05/27/202005/28/2020

Teams of the Decade #2: 2012 Franklin Girls Soccer

Franklin girls soccer

Team: Franklin Girls Soccer
Year: 2012
Record: 22-0-1
2012 Kelley-Rex Division Champions
2012 Division 1 State Champions

With the benefit of hindsight, it is obvious just how talented the 2012 Franklin girls soccer team was, but heading into that season there were question marks about a roster featuring 15 freshmen and sophomores. Only two years removed from a trip to the state semifinal, could the Panthers incorporate so much youth and still compete with the top teams in the league, let alone the state?

They could and they did. The Panthers outscored opponents 98-15 over the course of an unbeaten season, winning the Kelley-Rex division title for the third straight year, just missing out on perfection with a tie in the regular season finale, and claiming the program’s first-ever state championship.

It was a remarkable finish, but one that was hardly guaranteed at the start.

“I had some kind of idea of how they would be,” Franklin coach Tom Geysen said of the incoming freshmen, “but especially in our league, because our league is very competitive, if you’re not a very physically aggressive person then you can be taken out of your game almost immediately.”

One of the players that needed to step into a critical role was freshman Dani Lonati, who became the team’s starting goalkeeper. Along with her fellow rookies, like midfielders Alexis and Victoria Stowell, Lonati needed to be ready to go right from the opening whistle and she credited the captains, Kristi Kirshe, Grace Conley, and Stephanie Pisani, for providing a welcoming environment for the younger players.

“It was probably one of the most welcoming teams that I’ve been on,” she said. “The upperclassmen knew entering that season that they were about to have a younger team. As soon as we entered the team and were on the roster, we were best friends. I think that was probably one of the most essential parts of our success was that we had some amazing team chemistry.”

It also didn’t hurt to have one of the state’s most prolific offenses giving the team a cushion almost every game. Spearheaded by Kirshe and sophomore Taylor Cogliano, the Panthers never scored fewer than two goals in a game.

“Because we were spending so much time at practice and on the field together that we got to a point where we knew how to anticipate each other, we knew how each other played,” said Kirshe. “We just started to become a dynamic duo, which was a lot of fun.”

In a roster loaded with talent, Kirshe was the star. She would score 36 goals that season, earning All-American honors and being named Gatorade Player of the Year. It was about more than just the number of times she found the back of the net, but also when she scored. She tallied the winner in both the state semifinal and final.

“She’s a rock,” Lonati said of Kirshe. “She’s probably one of the most athletic people I’ve ever met. She’s always there and she’s like that as a person too, you can rely on her no matter what. She’s competitive, she’s tenacious, and she’s the player you want because you know she’s going to get it done.”

Geysen said simply, “In all my years that I’ve been here at Franklin, she’s the best all-around female athlete we’ve ever had and we’ve had some good ones.”

He added, “The most unassuming, laid back, nice kid. Everything about her was what you wanted. She was aggressive as hell, she was physical as hell, and she was skilled.”

A dynamic partnership up top is nothing if the defense is leaking goals, but the Panthers proved to be just as solid at the back as they were up front. In front of Lonati, Pisani, junior Julia Bireley, and sophomores Nicole Ellin and Lexi Martin all played key roles making it tough for the opposition attack.

“The key to the back became Dani,” Geysen explained. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a goaltender over four years who had the stats that she had and that game against Nashoba [in the state final] she was lights out.”

Franklin cruised through the first half and talk started to grow about an undefeated season. Only Mansfield managed to stay within a goal of the Panthers over the first 13 games. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith noted, “They were so tough because they were loaded with talent in every position. They had multiple scoring threats, which made it near impossible to stop the team. You could stop one, maybe two, but not four-plus. Their midfield group was super athletic and super talented as well. There was not a weak link anywhere.”

It was the second meeting with North Attleboro, in the 14th game of the season, that Geysen highlighted as the moment when he realized his team had the extra mental fortitude it would take to go the distance. After jumping out to an early 3-0 lead, Franklin made changes to the lineup and North got one back, but the Panthers answered to make it 4-1. North got two in quick succession to make it 4-3 and Geysen thought the game was going to slip away.

“It was coaching changes that took the momentum away from them, but they came back and regained the composure and slowed the game down and kept it under control’” he said. “Even when the games were close, there was no panic on their part. If there was any panic, it was me. From that point on, I said, these kids understand.”

Kirshe said, “Coach Geysen was very, very clear about making sure we focused as a group on game at a time. There were moments when we felt like we were doing something special and we had a lot of potential but Geysen did a really good job of keeping us grounded so we weren’t thinking about the possibilities.”

The need to remain focused became clear in the final game of the regular season. On a dreary Sunday night, the Panthers fell behind against a Walpole team that barely qualified for the tournament and only salvaged a draw thanks to a late Kirshe goal. The perfect season was over, but dropping a point just before the tournament may have been a blessing in disguise.

“I think it lit the fire for us again and reminded us that this wasn’t something we were going to be able to walk through,” Kirshe said. “We had some easy games through the season, but we were getting into tournament now and tournament is a special part of the season where anything can happen. I’m incredibly grateful for that tie, to this day. Without that tie, I don’t think we win that state championship.”

Franklin rolled into the South final, but the 2-0 win against Marshfield in the semis proved to be costly. Pisani was injured in the game and would miss the remainder of the season. That left a big hole to fill in the defense with no obvious solution. Grace Conley, who had played sparingly that season after surgery related to stomach cancer, told Geysen that she was ready to step in and, after some debate, he agreed.

Conley was one of the team’s leaders from the sideline and she proved to be an inspiration on the field as well over the last three games.

Lonati said, “She truly cared about every person on that field. To be able to go into those last three games and to play such an important role and to earn that title after everything she went through was amazing.” Kirshe added, “Grace is one of the best people I know. It was incredibly special for me as a friend and a fellow captain to see her get that moment. She was the spirit of our team, so just getting her on the field was something that lifted all of us and made us want to play that much better.”

The Panthers faced league rival Oliver Ames, in a battle of the two previous South champs, and prevailed 3-2 to get back to the state semifinal for the second time in three seasons. Against Beverly at Manning Field, Kirshe made personal history when she scored on an early free kick, which was a rarity for her, to notch the 100th goal of her career. Thanks to a strong defensive performance, particularly Bireley’s man-marking, that shut down Beverly’s 50-goal scorer Caitlin Harty, Franklin advanced with a 2-0 win.

“We got to play every single possible game in our senior year, which is something that so few people get the opportunity to do,” said Kirshe. “You know it’s your last time to play high school soccer, it’s your last time with this group of people, and personally I find a lot of happiness in that.”

Kirshe found the back of the net twice to put the Panthers ahead in the title game but Nashoba battled back to cut the lead to one and ramped up the pressure looking for an equalizer while the Franklin defense held on, thanks to 10 saves from Lonati.

“I had the ball in my hands, actually, and I made eye contact with the ref and I knew there wasn’t much time left and he signaled for me to distribute it,” Lonati recalled. “So, I punted it and as soon as it left my foot that whistle blew and I was, oh my god, in utter shock.:

“I cried,” Kirshe admitted. “To be quite honest with you, I cried today when I was looking back trying to think about it. That’s a dream come true for any high school soccer player. Especially as a senior, just to cap off a career that way? It was just such an unforgettable moment and just a testament to years of hard work. I’m still shaking my head in disbelief.

When asked what it took to go unbeaten and win his first state title as a coach, Geysen said, “You have to have things go your way. We’ve had other years where we’ve been every bit as good overall but not with the kind of depth as this crew.

“The best part of that whole thing for me was after we beat Nashoba, when everything was going crazy on the field, I stood off to the side and just watched them. Nothing will ever take that picture away from me. To work that hard for that long, some of them for four years, and to accomplish that and to appreciate it the way they did was the most gratifying thing for me.”

Listening Options:

Opponent	Result
Sharon	W, 4-0
Stoughton	W, 10-0
Canton	W, 5-2
Attleboro	W, 2-0
Taunton	W, 7-0
North Attleboro	W, 4-0
Mansfield	W, 2-1
Foxboro	W, 6-0
Oliver Ames	W, 6-1 (Recap)
Milford	W, 3-1
Attleboro	W, 7-0
King Philip	W, 4-1
Taunton	W, 5-0
North Attleboro	W, 4-3
King Philip	W, 7-0
Mansfield	W, 4-0
Walpole	T, 2-2
New Bedford	W, 4-0
Dartmouth	W, 3-1
Marshfield	W, 2-0
Oliver Ames	W, 3-2
Beverly	W, 2-0 (Recap)
Nashoba	W, 2-1 (Recap)

09/29/2018

Franklin’s Ellin Making Double the Impact at Bard

Franklin grad Nicole Ellin has played almost every game in her four years for the Bard College women’s soccer and lacrosse teams. (Bard College Athletics)

Trying to balance academics and athletics is hard enough at the college level, regardless of what division you are playing at, and Bard College senior Nicole Ellin increased the difficulty level further by being a standout in two sports. Not only does she have to balance school work with practice and games, but also balance her yearlong commitments to two programs, soccer and lacrosse.

The Franklin High grad leads the Raptors in minutes played this fall, starting all eight of Bard’s games so far this season and all but one game in four years, and is also, already, a two-time captain for the lacrosse program and played in every game over three seasons with one more spring to come.

While Ellin admits that she had to learn how to manage her time to be fully committed to soccer, lacrosse, and her studies as a psychology major, this was exactly what she was looking for when she searched for the right school four years ago.

“It’s hard with school work sometimes because of the workload, but it keeps me busy,” Ellin said. “It’s my last seasons for both sports so I want to be there for both lacrosse and soccer. It’s hard to be around for both sports and be part of both teams completely, which I am, but you have to separate your time.”

She added, “I’ve been playing the two sports my whole life, so I don’t know what I would do with my free time to be honest.”

Ellin jumped right from high school into the starting lineup at Bard, helping the soccer team capture its first ever Liberty League victories (the school moved from the Skyline Conference starting in the 2011 season), win eight games, and reach the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Div. III Metro/Upstate Championships.

Over her four years, the Raptors have won at least seven games every season and entered Saturday’s league matchup with highly-ranked William Smith College (N.Y.) at 4-3-1.

“She’s been a big part of the growth of our program over her tenure here – and she’s been a joy to work with,” Bard soccer coach William Kelly wrote in an email. “She’s been a role model to our younger players, representing the program with pride, integrity, and class…She is never satisfied, and constantly works to get better; and she is also very consistent in terms of her great effort and her high expectations of herself and the team.”

Ellin credited the high level of play at Franklin for preparing her for the rigors of college soccer and lacrosse, particularly the physicality. She also joined Bard soccer as part of a strong freshman class, which helped her quickly get acclimated, and as the program grew over the last three years it has pushed her to continue developing her game to maintain her starting spot.

“I still get nervous every game but I’m definitely more comfortable now playing at the college level,” she explained. “I know what I’m going to see within our league and I know how physical it’s going to be and I know how hard I have to work over the summer and at practices to be at the level where I want to be.”

Ellin added, “From being at Franklin, my competitiveness is still there and I like that our team is growing and we have to work hard for a spot.”

As a freshman on the lacrosse team, Ellin led the team in goals (27), points (33), free-position goals (10), and draw controls (48). She was also second on the team in assists and ground balls and third in turnovers caused. She was named an All-Liberty League honorable mention in each of her first two seasons and is now just 24 points shy of 100 for her career.

She also stepped into a leadership role early in her collegiate lacrosse career, being voted a captain prior to both her sophomore and junior seasons. Bard lacrosse coach Mary Kate Scardillo said that Ellin was the first sophomore captain that she has coached, but that her leadership was obvious from the start and it was a natural fit.

Scardillo explained, “She is a composed leader with a team-first attitude and has acted with the program’s best interest at heart. She has set an example of commitment, resilience and patience. Nicole has a genuine love for the games of soccer and lacrosse. She is wired to be a part of a team and work with others towards a common, greater goal.”

For Ellin, it was an opportunity to grow as a player and person. “We’re all so close as a team that we all hang out together,” she said, “and you just have to be there for everybody for their school work and their social life. It’s being a leader on and off the field.”

While at Franklin, Ellin put together a remarkable resume. The soccer (69-6-11) and girls lacrosse (66-18) teams combined for a 135-24-11 record over four years. Ellin went to a combined four sectional title games, winning three of them, and won a state title in soccer as a sophomore in 2012. She was also part of the lacrosse team’s first ever sectional title as a junior and went undefeated in the Hockomock League over her final three seasons.

Committing your time and effort to two college programs is easy when the teams are winning. It becomes much more difficult when the hard work and the hours invested don’t lead directly to success on the field. For someone who experienced so much success during her high school career, Ellin had to adjust, but this has given her a different perspective on the exertion that she and her teammates put in each season.

“The team helps you through it,” she said. “Even when you’re losing, it doesn’t feel like it. I know the scores looked not great sometimes but everybody is still working so hard and you do it for the little things. You set small goals.

“We have to play hard because we have something to prove.”

The Raptors have just started Liberty League play this fall, and she still has lacrosse in the spring, but Ellin can’t help but think about the fact that her collegiate career is nearing its close.

