Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 05/11/21

Today’s games are listed below.

Baseball
Attleboro, 8 @ Taunton, 3 – FinalAttleboro exploded for six runs in the top of the first and never looked back, securing their first win of the season with an 8-3 decision over Taunton. Senior Jake Gorman, junior Evan Houle, and sophomore Owen Taber each had two hits for the Bombardiers while senior Bailey Camacho drove in a pair of runs. Junior Billy Saltmarsh picked up the win with five strong innings of work on the mound while sophomore Danny Johnson pitched well in two innings of relief.

Canton, 6 @ Stoughton, 0 – FinalCanton junior Andrew Middleton dazzled on the mound for the second straight start, tossing his second straight shutout. After a perfect game in his first start, Middleton allowed just one hit — a bunt — in a complete-game effort, striking out 16 for the second straight contest. He walked just two batters while throwing 65 of his 94 pitches for strikes. Offensively, senior Cam Sanchez set the tone from the leadoff spot with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, sophomore Matt Chafin drove in two runs on two hits, and Steven Burbank and Middleton each had an RBI.

Foxboro, 4 @ Sharon, 1 – FinalFoxboro got the bats going early with three runs in the second inning and Dylan Quinn was solid on the mound from start to finish as the Warriors picked up their first win of the season. Quinn allowed one run on three hits and two walks, striking out two in five innings of work. Sophomore Sean O’Leary pitched two scoreless innings in relief with one strikeout for the save. Sophomore Ryan LeClair (run) and junior Jack Watts (run) each had a pair of hits for Foxboro, which totaled 10 as a team. Liam Mulkern and Quinn reach drove in a run in the win.

Franklin, 4 @ Milford, 2 – FinalAfter Milford tied the game with a run in the bottom half of the sixth, Franklin regained the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh to sweep the series with the Hawks. Jacob Jette’s pinch-hit RBI single drove in Jack Marino for what proved to be the game-winning run, and Jette scored the insurance run on contact from Ryan Gerety. Ethan Voellmicke picked up the win in a relief appearance, tossing two innings with three strikeouts while James Kuczmiec earned the save, stranding the tying run at first. Jake Fitzgibbons was the starter for the Panthers, allowing one run on three hits in four innings of work with three strikeouts. Nate Cooke added a hit, a walk, and two RBI for the Panthers. For Milford, Wes Solomon tossed a complete game with four runs allowed (three earned) on four hits, striking out two while Mario Lee had a hit and a run scored.

King Philip, 5 @ Mansfield, 6 – FinalKing Philip rallied to erase a five-run deficit but Mansfield jumped back ahead with the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Chris Potts drew a bases-loaded walk to push across the go-ahead run as Mansfield moved to 2-0 on the season. The Hornets plated four runs in the top of the first and added one more in the second but KP responded with two in the third and three in the fifth to tie the game. Potts’ walk was one of nine drawn by the Hornets on the day, who had just five hits total. Juniors Anthony Sacchetti and Aaron Blinn each had a hit and an RBI for Mansfield. Freshman Jake Maydak earned the win in relief, striking out three with just one walk allowed in 2.1 scoreless innings of work. For KP, Shawn Legere went 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored, and Conor Cooke recorded a pair of hits, runs, and RBI.

Oliver Ames, 8 @ North Attleboro, 6 – FinalOliver Ames rallied from a four-run deficit, scoring four runs in the top of the sixth inning to secure a win on the road against North Attleboro. Jadon Ricci had the big two-run hit in the sixth and added a run himself on a passed ball. Jake Waxman added a hit and an RBI and Derek Milliken had two hits, including a double, and an RBI to pace the Tigers’ offense. Kosta Spiliakos pitched five innings for OA with two strikeouts and two walks while Nick Clark threw two innings of hitless relief, striking out the last four batters to earn the save.










