Tag: Matt Perry

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Preview

EDITOR’S NOTE: Only teams that responded to HockomockSports.com with information regarding their team and the upcoming season are listed in this year’s preview.

Attleboro

2019 Record: 4-14
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Kevin Patton

Attleboro is a young program and, after the two-year break, also has a young roster, but the Bombardiers have a group of experienced players to lean on at both ends of the field to try and build on the four wins from 2019.

Senior Michael Strachan will lead the Attleboro attack and he’s joined up top by junior Keigan Conley, who played two years ago as a freshman, and sophomore Carter Shelton. In the midfield, senior Dan White and Matt Perry will be joined by junior Ryan Betts. Attleboro has a lot of depth in the midfield with juniors Chad Beaupin and Seth LaPlaca and senior Elijah Turner, who has transferred in from Xaverian. Junior Freddy Wheaton and senior goalie William Runey will be the leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Wheaton’s brother John and freshman Bobby Sawyer will also jump in on defense. Senior Jack Nagy and freshmen Ethan Lyons and Shane Evans will also see action in defense this season. Freshman Harry Wheaton will be the backup goalie this year.

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

“After missing last season due to pandemic, our team (like all others in the league) is young,” said Attleboro coach Kevin Patton. “However, we do have a lot of varsity experience on the team from returning players. This coupled with leadership from our captains has me excited for the season.”

Canton

2019 Record: 12-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Interim Coach: Tommy Galvin

Canton came close to winning its third league title in program history in 2019, finishing just a game back of Foxboro, and now the Bulldogs return a veteran spine for the new coaching staff to build around. With a few exciting newcomers, especially in attack, Canton could be ready to challenge for its third title in the past eight seasons.

Experience will be key for the defensive unit. Senior goalie Dylan Coyne provides a big frame and a tough, physical presence in goal. In front of him, senior Jack Albert is a strong on-the-ball defender and freshman LSM Colin Blake should be able to step right in and make an impact. Canton is hoping to limit the transition game and use its strength to keep the opposition away from goal. Senior midfielder Jeff Fitzpatrick is strong on the faceoff ‘X’ and can jump into the attack. Junior Sam Carlino has been explosive through the first two games, with 12 goals already, and he leads a relatively young attacking crew. Sophomore attacker Jeff Chaput and freshman midfielder Brendan Tourgee should contribute to Canton’s offense right away.

“We have a mix of veteran players and new players and I am very excited to see what this group can accomplish this year,” said Canton interim coach Tommy Galvin. “We have great leadership and are a gritty team who plays until the final whistle.”




Foxboro

2019 Record: 12-7
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal
Coach: Matt Noone

Foxboro is in search of a three-peat of Davenport division titles, but the Warriors will also be looking to the future with a relatively young and inexperienced roster. There are only three seniors on the roster this season, so underclassmen will be getting the chance to contribute right away at both ends of the field.

Senior Nick Penders has been on varsity since his freshman season and will be an important contributor both at the faceoff ‘X’ and in the attack. He will be joined in the midfield by classmate Max Biegel, whose athleticism makes him a factor on offense and defense. Junior Tommy Sharkey, sophomore Finn Stapleton, and freshman Tony Sulham will round out the midfield unit. At the back, senior Paul Andrews will add leadership once he returns from a football injury. Junior Jack Avery saw some time as a freshman and he’ll get help in the attack from sophomore Conor Noone and freshman Lincoln Moore. Juniors Dylan Kerrigan and Ben Ricketts will lead the defensive corps until Andrews returns and freshman Adam Addeche will continue a family legacy as he steps in at goal.

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

“Right now we are shaking a lot of rust off,” said Foxboro coach Matt Noone. “We are young, but we will be tough! I look forward to this young team as they grow and come together.”

Franklin

2019 Record: 18-3
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Lou Verrochi

Franklin has developed not only into a league power, having won the outright Kelley-Rex division title in each of the past five seasons, but is showing that it can compete with the top programs in the state. In 2019, the Panthers reached the South semifinal and lost by just one to perennial power Duxbury. This year’s team expects to be just as skilled and athletic as usual with sights set on another league crown.

The centerpiece of the Franklin attack will be senior Matt Lazzaro, an All-American in 2019, and he will be partnered up top by sophomore Luke Davis, whose brothers Will (goalie) and Jake (attacker) are both playing college, and sophomore Jayden Consigli, who moved from Northbridge. The midfield is loaded with athletes, including Owen Kielty, Joe Consigli, Tim Walsh, and Mike Griffin. Zach Harvey will lead the defensive unit along with Ben Harvey and Kyle Palmieri. Senior Jack Maguire will step in between the pipes with freshman Matt Corvi also ready to jump in and play goal when needed. Justin Alexander will be taking faceoffs, following in the footsteps of his brother Jacob who was the league MVP in 2019.

“We have a very competitive group of lacrosse athletes this year,” said Franklin coach Lou Verrochi. “We are looking forward to see what this group can do during our Hock schedule and hopefully advance in the state tournament.”

