two goals for the Hornets who also got goals from Gabriella Geminiani, Cammy Shanteler, Rose Maher, and Ella Palanza. Caitlyn Zajac made five saves for the Hornets.
Foxboro, 20 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Paige Curran found the back of the net five times while Mya Waryas and Mary Collins each had four goals as Foxboro rolled to a win on the road over Taunton. Curran finished with eight points, Waryas added five helpers for nine points, and Collins chipped in with two assists for six points. Val Beigel added four points (three goals), Cate Noone scored twice with one assist, and Kate Collisn (goal), Kaelin Connors (goal), and Nina Della Valle (assist) each had one point.
Sharon, 0 @ Franklin, 20 – Final – Franklin stayed undefeated to start the season, notching a big win under the lights on Thursday evening. Kaitlyn Carney paced the offense with four goals while Stella Regan recorded five assists in the win. Kate O’Rourke, Kenzie Baker, Anna Grasso, and Grace Nesbit all played great in the midfield with four groundballs.
King Philip, 17 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – King Philip raced out to an 11-1 lead by halftime and never looked back for a win on the road in Easton. Lily Brown was a menace defensively with seven caused turnovers and added four draw controls and four points (three goals, one assist) for the Warriors. Morgan Cunningham had a big day offensively with a hat trick and three assists, Julia Marsden added four goals, Makenzie McDevitt chipped in with three goals and one assist, and Haley Izydorczak finished with a pair of goals and one helper. Emily Campbell and Haley Bright both played well in net, combining for seven saves.
North Attleboro @ Milford – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Tennis
Taunton @ New Bedford, 4:00
Girls Tennis
Stoughton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip defended home court on Thursday afternoon, taking all five matches in straight sets against the visiting Black Knights. Junior Ahunna James and senior Sammie Taylor both won without dropping a set, 6-0, 6-0, at first and third singles, respectively while sophomore Shea Mellman added a 6-2, 6-0 win at second singles. The team of junior Lauren Casper and senior Resha Ajoy secured a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles and KP’s second doubles tandem of juniors Caroline Freese and Carlie Burns swept their match, 6-0, 6-0.
Franklin, 0 @ Hopkinton, 5 – Final
Taunton vs. New Bedford, 4:00
Boys Volleyball
Milford vs. Dighton-Rehoboth – Postponed to TBD.
Taunton, 0 @ Quincy, 3 – Final
Franklin returns a loaded roster after reaching the state title game. Read full team previews for the new season below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 2-13 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Chrissy Quinn
Attleboro will continue rebuilding this season, but the Bombardiers also feel like there is talent and experience on the roster to improve on the results of 2021 and possibly climb a spot in the division standings. Last season was a struggle, Attleboro had the fewest goals scored and most goals allowed in the league, but so much of the roster was getting its first taste of varsity play. With that year of experience, the Bombardiers are expecting more at both ends of the field.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Senior midfielder Olivia Calderone will lead the Bombardiers in attack. Sophomores Molly Moore and Addison Papagolos are back to provide a threat around the cage, while seniors Corrine Whiting and Kelsey Sherry and junior Jordan Mooney give Attleboro a lot of depth in the attack. Freshmen Isabella Cavallini and Ryann Mooney are a pair of talented newcomers who are going to get the chance to boost Attleboro’s scoring punch.
In defense, senior Avery Vieira and junior Ally Haigh are back to protect the goal. Both are strong presences in the defensive area with their athleticism and reading of the game. Sophomore Kristen Vasquez-Trudeau and junior Ella Stromfors also return and have shown great progress during the preseason. Attleboro will have a pair of new goalies this season with senior Alex Insani and freshman Peyton McCauliffe.
“I am excited to watch this talented group of athletes come together on the field this season,” said Attleboro coach Chrissy Quinn. “They have great potential and I think our program is making positive strides in the right direction.”
2021 Record: 5-9 2021 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Casey Bradley
Canton got off to a decent start in 2021, winning five of its first seven games, but the Bulldogs closed with a tough stretch, losing each of the last seven, including overtime losses to Oliver Ames and Whitman-Hanson to end the season. Former Bulldog Casey Bradley steps in as the head coach and she is confident that a year of experience will be the key for a lineup that is largely unchanged from last spring and has the potential to move up the standings.