Softball
Taunton, 13 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final (6 inn.)Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Hanna Aldrich hit a pair of homers and drive in five runs and freshman Sam Lincoln struck out 10 over five innings to earn a win in her first career start, as Taunton swept its home-and-home series with Attleboro. Taunton wasted little time getting its offense into gear. Angie Lynch and Kyleah Plumb had back-to-back singles and then Aldrich drilled a homer to left center. Although one of the runners was ruled out for not touching third, Taunton got its third run when McKenzie McAloon crushed a solo homer to left field. The Tigers added one in the fourth when Hayley Krockta’s base hit skipped past the left fielder and she came all the way around to make it 4-0. The floodgates opened in the fifth, as Taunton scored six times on four hits and a couple of costly Attleboro miscues in the field. Aldrich and Kelsey White each plated a run with singles and Skyler Rheaume drove in one with a sac fly. Taunton scored five unearned runs off Attleboro starter Lindsey Perry in the game. Lincoln dominated the first five innings, allowing only three base runners, two hits, and one ball out of the infield (a single to right by Rylie Camacho). Lincoln struck out the side in both the third and fourth innings. Aldrich tacked on two more with her second homer of the day in the sixth and White scored on a passed ball to end the scoring. White, who struck out 16 on Monday, came in to pitch in the sixth and struck out the side to seal the win.

Sharon, 1 @ Foxboro, 11 – FinalFoxboro eighth-grader Emma Callahan continued to shine during his debut season, getting it done both in the circle and at the plate. Callahan allowed just one hit while striking out 12 in the win. At the plate, she helped her own cause with three hits. Sophomore Ally Foulsham made her pitching debut for the Eagles and struck out five. Trinity Payne accounted for the lone Sharon run with a solo homer.

Milford, 9 @ Franklin, 11 – FinalFranklin prevailed with an 11-9 win in a back-and-forth battle with visiting Franklin to present head coach Katie Holbrook with her first career win. In an offensive battle, senior Gabby Colace clubbed out four hits and scored four runs, driving in three runs and junior Julia White added three hits with two RBI. Senior Lauren Cote (two doubles, two RBI) and freshman Carly Johnson-Pellegri (two doubles, two runs) each added two hits in the win. Milford’s Carly Ferreira went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, three runs, and RBI, Elise Fauerbach went 5-for-5 with two runs, and freshman Maddie Burns had four hits, two RBI, and a run scored.

Mansfield, 0 @ King Philip, 17 – Final (5 inn.) – King Philip’s offense continued its hot start to the season, this time putting up 17 runs at PAL in a win over visiting Mansfield. Charlotte Raymond clubbed four doubles for the Warriors, driving in three runs and crossing home three times as well. Sophomore Libby Walsh added three hits, including a double and a triple, while knocking in four runs, and sophomore Sarah Cullen went 3-for-3, reaching a fourth time after being hit by a pitch, and had a home run, a double, and a single with three RBI. Jordan Bennett, who had two doubles at the plate, tossed a five-inning shutout, allowing two hits while striking out six.

Stoughton, 9 @ Canton, 4 – FinalStoughton sophomore Kerry Driscoll earned her first career win as the Black Knights earned a season sweep of rival Canton. Driscoll threw four innings with one run allowed on four hits and four strikeouts. Nicole Baker came in for three innings of relief for Stoughton. Offensively, freshman Julie Powers led the charge with three hits, including a double and a triple, with two RBI and two runs scored. Mel Casna and Alyssa Edwards each drove in a pair of runs for Stoughton, Sarah McGrath added two hits, and Sydney Menz and Catherine Leal (RBI) each had a hit in the win. Liz Bickett went 4-for-4 and Ellie Bohane went 2-for-3 with a double for the Bulldogs.

North Attleboro, 15 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final (5 inn.)Kelly Colleran earned her career win, allowing only one hit and striking out eight Tigers over five innings. She also continued her hot start at the plate, racking up three hits and driving in three. She now has 10 hits in the first three games of her career. Belle Clarkin had two hits and also drove in three for North, while Emily Nardelli had two hits and three runs scored. Mandi Hanewich scored three times and Ally Levine hit a homer and drove in a pair. Caitlin Miller had a hit and scored a run for OA while Emma Varella had three strikeouts in the circle.




Boys Tennis
Taunton, 0 @ Attleboro, 5 – FinalAttleboro completed the series sweep of the Tigers, this time taking a 5-0 decision. All three singles players won in straight sets for the Bombardiers with Ethan Johnson winning 6-4, 6-3 at first singles, Evan Sousa winning 6-2, 6-2 at second singles, and Matt Lortos taking a 6-3, 6-2 decision at third singles. The team of Alejandro Jimenez and Kevin Rebelo prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at first doubles while Malachi Jefferson and Alex Suarez didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 victory at second doubles.