“I’m definitely starting to get sad that it’s ending,” Ellin admitted. “We have a lot of season left, but I keep thinking that I want it to slow down because I’m not ready for it be over yet.

“I just keep thinking that it’s our last chance to put our mark on the program.”

11/20/201711/21/2017

The Campus Report: Looking Back At Fall 2017

The HockomockSports.com Campus Report is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail info@HockomockSports.com.

Former Foxboro standout Austin Ryan had a very memorable and impressive first year suiting up for the Bentley Falcons. After spending time at Williston Northampton School after graduating from Foxboro High. Ryan was named Northeast 10 Conference Rookie of the Week four times throughout the season, and was named NE10 Offensive Player of the Week in the final week of the season. He was second on the Falcons with 49 receptions but had almost more than triple the yardage of the next highest receiver on the team with 1,237 yards. He also hauled in a team-high and conference-best 16 touchdowns. His 123.7 receiving yards per game also led the NE10.

Franklin’s Quintin McDermott also had a strong season for the Falcons. He recorded 34 tackles, forced a team-high three fumbles and came away with three pass breakups. He had two interceptions on the season, coming in the same game. He picked off Merrimack quarterback CJ Scarpa twice to help Bentley pick up a 17-7 win on the road against the Warriors. Attleboro’s Luke Morrison played in five games, Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski (six tackles) played in six games and Bobby Mylod, a freshman, played in all 10 games and made five tackles.

Ryan wasn’t the only former Hockomock star to have a standout first year in the NE10. Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year and Canton star Jake Ragusa was a monster on the defensive side of the ball for Merrimack. Ragusa led the Warriors with 70 total tackles, and was tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks (for a total of 40 yards). He also had two interceptions from his linebacker spot, three quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Lasy year’s girls’ soccer HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Hannah Reiter made an immediate impact for the Quinnipiac team this fall. Reiter was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Rookie team. She earned a spot as the Bobcats’ primary defensive midfielder and racked up four assists in 17 regular season games (11 starts). Reiter increased her minutes played in all six games prior to earning a starting spot she has since not relinquished at Harvard on Sept. 13. Since Reiter joined the starting lineup, Quinnipiac finished the regular season with a mark of 5-3-3 while she played every minute in seven out of the 11 games she started in 2017. In addition, Quinnipiac allowed more than one goal in just three of the 11 regular season games in which Reiter was in the starting lineup.

Joe Wilder, a former Stoughton standout on the gridiron, was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year after a great senior year at Framingham State. Wilder, who was also selected to the MASCAC First Team All Offense, helped lead a Rams offensive line that first in the conference in rushing yards (2,044), rushing yards per game (204.4), rushing touchdowns (22) and rushing first downs (104). Wilder started at tackle for the Rams.

Also at Framingham State, Attleboro’s Tom Burns earned Second Team All Defense honors after another solid campaign with the Rams. Burns, a senior, was third on the team with 54 tackles (most among defensive backs). He also recorded two tackles for loss while coming away with three interceptions (totaling 65 return yards) and three pass breakups. King Philip’s Brian Donahue had 14 tackles, including two for loss, while fellow former Warrior Cory Lombardo had five tackles and an interception.

Taunton’s Trevor Wysong continued to pace Bridgewater State’s men’s cross country team again this season. Now a sophomore, Wysong helped the Bears finish second at the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Cross Country Championships held at Stanley Park in Westfield. Wysong garnered All-MASCAC honors as he placed second overall at the meet, covering the eight-kilometer course in a time of 26:07.60. Taunton’s Dylan Lynch, a freshman, finished 41st overall and Attleboro’s Will McKenzie, a sophomore, was 80th. In the women’s race, Milford’s Jenise Madden, a sophomore for BSU, crossed the finish line fourth overall in a time of 19:39.50, earning All-MASCAC honors. She helped the Bears finish fourth overall.

2016 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection Colby Koch made an immediate impact on the pitch at Becker College. Koch was second on the team with four goals and had a team-high four assists, resulting in 12 points during his rooking campaign. He had a team-high 26 shots on goal, and three of his four goals were game-winners.

At Bridgewater State, former Oliver Ames football star Cam Williamson wrapped up his collegiate career with 34 tackles from his defensive back spot. Williamson, who played in eight of 10 tames, averaged 4.3 tackles and a game, had a fumble recovery in a win over Westfield state, had an interception on the road at Fitchburg State and totaled five pass breakups.

Down at Mass. Maritime, a handful of former Hockomock League standouts are factoring to the Buccaneers’ defensive unit. Mansfield’s Alex Ruddy was second on the team with 47 tackles, including two for a loss. He also came up with one interception, two pass breakups and three passes defended. KP alum Leo Munafo had 22 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups, Mansfield’s Connor Finerty had nine tackles in six games played, KP grad Chris Winbourne had four tackles, former Sharon standout Peter Banks had three tackles, and James Cooke (an offensive lineman) had one tackle.

Kim McNally had her best offensive season during her senior campaign with the Sacred Heart women’s soccer team. McNally, a defender, was one of just four players on the team to start in all 18 games. And even has a defender, she finished third on the team with three goals scored. The former Canton Bulldog scored on the road at Yale, scored the game-winning goal at home against Mount St. Mary’s and added a third tally on the road at Wagner. She finishes her career with six goals and one assist, playing in all 73 games that happened during her four-year career – starting all but four of them.

Mansfield’s Alyssa Kelly finished second in both assists and digs for the Bridgewater State volleyball team. Kelly had 116 sets, averaging 1.15 assist per set. She added 187 digs (1.85 per set) as well as 27 kills and 24 aces (third on the team). Against Lasell, Kelly had a season-high 15 digs while notching a season-best four aces just a week earlier against Worcester State.

Brandies men’s soccer is in the midst of another successful postseason run, with two former Hock players leading the way. Josh Ocel has a team-high 10 assists along with four goals, leading the Judges with 18 points. Ocel, along with King Philip grad Andrew Allen, are just two of nine players to see action in all 19 games this year. Allen has been a weapon off of the bench, making 12 appearances as a substitute. He’s second on the team with five goals and also had three assists during his junior season.

Attleboro’s Michelle Sheehan set the offense in motion for Mass. Maritime’s volleyball team this fall. Sheehan, a sophomore, posted a team-high 307 assists (3.30 per set) and was also a top defensive option for the Bucs, notching 129 digs. Along with 41 kills, she had 24 aces. She had a season-high 24 assists on the road at Pine Manor and a season-best 12 digs on the road at Fitchburg State.

Former Foxboro Warrior Katie Notarangelo finished her collegiate career with her best offensive season in four years with MIT’s field hockey team. During her senior season, she scored a career-high seven goals along with a career-high five assists for 19 points, which was top five for the Engineers. She finished her career with 11 goals and six assists for 28 points while starting in 66 of the 69 games she appeared in over four years.

Franklin’s Alexis Stowell earned Northeast-10 All-Conference Third Team honors after another successful year with the Assumption women’s soccer team. Stowell helped anchor a defensive line that posted five shutouts on the season, including a huge effort against Saint Rose in the NE10 Quarterfinals. She also recorded three assists playing right back for Assumption, including producing the game-winning assist in the Hounds 2-1 win over Le Moyne on October 11th. Twin sister and former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Victoria Stowell scored once and had two assists with 18 games started for the Greyhounds.

Former King Philip standout Melissa Daigle finished her collegiate career with an even 800 kills for the WPI volleyball team. She had a career-best 266 kills her freshman year, and finished with 167 during her senior campaign. She also had 565 career digs, 48 aces and 79 career blocks.

Two of Bridgewater State’s three field hockey all-conference honorees hailed from the Hockomock League. Mansfield’s Janet Maher was named to the All-Little East Second Team and Foxboro’s Emma Daly, a freshman, earned honorable mention honors. Maher, who hails from Mansfield, Massachusetts, started all 17 games on the Bears’ back line this season. She tallied four goals and one assist for nine points to go along with a defensive save. In 70 games over four seasons with the Bears, Maher recorded six goals and three assists for 15 points in addition to six defensive saves. Daly put together a solid rookie campaign as she notched eight goals and three assists for 19 points.

Another former Hockomock field hockey player that Little East honorable mention honors was Franklin’s Allison Burke. Burke was the stingiest goalkeeper in the conference, sporting an .824 save percentage that slotted her atop all LEC netminders. The junior shattered her previous season-high for saves, stopping 168 shots in 2017, logging four shutouts with a 2.57 goals against average. UMass Dartmouth’s season-opener against MIT on Sept. 2 was a sure preview of Burke’s outstanding season; she set NCAA Division III’s highest single-game save total of the season with 37, holding the Engineers to just four goals and breaking Seana Golden’s previous school-record of 29 saves.

Anthony Barreira worked his way into the starting lineup by the midway point of the season for Bryant University’s men’s soccer team. Barreira started in six straight games, including both of the Bulldogs’ wins this season. He scored his first collegiate goal at home on October 22nd, netting the opening strike in a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart.

Brett McEvoy became Nichols all-time leading tackler (385) this season and earned his fourth Commonwealth Coast Conference all-conference nod and second First Team selection. He led the Bison and finished second in the conference in tackles with 115 (41 solo) and recorded 10-or-more tackles in seven contests, including a season-high 15 against Westfield State and Endicott. He also led the CCC in fumble recoveries (four) and collected seven tackles for loss. He also owns several punting records at Nichols, including punts (207) and yards (7,237).

Mansfield’s Kerra Anastasia concluded her four-year career with Fitchburg State field hockey with her highest point total during her senior season. Anastasia scored a pair of goals for the Falcons, scoring her first of the season in a rout on the road at Becker, and netting her second in a comeback win against Southern Maine. She finishes her career with three goals and six assists, for a total of 12 points.

At Regis College, Stoughton’s Ashley Chipman was the leading scorer for the Pride’s field hockey team while Oliver Ames’s Yvonne Abate was in the top five in scoring from her midfield position. Chipman, who played forward, notched a team-high five goals to tie for a team-best 10 points this season. Abate, who started in 14 games this season, scored twice and had two assists to finish with six points.

Former Attleboro Bombardier Owen McKenna handled punting duties for the Norwich University team this season, along with getting reps on the defensive side of the ball. In 10 games played, McKenna booted 60 punts, averaging over 35 yards on each kick with six kicks inside the 20-yard line and only one attempt blocked. On defense, the sophomore had 22 tackles.

At Bard College, Franklin alum Nicole Ellin appeared in all 17 games as a junior, starting 16 of them. She totaled 1,316 minutes played, which was fourth on the team, finished with a shot on goal, and was a rock in the middle of Bard’s defense at center back. Another Franklin grad, Meghan Dieterle, became a mainstay on Saint Michael College’s backline. She started in 16 games, and even scored a pair of goals (including the game-winner on a free kick in overtime against Post).

Sharon’s Tim Peng notched his first collegiate goal during his senior season at Trinity College. Peng, who patrolled the midfield for the Eagles four years ago, concluded his college career with his best season. He appeared in a career-high 14 games, along with seven starts. He scored his first goal – the game-winner – in a 1-0 win on the road at Western Conn. State.

Danny McDermott made the most of his senior year, starting under center for Salve Regina. He finished the season with 1,892 yards, 22 touchdowns through the air and an average of 210.2 passing yards a game. He completed 55.8% of his 258 attempts. Attleboro’s Tyler McGovern, a freshman, was McDermott’s backup and completed two of his four attempts for 32 yards. One of those completions went for former Bombardier teammate Brendan Nunes, who was second on the team with 34 receptions, totaling 432 yards and hauling in seven touchdowns. Nunes also had six kick returns for 142 yards and was third on the team in all-purpose yards. Foxboro grad Ronnie Martin, in his first year with the Seahawks, was third on the team with 96 rushing yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Two former Mansfield Hornets earned All-MASCAC honors after solid seasons with the Bridgewater State women’s soccer team. Molly Sheild was named to the All-MASCAC First Team and Katie Bongarzone earned All-MASCAC Second Team honors. Shield and Bongarzone anchored an outstanding BSU defensive unit which limited opponents to just 6.7 shots on goal per game and helped produce seven shutouts and a team goals against average of 0.98. As a team, the Bears ranked second in the MASCAC in shutouts and third in goals against average. Bongarzone started all 19 games this season and finished with a goal and six assists, while Shields appeared in 17 games with 16 starts and recorded an assist. Taunton’s Alana Vincent finished with four goals and four assists in just eight games played for the Bears.

Merrimack junior Mary McNeil was named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference Second Team for another solid season with the Warriors. McNeil, a former Canton standout added to her well-decorated career with another all-league selection. The two-time All-American posted totals of three goals, a team-best 10 assists and 16 points over 18 appearances. She ended the season in a tie for fourth in the conference in helpers, one of six players in the league with double-digit assists. She posted three multi-assist efforts in 2017, and a pair of four-point performances. Also at Merrimack, Canton’s Lindsey Nolte scored five goals and had two assists while Milford’s Jess Palmer scored once. All three started in all 18 games this season.

