Tommy Sharkey scored four goals to help Foxboro beat Falmouth for the second time this season and reach the Div. 3 quarterfinal. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – Just 30 seconds into the third quarter of Friday afternoon’s Div. 3 Round of 16 game at Sam Berns Community Field, Falmouth junior Rafe Grant managed to escape a triple team, drove across the center of the Foxboro defense, and managed to squeeze a shot past goalie Adam Addeche.
The goal extended the Clippers’ run to four straight and cut the Foxboro lead down to just one. Momentum seemed to be with the visitors, but before the face-off the officials conducted a stick check, ruled that Grant’s stick was illegal, and not only took the goal off the board but also gave Foxboro a two-minute, man-up opportunity.
Connor Noone took advantage of the extra space to score his second goal of the day. Instead of a one-goal game, Foxboro led by three and took back control. The Warriors would tack on three more in the quarter to push the lead to as many as six and held on in the fourth to secure an 11-7 win and a spot in the last eight.
“I’m proud of the boys, great win for us today,” said Foxboro coach Matt Noone, who also welcomed the Warriors playing in Div. 3 for the first time this spring. “It’s nice to go on a little run.”
Foxboro got off to a perfect start, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead. Noone got things started after a couple of minutes, able to get his hands free for a lefty rip. Three minutes later, Tommy Sharkey broke free and found the bottom corner from distance to double the lead. On a man-up, Sharkey went across the crease with a pass to Jack Avery at the back post to make it 3-0.
Less than a minute later, Foxboro added its fourth with a quick transition that started with a perfect Addeche outlet pass to pole Dylan Kerrigan, who raced down the sideline before picking out freshman Jon Sacchetti for a close-range finish.
The lead could’ve been more but Falmouth goalie Chris Ledwick (19 saves) came up with huge stops to deny Sacchetti and Lincoln Moore. The Clippers made the stops count by getting on the board when Matt Shea found the back of the net with a minute to go in the first.
Foxboro responded early in the second. Sacchetti was able to cut through the Falmouth defense and despite taking a hit was able to bury the shot. Another two-man advantage turned into a five-goal lead for the Warriors, as Sharkey had plenty of time to line up a sidearm shot for his second.
Although the hosts seemed to have the game in hand, mistakes and penalties allowed the Clippers to creep back into the game.
“Offensively, I thought we pressed,” Noone explained. “We weren’t valuing possession of the ball and so I asked the kids, can we get a long possession? The way you’re going to beat teams that you shouldn’t beat is to possess the ball longer, so we’ve been trying to work on that.”
A bad pass in transition gifted Oliver Partridge a free run at Addeche and he made no mistake to cut the lead to 6-2. Shea was able to turn the corner and and went high past the stick of Addeche to make it a three-goal game. Jackson Falcone nearly made a two-man advantage count only to have Addeche come up with a huge stop with his mask.
With 2:16 left in the half, Falmouth got back within two. After a turnover Cooper Young fired a pass across the middle. Addeche gambled for the steal, but the ball made it through to Kevin Coyne for a finish into the open goal.
“Penalties killed us, we let them get back in it,” Noone said. “Being in the penalty box…now we’re in the playoffs man, sometimes during the season you can get away with that but the deeper you go in the playoffs, if you’re a man down most teams are going to be able to score.”
It looked like things had gone from bad to worse for the Warriors after Falmouth won the opening draw of the second half, but the goal was wiped away and Noone restored a three-goal cushion.
Foxboro then got back to what had worked so well in the first quarter. Sharkey was denied by Ledwick while taking a big hit, but Foxboro retained possession and Moore went right back to Sharkey for his hat trick goal.
Three minutes later, Addeche had another long outlet to Kerrigan, who pulled in the pass with a nifty over-the-shoulder catch, and it was finished by Noone in the middle. Sharkey would add his fourth of the day with a man-up goal and the Warriors went into the fourth leading 10-4.
“Tommy was great,” Noone said. “Sacchetti, our freshman, played great. What’s great about the attack is that if someone has an off day then someone will pick them up. So, when they shut off Connor, then Linc picks it up and, if Lincoln is having an off day, then Sacchetti is there.”
Falmouth kept battling back. Max April went top shelf on the run just 30 seconds into the quarter and the Clippers forced a turnover on the ride to give Grant a wide open chance and cut the lead to four.
Noone proved to be the run stopper. The Merrimack College-commit had his first chance saved but he recovered the loose ball at the ‘X’ and got to his left hand before firing a shot inside the far post. Partridge would get one back with 2:48 left, but the Warriors earned their second four-goal win against the Clippers this season.
The Warriors held onto the lead thanks to the play of Addeche, who made half of his 12 saves in the fourth, and the aggressive marking of Kerrigan, Ben Ricketts, Matt Grace, and the rest of the defensive unit.