Stoughton, 1 @ Canton, 4 – FinalWaseem Sablon won in straight sets at first singles for Stoughton but Canton took the points in the other four matches to get the victory. Sablon won 6-0, 6-3 at first singles for the Black Knights while Max Kupferman earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles for Canton, and Minh Duong grabbed a 6-2, 6-2 win at third singles for the Bulldogs. The team of Ethan Nguyen and Jalen Townsend secured a 6-0, 6-2 win at first doubles while Elias Jabbour and Charlie Doody picked up a 6-3, 6-1 win at second doubles.

Sharon, 5 @ Foxboro, 0 – FinalSharon went on the road and won all five matches in straight sets to sweep the series against Foxboro. Mehul Bhattacharyya didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles, Max Chen secured a 6-3, 6-3 win at second singles, and Rithrik Neti emerged with a 6-4, 7-5 win at third singles. The team of freshmen Matthew Lally and Alex Budovaloev earned a 6-1, 6-2 win at first doubles while juniors Mitch Weiss and Deyan Kassev teamed up for a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles.

Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – FinalFranklin defended its home court, taking care of business with a clean sweep of visiting Milford. Both Liam Marr (first singles) and Vayshnav Malhotra (second singles) won 6-0, 6-0 while Drew Mahoney earned a 6-1, 6-0 victory at third singles. The first doubles team of Anish Gundimeda and Sameen Shaik took home a 6-2, 6-0 win while Thomas Broyles and Jay Gorgas won at second doubles with a score of 6-0, 6-0.

Mansfield, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – FinalMansfield went on the road and won all five matches in straight sets to sweep the series against King Philip. Kailash Elumelai earned a 6-0, 6-2 win at first singles, Dheeraj Valluru took a 6-1, 6-4 decision at second singles, and Benson Delaney didn’t drop a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles. The team of seniors Kai Schirmacher and Nikhil Lanikpalle secured a 6-0, 6-1 win at first doubles while the team of junior Jonah Fine and senior Adam Elsner picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win at second doubles.

North Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – FinalNorth Attleboro made it three straight wins to start the season, taking another 5-0 decision over Oliver Ames. Jonah Manso (first singles) and the team of Brody Carter and Niteesh Saravanan (second doubles) both won by the score of 6-0, 6-0 for the Rocketeers. Sam Gallagher added a 6-2, 6-1 win at second singles, Will Folan picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win at third singles, and the team of Connor Willis and Sayf Siddiq earned a 6-1, 6-1 decision at first doubles.




Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – FinalAttleboro won a pair of matches in both singles and doubles action to get their second straight win over the Tigers. First singles Ella Lynch-Bartek (6-3, 6-4) and second singles Lauren Anthony (6-1, 6-1) each won in straight sets for the Bombardiers. The first doubles team of Rachel Rainey and Tina Lam won 7-5, 1-6, 10-8 while the pairing of freshmen Maddie Fulscado and Kyra Johnson picked up a 7-5, 6-1 win at second doubles. Taunton’s Cayeesha Charles won 6-0, 6-3 at third singles.

Canton, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – FinalA day after suffering a loss to Canton on the road, Stoughton flipped the script and earned a 3-2 win at home over the Bulldogs. Allie Lada emerged with a three-set win at second singles (6-0, 3-6, 6-4) to secure the winning point for the Black Knights. Lena Allie added a 6-3, 6-2 win at third singles, and the team of Nadia Prokopiuk and Stefani Reznikow picked up a 6-2, 6-1 win at second doubles. Canton’s Rachel Kupferman won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles while Lily Hazam and Olivia Durham teamed up for a 6-0, 6-0 win at first doubles.

Foxboro, 3 @ Sharon, 2 – Final For the second straight day, Foxboro won at all three singles matches to get a victory over Sharon. Freshman Athena Li won 6-1, 6-0 at first singles, Pam Nelson earned a 6-1, 6-1 win at second singles, and Sarah Prag once again won a close set at third singles, this time 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to help the Warriors earn the victory. The team of Anjali Jha and Julia Zevelinsky emerged with a 7-6 (7-3), 1-6, 6-1 win at first doubles while Alice Zaniewski and Sophia Oh picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win at second doubles.

Franklin, 5 @ Milford, 0 – FinalFranklin won its second straight match, this time going on the road to Milford and getting a sweep. Junior Vedika Vinayek picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at first singles, freshman Hailey Morin earned a 6-0, 6-3 win at second singles, and junior Sarah Schiavo was victorious at third singles with a score of 6-0, 6-0. The team of sophomores Kelsey Maguire and Allison Bagley prevailed at first doubles 5-7, 6-4, 10-7 while the pairing of sophomores Lexi Masters and Tanvi Shah won 6-0, 6-2 at second doubles.