Mansfield

2019 Record: 8-10
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Tim Frias

Mansfield reached the postseason in 2019 only to have to face Franklin in the first round. With 10 seniors returning this spring, the Hornets will be hoping to lean on their experience to challenge the Panthers in the race for the Kelley-Rex division crown and get playing time for a large and talented sophomore class getting its first taste of varsity action.

The Hornets should have the speed to burn and plenty of aggressive play in the middle of the field with seniors Nico Holmes, Ethan Bruce, and Joe Gormley. Seniors Thomas Norton, Jake Quirk, and Dylan Morris will give Mansfield some versatility and dynamism in the attacking zone. Seniors Ben Johnston, Frankie Kennedy, and Ben Tatusko will be the leaders in the defensive corps. Sophomore Ryan DeGirolamo will step into the cage and anchor the defense.

“There are a number of key young players we look at to play an integral part in this year’s team,” said Mansfield coach Tim Frias. “Our strength will be speed and size.”

North Attleboro

2019 Record: 10-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal
Coach: Kevin Young

North Attleboro finished a game out of first in 2019 and now two years later the Rocketeers will be looking to take that next step and snatch back the Davenport division title from Foxboro. North has a good blend of experience and new faces, strength in defense, and dynamic attackers to challenge for the league title this year.

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Defense is going to be a key for the Rocketeers. Senior Tyler Sarro has been a starter since his freshman year and the St. Michael’s-commit is going to be the leader in the defensive end of the field. Senior LSM Sam Gugliotta will add more experience at the back, while Eric Hobbs and James Brennan look ready to step into bigger roles. In the attack, juniors Matt Antonetti, Connor Rupert, and Clayton Billingkoff will try to build on the experience they had as freshmen to shoulder the scoring load this season. Midfielder Jared Vacher is going to step in at the faceoff ‘X’ and North has a pair of new goalies, Ethan McGrath and JT Gallagher, who have had solid preseasons and look ready to compete at this level.

“COVID has hit all sports hard,” said North coach Kevin Young. “We are focusing on getting all players ready to step into any role. It will be a challenging year but, we’re glad to be back.”




Oliver Ames

2019 Record: 14-5
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Ben Devlin

Oliver Ames won 14 games in 2019 and finished tied with King Philip for second in the Kelley-Rex division, but two years later only one player from that team is back as the Tigers look to make noise in the Davenport. Despite its inexperience, the Tigers will be hoping that the underclassmen can step in and help OA challenge for a league title.

The lone player with varsity experience is senior attacker Remi Creighton. One of the league’s most creative players, Creighton had 60 points as a sophomore and will be the spearhead of OA’s attack. Seniors Doug Oliveira and Ross Carroll will also add to the offensive punch and sophomore attacker Ben Reardon will make his varsity debut this season. Juniors Wyatt Frichtman and Wes Tower will both step in after a year with JV in 2019. Senior Brendan Cross and Michael Branagan will be joined on defense by sophomore Jake Manthous and freshman LSM Landon Grothe. Sophomore Noah Isleib and junior Cam Tower will battle for the starting goalie spot.

“It’s tough to replace what OA lax graduated last year,” said OA coach Ben Devlin. “We now have a lot of kids that haven’t played together before and many who haven’t played a lacrosse game in over two years. We’ll be focused on getting these guys on the same page and working off some rust while incorporating a lot of young players.”

Sharon

2019 Record: 7-11
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jon Shocket

Sharon has a team loaded with upperclassmen this season and, despite missing last spring, the Eagles are hoping that experience will carry them up the standings to challenge Foxboro at the top of the Davenport division.

The Eagles will be hoping to bolster the attack this season, led by senior Drew Litner, who played a part in more than half of the team’s goals as a sophomore. Junior Brady Daylor will be taking on a bigger role in the midfield this season and his classmate Ben Shocket could be ready for a breakout season on the faceoff ‘X’ after being third in the league in faceoff wins as a freshman. Defensively, senior Shea Letendre will be the vocal leader and senior Adam Rabb is back in goal to anchor things at that end of the field.

“We’re very excited about the upcoming season,” said Sharon coach Jon Shocket. “We have several returning starters with a majority of our team seniors and juniors.”

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/07/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Franklin, 7 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Franklin’s offense scored in four of the seven innings, including three in the seventh to put the game away. Senior Jake Fitzgibbons drove in a pair of runs for the visiting Panthers while both Brian Gerety and Chris Goode had a hit and scored a pair of runs. Junior lefty Jacob Jette was stellar on the mound, scattering three hits and one walk across five shutout innings, striking out nine for the win. Foxboro’s Sean Yoest had a strong overall day, allowing just one earned run (three runs total) on two hits and three walks in four innings, striking out four. At the plate, Yoest had a hit, a walk, and a run scored. Jack Watts knocked in Yoest for Foxboro’s lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro scored all of its runs within the first three innings and senior right-handed pitcher Dennis Colleran took care of the rest as the Rocketeers opened the season with a win over visiting King Philip. The Big Red scored twice in the bottom of the first and tacked on two more in the bottom of the third. King Philip halved the deficit in the top of the third with an unearned run and added another run in the sixth. Colleran scattered three hits over six innings, striking out 10 to earn the win. Danny Curran earned the save, striking out two. North senior Justin Vecchiarelli went 2-3 with four RBI in the win.

