Baseball
Foxboro, 0 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – Taunton junior Jack Moynihan struck out nine batters without allowing a walk or a run in 6.2 innings of work to help the Tigers beat visiting Foxboro. The Tigers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first inning and tacked on one more in the fourth inning. Evan Melo had two hits for the Tigers while Sean Quinlan and Jacob Crawford each had an RBI. Foxboro’s Michael Devlin went 2-for-3 on the day.
Stoughton, 11 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – Stoughton overcame an early five-run deficit, tying the game and taking the lead in the fifth inning, and added five insurance runs in the top of the seventh to get the win on the road. Stoughton scored two runs in each the third and fourth innings to get within a run. Senior Ruben Gonzalez led off with a triple in the fifth and scored on a squeeze from George Currier. Stoughton took the lead when Matt Hadley doubled and scored on a two-out single from Robbie Seaman. Zak Paquette got the win for the Black Knights with three earned runs allowed, no walks, and two strikeouts.
North Attleboro @ Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Sharon @ Mansfield – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Milford @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Softball
Franklin, 12 @ Canton, 6 – Final – Franklin pushed across five runs in the first inning, highlighted by Jackie Cherry’s three-run home run, and never trailed in a win on the road at Canton. The Panthers added four more runs in the second and then added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Tara Hartnett had two hits, including a triple, and an RBI, Peyton Arone went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and Natalie Stott had a two-run single. Cherry and Emily Valentino combined for 10 strikeouts for Franklin.
Taunton, 16 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final (5 inn.) – Taunton senior Kya Enos went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs and sophomore Payton Ceglarski had three hits, including two doubles, and three RBI as the Tigers notched a big win on the road. McKenzie McAloon went 2-for-2 with two RBI, Mackenzie Handrahan had two hits, including a double, and knocked in a pair of runs, and Jaime Brown and Kelsey White each had two hits and an RBI. Alexa White earned the win in the circle, allowing three hits while striking out eight.
King Philip, 14 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Meghan Gorman recorded four RBI and scored three runs and Sydney Phillips added three hits and two runs scored to pace the Warriors to a big win. Hailey McCasland, Nicole Carter, Faith Turinese, and Brooke Taute all had multiple hits on the day with KP totaling 17 as a team. Elise Pereira pitched a complete game, allowing three runs in the first but then blanked the Black Knights over the next six. Stoughton’s Gina Carafa was 3-for-3 with a double and two singles, Jordan Lyons was 2-for-4 with a double, and Karly Estremera added another hit. SHS coach Deb Parker noted catcher Brianna Ferrandiz had an outstanding game defensively.
Attleboro @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Wednesday, 5/30 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Milford – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 4:00 at Oliver Ames.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 12 – Final – North Attleboro got it done on both ends of the field in a non-league win over Attleboro. Tommy Lindstrom had four goals and five assists, Andy DeMattio scored four goals, and Jack Connolly dished out three assists. Jason McNeany added two goals while Nick Ward and Nick Morse each scored once. North’s defense of Will Yeomans, Max Fontes, Brett Labonte, and Tom Lockavitch combined to force a dozen turnovers while Jack Puccio made five saves in net.
Foxboro, 13 vs. Bishop Feehan, 5 – Final
Milford, 8 @ Oliver Ames, 17 – Final – Oliver Ames used a 10-0 run between the second and third quarters to record a win over visiting Milford. Owen Gallagher (one goal, five assists) notched his 100th career point in the win while Sam Stevens and Eric LeBlanc finished with four goals apiece. Frankie Ireland finished with seven points (two goals, five assists) for the Tigers.
Taunton @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:45
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton @ Southeastern, 3:30
North Attleboro, 17 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – After a week off, North Attleboro got back on track with a big win on the road. Mackenzie Rosenberg paced the Rocketeers with three goals and four assists, while Katie Lindstrom added four goals and an assist. Camille Pizarro had a hat trick for North, which also got goals from Lilly Cameron, Julia Tolfa, Lexi Sinacola, and Regan Fein. Faith Graveline and Kayla Moulin each made three saves in the North goal. Rocketeers coach Colleen Carchedi said of Attleboro that the Bombardiers played an “aggressive” game and had a strong second half.
Foxboro, 21 @ Bishop Feehan, 9 – Final – Sophia DiCenso and Caroline Boudreau each scored five goals as the Warriors offense exploded for 21 goals in an impressive non-league win. Foxboro also dominated the draw controls with Boudreau, DiCenso, and Christina Rogers controlling the center circle and helping the Warriors win 23-of-29 in the game.
Oliver Ames @ Weymouth, 4:45
Boys Tennis
Attleboro @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Franklin @ Canton – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Taunton @ Foxboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Stoughton – Postponed to Thursday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ Milford – Postponed to a date and time to be announced.
Girls Tennis
North Attleboro @ Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ Taunton – Postponed to Thursday, 5/24 at 3:45.
Stoughton @ King Philip – Postponed to Thursday, 5/3 at 3:45.
Sharon @ Mansfield – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Milford @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/1 at 3:45.
Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 vs. Medfield, 0 – Final
Taunton, 3 vs. Barnstable, 1 – Final
2017 Record: 8-10 2017 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Kevin Koppy
After coming up just one game shy of the postseason, Attleboro is aiming to make the playoffs for the first time in program history in 2018.
The Bombardiers doubled their victory total from 2016 to 2017, going from four to eight in the win column. Attleboro returns 11 players from last year’s squad and has a total of 12 seniors on the team. Now in its fourth year, interest in the program is growing rapidly with 17 combined freshmen on either varsity or the JV roster.
There will be a lot of experience on the defensive end for Big Blue. Junior captain Trevor Koppy is back for his third year as the Bombardiers’ starting goalie. He turned away 306 shots last year with a 64% save percentage. In front of Koppy, senior captain Dan Perry is back to anchor the defensive unit which features all seniors.