There was another familiar face on the NE10 All-Conference Second Team, as former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Hannah Friend, who now plays forward for Saint Anselm, was also selected to the team. Friend earned Second Team recognition by leading her team with 21 points of offense (9-3=21) against NE10 foes, scoring nine goals and three assists. Overall on the season, she notched a team-best 12 goals and seven assists for 31 points (12-7=31) and currently ranks 13th nationally in points per game (1.72). Another former OA standout, Kendall Clifford, was named to the NE10 All Rookie team. She led all Saint Anselm freshmen in 2017 by scoring three goals and as many assists for nine points. Making 16 appearances in a reserve role, Clifford has boosted a midfield that has scored more than four goals per game on eight occasions and has blanked its opponents in eight games as well. Franklin’s Maddie Bressler scored five goals and added two assists and Canton’s Mary Nee had three goals and five goals for the Hawks.

Former Stoughton standout Malachi Baugh concluded an injury-riddled career at Stonehill with his best season. After being limited to 27 carries through his first three years, Baugh was second on the Skyhawks with 96 carries this season and totaled 472 yards (52.4 per game and five touchdowns. He scored a touchdown in five of his last six games, helping Stonehill go 4-2 in those contests.

Luke Albertini concluded a four-year career at Central Connecticut State. The former Red Rocketeers started in 56 games over his four years, including 17 in each of the past two seasons. He made 63 appearances in total for the Blue Devils, patrolling the midfield. He scored a pair of goals, one as a freshman, and one as a junior.

Taunton High grad Adam McLaughlin hauled in a pair of touchdowns in his rookie year at UMass Dartmouth, finishing fifth on the team in receptions with 14. He scored his first touchdown of the season in the second game of the year, hauling in a 10-yard touchdown. He had a season-high four catches for 66 yards in a win on the road at Mass. Maritime and then scored his second touchdown of the season in the finale at Fitchburg State, a 29-yard reception in the third quarter. Also at UMass Dartmouth, Attleboro’s Andrew Gingras started all 10 games at left tackle during his freshman season.

Lauren Berman capped a rollercoaster ride of a collegiate career with a great final season with the Boston College women’s soccer team. Berman finished second on the squad in points this season, scoring a team-high seven goals while adding three assists for 17 points. She started in all 20 games this season and was fourth on the team in minutes played. She was named New England Soccer Journal Midfielder of the Year. She finishes her BC career with 14 goals and 15 assists.

Former two-time HocomockSports.com Player of the Year Taylor Cogliano finished the season fourth in scoring for the Merrimack Warriors. Cogliano made 12 starts, and a total of 19 appearances as the Warriors reached the NE10 semifinal game. The former Frankin star scored a pair of goals – one against Molloy and one against Le Moyne – and finished with two assists (against Dominican and Stonehill). Milford’s Nicole Dahlgren made six appearances off the bench for the Warriors this season.

King Philip grad Joe Kellett continues to be a mainstay in the midfield for the talented UMass Lowell men’s soccer program. After starting in all 16 games as a freshman, Kellett was just one of three River Hawks to start in all 18 contests in 2017. He was second on the team in minutes (1,670), and had one assist on the season. He set up a goal in UMass Lowell’s 3-2 win at home over Monmouth.

Elias Camacho, a former Canton gridiron standout, concluded his career at Wesleyan fourth on the team in tackles. He had 26 solo tackles, and 35 total tackles, including two for a loss. He also had an interception in the final game of the season – his third career pick – and had five pass breakups. For his career, Camacho finished with 67 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.

After just one appearance during her freshman campaign, former Franklin standout Dani Lonati lead the Colby women’s soccer team with eight starts in net and nine total appearances. She posted 48 saves with an impressive 1.42 goals against average, earning a shutout win on the road against Thomas. Lonati made a career-high 13 saves in a scoreless tie to open the season against Tufts.

Franklin’s Sammy Rondeau was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Field Hockey All-Conference Second Team after a strong season with Simmons – her second straight year on the second team. The senior enjoyed the best season of her career, racking up 40 points to rank sixth among GNAC players, while scoring 16 goals to stand fifth and recording eight assists for the fourth-most in the league. The forward’s four game-winners place her fifth among GNAC leaders. The former Panther’s season was one of the best in school history with the fourth-highest point total in school history, the fifth-highest assist count and the sixth-most goals in a season at Simmons. She started all 19 matches for the Sharks and was named the GNAC Player of the Week as well.

Milford’s Eric Nunez had a strong senior season for the Worcester State football team. From his linebacker spot, he finished fifth on the team with 44 tackles and had a team-high four sacks, and six tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble as well. Mansfield grad Aurian Dawkins had 12 tackles during his senior year, as well as a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Former Red Rocketeer and New England Revolution academy standout Justin Freitas wasted little time making an impact at the University of Vermont. After spending time at Dean College, Freitas scored eight goals and had three assists while starting 13 games for the Catamounts. Freitas had a pair of goals in a 3-1 win at home against UMBC and again notched two goals two games later in a 2-3 setback at home against Northeastern.

For the third time in four years, Franklin graduate Joe Kalil was honored by the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Now anchoring Wentworth’s defense, Kalil was named to the all-conference second team for his strong 2017 campaign. Kalil earned honorable mention during his freshman year, and was named to the first team a year ago. In 2017, Kalil started 20 games and picked up a pair of goals. He finishes inside the top 10 all-time in program history in starts.

06/21/2017

The Campus Report: 2016-2017 School Year Wrap Up

While David MacKinnon selected in the MLB draft earlier this month, two other former Hockomock players also had success in the America East this season. Brendan Skidmore finished a memorable career at Binghamton University, leading the Bearcats to a 30-win season. Skidmore, a Franklin graduate, started in 148 games in his four years as a Bearcat and recorded 152 hits, 117 RBI, 84 runs and 20 home runs. He posted an impressive .997 fielding percentage during his senior campaign. A broken wrist kept the former Hockomock League MVP out of postseason action.

And at Maine, former Taunton ace Connor Johnson made a team-high 23 appearances for the Black Bears, who reached the America East Championship game. The southpaw posted a 4-4 record with one save in 39 innings of work, coming out of the bullpen for all of his appearances. He struck out 30 while allowing just eight extra base hits all season.

Last year’s HockomockSports.com Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year Hana Caster had a terrific first year at UMass Lowell. She led all River Hawk freshmen with 22 points and notched 14 goals and eight assists on her way to becoming one of six River Hawks to record over 20 points this season, while leading the squad with 12 points (9g, 3a) during conference play. The midfielder was named to the America East All-Rookie team and finished the season third on the team in assists and draw controls (16), while her 17 ground balls tied for fifth best.

A pair of former Hockomock hurlers were both named to National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Northeast Region teams for their work this Spring. North Attleboro grad Meg Colleran was named to the first team as well as the Atlantic 10 First Team All-Conference. Colleran was also named A-10 Championship Most Outstanding Player after helping UMass Amherst reach the final. On the season, she posted a 20-14 record with 22 complete games and a 2.60 ERA. King Philip alum Renee Poirier was selected to the third team, posting a team-best 2.19 ERA with a 14-8 record and five saves. She tossed 15 complete games in 21 starts with four shutouts and had two no hitters on the season (Columbia and Lafayette). She finished with 78 strikeouts on the season.

Taunton graduate Aimee Kistner, last year’s HockomockSports.com Softball Player of the Year, was selected to the NFCA DIII All-New England third team for her tremendous rookie season at Western New England. On top of that, Kistner was tabbed Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and named to the All-CCC Second Team. Kistner hit .393 (33-for-84) with six doubles, one triple, four home runs and 27 RBI while scoring 24 runs and drawing 16 walks. She emerged as one of the top players in the CCC over the second half of the season, batting .568 (21-for-37) with four doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI in 14 games since April 11. She was also a top pitcher for the Golden Bears all season, appearing in 12 games with seven starts (four complete games), posting a record of 5-3 with a 2.53 earned run average and 44 strikeouts in 58 innings.

The 2015 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Kali Magane saw plenty of time in the circle for Boston University this spring. Magane tossed a team-high 155 innings as a freshman, striking out 70 while posting a 13-11 record. She had 11 complete games and one save. Milford’s Rachel Levine also saw a lot of time for the Terriors, starting in 39 games. She finished with a 0.240 batting average with 24 hits, including a home run, and 10 RBI. Levine also had an impressive 0.938 field percentage.

Katie Notarangelo was named to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Women’s Lacrosse All-Conference Second Team for the first time in her career. Notarangelo, a starting midfielder for MIT, is 10th in the NEWMAC in draw controls (42) and as a midfielder she is fifth on the team in goals (23), points (29), groundballs (26), and caused turnovers (13).

Former Panther Jared Trainor was second on the Wheelock men’s lacrosse team in scoring despite being just a freshman. Patrolling the midfield for the Wildcats, Trainor recorded 15 goals (second) and 14 assists (first) for 29 points. He also scooped up 26 ground balls with 38 caused turnovers.

Luke Figueira, last year’s HockomockSports.com Baseball Player of the Year, saw plenty of action in his first season at the collegiate level with the Bentley Falcons. The Taunton graduate played in 34 games and was fourth on the team with 34 hits, batting .245. He added 10 RBI, 16 runs and one home run. Figueira had a seven-game hit streak in April and had a season-high four hits against Merrimack in early May.

Taunton’s Kelly Reading had a successful sophomore campaign with Cedar Crest on the softball field. The former Hockomock League MVP batted 0.313 on the year, belting out 31 hits with 22 runs scored and eight RBI. She also stole four bases on the season while drawing a team-high 11 walks. She finished the season with 15 hits in the last 14 games.

Sharon graduate Ryan Riley posted a 3-1 record during his sophomore campaign at Clarkson University. Riley started two games and made relief appearances in 11 more games. He recorded two saves over 28.8 innings of work, allowing 21 earned runs while striking out 25 – third most on the team. Riley finished the season with a five-inning outing, allowing just three hits and striking out five in a win against Union.

Former Canton Bulldog Sam Sullivan was named to the Little East Conference Women’s Lacrosse First Team following a stellar season for Plymouth State. Sullivan has scored more than 50 goals for the second year in a row, just the second player in school history to achieve that feat. She has scored a team-high 53 goals this spring, fourth-most in the Little East, and ranks ninth in the conference with 61 points. A two-time LEC Offensive Player of the Week this spring, Sullivan was also named Most Outstanding Player in the Little East Conference Tournament.

Milford’s Steve Morganelli had a solid senior season at Endicott, helping the Gulls win 25 games this season. The former Scarlet Hawk appeared in 33 games, recording 26 hits – including three triples, 15 runs and 17 RBI – posting a .310 batting average. Morganelli finished the season strong, notching two hits in three straight games and 15 hits in the last 14 games.

Franklin graduate Nicole Ellin earned All-Liberty League Women’s Lacrosse Honorable Mention for the second straight year. Ellin started every game, leading Bard with 41 draw controls. She had 18 goals (on just 30 shots) and added two assists; two of her goals were game-winners, including the overtime goal that beat Nichols in March.

A pair of former Hockomock rivals both had superb seasons up north at Keene State. Foxboro’s Connor Longley got it done at the plate and Sharon’s Nate Pederson was just as effective on the mound, helping the Owls make an impressive run in the Little East Conference. Longley was selected First Team All-Little East Conference as well as the D3Baseball.com Third Team All Region after batting .395 in 30 games with four home runs, 24 RBI and a .605 slugging percentage. On the mound, Pederson made 15 relief appearances for the Owls, tossing 30 innings while allowing just six earned runs (1.80 ERA) and striking out 12.

Former North Attleboro star Mycala Moody continued her ways at Framingham State, earning MASCAC Softball Rookie of the Year and first team All-MASCAC honors. Moody batted .348 on the year with a pair of doubles, a pair of triples and 12 RBI. She also crossed the plate 21 times, stole 10 bases and had a .402 slugging percentage. Moody, who was selected as Rookie of the Week five times, was also named a Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III New England All Star.

Canton’s Michael McMahon saw action in 16 games during his rookie season with Becker College’s baseball team. The former Bulldog recorded eight hits (batting .306), scored five runs and knocked in three runs with a pair of stolen bases.

A pair of former Hock rivals teamed up to help the Bridgewater State women’s lacrosse team. King Philip alum Alex Lynch, a senior, scored 29 goals in 19 games played, adding seven assists for 36 points. Brooke Buckner, a junior and former Foxboro standout, finished with 12 goals and five assists, adding 19 ground balls and 35 caused turnovers.

Canton’s Meghan Lennon and King Philip’s Jennifer Lacroix played pivotal roles in helping Endicott College claim the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship this season. Lennon, a senior, was named to the All-CCC First Team for the second time. After missing last season to injury, Lennon has started all 15 games for the Gulls thus far and currently leads the team in points (66), goals (41), and assists (25). Her 66 points is tied for the fifth-most in the CCC. Lacroix was also named to the All-CCC First Team and was named CCC Rookie of the Year – just the second Endicott women’s lacrosse player in program history to earn the honor. Lacroix is third on the team in points (47) for the most among rookies and tied for third overall in goals (32). Additionally, she is fourth on the team in assists (15) for the most helpers among the Gulls’ rookies. Lacroix leads the team in draw controls (72), which is good for fourth-most in the conference. She is second on the team in ground balls (28) and fourth in caused turnovers (14).