The Bulldogs will have a strong midfield group. Senior Allie McCabe is a three-sport star and gives them energy and leadership alongside junior Ella Yeaton and sophomore Devan Spinale, who had an impressive rookie season as an attacker. Freshman Annie McLean will step in and add a new dimension to the midfield. Senior Carly Fitzgerald and junior Emily McCabe give Canton a lot of depth at that end of the field.
Defensively, seniors Tess Khoury and Sydney Gallery will hold down the middle of the field in front of classmate Elyse Broderick, who is stepping into the cage after four seasons as the goalie on the soccer team. Broderick’s athleticism will be important to help Canton’s defense hold off the opposition.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Bradley said, “As a first-year head coach, I couldn’t be more excited to work with this group. These girls love the game and love working with one another every day. We have great leaders. I believe as long as we work hard and spend our time together efficiently, we will be a really strong team this year and may surprise some people.”
2021 Record: 11-2 2021 Finish: Reached D2 East Quarterfinals Coach: Kathleen McCullough
Last season, the first under new head coach Kathleen McCullough, Foxboro lost its season opener against Franklin then rolled through the next 11 games before falling by a goal against Bedford in the state tournament. Over that 11-game win streak, the Warriors outscored teams 204-44. Foxboro’s schedule looks a little tougher this year to help build up towards a potential tournament run, as the nine-time defending Davenport champs return a loaded lineup on both ends of the field.
The Warriors should have one of the most potent attacks in the league this season with a junior class that is loaded with talent and now has a year of varsity experience as well. Senior Kate Collins gives the team leadership up front, while junior Paige Curran was second in the league in scoring as a sophomore. Junior Mya Waryas and sophomores Valerie Beigel and Mary Collins would be the headliners in most teams’ attacking units.
While the offense will draw a lot of headlines, Foxboro’s defense is experienced and difficult to score on. Seniors Hannah Blake and Meghan Burke will be the leaders ahead of classmate Lilli Jones, who is stepping into goal this year after having a strong fall for the field hockey team. Junior Grace Riley and Jennifer Gallagher make this one of the deeper defensive groups in the Hock. Freshman midfielder Cate Noone is a newcomer to watch, who could make an instant impact all over the field.
“Our biggest strength is that we have a large returning group this year,” said McCullough. “My hope is that their playing experience and the fact that they have been playing together since youth level will develop the confidence needed to compete well against our opponents. We have put together a strong schedule this year and we look forward to challenging ourselves as a team and program.”
2021 Record: 18-1 2021 Finish: Reached D1 State Championship Coach: Kristin Igoe Guarino
There is no hiding that the goal for Franklin this season is to return to the state championship game and bring home the program’s first title. Even just a quick look at the roster shows why. The Panthers return the vast majority of last year’s team that was seconds away from overtime in last year’s final and added a few new faces that could be impact players. Franklin has experience and depth at every position. With a league win streak that has extended beyond 80 games, Franklin’s next goal is to be the best in the state.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
While those are lofty expectations, Franklin has a lineup filled with college commits. In the midfield and attack, seniors Stella Regan, Jackie O’Neil, Kate O’Rourke, Maura Cogavin, and Kenzie Baker are entering their third seasons as starters and all can be playmakers. Katie Peterson and fellow junior Kaitlyn Carney are both coming off impressive sophomore seasons and junior Lindsay Atkinson and Jamie Tanner can be threats anywhere near the cage.
Defensively, Franklin will be aggressive and athletic. Senior Anna Grasso will be the leader at the back in front of classmate Brigid Earley, who was the star of the final with a series of great saves. Juniors Riley Cross and Payten Crandall make a group that works well together. Freshman goalie Ella Mahoney is a new face that will get some time this year and gives Franklin depth at that position as well.
“I am really excited for this season, as this is one of the most talented and cohesive Franklin teams I have ever coached,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “Everyone is all in and it is our goal to win a state championship!”