“Dan is a physical defender that has excellent field awareness and leads by example,” said AHS head coach Kevin Koppy. “He’s constantly hustling and fighting hard for loose balls.”
Perry is joined by classmates Jim Nordberg and Chris Reynolds on close defense while Matt Potter will man LSM and Matt Jiminez brins an extra long pole presence to the defensive unit. Another returner is senior Kyle Henry, resuming his role as the team’s primary faceoff man. Henry had a successful 2017 season in that role and Big Blue will rely on him to spark the offense once again.
Seniors Jimmy Burke and Aidan McKenna, junior Cam Littig, and sophomore Thomas Shipman return to the midfield for Attleboro. Big Blue will have some new faces on the attack with seniors TJ Infante, Shane Joubert, and Aidan Downey leading the way. Freshman Mike Strachan and Matt Perry will also be involved in Attleboro’s attack.
2017 Record: 8-10 2017 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Bill Bendell
The Bulldogs found themselves in an unfamiliar position at the end of last season: on the outside looking in for the postseason.
Canton is looking to get back into the postseason this year after coming up just one game shy of qualifying. The Bulldogs won three straight to give themselves a chance but fell just short on the road against Abington in the final game of the season.
Using that as motivation, look for the Bulldogs to be right back in the mix this season. Leading the way will be senior captains Kevin Albert, Charlie O’Connor, and Griffin Roach. All three patrolled the midfield last season but could see time in other spots depending on how the lineup comes together.
O’Connor will step in to handle faceoffs but could miss some time early along with defensemen Brian Ghostlaw and Brendan Albert. Until Canton gets back to 100%, it will rely on senior Gabe Galeotos, junior George Kent, and sophomores Nick Mackay and Jace Emma to provide protection in front of sophomore goalie Jack Connolly. Connolly had a superb freshman season in the cage for the Bulldogs and will try to build upon that his season.
Junior Mike Shaw is back for his third year on attack for Canton, providing experience and leadership up front. Juniors Matt Martin and Dan Cohen, along with sophomores Chris Lavoie and David Allen will also figure into the Bulldogs’ offense this season.”
“We have a great group of kids this year with a nice blend of experienced players and new faces,” said CHS head coach Bill Bendell.
2017 Record: 11-9 2017 Finish: Reached D2 Central/East First Round Coach: Matt Noone
It’s safe to say Foxboro head coach Matt Noone is optimistic about the 2018 season.
The Warriors graduated just three players total and return their starting goalie, the entire defensive unit, and top three scorers from a season ago. Foxboro’s record was a bit deceiving based on how much talent they had, with five one-goal losses and two two-goal losses. The Warriors were dropped in the opening game of the playoffs by just one goal after holding a multi-goal lead in the second half.
With so much of the line up back, Noone is hoping to turn those close losses into wins.
“We’re going to be a better team than we were last year,” Noone said. “We have to play within our system, and do the simple things…if we do that, we will be very good and very tough to beat. If they don’t, we’ll be losing those one-goal games again.”
It all starts with defense in Foxboro with Jake Addeche returning in the cage for his third season. Addeche (185 saves) is one of the best goalies in the region and will have a very experienced defense in front of him. Senior Pat Kaveny and junior Pat Stapleton will anchor the defense, both with equipped with plenty of skill and experience, while sophomores Ronnie MacLellan and Matt Lathrop each already have a year of varsity experience under their belts.
Junior Brendan Tully (24 goals, 15 assists) will pace the Warriors in the midfield (“His lacrosse IQ is off the charts,” Noone notes). Tully can help transition Foxboro from defense to offense, and his ability to keep possession helps the Warriors control the tempo. Tully is complemented in the middle by seniors Louis Blake and Mike Collins while both Shayne Kerrigan and Bobby Yerardi will be in the mix as well.
Offensively, the Warriors look to be well-balanced with Louis Piccolo (25 goals, 13 assists) back this year along with senior Mike Moses (18 goals, 20 assists), junior Pete Conley (15 goals, 23 assists) and senior Andrew Whalen.
2017 Record: 16-5 2017 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Lou Verrochi
Expectations are high for the 2018 season based on the talent the Franklin Panthers boast this year.
“We return a very good team,” said FHS head coach Lou Verrochi. “We have a very good and deep bench too, we’re looking forward to the season.”
The long list of returning talent starts with All-American and 2017 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Eric Civetti. Civetti (Rutgers commit) has been tormenting opposing defenses since his freshman year. He scored 70 goals and notched 24 assists as a sophomore, and then netted 79 goals and 21 assists last year, totaling 194 points between the two years. The Panthers will also boast senior Zach Alexander and freshman Matt Lazzaro on attack.
The midfield will be loaded with two talented lines available. Captains Kyle McEniry (10 goals, 21 assists) and Chase Tanner (29 goals, 10 assists) will be joined by the speedy Nitin Chaudhury (24 goals, 10 assists) on the Panthers first unit while Jake Davis, Johnny O’Glishen, and Owen Palmieri give Verrochi an incredibly talented second unit.
As if the midfield wasn’t loaded enough, the Panthers have 2017 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Jacob Alexander back to dominate the faceoff X. Alexander, who is committed to play at Bryant University, has dominated at the X for the past two years and really gives the Panthers an advantage in terms of getting possession. “He’s arguably the best FOGO in Mass,” Verrochi noted.
The defense will be anchored by junior Patrick Morrison (Rutgers commit) along with Trevor Raffin, Jack McGrath and Spencer Briggs. Sean Lazzaro will be our top LSM while the Panthers have plenty of talent as SSDM with Will Harvey, Ben Kolb, and Aaron Mollo in the mix. Backstopping the team in goal will be Colorado commit and captain Connor O’Rourke (169 saves, 64% save percentage).