Mansfield, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Mansfield scored a single run in three straight innings and went on the road to pick up a win at Frothingham Park. A walk, a wild pitch, and a grounder gave the Hornets the lead in the third inning and Mansfield doubled its lead on a sacrifice fly in the fourth. OA loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but Hornet starter Anthony Sacchetti (6IP, 3H, 1BB, 7K) escaped the jam without any harm done. Mansfield tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Sacchetti, Luke Urban, and Jack Colby (run, two walks) each drove in a run for Mansfield. OA’s Christian Papasodero (2.1 IP, 0R 3K) pitched well in relief for the Tigers, getting out of a bases loaded jam.




Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. OA held Attleboro scoreless in the second half and used four goals from Remi Creighton to pull out their first win of the season. The Bombardiers opened the scoring off a turnover that Keigan Conley finished from close range. OA tied it three minutes later on a shot by Wes Tower. Michael Strachan assisted on a Carter Shelton goal to put Attleboro back in front but Wyatt Frichtman fired OA level from distance. OA grabbed the lead with four straight goals to start the second. Creighton scored back-to-back goals and then assisted on one by Doug Oliveira. Tower got his second of the day to put the Tigers up 6-2. Attleboro scored three times in a span of 40 seconds to get back within one at halftime. Shelton scored on a Conley assist and then Conley added his second of the day. Ryan Betts set up Matt Perry to make it 6-5. It took nearly seven minutes of the third quarter before OA doubled its lead when Ben Reardon found Oliveira in front. Creighton and Frichtman also scored in the third, the last one with 35.8 on the clock, and OA went into the fourth up 9-5. The Tigers put the game away with three more goals. Reardon got the first of his career with a redirect of a pass by Ross Carroll then Creighton added his fourth before Carroll wrapped up the scoring off a pass by Oliveira. Noah Isleib had a big game in goal for the Tigers to help preserve the lead.

Milford, 4 @ Foxboro, 17 – Final

King Philip @ Stoughton, 3:45

Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 3 @ King Philip, 17 – Final – Six different players found the back of the net as King Philip rolled on its home turf to a win over visiting Canton. Julia Marsden (two assists), Lily Brown (one assist), and Haley Izydorczak led the offensive charge for the hosts with four goals apiece. Morgan Cunningham (assist) added a hat trick while Peyton Mellman and Alyssa Legere each scored once. Emily Campbell made nine saves in net in the win.

Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 14 – Final

Milford, 2 @ Foxboro, 18 – Final




Boys Outdoor Track
Mansfield, 85 @ Attleboro, 47, Final – It was a day to remember for Jake Wall, who etched his name in the record books at Mansfield High in the Hornets’ win over Attleboro. Wall won four events and set the school record in the long jump at 22’11”. Wall also won the 100M (11.0), 200M (22.9), and the triple jump (44’5″). Mansfield swept both relay events and Trevor Flint had a great finishing kick to win the 2 Mile race in 10:28 for the Hornets. Other first-place finishes included Evan Rawlings (400IH, 64.3), Caden Riley (400M, 53.4), Dylan Buchanan (110HH, 15.9), Dana Johnson (high jump, 5’6″), and Jack Taylor (javelin, 157’5″). Mansfield’s winning 4×100 team (46.9) consisted of DaSean Peters-Wolfe, Isaiah Kinds, Ryan Munroe, and Dylan Buchanan while the first-place 4×400 team (3:44.7) was Stephen Saba, Caden Riley, Tim Corkery, and Jack Taylor.

King Philip @ Franklin, 3:45

Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Taunton @ Milford, 4:00

Girls Outdoor Track
Mansfield, 93 @ Attleboro, 43 – Final – Mansfield took first place in 12 events to open the season with a convincing win over Attleboro. Anna Buckley was a double winner for the visitors, taking first in both the high jump (4’8″) and the long jump (16’0″), adding a second place finish in the 100M hurdles (17.8). Other winners for Mansfield included Elyssa Buchanan (400M hurdles, 75.6), Colleen Waters & Meghan Driscoll (100M tie, 13.1), Katie Miller (1 Mile, 5:52), Anna Darlington (400M, 61.8), Norah Puleo (800M 2:29.7), Tessa Lancaster (2 Mile, 12:17), Caitlin Haley (triple jump, 33’2.5″), and Alissa Cooke (discus, 68’6.5″). Mansfield also won both relays with the 4×100 (Scott, Driscoll, Penney, Waters) winning in 51.25 and the 4×400 (Darlington, N.Puleo, McIntryre, K. Miller) finished in 4:26.7. Attleboro’s Kamsi Igbobi won both the 100M hurdles (17.6) and the shot put (33’8.25″), Elayna Marinelli took first in the javelin (91-6), and Cassondra Stuger crossed first in the 200 (27.3).

