By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
Dani Atherton, Sophomore – Milford
Milford gave Foxboro a push for the Davenport title last season and, although the Hawks graduated several important players in the midfield, sophomore Dani Atherton’s stellar rookie campaign gives hope that there is enough talent coming back to be a threat in the Kelley-Rex this year. Atherton exploded onto the scene as a dynamic playmaker, scoring nine goals and recording six assists as a freshman. She is a skillful player, capable of making dangerous dribbles to get the defense off-balance, and is a willing runner to chase every pass into the channels and her markers always needed to be aware of where she is. Atherton can also drop into the midfield and give Milford more playmaking in the center of the pitch or on the wings. As she becomes more accustomed to the high pace of Hock play, Atherton has the potential to unlock defenses and be the key to Milford’s quick transitions into the attack.
Jordyn Collins, Senior – Foxboro
It is hard to keep this Foxboro team from finding the back of the net and one of the primary reasons for that is Jordyn Collins. The senior forward and Bryant University-commit is one of the league’s fastest players and has been leaving defenders in her wake for three seasons. Collins scored 23 goals and added three assists last year, helping Foxboro to the Davenport division crown and she has added a more consistent finishing touch to the physical gifts that has made her hard to contain for even the league’s stingiest defenses. Strong on the ball and with quick feet, Collins can keep defenders off-balance, knowing if she gets an inch then she could be behind them and on goal in a flash. Collins has also developed an awareness of where the spaces are to make runs in behind, taking advantage of the channels and a blossoming partnership with midfielder, and fellow Player to Watch, Kailee McCabe to create chances on the break or against packed defenses. With Collins leading the line, Foxboro will be the favorite to retain the league title this fall.
Elisa Diletizia, Senior – Canton
It will certainly help Canton’s new coaching staff to know that it has firepower up front to cause problems for opponents. One of the dynamic playmakers that the Bulldogs will count on this season is senior forward Elisa Diletizia, who scored 16 goals and had four assists to help Canton reach the Div. 2 South semifinal last year. Quick and with loads of skill on the ball and the capability of playing on the shoulder of the last defender or dropping deep to get involved in the attack, Diletizia pops up in different spaces and is hard to mark with one defender. She also needs to be kept track of no matter how far out because she can find the back of the net from distance and from tough angles, making her a constant threat. The combination of Diletizia and Providence College-bound classmate Olivia Rodman is going to keep defenses on their toes and could make Canton one of the top scoring teams in the league this fall.
Briley Harnois, Senior – Attleboro
Speed is an important characteristic for a forward, but there also needs to be a tenacity to chase down passes, put defenders under constant pressure, and keep your team pushing forward. Briley Harnois gives Attleboro the perfect player to defend from the front and set the tone from an attitude standpoint. The senior forward is a thorn in the side of opposing defenses. Her quickness means any ball over the top is a potential opportunity and her willingness to get into physical battles with bigger defenders means that there isn’t a moment to rest. Harnois scored 10 goals last season and she is the perfect forward for Attleboro’s counter-attacking style, finding the seams to run into and also dropping back to combine with classmate Isabella Salviati. With a senior-laden roster, Attleboro will be a tough test for every team in the Kelley-Rex this fall and Harnois is emblematic of their combination of skill and attitude of not backing down from a challenge.
Mackenzie Manning, Senior – Stoughton
Stoughton made significant improvements last year, especially in the attack, as the Black Knights scored 34 goals as a team, three times more than the previous season. One of the constants for Stoughton is Mackenzie Manning, who has been the team’s leading scorer for each of her three years on varsity. Last year, the playmaker scored 11 goals and added three assists switching between attacking midfield and forward roles. She has quick feet and great vision to find the right pass to unleash the Stoughton forwards and her work rate, whether up top or in the middle of the pitch, pushes her teammates to match that intensity. Manning can strike from distance or run in behind the opposing defense and with sophomore forward Shayla Ford emerging as another attacking threat, Stoughton’s new coaching staff has a good foundation to continue building on last year’s scoring output.