Plenty of players dream of hitting the big hit to earn their team a big win, but former Foxboro Warrior Mike Slaby saw his dream turn into reality in the New England Collegiate Conference Baseball Championship in early May. Slaby’s fourth-seeded Lesley University and top-seeded Mitchell College were tied 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded, Slaby launched a game-winning walk-off grand slam to hand the Lynx the title. Slaby was named the tournament MVP for his heroics. On the season, Slaby led Lesley in at-bats (142), RBI (23) and stolen bases (10) while batting .289 during his senior season. You can watch Slaby’s walk-off grand slam below.

That's a walk off grand slam for the championship! @NECCathletics @Lesley_BSB pic.twitter.com/RDAHBmSoTv

— Aaron Bouyea (@AaronBouyea1) May 8, 2017

King Philip graduate Malorie Knowlton was named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference women’s lacrosse All-Conference First Team following a great season for Curry. She made 17 starts and led the team and the conference in caused turnovers with 71. Knowlton finished second on the team and tied for third in the conference with 52 ground balls. She tallied 43 goals and dished out seven assists for 50 points which ranked her second on the team for both points and goals. Attleboro’s Kayla Merritt, a freshman, also started in 17 games and scored three goals, four assists and 25 draw controls.

Two former Hockomock rivals completed their collegiate careers at Wheaton College this season. Franklin’s Rebecca Seifert was one of the team’s top hitters, batting .306 with 34 hits (both second on the team). Seifert was second on the team with 18 RBI and scored 30 runs in 36 games played. Milford’s Caroline Fairbanks had 21 hits on the season, including two home runs and 15 RBI, while leading the Lyons in walks. Fairbanks had 120 RBI in her four-year career at Wheaton.

Foxboro alum Alex Pacitti concluded his lacrosse career at Saint Anselm this past spring, notching double figures in points for the second straight season. For his senior year, Pacitti scored 18 goals and added seven assists for a total of 25 points. He also had 25 ground balls this year. He finished his career with 43 goals and 62 total points.

Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Max Lancaster continued his strong career at MIT with a stellar junior season. The Attleboro High grad batted .299 (sixth) on the season with 27 RBI, 10 stolen bases, five home runs, 11 walks and 31 runs scored to help the Engineers record 21 wins.

Franklin’s Maegan Schmauder had the best offensive season of her collegiate career so far for RIT. A junior captain, Schmauder scored a career-high 20 goals this season with five assists. She also had 23 ground balls, 11 caused turnovers and 22 draw controls.

Although just a freshman, Franklin graduate MacKenzie Pleshaw was one of top offensive producers for Stonehill women’s lacrosse. Pleshaw netted 29 goals and had two assists for a total of 31 points. She also had 15 ground balls during her rookie season.

North Attleboro graduate Matt Hardy concluded a successful career with Nichols College with a strong season, helping the Bison earn 23 wins. Hardy was fourth on the team with a .309 batting average, starting in 40 games this season. He collected 43 hits, including eight doubles, knocked in 16 runs and posted a perfect fielding percentage.

Carrie Long, who previously was a standout player for Foxboro, had a strong junior season for Fitchburg State and was named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III North Women’s Lacrosse First Team. Long scored 27 goals (third on the team) and added seven assists for 34 points. She finished with a team-high 94 ground balls and 88 caused turnovers, while leading the nation in caused turnovers per contest (4.63) and being seventh nationally in ground balls per game (4.95) as of May 16th.

Mansfield’s Kimmy Foley was also named to the MASCAC All-Conference First Team as well as the ECAC Division III North Women’s Lacrosse Second Team. Foley, a midfielder for Framingham State, tallied a team-best 56 points on the year which included 37 goals and 19 assists to go along with 54 ground balls, 46 draw controls and 22 caused turnovers. Canton’s Casey Bradley, a freshman, was just one of four players to start all 19 games for the Rams this season and recorded 26 ground balls.

Former HockomockSports.com Baseball Underclassman of the Year Nick Santucci made a big splash in his first year at Rollins College. Just a freshman, Santucci appeared in 35 games, including 23 starts, and posted a .313 batting average. Of his 25 hits, eight were doubles and he knocked in 10 runs while recording a .923 fielding average.

Franklin’s Samantha Jones was named to the Mountain East All-Conference Second Team after a tremendous freshman season for the University of Charleston. Jones started in all 13 games for the Golden Eagles, netting 24 goals and adding two assists. She also had 34 ground balls and 33 draw controls during her freshmen season.

Although it feels like just yesterday that Shannon Smith was winning back-to-back state championships at Milford, the Massachusetts high school strikeout record holder concluded her career at Kentucky. In her senior season, she posted a 6-3 record, making 17 appearances and 11 starts. She had two complete games, striking out 55 batters in 50.1 innings of work. She limited batters to a 0.203 average with just five doubles allowed. In her collegiate career, Smith struck out 207 batters.

Jack Vail, the only male athlete to win HockomockSports.com Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, is continuing his strong play at Springfield College. After getting his feet wet with with just three games played last year, Vail tied for a team-high 32 goals in 17 games played in 2017. He also recorded 16 assists, good for 48 points, while adding 28 ground balls.

The only female athlete to win HockomockSports.com Player of the Year in consecutive seasons, Marta Versprille, had her best offensive production of her collegiate career during her junior season at Saint Anselm. Versprille scored 15 goals along with seven assists for 22 points, her career best in all categories. She also had 38 draw controls and 29 ground balls.

Two Hockomock alums were a big part of Salve Regina’s pitching staff this season, helping the Gulls to 36 wins. Canton’s Jimmy Fitzgerald, who was named to the 2017 ABCA//Rawlings NCAA Div. III New England All-Region Second Team, posted a 6-2 record for the Gulls this season, striking out a team-high 73 batters with just 16 earned runs allowed in 52.1 innings of work (2.75 ERA). Sharon’s Will Ginsberg made nine appearances, including six starts, posting a 2-0 record with 37 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work (3.15 ERA).

Fitzgerald wasn’t the only former Hockomock standout to be on the 2017 ABCA//Rawlings NCAA Div. III New England All-Region Second Team: Taunton grad Matt Nunes was also on the list as a pitcher. Nunes, a star pitcher for Westfield State, posted a 6-2 record, including five complete games, a 2.04 ERA and allowed just 36 hits in 54.2 innings of work.

North Attleboro grad Anthony Rinaldi posted a 3-1 record this season for the Endicott men’s tennis program. He went 2-0 at No. 5 singles and 1-1 at No. 6 singles play. He also went 1-0 in doubles play. He was named to the 2017 CCC Academic All-Conference Team.

Former King Philip standout Brandon King continued to impress for the Clark University men’s lacrosse team. As a sophomore, King led the Cougars with 42 goals in the 2017 campaign. He also added eight assists, finishing with 50 points (second on the team). King was just one of three players to start all 18 games this season.

Attleboro’s Hannah Smith had a very impressive junior season for UMass Dartmouth. Smith was the Corsairs’ top pitching option, tossing a team-high 157.0 innings while striking out 89 batters. She started in 23 games, earning 11 wins with 15 complete game efforts, posting a terrific 1.78 ERA for the year.

Former Sharon Eagle Jacob Berish emerged as one of Skidmore College’s most reliable pitchers during his sophomore season. Berish was the lone pitcher on the team to post a sub 3.00 ERA, allowing just 12 earned runs in 39.2 innings of work (2.72 ERA). He had nine appearances – six of them starts – and posted a 2-3 record while striking out 21 batters.

Brian Buckner had a strong rookie season with the Colorado Mesa men’s lacrosse team. The former Foxboro standout appeared in 14 of the team’s 18 games, helping the Mavericks to an 16-2 overall record. Colorado Mesa won its second straight Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship with a 20-7 win over Westminster, a game that saw Buckner record his first two collegiate assists.

Former Taunton girl’s tennis head coach Dave Purpura led the Bridgewater State Bears to a Little East Tournament Title this past fall and an NCAA tournament berth this spring. Another former Tiger, Alisha Silva, was the top singles player for the Bears, playing 18 matches at first singles. Mansfield’s Rachel Tarantino played 18 matches at No. 5 singles, recording six wins.

After losing his first year to injury, former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Brendan Welch, a redshirt freshman with Southern New Hampshire, finally got his first taste of collegiate baseball. Welch made 19 appearances, all in relief, and posted a 3-1 record with one save for the Penmen. It won’t come as a shock to former players to faced Welch but the left-handed pitcher struck out 27 in 23 innings of work.

Sharon’s Spencer Aubin and North Attleboro’s Marshall Blackman both played pivotal roles for the Lyndon State men’s lacrosse program this spring. Aubin, a sophomore, started in 15 games, netting 28 goals (second on the team) as well as recording 18 assists (third on the team) for a total of 46 points (third on the team). Blackman was one of four players on the team to start in all 17 games, shoring up a strong defensive unit. Blackman had 36 ground balls on the year.

Alyssa DeLuca, a King Philip alum, was named Midwest Women’s Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) Co-Attacker of the Year and was also a First Team All-MWLC selection. Also garnering first-team honors for a second straight season, DeLuca led the MWLC in goals scored with 77, ranking her sixth in all of NCAA Division III and also 15 more than the league’s next-closest player. She is also tied for the league-lead in points (84), ranked 15th in draw controls (40). DeLuca set a school record with 10 goals in a single game back in April.

Attleboro’s Nate Tellier had no problem making the transition from high school to college, based on his production in his first season with UMass Dartmouth. Tellier led the Corsairs in at-bats (177) and stroked 52 hits – nine doubles, two triples and two home runs – with 18 RBI total. He led the team with 27 stolen bases and posted a .294 batting average. While making just seven appearances on the mound (7.2 innings), Tellier only allowed two hits with nine strikeouts and no runs allowed. Former Mansfield Hornet Zac Courier also enjoyed a nice season, batting .310 with 19 RBI and three home runs, playing in 30 games.

Former Oliver Ames standout Lexi Soucie had a strong senior year at the plate at Salve Regina. Soucie was fourth on the team with 33 hits, batting .311 with a .387 slugging percentage. Her eight doubles were tied for the team lead, and she added 23 runs scored and 12 RBI and 11 stolen bases. For her career, Soucie had 159 hits at Salve Regina and a career batting average of .322.

Canton’s Carly Scanlon posted an impressive 13-1 record in singles action for the Regis women’s tennis team. After starting the season 1-1, Scanlon rattled off 12 straight wins, including the last two in April. Another former Hockomock tennis player, Emma Prinos, had a strong season in singles action for Stonehill College. Prinos went 10-6 playing at a variety of different singles spots for the Skyhawks. Prinos rattled off seven wins in a row back in the fall. Taunton’s Mollie McCaffrey went 8-6 for UMass Dartmouth over the past year, including a 5-0 record at third singles.

King Philip alum Jake Cavanagh had an immediate impact during his freshman year with Utica College. He made four appearances out of the bullpen for the Pioneers, posting a 2-2 record in 18.1 innings of work, striking out 13 with just 10 earned runs allowed.

After setting the record for hits at Oliver Ames, Mike Ferrara has continued to rake at Worcester State. A sophomore, Ferrara was third on the team in at-bats (149) and posted a .322 batting average with 48 hits this season. Of his 48 hits, six were doubles and four were home runs, totaling 30 RBI for the year with a pair of stolen bases.

Former Franklin goalie James Keane had a strong year for Nichols College. Keane started in nine games this season, making 12 overall appearances, and posted a 7-3 record. He made 107 saves with a .601 save percentage and a 7.18 goals against average. North Attleboro alum Pat Nally won 51 face-offs, second most on the tam, in 18 appearances in his rookie season.

Milford graduate Allie Piergustavo was a reliable option for the St. Bonaventure softball squad this season. Piergustavo started in all one but game for the Bonnies this spring, recording 38 hits (second on the team) for a .273 batting average. She added seven doubles and six home runs, scoring 15 runs with a team-high 29 RBI. She had a team-high 316 putouts with a .976 fielding percentage.

12/15/2016

The Campus Report: A Recap of Fall 2016

Hockomock Campus Report

Alex Jette had his collegiate career come to an end this Fall but wrapped things up in memorable fashion. A four-time First Team All-Ivy selection, Jette was named a First Team All-Ivy wide receiver and return specialist in 2016. Jette will go down as one of the top receivers in Brown football history, finishing his Brown career ranked ninth in both career receiving yards (1,860) and receptions (150). He was also a playmaker on special teams; Jette had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown against Cornell and ranks fourth all-time in career punt return yards (493) at Brown. He had h 54 catches for 518 yards and three touchdowns during his senior year and was also named to the 2016 All-New England Football Team.

A pair of Framingham State Rams and former Hockomock football players were named to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Second Team. Attleboro’s Tom Burns and Stoughton’s Joe Wilder both earned the honor after leading the Rams to a 7-3 regular season. Burns, a defensive back, was second on the team in tackles with 67 (40 solo), had two tackles four loss and four pass breakups. Wilder has been a starter on the offensive line for two years now and helped pave the way for the offense. At left tackle, Wilder was a big reason the Rams rushed for over 2,000 yards.

A handful of former Hockomock players saw playing time for Mass. Maritime this season. Manfield’s Alex Ruddy was the most productive defensive player, registering 27 tackles, including two for loss, and had a pass breakup. Milford’s John Niro had five tackles, one for loss, Mansfield’s Connor Finerty also had five tackles and Canton’s Joe Bires made three tackles. Sharon’s Adam Banks, an offensive lineman, played in five games, even hauling in a pass. King Philip’s James Cooke (guard) and Chris Winbourne (tackle) started on the offensive line for the Buccaneers.