King Philip @ Franklin, 3:45

Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Taunton @ Milford, 4:00

Wrestling
King Philip @ Canton, 5:30

Boys Volleyball
King Philip @ Milford, 5:00

Taunton, 3 @ New Bedford, 1 – Final – Taunton rallied from a one-set deficit to win three in and row and grab a win in its first match of the season, 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20). Senior Tyler Stewart paced the offense with 12 kills and four blocks while Jakob Thorpe added eight kills, six digs, three blocks, and two aces. Daniel Medina dished out 25 assists and Travis Nunes registered 12 digs and an ace.

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/28/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Wednesday, 5/29 at 6:30.
Foxboro vs. Norton – Postponed to Friday, 5/31 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ St. Peter Marian – Postponed to Saturday, 6/1 at 4:00.
Milford @ King Philip – Postponed to Wednesday, 5/29 at 4:30.
Taunton @ Durfee, 4:00 (@ UMass Dartmouth) – Postponed to Thursday, 5/30 at 4:00.

Softball
North Attleboro @ Attleboro – Postponed to Thursday, 5/30 at 3:30.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Friday, 5/31 at 4:00.
King Philip @ Taunton – Postponed to Saturday, 6/1 at 7:00.

Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 10 @ Norton, 6 – Final – Attleboro closed the season out with a win over Norton with senior Trevor Koppy shinning in net. Koppy made 16 saves to pace the Bombardiers while sophomore Mike Strachan scored a team-high six goals. Junior Thomas Shipman chipped in with three goals and sophomore Matt Perry scored once.

Mansfield, 12 vs. Dartmouth, 11 – Final – The Hornets prevailed in a seesaw affair, netting the game-winning the waning moments of the contest. Junior Brady Kessler scored his team-high sixth goal of the game with just over a minute remaining in the game to give Mansfield a win in its second to last game of the year. Kessler scored on a feed from Nico Holmes for the game winner, the being tied at both halftime (6-6) and after three quarters of play (9-9). Mike Reed added a goal and three assists, Jake Quirk finished with a pair of goals and assists, and Aidan Sacco, Connor Quirk, and Jake DiSangro each scored once.

Milford, 5 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 2 – Final

Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 12 @ Cohasset, 11 – Final – Franklin trailed just once in the game, down 2-1 early in the contest, but used a 5-0 run to take a lead that it never surrendered in a back-and-forth contest. The Panthers led 7-5 at halftime before the Skippers knotted the score at 9-9 with 17:20 to play. Franklin was able to outscore the hosts 3-2 over that final span to get the win. Senior Annie Walsh scored five goals and junior Erin Walsh scored a hat trick and had three assists.

Boys Tennis
Milford, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final
King Philip @ Taunton – Postponed to Thursday, 5/30 at 3:45.
Sharon @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Thursday, 5/30 at 3:45.

Girls Tennis
Attleboro @ Milford – Postponed to TBD.
North Attleboro @ Sharon – Postponed to Thursday, 5/30 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Norton, 3 – Final –

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 04/08/19

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Stoughton @ Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ Taunton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Milford @ King Philip – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/28 at 3:45.
Sharon @ Mansfield – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to a Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.

Softball
Taunton @ Foxboro – Postponed to Friday, 4/12 at 4:00.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Friday, 4/12 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Monday, 4/22 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Milford – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/28 at 3:45.

Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 7 @ Canton, 8 – Final – Canton’s Tommy Vaughan scored the game-winning goal with just a couple minutes left in the game, breaking a 7-7 game to give the Bulldogs the win. North Attleboro led 3-1 after a quarter and 4-1 at halftime but Canton exploded to six goals in the third to seize a 7-4 lead. The Rocketeers scored three times for knot the game before Vaughan tallied his fourth goal for the winner. Griffin Roach, David Allen, Brendan Clifford, and Dan Cohen each scored once for the Bulldogs. CHS coach Bill Bendell said sophomore Jeff Fitzpatrick dominance at the faceoff X and Brendan Albert’s fantastic effort on defense were huge factors in the win. Ryan Rajotte paced North Attleboro with two goals and two assists while Nick Ward added two goals. Jake McNeany made 16 saves in goal for the Rocketeers.

Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 19 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game. – Oliver Ames built an 8-3 lead at by halftime and never looked back in a win over visiting Attleboro. Hunter Costello had a team-high five goals while Shane Kilkelly, Sandro Mascierelli, Sam Stevens and Colin Bourne each scored three times. Remi Creighton (four points) won eight of 10 faceoffs for the Tigers. Attleboro’s Zach Thomas scored twice while Michael Strachan, Matt Perry, and Keigan Conley each scored once for Attleboro.