King Philip @ Mansfield, 3:45

Oliver Ames, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – FinalNorth Attleboro won all three singles matches to defend home court, earning a second straight win over Oliver Ames. Junior Charlotte Moynihan prevailed in a tight battle at first singles, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3), senior Haley Strom earned a 6-0, 3-6, 6-0 win at second singles, and freshman Lauren Hunt won 6-2, 6-4 at third singles. Oliver Ames’ Kate McLaughlin and Grace Houser picked up a 6-4, 6-4 win at first doubles while Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper secured a 6-2, 6-0 win at second doubles.




Boys Outdoor Track
Stoughton, 91 @ Canton, 45 – FinalCanton’s Deyontai Dennis broke the school record in the long jump, taking first with a leap of 21’11.5″, while also winning both the 400MH (60.4) and the 110MH (17.0).

Oliver Ames, 88 @ Foxboro, 47 – Final

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Taunton, 67 @ King Philip, 69 – Final

Girls Outdoor Track
Stoughton, 62 @ Canton, 74 – FinalCanton’s Maddie Rousseau won four events and broke her school record for the second straight meet. Rousseau set a new Bulldog record in the 100M hurdles, clocking in at 14.9. She also placed first in the 200M (26.2), the triple jump (31’0.5″), and the high jump (4’10”). Kiara Cerruti set a pair of new PRs in the win, taking first in the 1 Mile (5:46.9) and second in the 800M (2:36.2).

Oliver Ames, 75 @ Foxboro, 60 – Final

Sharon @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Taunton @ King Philip, 3:45

Wrestling
Foxboro, 45 @ Taunton, 36 – Final

King Philip, 24 @ Sharon, 48 – Final

North Attleboro, 40 @ Milford, 31 – Final

2020 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Hockomock League Field Hockey
Foxboro and Canton enter the season as the favorites in the Hockomock League’s Davenport division. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2020 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Attleboro

2019 Record: 9-8-3
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Lindsay Antunes
The Bombardiers had one of their best years in recent memory during the 2019 season and with a strong group of returning players, are looking to carry that success over to 2020.

While replacing HockomockSports Player of the Year Anna Beck will certainly be a tough task, the Bombardiers have a lot of talented players back ready to take advantage of the pace and space that comes with 7v7 field hockey — a new rule modification this season. There is a lot of firepower in the Attleboro offense, a group that has played together before and is always looking to set each other up. Senior captains Amanda Burns (five goals, nine assists), Campbell Compton, and Hannah Webster will spearhead the attack alongside junior Madison Ellis (seven goals, six assists).

Attleboro’s defensive unit is coming along, showing plenty of progress in preseason alone. With some open spots up for grabs on defense, potential candidates took advantage of offseason club teams to improve their game. Senior Kiara Murray will be an important part of the backline while junior Ava Haggerty returns in net after a stellar sophomore season.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the accomplishments and success of this team this season,” said Attleboro head coach Lindsay Antunes. “The strong leadership skills, the positive attitudes and the confidence my players have this season is amazing to see given the nature of this season and all of the changes and challenges. We have a lot of returning players with tremendous skill, paired with new additions to our roster who are sure to make an impact this season.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Canton

2019 Record: 12-4-3
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Chrissy O’Connor
Expectations are high in Canton as the Bulldogs, one of the perennial league powers year in and year out, will be looking to repeat as Davenport division champions. A big reason for that optimism is the amount of returners from last year’s squad that had 12 wins, just one league loss, and a division-best 61 goals scored.

Senior captain Maria Femia played a part in nearly half of those goals, finding the back of the net five times while recording a Hockomock-best 27 assists. She’ll work alongside Meghan LaBelle (nine goals, eight assists) to form one of the most dangerous attacking units in the Hockomock League.

Beyond Foxboro, one of the biggest challenges the Dogs will face this year is the new rule modifications. Just six players plus a goalie will grace the field at one time, meaning a lot more space to cover. Add in the fact the girls have to wear a mask while wearing a mouthguard.

Allie Gefteas and Lizzie Tassinari will be key pieces in the Canton lineup as well. While defending will look a bit different this year with breakaways more of a concern than penalty corners (which aren’t allowed), the Dogs have senior Riley O’Connor back in net. O’Connor has been one of the top goalies in the Hock the past two seasons and is very aggressive off her line.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to be back on the field this season,” said Canton head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “Our team has worked hard to be here and they do not take it for granted. Our seniors who have played together since a young age deserve to have a competitive and fun season. We look forward to getting started with games next week.”