2017 Record: 13-9 2017 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinals Coach: Hal Bean
The Warriors will be looking to replicate the success they had in the 2016 season again this year.
After finishing 9-2 in league play (second in the Kelley-Rex), the Warriors had an impressive postseason run, competing with top-seeded and eventual sectional champ BC High in the D1 South Quarterfinals.
A big reason why KP has had a lot of experience over the past four years is goalie Paul Macrina. Macrina is now manning the cage at Drexel University, so there are big shoes to fill in the cage this season for KP.
King Philip also has to find replacements for the production lost by LSM Zach D’Amico, attack Tim Watson (56 goals, 28 points – second in the Hockomock League), and defenseman Connor Khung – the first two selected to the 2017 HockomockSports.com First Team and Khung apart of the Second Team.
All is not lost though as the Warriors have junior Colin DeVellis back to spearhead the attack. DeVellis was fourth overall in the Hockomock League in points last season, scoring 22 goals and notching 36 assists (58 points). Another key piece will be senior Nate Minkwitz, who can make an impact on both ends of the field. Minkwitz had 13 goals and five assists last season and will aim to improve on that. Expect LSM Wesley Bishop and midfielder Aidan Bender to factor in this season as well.
2017 Record: 12-7 2017 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Tim Frias
Mansfield returns a good amount of talent from last year’s playoff squad so the Hornets will certainly be looking to book a return trip as well as compete for a Kelley-Rex title.
The Hornets return one of the most dangerous attackmen in the area in senior Hunter Ferreira. Ferreira’s combination of size, speed, and strength – as well as finishing ability – make him a must-watch for opposing defenses. Most will dedicate two defensemen his way but Ferreira still finished fifth in the league in points with 34 goals and 19 assists. Ferreira will be joined by returners Aidan Sacco and Mike Reed, giving the Hornets an experienced three-headed monster on offense.
The midfield is also loaded with experience behind returning starters Joe Cox (19 goals, 14 assists) and Danny DeGirolamo (17 goals, 15 assists). Cox, who was named to the 2017 HockomockSports.com Second Team, muscles his way through opponents, while DeGirolamo can use his speed to cause problems. Haig Megerdichian, Brett Kessler, Connor Quirk, and Brad Grant will all see time in the midfield as well.
Tommy Donnelly will anchor the defensive unit but the Hornets will have some new faces in back. Dan Plugis and Chris Copponi will both see a lot of minutes for the Hornets in front of goalie Jack Munroe, who stepped in last season and impressed in the cage.
“Our strength this year will be at the midfield with lots of legs,” said MHS head coach Tim Frias. “We should be good in transition as well.”
2017 Record: 4-13 2017 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Jacob Scordato
Milford hasn’t had a ton of success overall since it joined the Hockomock League, but new head coach Jacob Scordato is hoping to change that going forward.
Scordato takes over a team that had just four wins a year ago and is the third coach in the past three years for the program.
“Our players are focused on making our program a successful one,” Scordato said. “Boys lacrosse in the Hockomock is known for being a tough league, and Milford lacrosse is going to be making a lot of noise from here on out.”
Although the Hawks don’t have an incredibly deep roster, the optimism stems from the experience returning on offense. UMass Boston commit and senior captain Andrew Gallagher (16 goals, 7 assists) will be a key weapon up front along with junior captains Ryan Hazard (41 goals, 10 assists) and Josh Ligor.
Scordato also expects junior newcomer Brendan White, who has had successful football and basketball seasons so far this school year, to make a big impact on offense for Milford. Defensively, Milford will rely on senior captain and midfielder Chase Blanchette.
2017 Record: 16-3 2017 Finish: Reached D2 Central/East Quarterfinals Coach: Kevin Young
North Attleboro graduated a lot of talent from last year’s squad, so it’s no surprise head coach Kevin Young believes this season will be a big challenge for his young squad.
Although he expects it to be a challenge, the Rocketeers have built a strong program and will likely be in the mix for the division title with Foxboro. Big Red will be anchored by defenseman and captain Tom Lockavitch (Roger Williams commit) and senior LSM Max Fontes. Both Lockavitch and Fontes had tremendous junior seasons and were both honored by HockomockSports.com (first and second teams, respectively). Sophomores Brett Labonte and Will Yeomans will round out a strong defensive unit.
One of the biggest tasks will be filling the void left in goal with Hock MVP and long-time starter Dan MacDonald now graduated. The Rocketeers have three goalies in the mix with Young noting all are working hard to claim the starting spot. Junior Jack Puccio and sophomores Nate D’Amico and Jake McNeany will all be in the mix.
Captain Tommy Lindstrom (Springfield commit) will pace the offense with the help of sophomores Jack Connolly and Andy DeMattio. Faceoff specialist Jason McNeany (Cocker College commit) is also back and will be a key piece of the offense. Nick Ward, Damien Curtis, and Dan Conroy should carry the transition in the midfield with help from Ryan Rajotte and Matt McSweeney.
2017 Record: 8-10 2017 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Ben Devlin
Oliver Ames nearly made it two straight years in the postseason but came up just one game shy of qualifying in 2017. So the goal is simple for the Tigers in 2018: get back to the tournament.
The Tigers return their top six scorers from last season, and now with a year more experience under their belts, should be ready to take on some of the top defenses in the league.
Assistant coach Ben Devlin takes over the reigns of the program, and the familiarity should help make for a smooth transition. Senior captains Eric LeBlanc (30 goals, 13 assists) and Owen Gallagher will spearhead the attack while senior captain Jack Lang will make an impact on both ends of the field while also handling faceoff duties. Junior Colin Bourne and sophomores Sam Stevens and Shane Kilkelly give the Tigers varsity experience in the midfield. Sophomore Frankie Ireland and freshman Remi Creighton will also figure into the mix on offense.