Sharon, 4 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro held just a one-goal advantage at halftime (4-3) but outscored the Eagles 4-0 in the third to pull away for the win. Shayne Kerrigan scored scored twice in the third while Brendan Tully (two goals) and Pete Conley each scored once to put the Warriors ahead 8-3 entering the fourth. Charlie Baughan finished with three goals for Foxboro.

Milford, 1 @ Franklin, 20 – Final

Stoughton, 3 @ King Philip, 17 – Final – King Philip improved to 3-0 on the season with a win over Hockomock League foe Stoughton. Colin DeVellis paced the offense with four goals and four assists while Andrew Sajdak added three goals and two helpers for the Warriors. Sam Mattson added a hat trick and Matt Minkwitz finished with two goals.

Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 14 @ Attleboro, 7 – Final – Five different players found the back of the net to help Oliver Ames earn a win on the road at Attleboro. Maddie Kullen also had a strong performance in net for the Tigers. Kyra Lyons and Sydney DiLiddo scored three goals apiece for Attleboro while Rylee Fontes added one goal.

Canton, 12 @ North Attleboro, 13 – Final

Foxboro @ Sharon – Postponed to Monday, 4/22 at 6:15.

Franklin, 16 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Kelsey MacCallum scored three goals and had one assist while Sara Carney found the back of the net twice to pace the Panthers to a win on the road.

Taunton, 3 @ Mansfield, 18 – Final – Mansfield coach Lauryn Wilkie credited the Hornets with a big improvement as a team from the season opener, as the hosts jumped out to a 12-3 lead at halftime and shutout the Tigers after the break. Lauren Whitman scored six times and Katie Garvin had four goals and four assists. Katie McCarthy made a pair of saves for the Hornets. Wilkie added, “We played very well in the midfield, winning draws and connecting on our transition.” She also praised the defense for holding Taunton to just three goals and causing a number of turnovers, while also praising Taunton’s goalie for making a number of saves against the Mansfield attack.

Boys Tennis
Attleboro @ Stoughton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45 at Attleboro.
Franklin @ Canton – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
Taunton @ Foxboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Friday, 4/26 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Milford – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.

Girls Tennis
Stoughton @ Attleboro – Postponed to Monday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ Taunton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Friday, 4/26 at 3:45.
Sharon @ Mansfield – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Milford @ King Philip – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.

Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ Brockton, 2 – Final – Taunton pulled out a five-set win on the road over the Boxers to improve to 3-2 on the season. Gage Kingman had a strong all-around game for the Tigers, registering 22 kills, 20 digs, two blocks, and an ace. Chris LaCourse finished with 41 assists, two kills, and two aces, Damir Santiago added 10 kills, two aces, and two blocks, and Tyler Stewart chipped in with nine kills and five blocks.

2018 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

2018 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
Foxboro’s Jake Addeche makes a save in the playoffs last season. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2018 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Attleboro

2017 Record: 8-10
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Kevin Koppy

After coming up just one game shy of the postseason, Attleboro is aiming to make the playoffs for the first time in program history in 2018.

The Bombardiers doubled their victory total from 2016 to 2017, going from four to eight in the win column. Attleboro returns 11 players from last year’s squad and has a total of 12 seniors on the team. Now in its fourth year, interest in the program is growing rapidly with 17 combined freshmen on either varsity or the JV roster.

There will be a lot of experience on the defensive end for Big Blue. Junior captain Trevor Koppy is back for his third year as the Bombardiers’ starting goalie. He turned away 306 shots last year with a 64% save percentage. In front of Koppy, senior captain Dan Perry is back to anchor the defensive unit which features all seniors.

“Dan is a physical defender that has excellent field awareness and leads by example,” said AHS head coach Kevin Koppy. “He’s constantly hustling and fighting hard for loose balls.”

Perry is joined by classmates Jim Nordberg and Chris Reynolds on close defense while Matt Potter will man LSM and Matt Jiminez brins an extra long pole presence to the defensive unit. Another returner is senior Kyle Henry, resuming his role as the team’s primary faceoff man. Henry had a successful 2017 season in that role and Big Blue will rely on him to spark the offense once again.

Seniors Jimmy Burke and Aidan McKenna, junior Cam Littig, and sophomore Thomas Shipman return to the midfield for Attleboro. Big Blue will have some new faces on the attack with seniors TJ Infante, Shane Joubert, and Aidan Downey leading the way. Freshman Mike Strachan and Matt Perry will also be involved in Attleboro’s attack.

Canton

2017 Record: 8-10
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Bill Bendell

The Bulldogs found themselves in an unfamiliar position at the end of last season: on the outside looking in for the postseason.

Canton is looking to get back into the postseason this year after coming up just one game shy of qualifying. The Bulldogs won three straight to give themselves a chance but fell just short on the road against Abington in the final game of the season.