Former Milford three sport athlete Jarrod Casey capped an impressive career at Assumption with a stellar senior season. Casey, who was selected NE-10 First Team Defense for the second straight year, led the Hounds with 90 tackles and was the only player in the NE-10 with at least two sacks and two interceptions. He finished with 2.5 sacks and three interceptions while breaking up three passes. Stoughton’s Brandon Swain-Price finished his sophomore year with 18 catches for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

North Attleboro’s Eric Beckwith also received NE-10 honors, being tabbed First Team Offense for the second straight year. Beckwith has been making an impact for the Falcons since his freshman year. The former Rocketeer played in 41 of a possible 44 career games, with 35 starts. King Philip’s Sam MacDonald has also beeing a cornerstone for the Falcones for four years, playing in 43 of 44 possible games. The KP alum finished his career with 17 interceptions, one shy of the Bentley record and one of the top five totals in Northeast-10 Conference history and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Team.

Oliver Ames graduate Cameron Williamson was a big piece of Bridgewater State’s football team this Fall. In 11 games played, Williamson was tied for fifth on the team with 42 tackles and was among the best on the team with 36 solo tackles. He had one interception, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for the Bears.

Franklin’s Brandon Eccher was named to the Liberty League Football All-Conference Second Team while Stoughton’s Dan Eckler received honorable mention honors. Eccher was second in the Liberty League with 72 points (12 touchdowns). He posted 777 yards on 45 catches with 11 scores. As a punt returner, Eccher picked up 160 more yards on 17 tries with a 78-yard TD against Union. He ends his career third in the WPI record book with 132 career receptions and fifth in career receiving yards with 1,949. Eckler was one of the top four quarterbacks in the league this season. He amassed 1,900 passing yards on 118 completions with 18 touchdowns and the best efficiency rating of 166.8 in eight contests. Eckler also rushed 76 times for 235 yards and four scores to rank in the top 20. In 29 games, he piled up 5,571 yards on 404 completions with 44 touchdowns in the air and 783 yards on 266 rushes and nine touchdowns on the ground. His name is currently first in the WPI record book with 6,534 career yards of total offense (passing and rushing) and career passing yards, as well as third in career attempts (704) and completions.

King Philip’s Christian Vellante finished with 37 tackles, good for seventh most for Curry this season. Of his 37 tackles, 24 were solo takedowns, he had two tackles for loss, registered one fumble recovery and had one reception on offense. Over two years, Vellante had 78 tackles for the Colonels and seven tackles for a loss.

Former Franklin standout Craig Anderson became the first ever Endicott player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America Honors twice. After being rewarded last season with the same honor, Anderson was back again this season with a 3.89 cumulative grade point average in the classroom and 28 tackles (15 solo), four sacks, two quarterback hurries and a blocked kick on the football field. Anderson, who earned All-New England Football Conference first team honors for the second straight year, finished his career with 21.5 sacks, second-best in school history, while recording 204 tackles (95 solo) and 40.5 tackles for loss.

Former Mansfield Hornet James Comer received Eastern Collegiate Football All-Conference honors after a strong senior season. Comer was named to the All-Conference First Team for the first time in his career, after posting 36 tackles – 4.5 of them for a loss – recovered a fumble and had 1.5 sacks.

Former King Philip linebacker and current Nichols standout Brett McEvoy was named to the New England Football Conference ALl-Conference Second Team. McEvoy was second in the conference in tackles (94) and notched five games with at least 10 tackles, including a 16 tackle game against MIT. The junior also recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss and had two interceptions. Attleboro’s Brenden Massey was second leading receiver for the Bison, hauling in 41 catches for 759 yards and six touchdowns.

Attleboro grad Brendan Nunes enjoyed a successful rookie campaign at Salve Regina. The former Bombardier playmaker was all over the field for the Gull. He caught 10 passes for 183 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. He had two carries for 12 yards and was a primary return man – taking 11 kick offs for 276 yards and a touchdown and pulling down seven punts for 58 yards. Franklin’s Danny McDermott was a versatile option for the Gulls, completing 9 of 11 passes for 113 yards, rushing for 26 yards and even catching a 20 yard pass.

Trinity senior defensive back Paul McCarthy earned All-New England Small Colleges Athletic Conference First Team honors for the second straight season. McCarthy, a former North Attleboro Rocketeer, was a key piece for the Bantams with 27 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups. For his career, McCarthy had 84 tackles and an impressive nine interceptions.

A pair of former Taunton players and current UMass Dartmouth teammates were honored by the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference for their strong seasons. Austin Peters, a starting guard, helped anchor the Corsairs to a record breaking year and was named to the MASCAC First Team. UMass Dartmouth recorded 4,641 yards on offense – a school record. Marcel Flynn was named to the MASCAC Second Team after posting a career-high 40 tackles in his fourth year as a starter. Flynn was also a force on special teams as he registered a career-high and MASCAC-best four blocked kicks in 2016. Mansfield’s David Collins finished second on the team with 80 tackles with eight tackles going for a loss.

Men’s Soccer

Former Attleboro goalie Spenser Powell was named to the 2016 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Second Team following a strong year for Adelphi. Powell was among the best in the nation in both goals against average (0.498) and save percentage, stopping 86.8% off all shots on goal. Read more about Spenser here.

Taunton’s Dan Belair finished his career at American International College, registering his first career point in his senior season. Belair started in 33 games over his four year career, including four in his final season. He picked up his first assist in a 5-0 win over Bentley in October.

Not many players have seen more minutes over the past four years for Assumption men’s soccer than Franklin grad Zach Scafati. The inaugural HockomockSports.com Co-Player of the Year, Scafati started in 63 games (of 64 games played) for the Greyhounds. He scored a goal in each of his sophomore and junior season and was a two-year captain.

North Attleboro’s Josh Ocel was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association for the second straight year. Ocel, who earned third team honors this season, was the team’s leading scorer with six goals and 15 assists – the fifth most assists in all of Division III. His 15 assists were also just one shy of Brandies’ single season record. Read more about Ocel’s season and Brandies’ Final Four run here.

Foxboro’s Sawyer Fleck was earned All-Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference honors for the second straight season playing for Bridgewater State. Fleck was named to the All-MASCAC Second Team after scoring a goal and notching a team-best four assists. He is tied for sixth in the conference with his four assists. In 77 career games, Fleck has two goals and 13 assists for 17 points for the Bears. Foxboro’s Brian Bortolotti scored two goals and had an assist this season and Milford’s Justin Borges scored his first career goal.

Former Oliver Ames standout Adam Borberly ranked near the top for minutes played for Colby-Sawyer this season. Borberly started 15 matches this season, playing over 1,000 minutes while registering three goals and three assists. In four years, Borberly started in 59 matches for the Chargers.

North Attleboro’s Justin Freitas was named an All-American by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association following another outstanding year for Dean College. Freitas was named to the second team following a season in which he scored 16 goals – three of which were game-winning tallies – and had six assists. Attleboro’s Kyle Lameiras scored three goals and had three assists in 18 games played while Matt Rodrigues, another former Bombardier, had an assist from his outside back spot in 10 games played.

Despite playing in just two games because of injury during his senior season, OA grad David MacKinnon had a memorable career at Hartford. The inaugural HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Co-Player of the Year was named to the America East All Conference Second Team his sophomore year and was named to the All-Rookie team in 2013. He set the program record for shutouts in a single season during his freshman year with nine. He ranks second in Hartford history in career shutouts (19) and fourth in career victories (25).

2015 HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Player of the Year Devante Teixeira saw plenty of time in his rookie season at Southern Connecticut. Playing in 15 of 17 games, Teixeira notched his first career goal and added one assist. He had a clear attacking mindset, uncorking 25 shots – second on the team. Attleboro’s Alain Laurent finished the year with a goal in 17 games played.

Oliver Ames alum Keegan Nutt was just one of four players – and the only freshman – to start every single game for the Stonehill Skyhawks in 2016. Patrolling the center of the pitch, Nutt scored his first career goal in September against Franklin Pierce and had two assists – one against Saint Anselm and one against Assumption.

2015 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection Joe Kellett played a major role in UMass Lowell’s historic season. Kellett was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Kellett started all 16 games and was only off the field for a total of 12 minutes during his freshman campaign. The midfielder tallied the game-winning goal against Vermont in October and had an assist on the game-winning goal against Boston College later the same month.

Franklin product Joe Kalil was selected to the Commonwealth Coast Conference First Team after another great season for Wentworth. Kalil has helped Wentworth post five shutouts and on the offensive end, has scored four goals and an assist for nine points. For his career, he has started 53 of the 55 games in which he has played in. Kalil has 10 goals and a pair of assists for 22 points in three years. Canton’s Connor Erickson led Wentworth to a 13-4-4 record in his fourth year – the team has 28 wins in past two years alone.

Women’s Soccer

Three former Hockomock players saw a lot of action for the Assumption women’s soccer team this Fall. Taunton’s Tayla Morais and Franklin’s Alexis Stowell each appeared in all 18 games for the Hounds, with Morais getting the starting nod twice and Stowell on ten occassions. 2016 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Victoria Stowell appeared in 16 games for the eight-win Greyhounds. Alexis Stowell was third on the team in points with two goals and one assist while Morais added one goal.

Franklin’s Nicole Ellin is becoming a mainstay on Bard’s backline. As a sophomore, Ellin started in all 17 games and played 1,277 minutes on the season. On nine occasions, Ellin went the full 90 for the Raptors. In two years, Ellin has started in all 34 games possible for Bard.

Former Canton standout and Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman started all 19 games for Boston College this Fall. She was fourth on the team in points with 16, behind only All-ACC selections McKenzie Meehan and Hayley Dowd. Berman led the Eagles in assists with eight, while scoring four goals. She was third on the team in minutes player (1,572).

Jamie Grinavic finished her collegiate career by helping Bentley earn its most wins in a season since the 2003 season. Grinavic has been making an impact on the offensive end for the Falcons since her freshman year – she’s scored at least one in every season. The former North Attleboro Rocketeer finished with five career goals and four assists for 14 points.

Taunton graduate Alana Vincent had a terrific rookie season for Bridgewater State and was named to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team. She led the team with six goals and 13 points in 17 games; two of her six goals were game-winners. Vincent finished third in the MASCAC in goals and sixth in points. Mansfield’s Molly Shield (one goal) started in 18 games and Katie Bongarzone started in all 19 of the team’s games – just one of five players to do so.

Former Milford Scarlet Hawk Kaley Pratt made a big impact off the bench for Eastern Connecticut State for this season. Despite starting just one of 18 games played, Pratt was third on the team in scoring – netting five goals with three assists for 13 points. Stoughton’s Rachel Berkowsky was in a similar situation, coming off the bench in 14 games to net four goals and one assist. Berkowsky set the school record for fastest hat trick recorded. She scored three goals in a matter of 4:46 in a win over the University Southern Maine in October.

Former Oliver Ames product Nicole Taylor was selected to play in the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Senior Bowl following another great year at Endicott. Taylor started all 15 matches that she played in, missing time briefly for an injury. The co-captain finished her career with 28 starts in 48 matches played, making 27 of those starts over the last two seasons.

Stoughton’s Shelby Sprague was named to the NJCAA All-Region 21 First Team following another explosive season with Massasoit. Sprague scored 30 goals, topping Region 21 and ranking third in the nation. She also added six assists to give her 66 points, also ranking third in the country. She finished her illustrious career with 55 goals, 10 assists for 120 points. This marks Sprague’s second All-Region 21 First Team selection.

Stonehill’s Brianna Duserick was named to the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Division II All-New England First Team. The Canton product was part of the back line this year that held opponents to 19 goals against, while also being part of the Skyhawks’ offense that has scored 39 goals in the 22 games this season. She scored one goal this year, making her career total to two with one game-winning goal. Duserick led the team with five assists this year, ranking eighth in the conference, totally six in her career.

It seems like just yesterday that Franklin’s Kristi Kirshe was scoring in the MIAA D1 State Final to help the Panthers claim their first title in program history. Now, Kirshe has finished her collegiate career with a NCAA DIII National Championship (2015) and her name attached to a couple of school records at Williams. For a terrific senior season, Kirshe was named to the NSCAA All-American First Team. She had 26 points during her senior year, including a team-best 12 assists. She finished her career with a school record 114 points (43 goals, 28 assists in 86 games).

Volleyball

Canton’s Elizabeth Hamilton had a successful freshman year for Johnson & Wales volleyball and was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Third Team. The former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year was fourth in kills on the team with 202 and had the most assists for an attacking player with 40. She added 34 blocks (fifth on the team), was second on the team with 302 digs and had 37 aces.

Attleboro’s Michelle Sheehan made an impact during his freshman year with Mass. Maritime. The former Bombardier was second on the team with 240 assists. The freshman also had 194 digs and 51 kills for the Buccaneers.

In her sophomore season at Salve Regina, Canton grad Erin Proctor was second on the team with 339 assists in just 38 sets played – an impressive 8.92 assists per set. She added 99 digs and even chipped in with 14 kills. The sophomore had a season-high 57 assists in September against WPI.