Devlin will have holes to fill on the defensive end but its excited about the skill that the Tigers have. Shane Murphy, Cullen Gallagher, and Matt Saba will be relied upon to carry the defensive unit while Rory Madden will handle LSM duties after missing last season. Nick Gillis will take over for Sean Cosgrove in net after impressing at the JV level.
“We are a couple years into rebuilding this program, which is difficult while playing in such a tough conference against some of the best players and coaches in the state,” Devlin said. “We’re young and inexperienced, but talented on defense. All I can ask is for my kids to play to their capabilities. If we do that I think we can win enough games this season to reach our goal.”
2017 Record: 7-11 2017 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Jon Shocket
New head coach Jon Shocket is excited and optimistic that the 2018 season will be a successful one on the lacrosse field for the Sharon Eagles.
Shocket believes the Eagles have the lacrosse IQ and skill to get back to the postseason after missing out on qualification by two wins. A big reason for the optimism is the senior class.
“I have a really good senior group,” Shocket said. “If everyone buys into the system and trusts the process, this should be a fun season. This year, we have to make better decisions and move the ball around. It’s about working as a team instead of as individuals.”
The Eagles have experience at all positions on the field, starting with returning goalie Johnny Greenberg. Greenberg enters his third year as the starting goalie and will have good size in front of him. Both Sam Spencer and Coleman Loftus stand at 6’2 and look to be key pieces in the Eagles’ defensive unit.
In the midfield, Jimmy Fitzhenry, Chase Waxman, and Spencer Hall give the Eagles a well-balanced and experienced group. The three provide a combination of speed, strength, and skill that will help Sharon transition from defense to offense. Junior Matt Callan will handle faceoff duties while freshman LSM Tyler Freidman will be in the mix as well.
Senior Brett Litner brings a strong shot to the offense and will be tough to stop on the inside. Classmate Kadin Nestler gives the Eagles speed on the outside and makes the move from midfield to attack this year. Freshman Drew Litner rounds out the Eagles’ attacking unit.
2017 Record: 4-12 2017 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Pat Healey
After winning four games in its inaugural season at the varsity level, Stoughton boys lacrosse is hoping to continue heading in the right direction this spring.
The Knights picked up wins over Milford twice, Taunton, and Norton and will look to be in competition with those squads again this year. Leading the blue collar group will be captains Justin Ly, Sean Doherty, and Danny Nakhili. Ly is a three-sport athlete that is willing to do the dirty work, Nakhili provides a lot of leadership in the midfield and uses his speed to give the offense a boost, and Doherty will handle the faceoff duties and provide an offensive punch.
Twins Nate and Alex Wilson bring skill to the long poles, Marty Barrett and Josh Cohen will be key pieces on defense, and Charlie Morgan, Luke Bainton, and Mike Tracey will all be in the mix offensively.
“I’m hoping for more wins,” said SHS head coach Pat Healey said in an interview with Stoughton Media Access. “Last year we got four under our belt which is great for a first-year program. We brought up a lot of freshmen this year from the youth program. But baby steps, this is a tough league so we’ll do as best as we can.
Now in its third year as a varsity program, Taunton is aiming to progress day by day to continue to build the program.
The Tigers went without a win last season but bring seven starters back with another year of success on their belts. Junior goalie Ryan Williams returns in cage to give the Tigers a familiar face on the defensive end. Williams has been manning the cage for Taunton since the team moved to a varsity schedule.
In front of Williams will be junior Justin Demoga, a captain, that handles close defense. Head coach Brendan Chambers noted Demoga is great with positioning, takes a great approach, and is willing to learn and improve every day. Chambers noted Demoga will be tasked with menacing opponents’ best attack throughout the season.
In the midfield, junior captain Dylan Nichols provides leadership and experience for the Tigers. Nichols has the speed to make an impact on both ends of the field and Chambers is hoping for some offensive production out of the junior. Nichols will be joined by senior Chris Kanabayashi who will contribute to the offense with his hard shot.
Junior Noah Kuczewski is making the jump from JV to varsity and will be one of the Tigers’ main pieces on attack. Chambers is also relying on junior captain Joel Delgado, who put a lot of time in during the offseason to improve, to be an important part of the offense.
“Our goal this year is to continue to build on what we did last year,” Chambers said. “We want to increase our lacrosse IQ and try to be more competitive in all our games. Ideally, we’ll win a couple games and get better every day.”
Mansfield senior Hunter Ferreira (3) will be one of the players to watch when the new Hockomock League boys lacrosse season kicks off. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
In a league that has been very deep at goalie for the past several seasons, Foxboro senior goalie Jake Addeche has emerged as one of the standout performers between the pipes and helped the Warriors hold teams to the third fewest goals scored in the league last season, including a pair of shutouts. The Hofstra University-commit is an athletic shot-stopper who makes saves even when it seems like he might be out of position. With quick hands and fearlessness in the face of attackers on the edge of the crease, Addeche made 185 saves last spring, which was among the best in the league. He is also solid in distribution and more than willing to carry the ball upfield if he can’t find an open teammate. With Addeche behind a solid defensive unit, Foxboro will be hoping to return to the top of the Davenport standings.
He may not score many goals or rack up many assists, but Franklin junior FOGO Jacob Alexander can dominate games and the reigning HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year has even been inserted in the MVP conversation for the edge he gives the Panthers at the face-off ‘X’. Alexander won 330-of-387 draws that he took last year, which is a remarkable 85 percent success rate. That means countless extra possessions for the potent Franklin attack and one of the reasons for Franklin winning a fifth straight league title. While not the biggest FOGO in the state, the Bryant University-commit uses his speed and technique to give Franklin a giant edge every game.