Using that as motivation, look for the Bulldogs to be right back in the mix this season. Leading the way will be senior captains Kevin Albert, Charlie O’Connor, and Griffin Roach. All three patrolled the midfield last season but could see time in other spots depending on how the lineup comes together.

O’Connor will step in to handle faceoffs but could miss some time early along with defensemen Brian Ghostlaw and Brendan Albert. Until Canton gets back to 100%, it will rely on senior Gabe Galeotos, junior George Kent, and sophomores Nick Mackay and Jace Emma to provide protection in front of sophomore goalie Jack Connolly. Connolly had a superb freshman season in the cage for the Bulldogs and will try to build upon that his season.

Junior Mike Shaw is back for his third year on attack for Canton, providing experience and leadership up front. Juniors Matt Martin and Dan Cohen, along with sophomores Chris Lavoie and David Allen will also figure into the Bulldogs’ offense this season.”

“We have a great group of kids this year with a nice blend of experienced players and new faces,” said CHS head coach Bill Bendell.

Foxboro

2017 Record: 11-9
2017 Finish: Reached D2 Central/East First Round
Coach: Matt Noone

It’s safe to say Foxboro head coach Matt Noone is optimistic about the 2018 season.

The Warriors graduated just three players total and return their starting goalie, the entire defensive unit, and top three scorers from a season ago. Foxboro’s record was a bit deceiving based on how much talent they had, with five one-goal losses and two two-goal losses. The Warriors were dropped in the opening game of the playoffs by just one goal after holding a multi-goal lead in the second half.

With so much of the line up back, Noone is hoping to turn those close losses into wins.

“We’re going to be a better team than we were last year,” Noone said. “We have to play within our system, and do the simple things…if we do that, we will be very good and very tough to beat. If they don’t, we’ll be losing those one-goal games again.”

It all starts with defense in Foxboro with Jake Addeche returning in the cage for his third season. Addeche (185 saves) is one of the best goalies in the region and will have a very experienced defense in front of him. Senior Pat Kaveny and junior Pat Stapleton will anchor the defense, both with equipped with plenty of skill and experience, while sophomores Ronnie MacLellan and Matt Lathrop each already have a year of varsity experience under their belts.

Junior Brendan Tully (24 goals, 15 assists) will pace the Warriors in the midfield (“His lacrosse IQ is off the charts,” Noone notes). Tully can help transition Foxboro from defense to offense, and his ability to keep possession helps the Warriors control the tempo. Tully is complemented in the middle by seniors Louis Blake and Mike Collins while both Shayne Kerrigan and Bobby Yerardi will be in the mix as well.

Offensively, the Warriors look to be well-balanced with Louis Piccolo (25 goals, 13 assists) back this year along with senior Mike Moses (18 goals, 20 assists), junior Pete Conley (15 goals, 23 assists) and senior Andrew Whalen.

Franklin

2017 Record: 16-5
2017 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Lou Verrochi

Expectations are high for the 2018 season based on the talent the Franklin Panthers boast this year.

“We return a very good team,” said FHS head coach Lou Verrochi. “We have a very good and deep bench too, we’re looking forward to the season.”

The long list of returning talent starts with All-American and 2017 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Eric Civetti. Civetti (Rutgers commit) has been tormenting opposing defenses since his freshman year. He scored 70 goals and notched 24 assists as a sophomore, and then netted 79 goals and 21 assists last year, totaling 194 points between the two years. The Panthers will also boast senior Zach Alexander and freshman Matt Lazzaro on attack.

The midfield will be loaded with two talented lines available. Captains Kyle McEniry (10 goals, 21 assists) and Chase Tanner (29 goals, 10 assists) will be joined by the speedy Nitin Chaudhury (24 goals, 10 assists) on the Panthers first unit while Jake Davis, Johnny O’Glishen, and Owen Palmieri give Verrochi an incredibly talented second unit.

As if the midfield wasn’t loaded enough, the Panthers have 2017 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Jacob Alexander back to dominate the faceoff X. Alexander, who is committed to play at Bryant University, has dominated at the X for the past two years and really gives the Panthers an advantage in terms of getting possession. “He’s arguably the best FOGO in Mass,” Verrochi noted.

The defense will be anchored by junior Patrick Morrison (Rutgers commit) along with Trevor Raffin, Jack McGrath and Spencer Briggs. Sean Lazzaro will be our top LSM while the Panthers have plenty of talent as SSDM with Will Harvey, Ben Kolb, and Aaron Mollo in the mix. Backstopping the team in goal will be Colorado commit and captain Connor O’Rourke (169 saves, 64% save percentage).

King Philip

2017 Record: 13-9
2017 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinals
Coach: Hal Bean

The Warriors will be looking to replicate the success they had in the 2016 season again this year.

After finishing 9-2 in league play (second in the Kelley-Rex), the Warriors had an impressive postseason run, competing with top-seeded and eventual sectional champ BC High in the D1 South Quarterfinals.

A big reason why KP has had a lot of experience over the past four years is goalie Paul Macrina. Macrina is now manning the cage at Drexel University, so there are big shoes to fill in the cage this season for KP.