2021 Record: 12-3 2021 Finish: Reached D1 East Quarterfinals Coach: Kourtnie Wilder
Overall, King Philip had a strong season in 2021. The Warriors only lost three games and two of those were to state finalist Franklin and the other to Div. 1 East finalist Concord-Carlisle. Still, KP can look at it as a season to build experience, get players back into the groove of varsity lacrosse, and prepare for more this spring. With a strong returning corps. KP will be eyeing a tournament run.
Experience will be important up front where Saint Anselm-commit Julia Marsden is back after a 50-goal junior season and will be joined by fellow senior Lily Brown, who had 55 points last year. In defense, senior Haley Izydorczak is in her third year on varsity and gives KP a strong presence in the crease.
In goal, KP has a pair of talented juniors who will both see time. Emily Campbell and Haley Bright give the Warriors enviable depth in the cage. Senior Colleen Crowther is another experienced defender that will help out at the back. There are plenty of talented underclassmen who can step in this season, including four freshmen, Abby MacDonald, Sammy Cloutier, Makenzie McDevitt, and Sierra King.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
“Our greatest strength is we have a lot of returners that we are going to rely on heavily this year,” said KP coach Kourtnie Wilder. “The players we have are experienced and excited to play together again this season. We also have a few new ninth graders that are going to give us more depth on the field this year.”
2021 Record: 8-6 2021 Finish: Reached D1 East Preliminary Round Coach: Mary Kiley
Mansfield has a third coach in as many years with Mary Kiley taking over this spring. Kiley is a former league MVP and a four-time league champion with King Philip and she’ll be looking to push Mansfield into contention in its final spring in the Kelley-Rex. The Hornets will have experience in defense but looking for new faces to step up and contribute to the attack to make a push for the postseason.
Junior goalie Caitlin Zajac impressed in her debut season and she will be back between the pipes to provide leadership to the back line. The rest of the defensive unit is also experienced with seniors Grace Bertolino, Gabriella Geminiani, and Kayla Doherty adding intensity and aggression at that end of the field, while also looking to spring the Hornets in transition.
The attack is largely new this season. Juniors Ava Adams and Brooke Butler have looked solid in the preseason and sophomores Lola Varricchione and Cammy Shanteler will look to build on solid rookie seasons. Sophomores Keira Fitzpatrick and Ella Souza are two newcomers in the Mansfield attack who will be looking to make immediate impacts.
“On attack we have great discipline and patience with the ball, waiting for just the right opportunity to score,” said Kiley. “We’re looking forward to a competitive season this year.”
2021 Record: 1-12 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Kacey Abbriano
With 28 players on the roster this spring, Milford will have the numbers to try and make a push up the division standings, but only eight of those players are returning from last year. There will be a lot of new faces for first-year head coach Kacey Abbriano to try and get up to speed with the new defense she is implementing.
Midfield is an area of experience for the Hawks with senior Aislinn Bennett and junior Carly Haley and Emily Croteau all back from last season. The hope is that their athleticism and leadership will help Milford improve the number of scoring opportunities that it is able to create this season with an eye on improving on the one win from 2021.
Junior goalie Caitlyn Bangert is another returning player from last year who will be counted on to provide a dose of experience in the defensive end of the field. Although many of the players are new to the varsity level this year, Milford is largely led by upperclassmen with only two sophomores, attackers Ryara Madruga and Rhea Mathew, on the roster.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
“Besides the obvious of trying to win games, we’re trying to build confidence in our player’s skills and ability, work together with one another, and just have a fun season together,” said Abbriano. “I’m excited for this season and look forward to getting started!”
2021 Record: 7-6 2021 Finish: Reached D1 East Preliminary Round Coach: Amanda Welch
North Attleboro has had several coaching changes in the past two seasons but still managed to finish second in the Davenport division last spring. New head coach Amanda Welch will look to build on that this year with a solid returning corps. North lost six times in 2021, but all of those were to teams that qualified for the postseason and the Rocketeers will look to continue their success against the teams around them in the standings to get back in the postseason mix.
Leading scorer Taylor McMath is back to spearhead the North attack. The senior finished with 24 goals last season, and she will have help up top from junior Ava McKeon. Their speed and stickhandling make them tough to stop around the cage. North will also count on seniors Kelsey Briere and Morgan Eaton to add punch to an attack that was fourth-best in the league last year (behind only Franklin, Foxboro, and King Philip).