Reigning HockomockSports.com Player of the Year and league MVP Eric Civetti returns for his senior season to once again lead the attack for Franklin, which is setting its sights on a sixth straight Kelley-Rex division title and a deep tournament run. As a junior, Civetti led the league in points for the second straight season with 79 goals and 21 assists. He had 20 more goals than the second-best player in the league. He has already compiled 280 points in three years on varsity. The Rutgers University-commit has the combination of strength to battle along the crease, a powerful shot from distance, and the vision to get his teammates involved in the attack. He has also shown the ability to score against the top teams, as his four goals against Xaverian in the tournament showed.
King Philip junior attacker Colin DeVellis has been a strong offensive threat for the Warriors in each of his two seasons on varsity and emerged last year as one of the top scorers in the league working with then senior Tim Watson. DeVellis scored 24 goals and finished the season with 37 assists, which was second best in the league. Using his speed to cause havoc in opposing defenses, DeVellis became the point guard for the KP attack, showing off the ability to create his own shot but also the vision to find cutting teammates and create scoring chances for others. DeVellis will have to take on even more responsibility this season as KP tries to unseat Franklin in the league standings.
Mansfield senior Hunter Ferreira was a dominant force in the midfield last season for the Hornets, leading the team in goals with 34 and finishing second on the team with 19 assists. His 53 points was fifth best in the Hockomock and he helped Mansfield make a return to the state tournament. Much as he does on the gridiron, Ferreira uses his size and speed to create openings to get a shot off and there are few defenders in the league that can out-physical him near the crease. He has proven to be a top finisher and the combination of Ferreira and Joe Cox (who is returning from an injury) will give the Hornets a dynamic duo in midfield that teams will struggle to match-up with.
Although Milford only won once in the league last season, the Hawks boasted one of the Hockomock’s top goal scorers. Junior midfielder Ryan Hazard scored 41 goals during his sophomore season, which was third-best in the league. He also added 10 assists, meaning he was involved in more than half of his team’s 95 goals on the season. Milford will be hoping for similar production again this spring, as the Hawks try to climb up the league standings. Hazard’s combination of skill and speed made him a threat to even the top defenses and he will try to connect with classmate Nick Lurie and senior Andrew Gallagher to make the Hawks attack even more potent this year.
Oliver Ames senior forward Eric LeBlanc is coming off a season in which he finished in the top 10 in goals scored in the league and his scoring touch will be counted on by OA this spring as it tries to make a run at a state tournament spot. LeBlanc scored 30 goals last year, good for eighth in the league, and also added 13 assists in an all-star caliber season. LeBlanc is a dynamic playmaker who uses his speed to create looks for himself and his teammates and he will once again be the focal point for the Tigers this season under first-year head coach Ben Devlin.
North Attleboro had one of the stingiest defenses in the state last season and one of the reasons for the Rocketeers’ ability to lock down opposing attacks was the play of senior Tom Lockavitch. North allowed a league-low 77 goals last season and only 4.05 goals per game, which was the second best total in the state. Lockavitch, who was on the HockomockSports.com First Team last spring, provides good reading of the game and solid stick-work to battle some of the top attackers in the league. With Lockavitch back in the defense again this season, North will try to build on last year’s Davenport division title, which was the first league title in program history.
Canton junior attacker Mike Shaw may not be the biggest forward that opposing defenses have to face this season, but he is among the quickest and he has shown the ability in his two varsity seasons to be able to withstand the physical play and score goals for the Bulldogs. Shaw was second on the team with 21 goals and 40 points and had a team-high 19 assists, many times playing from behind the opponent’s goal to pick out open teammates. Although many of the defenders he faces will have a size advantage, Shaw has the vision to pick out the right pass and create scoring opportunities, while also demonstrating a range of finishes when he gets space. With Shaw picking up some of the scoring load, Canton will look to challenge again for the league title.
Defense has been the key to the success for Foxboro under head coach Matt Noone and junior Pat Stapleton has stepped in to become one of the Warriors top defensive players in his two years on the varsity. Stapleton was a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection last year after helping Foxboro finish the season with the third fewest goals allowed in the league, including a pair of shutouts and three other league opponents held to three or fewer goals. Stapleton is a solid one-on-one defender, has the quickness to make plays across the defensive zone, and the ability to carry the ball up into the midfield when needed. His partnership with classmate Brendan Tully is a formidable back line that Foxboro will lean on again this spring as it attempts to get back on top in the Davenport division.
Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 15 vs. Bishop Feehan, 0 – Final – North Attleboro seniors Tom Lockavitch and Max Fontes anchored a strong defensive performance and sophomore Jack Connolly found the back of the net six times as the Rocketeers rolled past Feehan. Fontes and Lockavitch severely limited the Shamrocks’ chances and North turned defense into offense with eight transition goals off of turnovers. Senior Tom Lindstrom added four goals and sophomore Andy DeMattio scored three times. Jake McNeany (seven saves) and Jack Puccio (four saves) combined for the shutout.
North Attleboro’s Nick Raneri (left) stiff arms a defender in the second half of the D3 State Final. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
By Joe Clark, HockomockSports.com Student Reporter
FOXBORO, Mass. – It nearly had the makings of a terrific comeback.
North Attleboro had just cut the deficit to nine, closing the gap to 35-26 behind junior Brendan McHugh‘s third touchdown of the day. Now the defense was tasked with somehow forcing a turnover against a red-hot St. John’s Shrewsbury offense.
With 5:32 left in the game, on 3rd and 12, St. John’s Shrewsbury quarterback Steve Bucciaglia hit his receiver over the middle for what looked to be a first down, and possibly the play that would end North’s comeback attempt. Instead of a first down though, Thomas Lockavitch ripped the ball free for a fumble, recovering it himself and North Attleboro took over at the SJS 48-yard line with a chance to get back in the game.