“My defense was awesome today,” Noone raved. “To be man-down so much and hold them to seven goals, they’re a good team.”
He added, “Adam played probably his best game today. He was involved in the defense, you could hear him talking, he made some great saves, his outlet passes were on today. I need him to do that more and more.”
Foxboro (14-6) advances to face the winner of No. 4 Dracut and No. 13 Shawsheen Valley Tech at a date and time to be determined.
Following a first South final appearance, Franklin returns a strong group to go after a state title. Find full previews for all teams below. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 3-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Kevin Patton
Attleboro had some growing pains during the 2021 campaign, but has a good chunk of the roster back in the fold for 2022 and will try to take the next step forward as a program.
The Bombardiers will have a strong foundation on the defensive end of the field. Captain Fred Wheaton is back for another year to anchor the defense and he’s joined by fellow returners Bobby Sawyer and John Wheaton to give Attleboro a solid veteran nucleus to try and shut down some of the top offenses in the league. Attleboro also has sophomore Harry Wheaton back in net after gaining valuable experience in the cage in 2021.
Having last year’s top scorer in Carter Shelton back in the fold will give the Bombardiers a good start in the attack. Shelton scored 30 goals and had 15 assists, finishing 12th in the Hock in scoring. Captain Keigan Conley is also back to bolster the attack, coming off a 22 goal, 10 assist campaign a year ago. Freshman Nathan Conroy is also in the mix already in the attack.
Attleboro’s midfield will be anchored by captain Ryan Betts along with Chad Beaupin and Seth LaPlace. The Bombardiers also expect contributions from Cole McKenna, Patrick McAvoy, and Spencer Scherck.
“We have a lot of returning guys that picked up valuable varsity experience last season,” said Attleboro head coach Kevin Patton. “We are looking forward to a strong season in 2022.”
2021 Record: 14-2 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal Coach: Ryan Quinn
Canton split its two games with Foxboro to win a share of the Davenport title in 2021, just the third league title in program history and were an overtime goal away from reaching the Div. 2 South final. The Bulldogs have a lot of experience in the attack and the midfield this season with the goal of putting in another challenge for the league crown and putting together another state tournament push.
The Bulldogs had a dynamic attack last spring and the league’s leading scorer Sam Carlino headlines a strong group this season as well. Junior Jeff Chaput joins Carlino in the attack and the midfield group is filled with experience from last season. Sophomore Brendan Tourgee, juniors AJ Thomas and Chris Hamilton, senior Eddie Gillis, and Charlie Vaughn will all give Canton playmaking at the middie position.
Defensively, Canton will definitely miss graduated goalie Dylan Coyne but the Bulldogs have a talented group of poles that should be tough to score against this season. Senior Sean Connolly will lead that defensive group alongside sophomores Luke Darling and Colin Blake.
“I am really excited about this upcoming season,” said second-year coach Ryan Quinn. “Our student-athletes have been working hard to build on our success from last season, but are very aware that everything we achieve is based upon the work we put in this year, every day. We are led by a small, but strong senior class, and have depth across all four grades levels. This group is a very coachable group and we are very excited to begin”
2021 Record: 11-4 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal Coach: Matt Noone
After graduating just two seniors from last year’s team, Foxboro is back with a strong lineup that will look to reclaim the Davenport title that it shared with Canton in 2021. The Warriors will have depth up and down the field with the goal of not only returning to the top of the division but also being ready for a deep run in the statewide tournament.
Foxboro’s attack is all back from last season. The Warriors finished third in goals scored in the league in 2021 and a year’s worth of experience should make them even more dynamic. Junior Conor Noone was the league’s third-leading scorer last season and he will lead the line again alongside sophomore Lincoln Moore, coming off a breakout rookie campaign, and senior Jack Avery. Senior Tommy Sharkey was an all-star middie last season and he will be joined by junior Finn Stapleton and sophomore Tony Sulham, another player who made a strong varsity debut as a freshman.
Depth should be a strength for the Warriors, who return their second midfield group as well, including sophomores Sully Kenneally, Ryan Cotter, and Ian Foley. Foxboro’s defense is returning as a group too. Seniors Dylan Kerrigan and Ben Ricketts are the leaders at the back and will be joined by classmate Mark Jansen. Senior Matt Grace will start at LSM with sophomore Jack Sullivan backing him up. Sophomore Adam Addeche is back in goal, backed up by classmate Nate Urman, and freshman midfielder John Sacchetti and defender James Dee Gaffney are newcomers with potential.
“The Warriors graduated two seniors and return the core of their team,” said Foxboro coach Matt Noone. “Everyone is a year older with varsity experience which will help us in our 2022 push.”