Defensively, North is counting on the leadership and athleticism of senior Summer Doherty to keep things solid at the back. Senior Zoe McKeon is another quick, athletic defender that gives North a strong foundation in front of senior goalie Avery Beale. Welch is hoping that some of the underclassmen will be ready to make instant impacts this season, including freshmen Lily Ramm and Ellie Regan.
“Overall, this 2022 season will look a lot different than last year,” Welch said. “We had some rough patches in the past but now we are back, focused, and ready to show the league what we have.”
2021 Record: 6-6 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Rylie Dalzell
After a 2-6 start to the 2021 season, which included half of those losses coming to Foxboro and Franklin, the Tiger roared down the stretch, winning the final four games to finish at .500. New head coach Rylie Dalzell, who played at King Philip, is hoping that momentum will carry over this spring with an experienced group that sees seniors taking important roles in every position.
In the attack, seniors Georgia and Ava Costello will be back to provide the scoring punch that the Tigers hope will keep them in the running for the postseason. Junior Catie Wilson and Olivia O’Rourke will also chip in offensively, while also providing cover for the defensive group.
Senior midfielder Hailey Bourne returns in the midfield, giving OA a dose of athleticism and providing defensive effort. The defensive group will be a lot of new faces as the only returning defenders from last year’s team are sophomore Taylor McAndrew and senior Alyssa Kiff. Senior Jessica Widdop is the team’s returning goalie.
“This year the team has many strengths,” Dalzell said. “Something that has been great for us is our senior leadership across the field. We have seniors in all positions across the field. The team is very athletic and dynamic, and every player on the field could play in any position. There are many contributors on this team and I expect big things from many different individuals.”
2021 Record: 2-11 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Shara Ginthwain
After graduating three Div. I commits in the past three seasons, it was inevitable that Sharon would have a rebuilding season. After winning twice in 2021, the Eagles bring back five players from last year’s team and an exciting group of underclassmen that will jump right into the lineup and could provide the energy to get the Eagles back up the Davenport standings.
Senior Athena Merck will provide leadership at the back for Sharon this season, while classmate Kaitlyn Galeota will do the same in the attack. Junior Tess Letendre is an important returning player, as she had a solid season in goal as a sophomore and adds vocal leadership for the defensive unit. Sophomore Anna Hertzel could be poised for a breakout season as the team’s playmaker.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
The freshmen class has a lot of skill and is expected to be a big boost to the team’s depth. Bailey Garf and Ava Jacobson are newcomers in the midfield that could provide goals this year, while Serene Bien-Aime will try to prevent goals in the defense.
“From just the first week of the season, I can see that this team is made up of really driven players who work hard to improve every day!” said Sharon coach Shara Ginthwain. “We are so excited to get the season started and see what we can do!”
2021 Record: 4-10 2021 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Adilson Galvao
After graduating the program’s all-time leading scorer Alana Tavares, Taunton will head into a new season with a new coach and a lineup filled with new faces in hopes of getting the Tigers back into the postseason. First-year coach Adilson Galvao is hoping that his seniors will provide leadership for a young crew that is looking to continue Taunton’s being competitive across the Hock.
Taunton will turn to a core of returning players that the Tigers hope will make new connections and keep the attack flowing. Sophomore Cali Melo is a quick, athletic player that they are hoping has taken a leap this spring. Senior Aria Cordero, Samantha Crowley, and Sarah Clark will give the team a lot of experience on both ends of the field.
In addition to the returning players, Taunton has a few new faces that will be looking to make a quick impression at the varsity level. Melissa Jesus will step into goal this year after playing on JV last year, while Alanna DeJesus and Maddison Szala have both stood out in the preseason.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
“The team has a mix of new and young faces that look poised to get better as the season progresses and lineups get figured out to maximize our potential,” Galvao said. “Our seniors on the team have been doing a great job leading practices and getting the team ready for this year.”
Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Kelley-Rex Division MVP
Alana Tavares, Taunton
Kelley-Rex Division All Stars
McKenzie Baker, Franklin
Kate O’Rourke, Franklin
Stella Regan, Franklin
Katie Jones, Franklin
Jackie O’Neill, Franklin
Julia Marsden, King Philip
Lily Brown, King Philip
Haley Izydorczak, King Philip
Margo Riley, King Philip
Melissa Shanteler, Mansfield
Ava Adams, Mansfield
Alana Tavares, Taunton
Emily Gannon, Taunton
Davenport Division MVP
Ella Waryas, Foxboro
Davenport Division All Stars
Allie McCabe, Canton
Devan Spinale, Canton
Lilly Vey, Foxboro
Ella Waryas, Foxboro
Paige Curran, Foxboro
Dylan Rappoli, Foxboro
Taylor McMath, North Attleboro
Emma Pereira, Oliver Ames
Liliana Lozano, Oliver Ames
Jenna Goldstein, Sharon
Tess Letendre, Sharon
Honorable Mentions
Isabella Salviati, Attleboro
Sierra Abbott, Canton
Meg Burke, Foxboro
Sydney Hawkins, Franklin
Morgan Cunningham, King Philip
Ann Marie McCoy, Mansfield
Aislinn Bennett, Milford
Aimee Baiungo, North Attleboro
Taylor McAndrew, Oliver Ames
Sally Brouhard, Sharon
Anastasia Lajoie, Taunton
Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league.
Franklin seniors Sydney Hawkins, Ali Socci, and Katie Jones and coach Kristin Igoe-Guarino with the MIAA D1 State Finalist trophy. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – As it had for almost all of Thursday night’s Div. 1 state championship game at a packed Pisini Stadium, the Franklin defense came through with another stop when it needed it most, forcing a turnover in a tie game with the clock racing to the final horn. Overtime seemed inevitable.
The Panthers tried to clear from behind the cage, but a slip in the pouring rain and a loose ball in front of an empty goal proved decisive. It was a moment that seemed to happen in slow motion.
Westwood sophomore Ava Connaughton scooped the ground ball and, while falling, found the back of the open goal with just 12.2 seconds on the clock. The Wolverines won the ensuing draw to secure a 6-5 victory and their ninth state championship. Franklin went toe-to-toe with the most successful program in state history, but came up just short in its first state title game appearance.
“I’m so proud of this group,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “We’ve been in that situation before and for them to battle back against a really, really good Westwood team was amazing. I thought our ‘D’ was amazing, Brigid, they just made one more play than us on the offensive end. It happens, but I’m really proud of the girls, they played amazing.”
In the opening minutes of the game, it didn’t look like a dramatic finish would be in the cards. Franklin looked nervous, making uncharacteristic turnovers and being tentative in front of goal. Kaitlyn Carney had the first chance of the game from the opening draw, but was denied on a dodge from the left side by Westwood goalie Anya Holland.
The Wolverines started strongly and took a quick 2-0 lead inside the opening 2-1/2 minutes. Ashley Mackin, Westwood’s star and a Johns Hopkins-commit, played provider, feeding first Lindsey Diomede and then Connaughton for goals.
Franklin’s defense, led by Sydney Hawkins, Anna Grasso, and Ali Socci, was soaking up endless pressure in the first, as the Wolverines seemed to have the ball for the vast majority of the opening quarter. The Panthers also got a big boost from junior goalie Brigid Earley (10 saves), who made a big kick save to deny a point-blank chance and then took one off the mask from Kella McGrail.
“This is her first year playing goalie and look where she brought us,” Igoe Guarino said of Earley, who started as a freshman attacker on JV and volunteered to step in between the posts to fill a need this season. “She’s incredible and she made some huge saves on some Div. I shooters and kept us in the game. I’m really proud of her. She learned quick and she led us to the state finals.”
Three minutes into the second, Westwood added a third and looked like it might be able to break the game open. Mackin was again the provider, finding Kate Deehan on the cut through the middle. After Earley made another big stop to deny Lillian Hancock after a free run through the heart of the defense, Mackin got her first of the night on a sidearm snipe.
Franklin needed to find something positive on the offensive side of the ball. After several missed opportunities from eight meters, Kate O’Rourke found a crucial breakthrough on a free position with 4:43 left in the half. The Panthers went into the break down 4-1, but still hanging in and still with a shot at the title.