After an incomplete pass on first down, Chad Peterson (23-30, 218 yards, two touchdowns) hit Marion Bresko for an 18-yard completion to get down to the St. John’s 29-yard line. On the next play, St John’s pressure resulted in an intentional grounding call and on 2nd and 22, Ian Schade brought pressure and picked up St. John’s first sack of the day, a five-yard loss, which pushed North back to the St. John’s 46.
Then, a false start on the Red Rocketeers pushed them back even further. On 3rd and 32 from their own 49, Peterson found Ryan Gaumond for a nine-yard gain, but North’s fourth down attempt was incomplete and St. John’s took back possession with a nine-point lead and just three minutes to play.
North hung tough and got their first stop on downs of the night against St. John’s explosive offense. Back on offense, they found the end zone on a Peterson 14 yard strike to Nate Pearce, but the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Pioneers, securing a 35-33 decision over the Rocketeers in the D3 State Final.
The turning point in the game came with 1:39 left in the third quarter, with North Attleboro trailing 28-20. St John’s was facing a 3rd and 12 from its own 26 yard line after back to back negative plays, and North sent a blitz but the offensive line picked it up just long enough for Bucciaglia (17-22, 224 yards, three TD) to deliver a perfect strike down the middle to an open John Brunelle on a post route for a 74-yard touchdown and a 35-20 lead.
“I felt like the momentum had started to swing on those first couple of downs and we had them back on their heels a little bit, and that’s what great teams can do, they come up with big plays in those crucial situations,” North Attleboro head coach Don Johnson said about the play.
“They were in zero coverage, man to man, sent the blitz, and our receivers are just so knowledgeable, they know what to run, and John [Brunelle] just got wide open and made it easy for me, that was all him,” Bucciaglia said about the game-breaking play.
St. John’s no-huddle offense got to work immediately, as their opening drive lasted just 2:32 and was capped off with a ten-yard Bucciaglia touchdown pass to Coleman Drugotch.
“It’s been awhile since we’ve seen an offense with that kind of tempo, ironically I think the last time was the last Super Bowl we were in, against Swampscott, and we came out on top of that one 44-40, but this one I think was even faster in their tempo,” Johnson added about the St. John’s offense.
Despite the prowess of North Attleboro’s defense, the plethora of weapons and up-tempo style that St. John’s ran proved hard to stop. Still, the Red Rocketeers made plays on offense to stay in the game and never let it get out of hand.
North responded immediately, marching down the field before Peterson hit senior Zach DeMattio out in the flat for a three-yard touchdown.
In the see-saw affair, SJS struck again before the end of the first quarter behind a four-yard rush from Colin Deso. But once again, North’s offense was there with an answer as McHugh took the jet sweep to the right for a nine-yard score and a 14-14 score just before the midway point of the second quarter.
“We came in and were fairly confident we could move the ball against them, and I thought the key to the game was going to be could we get a couple of stops on defense, and we just didn’t get enough,” Johnson added.
SJS took a 20-14 lead on its next drive, and North Attleboro ran out of time at half before it could respond. Big Red was unable to get things going on the first drive of the second half, resulting in the game’s first punt. The Pioneers made North pay, taking it down before Eamonn Dennis found the end zone from 15-yards out and a 28-14 lead.
McHugh got his second touchdown of the game, a three yard-rush, late in the third quarter to make it 28-20. Just over a minute later, Bucciaglia had his 74-yard touchdown.
“The defensive game plan going in, we knew they could run the ball, they have a couple 300 pounders up front so we were worried about that, but there’s only so much you can do to commit to that run game because those guys can throw all over the place,” Johnson said.
North cut it to nine with 6:38 left int he game when Peterson threw a pass to Nick Raneri behind the line of scrimmage, and the junior running back and backup quarterback floated a pass to McHugh right on the goal line for the touchdown.
For St. John’s Shrewsbury, the win caps off an undefeated 13-0 season that saw Bucciaglia have a record-setting season at quarterback. The Pioneers beat Doherty Memorial, Shrewsbury, and Springfield Central on their path to the state title game. It marks their first state title since 2010, when they were in Division 1.
Below are the official 2017 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Dan MacDonald, North Attleboro
Hockomock League All Stars
Michael Pigeon, Canton
Jacob Addeche, Foxboro
Patrick Kaveny, Foxboro
Patrick Stapleton, Foxboro
Brendan Tully, Foxboro
Wyatt Arsenault, Franklin
Jacob Alexander, Franklin
Eric Civetti, Franklin
Pat Morrison, Franklin
Connor O’Rourke, Franklin
Packie Watson, Franklin
Zach D’Amico, King Philip
Paul Macrina, King Philip
Tim Watson, King Philip
Joseph Cox, Mansfield
Jack Dakin, North Attleboro
Tom Lockavitch, North Attleboro
Dan MacDonald, North Attleboro
Zach McGowan, North Attleboro
Honorable Mentions
Tyler Koppy, Attleboro
Ryan Lodge, Canton
Louis Piccolo, Foxboro
Sam Arsenault, Franklin
Conor Khung, King Philip
Sean Powers, Mansfield
Ryan Hazard, Milford
Nick Moore, North Attleboro
Max Howe, Oliver Ames
Jonathan Greenberg, Sharon
Dave Cellucci, Stoughton
Mason Baacke, Taunton
For a history of recent Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars, check out our history section.
2017 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars
For a history of recent Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars, check out our history section. You can also see all stars from other sports in our history section. Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Attleboro Canton Foxboro Franklin King Philip Mansfield Milford North Attleboro Oliver Ames Sharon Stoughton Taunton Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League Hockomock League
North Attleboro’s Zach McGowan (left) is defended by King Philip’s Conor Khung in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Back in April, North Attleboro boys lacrosse saw its second half comeback effort against King Philip fall just short.