Kailee McCabe, Junior – Foxboro
Four years ago, Lily Sykes became the first player in any sport to be named to the first team in this site’s end-of-season award for four years in a row. It seemed like her graduation would leave a big hole in the middle of the pitch that Foxboro would struggle to fill, but Kailee McCabe stepped right in and extended that streak to six years and running. The two-time HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year is an imposing presence in the Warriors midfield, covering a ton of the pitch to be a factor with and without the ball. McCabe is strong in possession, rarely being pushed off the ball, but also has a nice touch and the vision to pick out the defense-splitting pass. She also has an eye for goal, scoring 17 goals and recording five assists last season, pushing her total to 30 goals in two years. Capable of winning the ball back and instantly getting the Warriors out on the break, McCabe has been a perfect foil for forward Jordyn Collins (see above), making Foxboro a constant threat and not giving opposing defenses a moment to rest.
Katie Miller, Junior – Mansfield
Stats aren’t always a good judge of the impact a player has on a team. Mansfield returned only one starter for last season and needed someone to step up and set the tone for a young team. Katie Miller played all but 10 minutes last fall and the sophomore was the leader in the center of the pitch that got the Hornets within one win of a tournament bid. Miller had one assist last season, but it was her ability to cover ground in the midfield, break up opposing attacks, and her accurate passing helped Mansfield quickly turn defense into attack. A strong, physical presence, Miller’s reading of the game allowed her to be in the right spots for interceptions or key tackles and she also has skill on the ball to drive at the opposition defense and beat opponents off the dribble. With a little more experience around her this year, Miller could be able to add more stats this season but it is clear she will be one of the keys to the Hornets moving back to the top of the Kelley-Rex this season.
Jenny Montville, Senior – King Philip
An experienced King Philip side took an undefeated season into the South final last year. Although the Warriors graduated the program’s two all-time leading scorers, there are several key players returning to try and keep KP at the top of the Kelley-Rex. One of those players is senior Jenny Montville, who is going to move from the midfield into a forward role and spearhead the Warriors attack. Solid on the ball and with the speed to make dangerous runs, Montville showed last year that she is capable of stepping up in big moments, such as her opening goal in the playoffs against Oliver Ames and a series of chances in the second half of the final against Bishop Feehan. Her time in midfield showed her passing range and she could drop deep to offer KP versatility in attack, holding the ball up, and allowing teammates to get into the box. It will be hard to match the output that KP’s attack mustered last year, but Montville’s finishing and experience will keep a young Warriors team moving forward.
Camryn O’Connor, Junior – Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames is moving back to the Davenport division for the first time since winning three straight division titles from 2013-15 and the Tigers have a roster loaded with varsity experience to regain the Davenport crown. One of the players that will be looking to pick up the scoring slack after the graduation of Erin Holmberg is junior forward Camryn O’Connor. The three-year varsity player has already shown the potential to be one of the league’s toughest attacking players, combining her skill on the ball, strength in possession, and her willingness to get into the mix on set pieces (always an important component of OA’s offense). O’Connor scored seven goals and assisted on six others last year and was a constant menace to even the top defenses in the league. There will be higher expectations this season, as O’Connor will be the primary forward and she will be looking to provide more consistency this fall to help the Tigers make a push to win the league again.
Erin Quaile, Senior – Franklin
Much of Franklin’s success last season came from its defense being one of the best in the Hock and that solidity at the back came from far more than just the back four. The Panthers were also a tenacious team in the midfield, putting pressure and forcing turnovers all over the field and that is where senior midfielder Erin Quaile dominates. Not surprising for a two-time HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year in basketball, Quaile is quick, agile, and never backs down from a challenge. She covers a ton of ground in the center of the pitch and is not afraid of getting into physical battles. Quaile also showed off a good range of passing, keeping possession well when needed and quickly turning defense into attack with a long pass to the forwards. She may not be the biggest player, but Quaile was also strong on set pieces on both ends of the pitch and timed her late runs into the box to pop up with the occasional goal for the Panthers. Franklin will be in the mix for the league title this year and Quaile’s experience and nous in the middle of the park will be critical.