Foxboro

2019 Record: 13-2-5
2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Melissa Bordieri
Last year’s Davenport division race came down to just one game, with Canton taking the title with two more points than Foxboro. With just 10 games on tap this season, the Warriors know each point is vital if they want to try and knock off the Bulldogs atop the division.

Replacing Jaime Notarangelo won’t be easy but the Warriors have options and depth as they navigate the new rules of 2020. Foxboro is coming off a 13-win season that ended in the D2 South Quarterfinal round.

Senior Ella Waryas will be a key piece in the middle of the field for the Warriors this season. Her ability to play strong defense and then transition into a key piece of the offense will be vital in the new 7v7 style. Sophomore Mya Waryas (seven goals in 2019) had a breakout season and could be an important part of the Foxboro attack in 2019. The Warriors will also see production from senior Molly McElhinney, juniors Kate Collins and Mikayla Doherty, and sophomore Dylan Rappoli (four goals, four assists in 2019).

All-Hockomock selection Shannon Egan is back to anchor a defensive unit that was the best in the Hockomock League last season with just 11 goals allowed. And on top of that, senior Hannah Trombley is back in the cage to anchor the defensive unit.







Hockomock League Field Hockey

Franklin

2019 Record: 15-3-2
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Michelle Hess
When you look at the talent the Panthers possess on their roster this season, it’s hard not to immediately think what kind of run they could go on in the postseason. Unfortunately, there aren’t any playoffs this season so Franklin’s focus zeroes in on one thing: repeating as Hock champs.

A year removed from going undefeated against league opponents, the Panthers enter the 2020 season as the favorites to take home another Kelley-Rex title. For starters, Franklin has its top three scorers back from last year’s team that scored a Hockomock-best 91 goals. Amanda Lewandowski (20 goals, 10 assists), Stephanie Bell (14 goals, eight assists), and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Kaitlyn Carney (14 goals, eight assists) combine to make the Panthers one of the most lethal teams in the region.

Franklin’s offense even more of a boost with the return of senior captain Sara Carney (who missed last season with an injury) and junior forward Jill Fenerty.

Senior captain Neilee Hess anchors the defensive unit as the starting goalie. Hess’ experience will be vital as Franklin has some new faces on its defensive unit, including Molly Collins, Kendall Jones, and Kate O’Rourke. Freshman midfield Sophia Cuneo could make an impact right away.

“I am extremely proud of my team and how they have adapted to the modifications,” said Franklin head coach Michelle Hess. “They have taken a situation that could have put a damper on their enthusiasm and shared with me that they are just ready to get to work. They have a Hock Title to defend and these modifications are not going to stop them from accomplishing their goal of a Back to Back Kelley-Rex Title!”

King Philip

2019 Record: 10-7-3
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round
Coach: Lisa Cropper
King Philip had a lot of new faces last year, but there wasn’t a huge drop-off from the team’s success of the back-to-back title-winning seasons, as the Warriors finished in second place in the Kelley-Rex division and picked up a win in the postseason. With returning players all over the field, KP has high expectations to challenge Franklin for a league title this fall.

Speed will be one of the strengths for the Warriors, who will try to take advantage of experience on the wings in the new 7-on-7 format. Seniors Abby Nixon and Paige Berdos are both coming off strong seasons in the attack and senior midfielders Grace and Isabelle Crocker will push forward to add more threats in front of goal.

Experience will be a key to the defensive effort this year, starting in goal with senior Makenzie Manning, who has been on of the league’s top shot stoppers (and showed it in the season-opening win against Mansfield). Junior Molly Piller had a very strong sophomore season and will be the team’s sweeper, while juniors Christina Gifun and Morgan Cunningham and senior Alli Beltramini are all back as part of the defensive unit.

“We have a lot of experience, but I’m not sure how much that will help us with no penalty corners and only six field players,” said KP coach Lisa Cropper. “Hopefully our depth and overall team speed will help to cover all that empty space out there this year.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Mansfield

2019 Record: 12-7-2
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Theresa Nyhan
Longtime Mansfield head coach Theresa Nyhan is excited to see what the 2020 version of the Hornets can do on the field this season. The new rule modifications have taken some players off the field, making it 7-v-7, but that opens up a lot of space on the field.