The hosts picked up a big early goal in the third to build momentum. Stella Regan picked out Carney cutting through the middle and her lefty finish found the top corner.
Mackin got her fourth assist of the night, this time setting up Jane Gaffney in front to restore the three-goal lead, but the Panthers looked like they had more life than the opening half.
Earley helped out again, getting enough of a Mackin rip from distance to send the ball just over the bar. Three minutes later, Regan was able to drive into the middle from the right side and finish over the top of Holland to make it 5-3.
With the clock winding down in the third, Earley got a piece of yet another shot, which caromed out to Kenzie Baker. She snagged the ground ball, got it to Regan, who moved it on to Carney at midfield. The sophomore instantly attacked, splitting a pair of defenders, racing 50 yards, and then firing into the top far corner with just 17.4 to go.
It was a stunning goal at the perfect moment to send the Panthers into the fourth with all the momentum and ramp up the energy in the crowd. It was also the moment that the heavens opened and it started pouring.
Four minutes into the fourth quarter, the comeback was complete. Carney played provider this time, driving towards the cage from the right side and seeing Jamie Tanner at the back post. Tanner was able to make a nice catch in traffic, spun, and finished over Holland to tie the game at 5-5.
Westwood had its chances to go back in front, but Earley continued to play at another level. Mackin fed Deehan in front but Earley stayed tall to make the stop, then she denied Diomede from close range, and took one off the midriff after Mackin got open in the middle. Baker had the best chance down the stretch for Franklin, but Holland (four saves) came up with a big stop.
In the end, it took an unlucky bounce to separate the two teams. Franklin (18-1), which is only seven years removed from its first sectional title, showed just how far it has come as a program. The Panthers wanted to show that a title game appearance was no fluke and that they were on the same level as the best in the state.
“I’m just so proud for all the alumni who set the culture standards before and brought us inch-by-inch,” said Igoe Guarino. “We have a great youth program, the girls work incredibly hard not just in season but out of season, and I think they just left a legacy no matter the outcome of this game.
“For years to come, this is the standard for Franklin lacrosse,” she continued. “We lost to the best in the state by one, we’ll be back.”
Franklin’s Kate O’Rourke scores a goal on a low shot in the final minute of the third quarter to restore a two-goal lead. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – As the clock ran down under six minutes to play, Franklin held a three-goal lead in Tuesday night’s Div. 1 state semifinal at Pisini Stadium and the Panthers held possession. Before they could advance up the field, the officials stopped the game. Lightning in the distance caused a delay that stretched to nearly an hour.
When play resumed, 5:25 was all that stood between Franklin and a spot in its first ever state title game. After the Panthers ran a minute off the clock, Chelmsford forced a turnover and converted it into a goal on the other end. Now it was only a two-goal game. Another chance a minute later went inches wide of the post and Stella Regan chased it down behind the cage to win possession.
Franklin had the ball and 3:33 on the clock. The Panthers showed great patience and vision to keep the ball moving in the attacking half of the field, running down the clock despite Chelmsford pressuring every pass. Franklin held on for the 11-9 win, handing Chelmsford its only loss of the season and ending a long wait to play for a state title.
“It’s awesome,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “I think it’s been a long time coming. I think this group has worked extremely hard and they deserve it. They’re all in, so we’re really excited for Thursday.”
This spring, Igoe Guarino’s alma mater Boston College also ended a long wait for its first national title, with Franklin’s Annie and Erin Walsh on the roster, and the former Eagles star is hoping that mojo can carry over to the Panthers as well.
“I kind of feel like Boston College,” she said. “They went to the national title three times and they won it on the fourth, so maybe we can do the same.”
The hosts came roaring out of the gates, winning four of five draws in the opening quarter and quickly jumping out to an early lead with three goals in less than two minutes.
Kenzie Baker won the opening draw of the game, got the ball upfield to Kaitlyn Carney, who then fed Katie Jones in the middle for a goal after just 13 seconds. Exactly a minute later, up a player, Kate O’Rourke was able to score from eight meters to double the lead. Twenty-four seconds after that, Regan picked out Katie Peterson cutting through the middle to make it 3-0.