Another former Canton standout, Chidera Nwankwo was second in kills for a young Suffolk squad. The sophomore had 138 kills with a team-high .238 attacking percentage. The middle hitter was second on the team with 43 blocks. Taunton’s Alyssa Gibson added 18 kills and eight blocks in her freshman season.

UMass Boston’s Julia Murphy was named an All-American by the Volleyball Coaches Association – one of three players from UMass Boston. After being named an honorable mention for the honor the last two years, Murphy was selected to the Second Team. Murphy was also named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight time – the first time in history a player has accomplished that. Murphy’s senior campaign has seen the Canton native set new program marks in solo blocks, block assist, total blocks, while also hitting a career-high .409. In 32 matches played, Murphy sits with a career-high 339 kill. She also boasts 42 solo blocks and 65 block assists for an impressive 107 total blocks.

King Philip alum Brigid Murray posted an impressive 712 assists this season while serving as Westfield State’s primary setter. She helped set up an offense that had 903 kills and 13 wins. Younger sister Micaela Murray made a splash in her first season by leading the Owls with 69 aces.

During her sophomore season, former Taunton standout Lauren Murphy had 55 kills for Worcester State. Former Mansfield standout Lauren Beecher recorded 95 kills during her junior season for Dickinson. Canton star Avery Devoe made a big impact with DI Ball State, notching 115 kills in 2016.

At WPI, the Engineers had three former Hockomock players help lead the way to a 22-win season. KP grad Melissa Daigle had 117 kills, 56 digs and 14 blocks. Franklin’s Shay Feeley was the primary setter, finishing her senior season with 491 assists and 173 digs.

Field Hockey

It was only fitting that the NCAA Division II National Championship and semifinals were hosted at Stonehill College in Easton. After all, there were plenty of familiar faces in the Hockomock town. In a semifinal matchup between LIU Post and Saint Anselm, there was a combined six former Hockomock players on the field. OA’s Molly Cunha played in 17 games for LIU Post, who lost in the finals.

Saint Anselm has plenty of Hockomock players. Former Franklin standout Elizabeth Alie was named NE-10 Defender of the Year and also earned Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American First Team Honors. Alie helped anchor a defensive back line that finished sixth in the country and second in the NE-10 in goals against average (1.02). Alie leaves the program having started all 75 games she has played in while helping the team improve from giving up 2.60 goals per game her freshman year, to the program-best 1.02 GAA the Hawks posted this season.

Oliver Ames’ Hannah Friend, a former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year, was tied for first in goals scored for the Hawks with seven. North Attleboro’s Rose Mooney was next on the team with six goals and three assists and Franklin’s Maddie Bressler followed her with four goals and five assists. Canton’s Mary Nee saw action in 19 games as well and recorded one assist.

For the second straight year, Canton’s Mary McNeil earned Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American honors. As a star player for Merrimack, McNeil earned First Team All-American honors following a season in which she led the Warriors in assists with seven and ranked third on the team with seven goals and 21 points. Her assist total was also tied for second in the NE-10 this season. Franklin’s Hannah Magerman added three goals and two assists for the Warriors, while Canton’s Lindsey Nolte and Milford’s Jess Palmer – both freshmen – saw action this season.

Former Foxboro star Katie Notarangelo continues to rack up recognition at the next level. Playing for MIT, Notarangelo was selected to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference First Team for the second straight year. Patrolling the midfield, Notarangelo helped generate a 341-171 margin in shots, a 224-106 advantage in shots on goal, and a 200-97 difference in penalty corners. She contributed to a defense that produced a 1.32 goals against average, which ranked second in the NEWMAC. Offensively, Notarangelo found the back of the net twice.

Regis College claimed the New England Collegiate Conference championship back in November with Oliver Ames product Yvonne Abate playing a big role. After Elms College took a lead in the first half, Abate stepped up to take a penalty stroke and beat the keeper to level the score. Abate was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Stoughton’s Ashley Chipman also started for Regis in the win, her 11th start of the season. Chipman finished tied for second on the team with six goals.

Former Franklin Panther Sammy Rondeau earned conference honors after a strong Fall season for Simmons. Rondeau was selected to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Second Team after ranking among the GNAC’s top top in points (23, 9th), goals (nine, 8th) and assists (five, 7th). The junior was one of two Simmons players to start all 19 matches and scored three game-winning goals for the sixth-most among league leaders. The forward registered at least one point in eight contests, including a career-high of six on two goals and two assists against Nichols.

A trio of former Hockomock players helped Springfield College pick up nine wins this Fall. Mansfield’s Allie Skinner started in 18 of her 19 games played, even registering an assist from her position on defense. Hannah Boylan, another former Hornet, started in 15 games, scoring a goal against Mount Holyoke. North Attleboro’s Emily Knobel saw action in 16 games, scoring two goals and adding three assists.

At UMass Dartmouth, a pair of former Hockomock players helped the Corsairs win seven games this season. Offensively, Taunton’s Katelin Morrissey was second on the team with 20 points – scoring eight goals and adding four assists. In goal, Franklin’s Allison Burke started five games and made a team-high 48 saves for a team-best .774 save percentage.

Oliver Ames’ Carly Cidado had a successful first year at WPI, finishing the season as one of the top scorers for the Engineers. The former Tiger had four goals – tied for fourth best on the team – and three assists, totaling 11 points, best among any freshmen or sophomores on the team.

Cross Country

Bridgewater State University might have been the biggest beneficiary from the Hockomock League across all sports. Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams received a big boost from a Hockomock grad. Taunton’s Trevor Wysong had a fantastic rookie campaign for the Bears and was named MASCAC Rookie of the Year. At the MASCAC Championships, Wysong finished the 8k with a time of 26:33, good enough for fourth. For the girls, Milford’s Jenise Madden was also named MASCAC Rookie of the Year. She finished the MASCAC Championships (5k) in 19:40.

10/12/2016

The Campus Report: Fall 2016 Midseason Update

The Hockomock Campus Report is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail info@HockomockSports.com.

Football

Milford’s Jarrod Casey currently leads Assumption in tackles through six games this season. Casey has a team-best 50 tackles (8.3 per game), including two tackles for loss and two interceptions as the team’s starting strong safety. Stoughton grad Brandon Swain-Price is third in receptions for the Greyhounds with 11 for a total of 250 yards and two touchdowns. The former Black Knight is averaging 19.1 yards per catch for Assumption (5-1). Another Milford alum – Patrick Corcoran – has played in five of six of Assumption’s games.

King Philip graduate Sam McDonald has started in all six of Bentley’s games this season and is second in tackles with 32 – best among defensive backs. McDonald has two interceptions, four pass breakups and three tackles for loss on the season for the Falcons. Taunton’s Shane Wellman has played in six games this year with five tackles, Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski (four tackles, one interception), Attleboro’s Luke Morrison (two tackles) and Franklin’s Quintin McDermott (one tackle) have all appeared in four games for the Falcons.

Former Franklin Panther Colton Cardinal has made four appearances on the gridiron for Boston College this season. Cardinal, who made two tackles for the Eagles last season, switched to the offensive side of the ball for 2016. From his fullback position, the sophomore has three receptions for 52 yards on the year.

Oliver Ames alum Cameron Williamson has been a steady contributed for the Bridgewater State Bears so far this season. A junior, Williamson has played in all six games so far this season with 19 solo tackles and 21 total. He came away with his lone interception of the season so far in a close win over Western Connecticut and has three pass breakups.

Although Brown is off to a 1-3 start, North Attleboro’s Alex Jette continues to be a bright spot. He leads the team with 25 receptions and has a team-best 271 yards through the air through four games, including one touchdown. He is fourth on the team in rushing as well with 48 yards on six carries (12 yards per carry), giving him a team-high 319 all-purpose yards. Jette is also the team’s punter, averaging 37 yards per punt with a long of 61 and six of his 24 punts landing inside the 20-yard-line.

Franklin’s Craig Anderson has been a key piece as Endicott has bounced back from a slow start to the season. After an 0-3 start, the Gulls have picked up two straight conference wins heading into a trip to Maine Maritime this weekend. Anderson is fifth on the team with 17 tackles and has appeared in all five games so far. Anderson has one sack and six tackles for loss, and blocked a field goal against Nichols. Oliver Ames grad Joe Tepper has two tackles this season and returned a kick for 13 yards.

Canton alum Sterlin Garvin is making an impact during his sophomore season at Fitchburg State. The former Bulldog is second in rushing for the Falcons with 133 yards on 43 carries (3.1 yards per carry). He found the end zone in Fitchburg’s win over Castleton in early September, scoring on a five-yard pass.

A handful of former Hockomock players continue to contribute to Framingham State’s success. On the defensive side of the ball, Attleboro alum Tom Burns is fourth on the team in tackles with 28 with just four of the team’s six games played. Burns has also recorded three pass breakups for the Rams. King Philip graduate Brian Donahue has appeared in all six games as a linebacker for Framingham with 18 tackles, including one sack and a pass breakup. Foxboro’s Derek Gilreath has a pair of tackles in five games played. Offensively, Stoughton’s Joe Wilder, a captain, has started all six games on the left side of the offensive line for the Rams.

A pair of former Kelley-Rex division rivals are now teammates at Nichols College, helping the Bison to two wins so far this season. Attleboro’s Brenden Massey has hauled in a team-high 20 catches this season for 323 yards (16.2 yards per catch). Masssey has also scored two touchdowns this season. King Philip’s Brett McEvoy is second on the team with 44 total tackles, including three tackles for a loss. McEvoy has also forced a fumble for the Bison through five games.

Attleboro’s Brendan Nunes and Franklin’s Danny McDermott are both making plays all over the field for the undefeated Salve Regina Seahawks. McDermott, a junior, has completed a pass, run the ball three times and even hauled in a 20-yard reception for Salve (4-0). Nunes, a freshman, is third on the team in all-purpose yards with 210 after emerging as the team’s primary return man. Nunes (one catch) has returned five kickoffs for a total of 171 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown against Worcester State. Nunes has also made a tackle on defense for the Seahawks.

UMass Dartmouth has three wins so far this reason with four former Hockomock athletes making plays on the defensive side of the ball. Mansfield’s David Collins in second on the team in tackles with 44, including 5.5 that went for a loss. Taunton’s Marcel Flynn has recorded 22 tackles, six of which have been for loss and has two blocked kicks on the season. Mansfield’s Louis Petrella had 18 tackles on the season, including a fumble recovery while Canton’s Anthony LaRose has 17 tackles and a team-high 2.5 sacks for the Corsairs.

Worcester State picked up its first win of the season this past week with a close 17-14 decision over Fitchburg. On the season, Milford’s Eric Nunez is fifth on the team with 28 tackles, including one sack. Mansfield’s Aurian Dawkins has recorded 22 tackles so far in four games played with three tackles for a loss and one interception. Offensively, Milford’s Jay Rodriguez has 37 yards on nine rushing attempts this season.

Men’s Soccer

Attleboro graduate Spenser Powell is having an impressive senior year at Adelphi. Powell has been honored as the NE-10 Conference Goalkeeper of the Week three times already this season while the Panthers are now ranked #14 by the NSCAA. Powell has started in all 10 games with a 0.41 goals against average and 34 saves. He has an 8-1-1 record with six shutouts.

Franklin’s Zach Scafati has started on defense in all 11 of Assumption’s games so far this season. The Greyhounds are allowing fewer than two goals per game. Scafati, a captain for the squad, also has four shots this year. Oliver Ames’ Chris Romero has appeared in seven games so far, including the last six straight. Romero recorded his first career point, scoring his first collegiate goal off a rebound.

Over at Brandeis, two former Hockomock players are making an impact for the Judges’ offense. North Attleboro’s Josh Ocel leads Brandeis in points with 11, tying for a team-high in goals (4) and assists (3). King Philip’s Andrew Allen is third in points (7), having netted a pair of goals this season while tying Ocel for the team-high with three assists.

The defending MASCAC champion Bridgewater State Bears have five former Hockomock athletes on the roster this season. The Bears (5-5-1) have Foxboro’s Sawyer Fleck, Riley Fleck and Brian Bortolotti along with Milford’s Justin Borges and Mike Da Silva. Sawyer Fleck is currently tied for third on the time with three points on three assists this season while Bortolotti has scored one goal. Riley Fleck has started in eight games this year while Borges had made three appearances off the bench.

Oliver Ames alum Adam Borbely has been a key player in Colby Sawyer’s 6-4-1 start this season. Borbely has notched one assist by has started in all 11 of the Chargers’ games so far this year. His 722 minutes played ranks sixth most on the team and he has registered two shots on goal.

Wentworth has recorded an 8-2-4 record so far this season with a pair of Hockomock grads contributing. Franklin’s Joe Kalil has started 13 of the team’s 14 games and registered five points – two goals and one assist. Kalil scored in a win at MIT and then again at home against Western New England. OA graduate Gaston Cetrangolo has made six appearances for Wentworth this season.

Keegan Nutt continues to make an impact in Easton, this time for the Stonehill Skyhawks. The former Oliver Ames standout and 2015 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection has played in and started all 12 games for Stonehill (5-7), just one of four players to do so. Nutt netted his first collegiate goal against Franklin Pierce back in September and has two assists this season.