Fast forward to Friday afternoon where no come back was necessary. In fact, the Rocketeers were in driver’s seat the entire way, racing out to an early lead and never looking back to pick up a convincing 10-3 win.
With the win, North Attleboro clinched at least a share of its first ever Davenport division title; also the program’s first ever league title.
“I think we worked together as a team, on both ends of the field,” said North Attleboro head coach Kevin Young on the biggest difference between the two games. “It wasn’t just one guy trying to drive the crease and everyone else watch. Everybody out there was pretty conscious of the transition game, both offense and defense. [King Philip’s] Paul Macrina is one of the best outlet goalies in the league so we always had someone high all the time – that seemed to work. It was a great effort on both sides, I was very happy with the guys today.”
While the Rocketeers were limited to just one goal in the first half of the first meeting between the two, it took North just one quarter to find the back of the net three times.
In the first minute of play, Owen Costello found some space and then found the back of the net to put North up 1-0. The Rocketeers continued its strong start when Zach McGowan found Nick Moore in front for a bounce shot less than four minutes into the game. Big Red’s lead grew to three shortly after with McGowan again assisting. This time the senior connected with Tommy Lindstrom for a man up goal.
King Philip’s Tim Watson found Colin DeVellis with a perfectly weighted pass over the goal and the sophomore finished to bring the Warriors within two by the close of the first quarter.
“They came out a little more intense than us to start,” said King Philip head coach Jamie Stefanini. “And then just mental errors. Guys missing assignments, not communicating on defense, and just throwing the ball away — just simple stuff you can’t do. When you play a quality team like North Attleboro, you can’t throw it away.”
North Attleboro tacked on two more goals in the second quarter with McGowan having a hand in both of them.
First, the senior attack took control of possession, dodged around and defenseman as he raced from behind the net. McGowan released a shot as he curled toward goal and found the back of the net top shelf. Minutes later, McGowan connected with Costello as he eluded his mark in front for a quick goal to make it 5-1 heading into half.
The Rocketeers continued to build their lead into the second half. After neither side scored for the first eight minutes, Colin Young found the back of the net on a feed from Jack Dakin. Moore grabbed his second to put North up 7-1.
King Philip had an answer when Watson recorded his second point of the game, sneaking one in from a tight angle to cut it to 7-2.
If there was any hope for a comeback, it was quickly erased when North scored in transition just one minute in. Freshman Will Yeomans scooped up a loose ball and raced into the attacking zone. When he defense committed, he dropped the ball off to McGowan for an easy finish in close.
King Philip cut it back to five when Aidan Bender converted a feed from John DeLuca, but that would be the Warriors’ last tally.
Young grabbed his second on a nice tic-tac-toe play with passes coming from Moore and McGowan. Dakin then found the back of the net from distance after a simple pass from McGowan.
McGowan (two goals, five assists) paced North’s offense with seven points.
“He’s controlling our offense,” Young said. “He’s smart, he calls the right plays all the time. If he gets the ball and controls the ball, we’re in much better shape. He’s just calm with the ball.
We have a lot of seniors this year that are getting playing time and you can see the difference. Last year we were losing the one goal games, now we’re winning them or we’re getting up early. We traded blows with KP last game and ti went right down to the wire. We were hoping to get up early and we did.”
Friday’s game marked the lowest offensive output of the season for King Philip. Defensemen David James, Tom Lockavitch and Brett LaBonte, along with LSM Max Fontes and midfielders Nick Moore and Paul Yeomans prevented the Warriors from building any momentum. Goalie Dan MacDonald registered 14 saves for Big Red.
“My assistant coach John Hensey has been working on some defensive schemes that are really working well,” Young said. “There’s no one that doesn’t have a job. All the slides were set. We have a couple of different sets based on who we play and who is carrying the ball. The defense can play with confidence because Danny is in net and he’s killing it.”
North Attleboro boys lacrosse (11-2 overall, 8-1 league) is back in action against Attleboro in a non-league game. The Rocketeers can win the Davenport title outright with either a win over Mansfield or Stoughton, or a loss from Foxboro. King Philip (10-5, 7-2) is back in action on on Saturday, hosting Walpole.
Baseball
Attleboro, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 3 – Final – Attleboro senior Tyler McGovern allowed just two earned runs in six innings of work, but Feehan escaped with the win. McGovern struck out six. Matt Callahan went 3-for-3 with a stolen base and scored the Bombardiers’ lone run of the game.
Foxboro, 3 @ Dedham, 0 – Final – Senior Colin Thoener tossed a complete game shutout, earning the Warriors a key Division 3 win over Dedham. Theoner scattered six hits, walked three and finished with six strikeouts to earn the win. With the win, Foxboro qualifies for the postseason through the Sullivan Rule.
North Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final
Mansfield, 4 vs. Braintree, 10 – Final – Mansfield got off to a good start with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but the unbeaten, two-time defending Super 8 champions Braintree flexed its muscles with five runs in the second to take the lead and never look back. Max Boen went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Kyle Moran, Anthony DeGirolamo and Cullen Anastasia each had an RBI. Aidan Cahill and Zack Peterson each went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Oliver Ames, 6 vs. Falmouth, 5 – Final – Falmouth scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead but Oliver Ames scored three runs in the bottom half to walk off with a the win. Senior Kyle Gagliardi had a two-run double to knock in the tying and game-winning runs for OA. Nick Zwerle went 2-for-2 with three runs scored in his first game back from injury while Cam Johnson went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Sam Burr was solid on the mound, allowing just two runs in six innings of work while striking out three.