Chelmsford answered 30 seconds later with a side-arm finish by Sofia D’Agostino, but things settled down after that frenetic start. Franklin almost added one midway through the first, but Jackie O’Neil’s free position shot was saved. Peterson kept possession, but Carney had a goal waved off for being in the crease. The Lions also had a chance from eight meters but Brigid Earley (four saves) made the stop.
The Lions cut the lead to one early in the second and had a good look to tie it but Earley robbed Leah Green from point-blank range. Baker restored a two-goal cushion when her pass to Jones cutting across goal eluded everyone, including the goalie.
After the lead was cut back to one, Franklin went on a run to grab control of the game. Right from the draw, O’Rourke found O’Neil for a goal. Regan then spotted Jamie Tanner, who went with an overhand finish to beat Chelmsford goalie Morgan Wright (seven saves). O’Rourke and Baker each added free position goals to give Franklin its largest lead of the game.
Chelmsford got one back but trailed 8-4 at the break. Maybe it was a momentum boost because in the third quarter the visitors rallied.
The Lions scored three straight goals to get the lead down to just one. With 3:04 left in the third, O’Rourke again drove right at the goalie on an eight-meter try, going low to get a crucial goal. In the closing seconds, Franklin called timeout to set up a play. Peterson swung the ball to Baker, who moved it on to Jones. The pass into the middle was high, but Carney made a great catch and was able to finish in one motion to make it 10-7 with just 2.1 left in the quarter.
“That’s a theme,” Igoe Guarino said about teams coming back in the third quarter against the Panthers in the postseason. “There’s ups and downs of every game and we survive. We have players who can make big plays to help turn it around like Kaitlyn grabbing it and putting it in. I think we’re used to ups and downs and teams go on runs it’s just who can outlast.”
Earley came through with a big stop on Kate Krueger two minutes into the fourth, but multiple efforts to clear went array and the Lions capitalized. Julia Pitts got Krueger the ball on the edge of the crease and this time she didn’t miss.
The score stayed the same until just under seven minutes to play. Regan was able to get the ball to Peterson in space. She drove towards the cage and with the goalie aggressively chasing passes had a lot of space to shoot at. Peterson made no mistake and put the hosts up 11-8.
Even lightning delays couldn’t slow down Franklin (18-0), which will now host South champion Westwood on Thursday night. Not only is this a chance to make history by winning a state title, but also to earn a rare win against a program with a long history of being one of the best teams in the state.
“Beat the best right?” said Igoe Guarino, who also battled the Wolverines in the state semifinals while winning two state titles as a player at Framingham. “Westwood is just a powerhouse, but we’ll be ready. We know they’re fast and like to double and they have some really good players.
“We’re definitely going to have to play better than we did today. I think our team has yet to play a complete game, so maybe they’re saving it for the end.”
Franklin celebrates at the final whistle. The Panthers beat Concord-Carlisle to secure their first East title since 2017. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – Franklin found itself down 4-2 after one quarter in Friday afternoon’s Div. 1 East final at Pisini Stadium against Concord-Carlisle. It was the first time this season that the Panthers had trailed after a quarter, but it didn’t take them long to get back into a more familiar position.
With six of the next seven goals, Franklin turned the game around in the second quarter, grabbing a lead it wouldn’t relinquish. The Panthers limited Concord-Carlisle to just two goals in the second half and held on for a 12-9 victory, avenging semifinal losses to the Patriots in each of the last two seasons and winning the program’s first East title since 2017 (also against Concord-Carlisle).
“Just cause we were down didn’t mean we want to force,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “We knew we’d get our looks and I think their patience, their going for the right things, anyone can step up, that’s the whole thing, if anyone can score then you don’t need to force anything because there are always going to be options.”
Franklin senior defender Sydney Hawkins added, “We know every single girl on this team is capable of making that game-winning play and that’s what is going to take us all the way.”
It was the Patriots who seemed to have the edge early in the game. Concord-Carlisle won four of the first five draws and was able to get into the heart of the Franklin defense, drawing free position opportunities. Audrey Mirak opened the scoring from eight meters just a minute into the game.
Franklin answered back 45 seconds later when Kate O’Rourke dodged from the top of the crease, side-stepping her defender to get a good shooting angle. The Patriots came right back with two goals, one from Mirak from eight meters and the second from a Becca Dibble shot to the corner.