King Philip graduate Joe Kellett has played nearly every minute of his rookie season so far for the 8-0-2 River Hawks of UMass Lowell. Kellett has started in all 10 of the team’s games (10) – just one of seven players to do so. His 930 minutes played rank fourth on the team and he’s registered four shots on goal.

Women’s Soccer

A trio of Hockomock alum have played in all 13 of Assumption’s games so far this year, helping the Greyhounds to a 6-6-1 record. Taunton’s Tayla Morais, a senior forward, has scored once and started a pair of games. Franklin’s Alexis Stowell has made five starts with a goal and assist while 2015 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Victoria Stowell has come off the bench in each game so far.

A pair of former teammates and MIAA State Champions found themselves on the same pitch again, this time as opponents when Kristi Kirshe and Williams College hosted Nicole Ellin and Bard College. Kirshe and Ellin were both part of Franklin’s title winning team in 2012. Kirshe notched two assists in the game and the Ephs emerged with a 5-0 win. Earlier this month, Kirshe became Williams’ (defending 2015 NCAA DIII National Champions) all-time leader in points with 102 and was named NESCAC Player of the Week two days later. For Bard, Ellin has started on defense in all 12 of the Raptors’ games this season. Bard is 7-5 overall this season.

North Attleboro’s Jamie Grinavic has been a key piece for Bentley this year as the Falcons are off to a 6-3-2 start this season. Grinavic, a senior midfielder, is fourth on the team in points after registering three assists and scoring one goal for five points. She’s just one of seven players to start in all 11 games so far this season.

Goals have been hard to come by in Bridgewater State’s games this year – both for and against – but a trio of Hockomock alums have helped the Bears in getting points in eight of their 11 matches. Taunton’s Alana Vincent leads BSU in scoring, netting four goals so far this year. The Bears have only allowed seven goals this season with Mansfield’s Katie Bongarzone (11 starts) and Molly Shield (10 starts) being big reasons why.

The Boston College Eagles are off to a 10-4-1 start this year with former Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman playing a big role. Berman has started all 15 games and played 1,205 minutes, good for fourth on the team. She has netted four goals so far and six assists, good for 14 points, third most for BC this year.

Milford’s Kaley Pratt has been a spark off the bench for Eastern Connecticut State this season and netted the game-winner in overtime against Keene State this past weekend. Pratt has three goals and one assist on the year, which puts her second on the team in points. Stoughton’s Rachel Berkowsky has started eight games so far for the Warriors (8-2-2) with one assist.

Oliver Ames’ Nicole Taylor has helped Endicott to a strong 9-2-2 start this season. Taylor, a senior captain, has started in seven games so far with the Gulls recording a 7-1-1 record in that stretch. The Gulls have limited opponents to just nine goals in those nine games with Taylor being a key piece on defense.

Stoughton’s Shelby Sprague continues to be an offensive juggernaut for Massasoit. After scoring 25 goals last season, Sprague has already scored 22 goals this year for the Warriors.

Providence College women’s soccer is off to a 9-4-2 start and is allowing less than a goal per game so far with two Hockomock alums playing big roles in the Friars’ defense. OA’s Kendall Andrew has appeared in 14 of the 15 games so far for the Friars while Canton’s Hailee Duserick has appeared in 10 games with seven starts.

Canton’s Kim McNally has played a big part in Sacred Heart’s 5-4-3 start this year, playing her usual strong defense but also contributing on the offensive side of the ball. McNally scored her first goal of the season in a 1-0 win on the road at Saint Peter’s in early September and then netted her second goal of the year in a 3-0 win over Robert Morris in early October.

Brianna Duserick has helped Stonehill to an incredible start, one that included the Skyhawks being ranked as high as #4 in the NSCAA Poll. Duserick, a Canton alum, is third in points for Stonehill (10-2-1) with one goal, which came at Franklin Pierce, and five assists, the last two coming in consecutive games against Assumption and Saint Michael’s.

Sharon graduate Meg James is just one of seven players to start in all 13 of the University of Vermont’s games this season. A defender, James has been a vital piece for the Catamounts over the years. Check out our feature on James from earlier this year.

Volleyball

Canton graduate Avery Devoe is seeing a lot of action for Ball State University this fall, the Cardinals registering eight wins through 20 matches so far. Devoe has 14 starts and played in 60 sets so far, notching 61 kills and serving over 90% so far. She leads Ball State with a total of 48 blocks so far.

At Bridgewater State, Mansfield’s Alyssa Kelley continues to contribute on defense for the Bears. Kelley has 115 digs and 193 serve receives thus far. Oliver Ames grad Megan Tamasanis has registered 23 kills in 33 sets played this season for the Bears.

Junior outside hitter Lauren Beecher is fourth in kills for the 9-9 Dickinson Red Devils. Beecher, a former Mansfield Hornet, has played in eight of Dickinson’s nine game, twice hitting double digits in kills. Beecher had 10 kills in a 3-1 win over Haverford and then 10 more kills on the road in a 3-2 win at Keystone.

Attleboro’s Michelle Sheehan is making an impact already for Mass Maritime as a freshman. Sheehan is second on the team with 170 assists and has 41 kills (fifth on the team) and has registered 150 digs so far for the Buccaneers.

Two former Hockomock rivals are now teaming up for the Suffolk Rams, who have played 18 matches this season. Canton’s Chidera Nwankwo is third in kills for the Rams with 82, hitting at a team-best .212 clip. Nwankwo also has a total of 28 blocks, which is second on the team. Taunton’s Alyssa Gibson, a freshman, has played in 14 matches so far and registered 18 kills and seven blocks.

Julia Murphy has hit a couple of milestones in her final year with the UMass Boston volleyball team. The Canton alum recorded her 1,000th career kill in a 3-0 win over Western Connecticut back on September 17th and was named Little East Offensive Player of the Week just two days later. In Murphy’s next game, she recorded her 121st career solo block, which set a new program record for the Beacons.

Westfield volleyball has 10 wins already this season with King Philip graduates Brigid Murray and Micaela Murray both factoring in. Bridget Murray leads the Owls with 499 assists this season, ranking fourth in the MASCAC with 6.61 assists per set. Bridget also has 21 aces on the season, tied for fourth on the Owls. Micaela Murray, in her first year, has three kills, four assists and a team high 53 aces, 0.76 per set – good for first in the MASCAC.

WPI volleyball has three Hockomock players to thank in part for its 17-4 start to the season. King Philip’s Melissa Daigle is third on the team in with 114 kills and also has 55 digs and 13 blocks. Franklin’s Shay Feeley is second on the team in assists with 319 and also has 101 digs and 24 aces, first on the team. Oliver Ames’ Caroline Meyer is third in assists with 35.

Field Hockey

Mansfield’s Janet Maher is just one of five players on Bridgewater State to start all 11 games so far, with the Bears posting a 7-4 record. Maher, a defender, has helped limit opponents to 26 goals against while also registering an assist herself. King Philip’s Kathryn Jacobson has appeared in nine games for the Bears and Foxboro’s Jill Delaney has played two games in goal with just one goal allowed.

Attleboro’s Kelsey Wagner has made two appearances for Duke Blue Devils, the #2 ranked team in the country with an 11-2 record. Wagner has played just under 40 minutes so far this season with three saves.

LIU Post is off to an 8-3 start this season and has been ranked as high as #1 in the NFHCA poll. Oliver Ames graduate Molly Cunha has appeared in nine games so far for the Pioneers.

Four former Hockomock players are making an impression for Merrimack (4-6) field hockey this season. Canton grad Mary McNeil is second on the team in points with four goals and four assists while Franklin’s Hannah Magerman is fourth, having scored three goals with two assists. Milford’s Jessica Palmer has appeared in nine games so far with four starts while Canton’s Lindsey Nolte made her first collegiate appearance earlier this year.

Katie Notarangelo is just one of five players to have started all 11 games of the season for MIT. The Engineers are off to a 9-2 start with Notarangelo playing a big role in midfield. The Foxboro alum has scored twice this season, once in a win over UMass Dartmouth and again in a win over WPI.

Regis College is off to a 6-5 start this season with a pair of former Hockomock players playing a big part. Oliver Ames’ Yvone Abate has started in every single game for the Pride so far. Stoughton’s Ashley Chipman has played in all 11 games with four starts and has netted a pair of goals. For her efforts, Chipman was named NECC Rookie of the Week earlier this month.

Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Hannah Friend picked up her second NE-10 Rookie of the Week honor earlier this week, helping Saint Anselm’s to a 10-2 start. Friend leads the Hawks with seven goals and two assists for a team-high 16 points. Franklin’s Maddie Bressler and North Attleboro’s Rose Mooney each have a pair of goals and assists for six points. Franklin’s Elizabeth Alie, a senior defender, has started in all 12 games for the Hawks this season while Canton’s Mary Nee, a freshman, has appeared in 11 games and registered one assist.

Former Franklin Panther Sammy Rondeau is second in points for the 7-5 Simmons field hockey squad. Rondeau has potted six goals and notched four assists for the Sharks. Rondeau has scored twice in two games this season, in home wins over Nichlos and Wheelock in September.

Springfield College’s field hockey team has picked up five wins in its first 12 games this season with a pair of Hock alums factoring in. North Attleboro’s Emily Knobel is tied for fifth on the team with five points, scoring once with three assists. Knobel scored against Husson and had assists against Keene St., Husson and Saint Joseph’s. Mansfield’s Allie Skinner has started in all 12 of the Pride’s games so far with one assist.

Taunton’s Katelin Morrissey is tied for second in points for the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth (4-10). Morrissey has scored six goals and added one assist for a total of 13 points. Franklin’s Allison Burke has started five games in net and played more than 400 minutes so far. She has a team-high 48 saves with a 2.33 goals against average.

Oliver Ames graduate Carly Cidado is making an impact in her first year at WPI. The freshman has started all 12 games this season for the Engineers, registering two goals and three assists for seven points – tied for fourth best on the team. Cidado scored in her first ever game and then netted another in a win over Clark last week. She had assists against Bridgewater State, Elms and Smith.

Cross-Country

Former Milford standout Jenise Madden has had an incredible start to her collegiate career, being named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Cross-Country Rookie of the Week an astounding four times already. Madden was the Bears’ top runner at the James Earley Invitational at Westfield State, finishing in 23:14.83 (22nd out of 459).

Also at Bridgewater State, another first year runner is turning heads. Taunton’s Trevor Wysong was named the MASCAC Men’s Cross-Country Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. Wysong was 50th out of 432, finishing in 27:00.24 at the James Earley Invitational.

Golf

Oliver Ames’ Nick Carter has played in three matches for Saint Anselm’s this season. In the season opening Bowdoin Invitational, Carter shot a 153 to finish ninth overall. At the NE-10 Championships, Carter was 56th with a 169 and then finished 36th at the St. Rose Shootout with a 161.

North Attleboro’s Eric Marchetti has played in three tournaments so far this season for the University of Rhode Island, finishing in the top 65 in each of them. At the Doc Gimmler at Bethpage State Park, Marchetti tied for 35th with a 216, just six strokes over par. At the Hartford Hawks Invitational and the Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge, Marchetti finished 61st overall both times.

04/28/2016

Campus Report: Hock Alumni Shine In Spring

Below is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail info@HockomockSports.com.

BASEBALL

Last week, USA Baseball announced its 60-man Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List and former Sharon star and current Union College junior pitcher Jake Fishman was among those listed. Fishman is one of only two non-Div. I players that were on the list, which includes 18 preseason picks and 42 players that were added over the course of the season.

Fishman is currently leading Union with a .383 batting average and has driven in 10 runs. He has also been a star on the mound with a miniscule ERA of 0.51 and a record of 4-0. He has thrown three complete games in five starts and has struck out 51 batters and allowed only two earned runs in 35 innings pitched. Opponents are batting .211 against Fishman this season.

The semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award will be announced by USA Baseball on June 1.

Former Attleboro High outfielder Matt Elliot went 4-5 in a doubleheader against Suffolk over the weekend. The Anna Maria College freshman is batting .294 this year with seven RBI and an OPS of .805. He is also 1-4 on the mound over six starts and has struck out 12 in 33-2/3 innings for the AMCATS.

Brendan Skidmore of Franklin has a seven-game hit streak going for Binghamton University. The junior infielder is batting a team-high .344 with seven homers and 28 RBI this season. His OPS is .983 and he has also been strong with the glove, boasting a fielding percentage of .994.

Former Oliver Ames pitcher David Holmes threw a complete game for Bridgewater State in the opening game of a doubleheader with Mass. College of Liberal Arts to pick up a 1-0 victory. Holmes struck out seven and allowed only four hits and improved to 4-1 on the season. He has an ERA of 3.00 on the season and batter are hitting only .247 against him this year. Also for the Bears, former Taunton player Travis Ritchie went 2-5 in the second game of the MCLA doubleheader and is currently batting .286 on the season, good for third on the team. He also has a homer and nine RBI.

J.J. Branch suffered his first loss of the season at Endicott in a 5-0 loss to Salve Regina on Sunday. Branch allowed three earned runs in seven innings and struck out a pair of hitters. For the season, the former Milford pitcher leads the Gulls with an ERA of 2.50 and is now 5-1 overall. He has struck out 33 batters in 57-2/3 innings pitched.