Taunton, 4 vs. Coyle & Cassidy, 2 – Final – Coyle took the lead in the top of the fourth, but Taunton responded with three runs in the bottom half to take the lead for good. Senior Jimmy Hoye (two runs) knocked in the tying run and Jacob Crawford and Jack Moynihan both drew walks to bring in Taunton’s second and third runs. The Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Tyler Medeiros earned the win, allowing just two hits without issuing a walk in 5.1 innings of work. Danny Keogh earned the save with a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
Softball
Attleboro, 0 @ Bishop Feehan, 8 – Final
Franklin, 1 @ Abington, 11 – Final
King Philip, 0 vs. Newton North, 1 – Final
Oliver Ames, 4 vs. Coyle & Cassidy, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its first win of the season on the back of sophomore Kayla Georgeu, who allowed just three hits in a complete game effort. Georgeu struck out two with just one run allowed while Rachel Han provided strong defense with seven put outs. Freshman Katie Abreu went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Caroline Mahoney went 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the offense. Junior Sarah Tetrault added an RBI and junior Lexie Campbell had a stolen base and a run scored for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 1 vs. Milton, 3 – Final – Shannon Flaherty threw five innings without allowing an earned run, but picked up the loss in the second game of the doubleheader. Jordan Lyons had a pair of hits for the Black Knight and scored their lone run.
Stoughton, 6 vs. Milton, 4 – Final – Gina Carafa struck out 16 for Stoughton and earned her fourth win of the season in the opener of a doubleheader with the Wildcats. Jordan Lyons went 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.
Taunton, 5 @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 6 – Final – The Tigers rallied with three runs in the sixth inning to cut the D-R lead to one, but couldn’t avoid their first loss of the season. Courtney Fisher allowed two earned runs and struck out four for Taunton. Jaime Brown had three hits, including an RBI double in the sixth, and MacKenzie Handrahan had two hits and two RBI, both in the sixth.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 3 @ Bishop Feehan, 16 – Final
Canton, 13 @ Norwood, 3 – Final – Canton junior Charlie O’Connor was in control at the face off X and senior Michael Pigeon dominated at ground balls as the Bulldogs picked up a big win on the road. Senior Ryan Lodge had a team-high five goals and three assists to pace Canton offensively. Freshman Chris Lavoie netted his first career goal in the win and O’Connor notched two assists. Freshman Jack Connolly made seven saves in net for Canton.
Foxboro, 6 vs. Norwell, 5 – Final (OT) – Foxboro built a 3-0 lead through the first three quarters but Norwell stormed back to tie the game at 5-5 and send the game into overtime. Foxboro senior Colin Spinney scored his second goal of the game less than a minute into overtime to lift the Warriors. Brendan Tully and Bobby Yerardi also scored two goals apiece for Foxboro while Jake Addeche made 10 saves in net to keep the Clippers’ offense at bay.
Franklin, 18 vs. Westford Academy, 5 – Final – Junior attack Eric Civetti netted a team-high seven goals and had one assist as Franklin rolled past Westford Academy. Senior Packie Watson netted two goals and had three assists and Chase Tanner finished with four goals and one assist. Sophomore Jacob Alexander won 21 of 26 face offs and Connor O’Rourke made six saves in net.
North Attleboro, 4 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip built a 3-1 lead by halftime and held on for a narrow non-league win over North Attleboro. KP head coach Jamie Stefanini said John DeLuca (two assists) put forth great effort on both sides of the ball for KP. Tim Watson paced the Warriors’ offense with three goals and one assist. Paul Macrina made 11 saves in net for KP. For North, Tommy Lindstrom had two goals and one assist, Zack McGowan and Hunter Sarro each scored once and Jack Dakin, Nick Moore and Jason McNeany each had one assist. Tom Lockavitch had four ground balls and Dan MacDonald made 15 saves in net.
Mansfield, 12 vs. Braintree, 6 – Final – Mansfield junior Hunter Ferreira outscored the Wamps himself, netting seven goals with two assists to pace the Hornets. Danny DeGirolamo (assist) and Sam O’Connell each added two goals for the Hornets, who advance to the semifinal round of the Chowder Cup. Cullen Murphy added a goal and an assist for Mansfield. Grant Milas and Mick Debreuil played well defensively in front of Sean Powers (eight saves) in net.
Milford, 8 @ Stoughton, 9 – Final – Stoughton celebrated its first ever home varsity lacrosse game with the program’s first ever varsity win, edging out Milford in a non-league game. Seniors David Cellucci and Jon Lessa each found the back of the net three times to pace the Black Knights’ offense. Sean Doherty added two goals and AJ Scott netted one for Stoughton.
Sharon, 7 @ Medway, 8 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro vs. Bishop Feehan, 10:00AM
King Philip, 9 @ North Attleboro, 17 – Final – Mackenzie Rosenberg led the way for the Rocketeers with five goals and a pair of assists. Julia Dakin had a hat trick and Katie Lindstrom added three goals and an assist. Emily Schromm had seven draw controls for North.
Mansfield, 13 vs. Holliston, 12 – Final
Taunton, 6 @ Sharon, 20 – Final – Alex Rabb was the top scorer for the Eagles with four goals. Emma Eberhardt, Amanda Klayman, and Sabrina Robbins each had hat tricks in the win.
Boys Tennis
King Philip, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – King Philip came away with a clean sweep of singles play and also grabbed a win at second doubles in a non-league showdown with North. Cole Ginter won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Blake Ginter won 6-3, 6-4 at second singles and Martin Matous won 6-0, 6-0 at third singles. The team of Marco DiStefano and Aidan Ignatius won 6-2, 6-3 at second doubles. North Attleboro’s Daniel Zhang and Ben Pfeffer won 7-5, 7-5 at first doubles.
Girls Tennis
North Attleboro, 3 @ King Philip, 2 – Final