That space benefits the Hornets as Nyhan says her squad has speed in both the attacking and defending ends of the field. But the new rules also bring a pair of intriguing challenges. First will be figuring out a new substitution pattern that keeps players fresh for 60 minutes, and the other is adjusting the offense without penalty corners — not only for gameplan purposes but for the active rest players can get while setting up.

The Hornets have a large number of seniors and juniors on the team this year, hoping that experience will translate to success on the field. Tai-captains Abby Varracchione, Alex Burnham, and Grace Danehy lead the way for the Hornets and will be vital to the success of the squad. Seniors Fiona Katz, Stori Rounds, and Emma Kelly will bolster the forward group, Lindsay Devine, Grace Fernandez, and Ally McDevitt provide depth to the midfield, and Bella Deberghes, Lily O’Brien, and Leah Sheehan are important pieces to the defensive puzzle.

Juniors Caitlin Dumouchel, Celia Puleo, Maddy Brown, and Grace Bertolino should factor in this season while sophomore Lilly Danehy will take over as the starting goalie. Nyhan expects freshman Lola Varracchione to be an impact player at the varsity level right away.

“The Mansfield field hockey community wants to thank all who have worked long and hard to make a season possible,” Nyhan said. “We are grateful seniors have a “senior season” and look forward to competing!’




Milford

2019 Record: 4-12-2
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Tim Dowd
The Scarlet Hawks saw improvement during the 2019 season and are hoping that upward trajectory continues into 2020 under new head coach Tim Dowd.

Milford will be leaning on its three captains to lead the way: Maddy Carneiro, Olivia Macleod, and Olyvia Whyte. All three have been cornerstones of the program and will be leaders both on and off the field.

Maddy Hunt will start in the cage for the Hawks, who will be putting a lot of importance into the defensive side of the ball. With the new rule modifications meaning there will be more breakaways, the Hawks are hoping to have good numbers defensively to give Hunt as much help as possible.

Offensively, the Hawks will turn to speedy juniors Emma Tredeau and Stephanie Wong to try and take advantage of all of the space on the field. With just six field players, conditioning and positioning are going to be of the utmost importance.

“It’s certainly going to be an interesting season as we all try to adjust to the modifications and a new way of approaching the game,” Dowd said. “We’re just focusing on working hard and keeping a positive attitude.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

North Attleboro

2019 Record: 6-8-4
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Karen Folan
North Attleboro finished third in the Davenport division last season, just two points out of a playoff spot, but will not only have to contend with the typical top two of Canton and Foxboro but will also have Oliver Ames in the division this year and the modified 7-on-7 rules, which should make this an interesting fall.

The Rocketeers have a strong group of returning players that they can count on and expectations of being competitive in every game, but also are trying to adapt to new positioning and the much quicker transitions that come from having fewer players and more space on the field. Senior forwards Lauren Abusheery and Emma Bailey will look to take advantage of those openings to create scoring chances, while sophomores Ava Spencer and Caroline Folan are newcomers that have shown a scoring touch in the preseason.

In the midfield, senior Nora Dluhy is a consistent performer wherever she lines up and sophomore Julia Puccio has the speed and ball control to weave through defenders. Senior Emily Daby will lead the defensive unit and can also step up into the midfield and carry possession, which will be a big help with the new rules. Senior Hannah Bachand will take over in goal this season.

The team is excited to start games this week,” said North coach Karen Folan. “I’ve told them to enjoy each minute on the field and to make the most of the shortened season and the unique situation.”

Oliver Ames

2019 Record: 9-10-0
2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Rou
Coach: Sharon Lawrence
There are a lot of familiar names on Oliver Ames’ roster this season, highlighted by 11 seniors and eight returning starters from last year’s team. The Tigers have experience all over the field and could be a dark horse in the Davenport division title race.

With the game reduced to six field players due to the rule modifications, there is plenty of space on the field. That fits right into OA’s gameplan as the Tigers are looking to utilize their speed and passing game to jump-start their offense. Like many teams in the league, Oliver Ames will be shifting to lines similar to an ice hockey team. With a total of 24 players on the team, there is plenty of depth so head coach Sharon Lawrence will be using her deep bench to keep fresh legs on the field throughout the game.

“We are all just happy to be together and have a season,” Lawrence said. ”They have all worked so hard and deserve it!  Getting outside to play together is a mental and physical win for all.”