David MacKinnon went 3-4 and drew a pair of walks for Hartford in an 11-5 victory over Quinnipiac on Tuesday. The Oliver Ames star is now batting a team-high .372 with two homers and 22 RBI this season and is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak. MacKinnon has struck out a team-low 11 times in 148 at bats this year.

MacKinnon’s former teammate at Oliver Ames, Mike Ferrara, came through with a clutch at bat for Worcester State to help the Lancers beat Becker College in extra innings. Ferrara came through with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to tie it, before the Lancers added another for a 10-9 win. Ferrara was 2-4 with a pair of RBI in the game. The freshman is now hitting .279 on the season and has hit one homer and drive in 13 runs.

Former Foxboro player Connor Longley went 1-4 with an RBI and former Sharon pitcher Nate Pederson picked up the win with 2-2/3 innings of scoreless relief as Keene State beat Western New England on Monday. Longley, a freshman first baseman, has stepped right into the lineup and is batting .310 with a homer and 19 RBI. Pederson, also a freshman, is now 1-1 and has struck out six batters in 13-2/3 innings this season.

Junior third baseman Mike Slaby went 3-6 and scored a pair of runs for Lesley University in an 11-4 win against Mitchell College on Sunday that clinched the Lynx the fourth seed in the upcoming NECC Baseball Championship. In 34 games this season, the former Foxboro High player is batting .388 (good for second on the team), has scored 19 runs and picked up 16 RBI.

Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Max Lancaster went 3-9 for MIT in a doubleheader sweep of Wheaton College that earned the Engineers their second straight NEWMAC regular season title and top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. The Attleboro grad is batting .278 on the season and has three homers and 17 RBI in 20 games played.

Former North Attleboro player Dylon Grzenda drove in a pair of runs with a single to left as part of a four-run fourth inning that lifted the University of New Haven to a win against Saint Anselm on Monday. The freshman infielder has hits in five of his last eight appearances.

Another former Rocketeer, Matt Hardy, went 1-3 with a pair of RBI to help Nichols College earn a spilt of a doubleheader with Western New England on Sunday. The junior has a team-high .395 average and has driven in 19 runs this year for the Bisons. He has struck out only five times in 124 at bats and has scored 27 runs.

Junior pitcher Matt Nunes allowed three earned runs in 5-1/3 innings on Saturday to help Westfield State split a doubleheader with Fitchburg State. With the win, the former Taunton player improved to 2-1 on the season with an ERA of 5.04. Nunes also has one save this year and has struck out 29 batters in 25 innings of work.

SOFTBALL

Freshman pitcher Renee Poirier was named the Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week and the Patriot League Rookie of the Week after going 2-0 in the last week with no earned runs allowed. The former King Philip player threw a pair of complete games for the Black Knights to beat Quinnipiac and Holy Cross. For the season, Poirier is 7-5 with an ERA of 2.21 and has struck out 60 batters. Opponents are only hitting .231 against her. Army has won 30 games and reached 10 league wins for the first time since 2013.

Last year’s Hockomock League MVP Kelly Reading went 2-4 with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases on Saturday to help Cedar Crest College (Pa.) to a 9-2 win in the second game of a doubleheader with Keystone College. The former Taunton and Franklin player is batting .355 this season with an OBP of .418. She also leads the team with 14 steals and has driven in 16 runs.

Former Mansfield player Bri Chiusano, a senior at Coastal Carolina, was named the Big South Player of the Week on Monday. Chiusano batted .619 last week, going 13-21, with two RBI and nine runs scored. In the process, Chiusano set a Big South career mark with 196 runs scored. She has at least one hit in 30 of the past 32 games and is now third in the league with a .394 batting average and second with 71 hits and 49 runs scored. She is also among the nation’s best in stealing bases with 141 for her career, including 25 this season.

Franklin Pierce ended its softball season with a loss to Stonehill on Sunday and a couple of Hock alumni closed out strong seasons for the Ravens. Senior Patricia Hansen, a former Mansfield player, finished with a record of 6-4 and an ERA of 3.16. She struck out 39 in 75-1/3 innings and threw eight complete games. Sophomore Samantha Bonvino, a Milford alum, batted .293 with a homer and 13 RBI.

Another former Scarlet Hawk continues to pitch well for the University of Kentucky. Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Shannon Smith has made 14 appearances and nine starts for the Wildcats this season and has a record of 3-0 with an impressive ERA of 1.83. Smith, who won a pair of state titles for Milford, has struck out 72 batters in 42 innings and opponents are batting only .147 against her.

Senior Nicole LeBlanc became Lasell College’s all-time hits leader on Saturday with the 163rd base hit of her career during a doubleheader split with Rivier. LeBlanc, an Oliver Ames alum, had three hits and drove in four runs during a 9-1 victory in the opener and then added another RBI, the 100th of her career, in a 9-3 game two loss. LeBlanc is second on the Lasers in hitting this season with a .355 batting average and tops in slugging at .548. She has two of the team’s three homers and driven in a team-high 19 runs.

Former Oliver Ames player Lexi Soucie had a big day for Salve Regina against UMass Boston. On Monday, Soucie went 3-3 with two solo homers and drove in three runs to lead the Seahawks to a 7-5 extra innings win. She also went 1-3 with an RBI in the second game of the doubleheader. Soucie now has a team-leading four homers on the season and is batting .289. In the same game, Taunton grad Lauren Mitsiaris went 3-4 with three RBI and a run scored for the Beacons and in the second game added a hit and another RBI. In the second game, Sharon alum Kelsey Whiting pitched three innings of relief for UMass Boston, her longest outing of the season.

Although Simmons was swept in a doubleheader by Johnson and Wales, former Milford catcher Taylor LeBrun had a big day with a double and homer. She went 1-3 in game two and drove in three runs. Former North Attleboro player Mikaela Caracciolo also went 1-3 in game two with a bunt single. Caracciolo is hitting .375 this season and has driven in 19 runs. LeBrun has hit .317 in her freshman season with a pair of homers and 16 RBI and a .537 slugging percentage.

Sophomore Meg Colleran was named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week and UMass Co-Athlete of the Week after picking up a 4-0 record in five appearances in the circle with an ERA of .62. She tossed her sixth shutout of the season against George Washington and matched her career-high with eight strikeouts. She struck out 23 in batters in 22-2/3 innings. Colleran is 16-14 on the season with a 2.04 ERA and 112 strikeouts.

Hannah Smith of Attleboro tossed a complete game in a 2-1 loss for UMass Dartmouth against Keene State. Smith struck out four in the loss and moved her season record to 11-7 with an ERA of 2.59. In the second game of the doubleheader King Philip alum Maddie O’Gryzek went 2-4 for the Corsairs with a run scored and an RBI. She is batting .319 in her rookie season.

Former Milford player Caroline Fairbanks went 5-8 as Wheaton College split a doubleheader with Smith College on Sunday. She went 2-4 in the opening game (an 8-6 loss) and drove in a pair of runs. In the second game, Fairbanks went 3-4 and drove in another three runs. Fairbanks is hitting .427 this year with nine homers and 31 RBI. In the same game former Franklin player Rebecca Seifert went 1-3 with an RBI, as Wheaton rolled to an 8-1 win.

MEN’S LACROSSE

Former King Philip attacker Brandon King scored a hat trick for Clark University in a 14-8 win over Mass. Maritime that helped the Cougars reach nine wins in a season for the first time in program history. He added another goal on Wednesday in a loss to Springfield College. King, a freshman, is among the team leaders with 12 goals this season and he has also recorded an assist for Clark.

Former Franklin player Connor Trainor made 10 saves for St. Joseph’s College of Maine in a loss to Mount Ida. Trainor, a sophomore, has started all 15 games this year and has made 182 saves, including twice making 18 saves in a game (in losses to Johnson and Wales and the University of New England).

Former Sharon player Jake Rotman has played in 15 games this season for Salisbury University and has scored 15 goals and assisted on 11 others for the country’s No. 1 ranked Div. III team, according to LaxMagazine and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association coaches poll. The senior midfielder has jumped from 12 points last year to 26 this season, as the Sea Gulls get set for the conference tournament final.

Alex Pacitti scored a first half goal for St. Anselm in a 14-8 win over Bentley that clinched the team a berth in the NE-10 tournament for the third time in the past four seasons. Pacitti, a junior midfielder from Foxboro, is tied for second on the team with 20 goals and has also chipped in with five assists in 12 games.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Nicole Ellin had a goal and assist, three draw controls, and forced two turnovers in Bard College’s loss to Rochester on Friday. The former Franklin lax and soccer star added a goal and three ground balls in a loss to RIT on Saturday. Ellin led the team with 25 goals and 31 points this season. She added 44 draw controls and 36 ground balls for the Raptors.

Mansfield alum Kristen Tuleja had two goals and three assists for Emmanuel College in a 20-8 win over Rivier last Saturday, Heading into the regular season finale this weekend, the senior midfielder has a team-high 54 goals and added 15 assists. In her four-year career, Tuleja has scored 206 goals and has recorded 77 assists.

Sophomore Jaimee Lutz has been on a scoring streak for Fitchburg State. The Foxboro grad has scored at least one goal in her last nine games, eight of those were wins for the Falcons. Lutz has 23 goals and eight assists on the season. Her former Foxboro teammate Carrie Long has also had a strOng sophomore season for the Falcons with 10 goals and an assist. Long scored two goals in a game twice, including two against Worcester State on Saturday, and has played in all 17 games.

Another former Foxboro player, Katie Notarangelo, had three draw controls in MIT’s loss to Babson College on Wednesday. Notarangelo, a sophomore midfielder, is fourth on the team with 41 points this season (35 goals and six assists). She is also third on the team with 29 ground balls and second with 45 draw controls.

Former King Philip player Alyssa DeLuca has scored 16 goals in the last five games for Illinois Tech, including four against Concordia Chicago and then a hat trick against Benedictine on Wednesday. DeLuca has scored 49 goals this season, 17 more than the team’s next top scorer, and also has four assists. She is also third on the team with 25 draw controls despite missing a pair of games in midseason.

Bridget Doherty scored a hat trick and added an assist for Lasell College in a big win over Albert Magnus on Tuesday. It was the second straight hat trick for the Franklin alum, a senior midfielder, who also scored three goals against Johnson and Wales. Doherty has scored 20 goals in 15 games this season and also has 16 assists.

Canton grad Sam Sullivan scored five goals in Plymouth State’s 13-7 win over Southern Maine on Wednesday. The sophomore attacker has scored a team-high 40 goals this season and added five assists for the Panthers. It was the second time this season that Sullivan notched five goals in a game and she also scored six against Lasell in March. Fellow sophomore Jordyn Kim of Sharon has played in 12 games this season and has chipped in with a goal.

Two-time HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Marta Versprille scored a pair of goals for St. Anselm College against Assumption on Wednesday. It was the fourth straight game with at least one goal for the sophomore midfielder, who is fourth on the team with 13 goals this season. She also has four assists and is second on the team with 24 draw controls, tied for third with 17 ground balls, and tied for the team lead with 17 caused turnovers.

Salve Regina senior Abby Tepper closed out her collegiate career with two goals and two assist in a loss to UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday. Tepper was tied for second on the team with 23 goals and added five assists. She was also second on the team with 35 ground balls and tied for fourth with 10 caused turnovers. Former Attleboro player Kerri Beland started nine games this season for Salve and had 18 ground balls and six draw controls.

Foxboro alum Ellen Decker scored a pair of goals and had two assists in Southern New Hampshire’s loss to New Haven on Wednesday. The junior midfielder has scored 24 goals and assisted on 18 others this season, good for fourth on the team in scoring. She is also third on the team with 39 draw controls. Another former Foxboro player, freshman Mary Beth Sweeney, has played in all 16 games for SHNU this year and has scored seven goals and had three assists in her rookie campaign.

Westfield State senior captain Blair Smith of Milford scored from 10 yards out with 1:10 left in overtime to hand the Owls a 12-11 victory over Bridgewater State on April 19. Smith is tied for second on the team with 20 goals this season. Olivia Overdahl, another former Milford player, has played 14 games and scored two goals in her freshman season. Liz Navoni, a freshman from Mansfield, has scored four goals in 13 games this year and Maria Woodall, a freshman goalie from King Philip, has played in six games and made 11 saves.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Providence College senior Alana Prinos, a Foxboro grad, closed out the regular season by helping the Friars top doubles team earn a point in 6-1 loss to Seton Hall that closed out the regular season. Heading into the Big East Championships, Prinos has a career singles record of 46-44 and doubles record of 46-43.

Emma Prinos of Foxboro picked up a point at second doubles for Stonehill in a narrow win against Hartford on April 17. Prinos teamed with fellow sophomore Victoria Barbetta for a 7-5 win in the final regular season match.

Team: Franklin Girls Soccer Year: 2012 Record: 22-0-1 2012 Kelley-Rex Division Champions 2012 Division 1 State Champions

Opponent

Result

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer

Volleyball

Field Hockey

Cross Country

Football

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Soccer

Volleyball

Field Hockey

Cross-Country

Golf

Team: Franklin Girls Soccer
Year: 2012
Record: 22-0-1
2012 Kelley-Rex Division Champions
2012 Division 1 State Champions