King Philip also has to find replacements for the production lost by LSM Zach D’Amico, attack Tim Watson (56 goals, 28 points – second in the Hockomock League), and defenseman Connor Khung – the first two selected to the 2017 HockomockSports.com First Team and Khung apart of the Second Team.

All is not lost though as the Warriors have junior Colin DeVellis back to spearhead the attack. DeVellis was fourth overall in the Hockomock League in points last season, scoring 22 goals and notching 36 assists (58 points). Another key piece will be senior Nate Minkwitz, who can make an impact on both ends of the field. Minkwitz had 13 goals and five assists last season and will aim to improve on that. Expect LSM Wesley Bishop and midfielder Aidan Bender to factor in this season as well.

Mansfield

2017 Record: 12-7
2017 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Tim Frias

Mansfield returns a good amount of talent from last year’s playoff squad so the Hornets will certainly be looking to book a return trip as well as compete for a Kelley-Rex title.

The Hornets return one of the most dangerous attackmen in the area in senior Hunter Ferreira. Ferreira’s combination of size, speed, and strength – as well as finishing ability – make him a must-watch for opposing defenses. Most will dedicate two defensemen his way but Ferreira still finished fifth in the league in points with 34 goals and 19 assists. Ferreira will be joined by returners Aidan Sacco and Mike Reed, giving the Hornets an experienced three-headed monster on offense.

The midfield is also loaded with experience behind returning starters Joe Cox (19 goals, 14 assists) and Danny DeGirolamo (17 goals, 15 assists). Cox, who was named to the 2017 HockomockSports.com Second Team, muscles his way through opponents, while DeGirolamo can use his speed to cause problems. Haig Megerdichian, Brett Kessler, Connor Quirk, and Brad Grant will all see time in the midfield as well.

Tommy Donnelly will anchor the defensive unit but the Hornets will have some new faces in back. Dan Plugis and Chris Copponi will both see a lot of minutes for the Hornets in front of goalie Jack Munroe, who stepped in last season and impressed in the cage.

“Our strength this year will be at the midfield with lots of legs,” said MHS head coach Tim Frias. “We should be good in transition as well.”

Milford

2017 Record: 4-13
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jacob Scordato

Milford hasn’t had a ton of success overall since it joined the Hockomock League, but new head coach Jacob Scordato is hoping to change that going forward.

Scordato takes over a team that had just four wins a year ago and is the third coach in the past three years for the program.

“Our players are focused on making our program a successful one,” Scordato said. “Boys lacrosse in the Hockomock is known for being a tough league, and Milford lacrosse is going to be making a lot of noise from here on out.”

Although the Hawks don’t have an incredibly deep roster, the optimism stems from the experience returning on offense. UMass Boston commit and senior captain Andrew Gallagher (16 goals, 7 assists) will be a key weapon up front along with junior captains Ryan Hazard (41 goals, 10 assists) and Josh Ligor.

Scordato also expects junior newcomer Brendan White, who has had successful football and basketball seasons so far this school year, to make a big impact on offense for Milford. Defensively, Milford will rely on senior captain and midfielder Chase Blanchette.

North Attleboro

2017 Record: 16-3
2017 Finish: Reached D2 Central/East Quarterfinals
Coach: Kevin Young

North Attleboro graduated a lot of talent from last year’s squad, so it’s no surprise head coach Kevin Young believes this season will be a big challenge for his young squad.

Although he expects it to be a challenge, the Rocketeers have built a strong program and will likely be in the mix for the division title with Foxboro. Big Red will be anchored by defenseman and captain Tom Lockavitch (Roger Williams commit) and senior LSM Max Fontes. Both Lockavitch and Fontes had tremendous junior seasons and were both honored by HockomockSports.com (first and second teams, respectively). Sophomores Brett Labonte and Will Yeomans will round out a strong defensive unit.

One of the biggest tasks will be filling the void left in goal with Hock MVP and long-time starter Dan MacDonald now graduated. The Rocketeers have three goalies in the mix with Young noting all are working hard to claim the starting spot. Junior Jack Puccio and sophomores Nate D’Amico and Jake McNeany will all be in the mix.

Captain Tommy Lindstrom (Springfield commit) will pace the offense with the help of sophomores Jack Connolly and Andy DeMattio. Faceoff specialist Jason McNeany (Cocker College commit) is also back and will be a key piece of the offense. Nick Ward, Damien Curtis, and Dan Conroy should carry the transition in the midfield with help from Ryan Rajotte and Matt McSweeney.

Oliver Ames

2017 Record: 8-10
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Ben Devlin

Oliver Ames nearly made it two straight years in the postseason but came up just one game shy of qualifying in 2017. So the goal is simple for the Tigers in 2018: get back to the tournament.

The Tigers return their top six scorers from last season, and now with a year more experience under their belts, should be ready to take on some of the top defenses in the league.