O’Rourke saw a free position chance get saved and Brigid Earley (five saves) was able to deny Sarah Creamer on the other end. With 5:29 left in the first, Katie Jones made a nice pass to the cutting Jackie O’Neil to cut the lead to one.
Concord-Carlisle came storming back. Earley made two huge saves, blocking Lily Hudner’s free position and then getting a piece of Dibble’s shot. The Patriots regained a two-goal lead with 2:21 left in the first, as Dibble squeezed a shot inside the post from a tight angle.
After struggling on the draw early, Igoe Guarino made a change, putting Stella Regan on the spot with O’Neil, Katie Peterson, Kenzie Baker, Jamie Tanner, and others charging after the ball on the wings. It seemed to work, as Franklin took control of the draws in the second quarter and grabbed momentum as well.
Igoe Guarino said, “We made a big adjustment on the draws, which I think was a big turning point. I said to them, whoever wins the draws is going to win the game. They’re just such gritty players and if you tell them they need to win this draw, then they’ll win it.”
O’Neil got her second goal of the game with a bouncing shot from a free position 90 seconds into the second quarter. Following a yellow card to the Patriots, Franklin took advantage of the extra player, as Kaitlyn Carney bullied her way to the cage to tie the game.
Dibble continued her strong game, scoring again to put the visitors on top, but Franklin got two goals in a minute to go ahead for the first time. Peterson got the first with a lefty shot on the run, bouncing it past the goalie. Tanner then put the Panthers in front, going with a high finish from eight meters.
Carney was a playmaker from behind the cage, as she picked out Peterson cutting down the middle for a 7-5 lead. After seeing her initial shot saved, Carney scooped the rebound and then hit Peterson again cutting through the heart of the Concord-Carlisle defense. Audrey Marik scored back-to-back goals to get back within one, but Carney got a crucial free position goal seconds before the break to make it 9-7 at halftime.
Things got much tighter in the second half. The Franklin defense, led by Ali Socci, Anna Grasso, and Hawkins, was able to contain the Patriots much better, limiting their chances to get the ball on goal.
“We were sending to the top dodge every time and that seemed to work really well and it was also just communication and all being on the same page,” Hawkins, an MIT-commit, explained. “That’s the great thing about defense is we all get to talk together out there and to really move as a unit.”
Franklin was creating fewer chances as well, as the Panthers started to focus on patience and possession. Carney had a chance early in the third only to be called for being in the crease and having a goal taken away. The Panthers pushed the lead to three with a pretty give-and-go goal. Regan passed to O’Neil on the edge of the crease and she gave it right back to Regan cutting down the middle for the finish.
The visitors were not going to go quietly. Mirak added another free position goal with 3:04 left in the quarter and Concord-Carlisle had another chance from eight meters right at the end of the third but the clock ran out before the teams could get lined up, which proved to be a critical missed opportunity.
O’Rourke had a good look a minute into the fourth, but it was saved. A minute later, Creamer scored from eight meters to make it a 10-9 game. O’Neil, who had little impact in the semifinal, picked the bottom corner from a free position for her third goal of the game, putting Franklin up two.
“Whoever is out there, it could be anybody’s night and they all have each other’s backs, which is awesome,” said Igoe Guarino. “It could be every single person on any given day, which is so powerful to have. You can’t face guard, you can’t do a game plan because everyone’s a threat.”
Off the ensuing draw, the Patriots had a break but Earley came up with a huge stop. The Franklin defense was making plays, collapsing quickly, and coming up with all the ground balls. With 4:52 to go, O’Rourke had another chance, this time finding the corner for her second goal, which put Franklin in control up by three goals.
With the lead and with an extra player after a yellow card, Igoe Guarino urged her team to ignore the goal and just hold the ball to run out the clock as the excitement built on the home sidelines.
“I feel like this has been a long time coming and the fact that it was C-C just makes it that many times greater,” said Hawkins. “They’ve got us the last two times, but I have a really good feeling about this team. I’m super excited.”
Franklin (17-0) will face the winner of the North sectional (No. 1 Masconomet or No. 2 Chelmsford) in the state semifinal on Tuesday.