The heart of the team lies in the midfield as the Tigers have a strong mix of talent and experience. Senior captain Maggie Woods, a HockomockSports.com First Team selection last season, gets it done on both ends of the field, a big part of getting Oliver Ames transitioned from defense to offense. She will be joined by senior Sofia Anestam, junior Ava Costello, and sophomore Julia Maclaine in the midfield.

The Tigers return two dangerous attacking players in junior Georgia Costello (nine goals, five assists in 2019) and senior Haley Gilman (five goals, one assist). Without penalty corners, OA will lean on its speed up front to try and beat the defense and score in the run of play. The defense will be anchored by senior captain Emily Han, who has a lot of experience at the varsity level and senior Abbey Boyce.




Hockomock League Field Hockey

Sharon

2019 Record: 2-13-3
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Paulina Kosmadakis
Former Sharon standout Paulina Kosmadakis is back with the program, this time taking over as new head coach. And after an improved 2019 season, Kosmadakis is hoping the program continues heading in the right direction in 2020.

The Eagles broke into the win column last season and Kosmadakis has liked what she’s seen from her team so far in the preseason. It starts with the team’s four captains: Sam Sherman, Ashley Young, Jill Parker, and Yesha Sharma. Kosmadakis said that the group has brought a new, competitive edge to the program.

Offensively, the Eagles strength is on fast breaks. Improved passing has led to some odd-man rushes and the opportunity to go one-on-one with defenders. It also comes as a result of a lot of space on the field due to the modifications to the rules. On the flip side, the Eagles are adjusting to the new intensity that 7v7 field hockey brings. Kosmadakis plans on using as much of her bench as possible with a lot of subbing throughout the game.

“I believe that the team is really stepping up their competitive edge and going to “Shock the Hock” both defensively and offensively,” Kosmadakis said. “I am excited for this season and the seasons to come!”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Stoughton

2019 Record: 2-15-2
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Dan Mark
After a two-win season in 2019, Stoughton will look to bounce back this fall with an experienced group, with 20 seniors on the roster, which faces the tough test of trying to compete with the top teams in the Davenport division, and it starts right away with two games against defending league champ Canton in the first week.

The Black Knights should be capable of scoring goals this year with a speedy forward line getting extra space to work with the new 7-on-7 rules. Senior forwards Haley Nelson and Morgan Lessa will be the leaders in the attack and have the skills to put defenders on the back foot. Juniors Zofia Bangs and Mia Allie are new forwards that add depth to the attack this season.

Seniors Sarah McGrath and Kat Billo will shore things up in the midfield and try to help cover for the backline. Senior Lena Allie jumps in goal this season after a solid year with the JV team last fall.

“The biggest obstacle with the modifications is only having six field players and a goalie on the field,” said Stoughton coach Dan Mark. “I plan on using line shifts like in ice hockey. We have a large senior-dominated team, so hopefully that experience should help us.”

Hockomock League Field Hockey

Taunton

2019 Record: 5-12-1
2019 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Liz Hathaway
Looking back at last year’s standings, if there’s one team’s record that isn’t indicative of how good a team was, it’s Taunton. The Tigers had a stellar defense, allowing just 30 goals in total, playing close games against some of the top teams in the league including KP, Foxboro, and Canton.

Defense will be a strong suit of the Tigers once again this season. Even with the changes to the game with the new rule modifications, Taunton will hang its hat on the defensive end. Junior Emily Gannon is a major part of that, returning as the starting goalie after a breakout sophomore season. Gannon had over 100 saves last season, five shutouts, and allowed one or fewer goals in 10 of the 18 games played.

Gannon will have a familiar face in front of her as Jocelyn Pagliuca enters her third season as a key piece of the Tigers’ defense. With that much experience in the defensive end, expect Taunton to be among the toughest groups to break down.

The Tigers are hoping to find the back of the net more during the 2020 season. With last year’s leading scorer back in Alana Tavares, there’s a good chance that happens. Tavares, who has been on the team since eighth grade, will be among the top threats in the league. Having more space will allow Tavares to use her speed to get behind the defense and attack the net. Taunton head coach Liz Hathaway is expecting big contributions from junior Ashley Amaro and senior Skylar Rheaume as well.

“This season will be different but we are up for the challenge and we are grateful to have a season,” Hathaway said. “The girls have been working hard to keep the season going.  They are also working hard and embracing the 7 vs. 7 format.”