Assistant coach Ben Devlin takes over the reigns of the program, and the familiarity should help make for a smooth transition. Senior captains Eric LeBlanc (30 goals, 13 assists) and Owen Gallagher will spearhead the attack while senior captain Jack Lang will make an impact on both ends of the field while also handling faceoff duties. Junior Colin Bourne and sophomores Sam Stevens and Shane Kilkelly give the Tigers varsity experience in the midfield. Sophomore Frankie Ireland and freshman Remi Creighton will also figure into the mix on offense.

Devlin will have holes to fill on the defensive end but its excited about the skill that the Tigers have. Shane Murphy, Cullen Gallagher, and Matt Saba will be relied upon to carry the defensive unit while Rory Madden will handle LSM duties after missing last season. Nick Gillis will take over for Sean Cosgrove in net after impressing at the JV level.

“We are a couple years into rebuilding this program, which is difficult while playing in such a tough conference against some of the best players and coaches in the state,” Devlin said. “We’re young and inexperienced, but talented on defense. All I can ask is for my kids to play to their capabilities. If we do that I think we can win enough games this season to reach our goal.”

Sharon

2017 Record: 7-11
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jon Shocket

New head coach Jon Shocket is excited and optimistic that the 2018 season will be a successful one on the lacrosse field for the Sharon Eagles.

Shocket believes the Eagles have the lacrosse IQ and skill to get back to the postseason after missing out on qualification by two wins. A big reason for the optimism is the senior class.

“I have a really good senior group,” Shocket said. “If everyone buys into the system and trusts the process, this should be a fun season. This year, we have to make better decisions and move the ball around. It’s about working as a team instead of as individuals.”

The Eagles have experience at all positions on the field, starting with returning goalie Johnny Greenberg. Greenberg enters his third year as the starting goalie and will have good size in front of him. Both Sam Spencer and Coleman Loftus stand at 6’2 and look to be key pieces in the Eagles’ defensive unit.

In the midfield, Jimmy Fitzhenry, Chase Waxman, and Spencer Hall give the Eagles a well-balanced and experienced group. The three provide a combination of speed, strength, and skill that will help Sharon transition from defense to offense. Junior Matt Callan will handle faceoff duties while freshman LSM Tyler Freidman will be in the mix as well.

Senior Brett Litner brings a strong shot to the offense and will be tough to stop on the inside. Classmate Kadin Nestler gives the Eagles speed on the outside and makes the move from midfield to attack this year. Freshman Drew Litner rounds out the Eagles’ attacking unit.

Stoughton

2017 Record: 4-12
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Pat Healey

After winning four games in its inaugural season at the varsity level, Stoughton boys lacrosse is hoping to continue heading in the right direction this spring.

The Knights picked up wins over Milford twice, Taunton, and Norton and will look to be in competition with those squads again this year. Leading the blue collar group will be captains Justin Ly, Sean Doherty, and Danny Nakhili. Ly is a three-sport athlete that is willing to do the dirty work, Nakhili provides a lot of leadership in the midfield and uses his speed to give the offense a boost, and Doherty will handle the faceoff duties and provide an offensive punch.

Twins Nate and Alex Wilson bring skill to the long poles, Marty Barrett and Josh Cohen will be key pieces on defense, and Charlie Morgan, Luke Bainton, and Mike Tracey will all be in the mix offensively.

“I’m hoping for more wins,” said SHS head coach Pat Healey said in an interview with Stoughton Media Access. “Last year we got four under our belt which is great for a first-year program. We brought up a lot of freshmen this year from the youth program. But baby steps, this is a tough league so we’ll do as best as we can.

Taunton

2017 Record: 0-18
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brendan Chambers

Now in its third year as a varsity program, Taunton is aiming to progress day by day to continue to build the program.

The Tigers went without a win last season but bring seven starters back with another year of success on their belts. Junior goalie Ryan Williams returns in cage to give the Tigers a familiar face on the defensive end. Williams has been manning the cage for Taunton since the team moved to a varsity schedule.

In front of Williams will be junior Justin Demoga, a captain, that handles close defense. Head coach Brendan Chambers noted Demoga is great with positioning, takes a great approach, and is willing to learn and improve every day. Chambers noted Demoga will be tasked with menacing opponents’ best attack throughout the season.

In the midfield, junior captain Dylan Nichols provides leadership and experience for the Tigers. Nichols has the speed to make an impact on both ends of the field and Chambers is hoping for some offensive production out of the junior. Nichols will be joined by senior Chris Kanabayashi who will contribute to the offense with his hard shot.

Junior Noah Kuczewski is making the jump from JV to varsity and will be one of the Tigers’ main pieces on attack. Chambers is also relying on junior captain Joel Delgado, who put a lot of time in during the offseason to improve, to be an important part of the offense.

“Our goal this year is to continue to build on what we did last year,” Chambers said. “We want to increase our lacrosse IQ and try to be more competitive in all our games. Ideally, we’ll win a couple games and get better every day.”