2021 Record: 18-1 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final Coach: Lou Verrochi
After reaching the program’s first sectional final in 2021, Franklin brings a typically strong lineup of experienced players who will be aiming to make a run in the new statewide tournament. The Panthers have loaded up their regular season schedule to prepare for the rigors of the tournament with state powers Medfield, Lincoln-Sudbury, and St. John’s Prep among the teams that Franklin will challenge itself against to be ready to shoot for silverware this spring.
Franklin’s attack scored more than 300 goals in 19 games last season and should be just as dynamic this year with junior All-American Luke Davis joined by classmate Jayden Consigli, who were both in the top five in scoring in the league in 2021. Junior Tyler Sacchetti will be the third member of the attacking crew. Sophomore Drew Hansen and Ed O’Brien and junior John Walshe will make up the first midfield. Junior Justin Alexander was one of the best face-off middies in the state last year and the Panthers will be counting on him to control possessions again this season.
Senior Kyle Palmieri will lead the defensive group, which should once again be a challenge for the opposition to score against. Junior Ben Harvey and senior Billy Gardner will also be key players at close defense. Sophomore goalie Matt Corvi will step into the cage this spring and has the potential to be a standout.
2022 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Preview
“Once again, we will have a very competitive team this spring with a very tough schedule,” said Franklin coach Lou Verrochi.
2021 Record: 9-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Hal Bean
With more than a dozen players back in the fold from last year, King Philip is looking to take another step forward after posting a 9-5 record last year.
The Warriors have key pieces in the lineup all over the field, starting with senior goalie James Boldy. Boldy had a great campaign a season ago and will be among the top goalies in the league this year. He will work with fellow senior captain Will Weiblen and senior Shaun Fitzpatrick as the anchors of the King Philip defense.
There is a strong core of midfielders back in the mix this year, starting with returning faceoff specialist Thomas Brewster. He will be joined by a very experienced group that features seniors Ben Riggs, Sean McCarthy, Andrew Longobardi, Nolan Feyler,
Brayden Thompson, John Campbell, and Ian Hill, along with sophomore standout Noah Minkwitz. Riggs (31 points last year) will be one of the most dangerous two-way players in the league but KP has a lot of depth in the position.
Offensively, King Philip has Sean Crowther back in the fold, who was just one of six Hock players to reach the 40-goal mark on the season. He’s joined by Kip Bishop and Colin Lightbody, who both registered 19 points a year ago, as well as Colin Gillis and sophomore Donovan DeVellis.
“King Philip boys lacrosse expects to compete in every game and anticipates a productive season and playoff run,” said KP head coach Hal Bean “We all are looking forward to a fun season!”
2021 Record: 6-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Tim Frias
With a handful of young faces fighting for spots in the lineup, Mansfield is hoping to pick up valuable experience early and make a late charge for a spot in the state tournament.
The Hornets do have some experience on the defensive side of the ball with Ryan DeGirolamo starting in the cage and senior captains Zander Holmes and Mark DiGirolamo patrolling the space in front of him. Mansfield has a handful of young poles that will be in the mix including Liam Barry, Patrick Gormley, Nolan Bordieri, and James DeGirolamo.
The group of upperclassmen will make up the majority of the field with senior Dash Munson joining a trio of talented juniors in Grady Sullivan, Drew Sacco, and Cody Gordon. The Hornets have a lot of young players looking to find spots in the midfield and lineup and general, and new names that could contribute early on include Aidan Steele, Jake Feinberg, and Liam Steele.
2022 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Preview
In the attack, senior Jack Roberts will be accompanied by a pair of sophomores in Tommy Smith and Andrew Burnham.
2021 Record: 2-11 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Austin Costa
Under the guidance of new head coach Austin Costa, the Scarlet Hawks are aiming to show improvement throughout the season and set the program on an upward trajectory.
There is a strong mix of veteran leadership and new faces eager to find a spot in the lineup for Costa and the Scarlet Hawks this season. Senior captain Eric Landry is set to be the leader on the defensive end, and his experience will be key as Milford tries to fend off some lethal offenses. Landry will be joined by Brian Goncalves and junior Nick Casilli, both returners for the Scarlet Hawks. Defensive experience will be key as the Hawks turn to Alex McGuire for his varsity debut in the cage.
Offensively, look for veterans Jacob Ligor and Eric Farrell to be major contributors for the Scarlet Hawks. Both have a good amount of experience playing at this level and know what it takes to compete in the Hockomock League. Other returners for Milford include Kyle Donelan, Shawn O’Donnell, and Ronn Swineford while freshmen Alex Maietta and Jayden Martins have impressed early on and could be key contributors right away.
2021 Record: 7-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal Coach: Kevin Young
North Attleboro finished in a tie for third in the Davenport division last year and had an impressive playoff win over Belmont before being beaten by sectional finalist Medfield. The Rocketeers only graduated two players from last season’s team, so Big Red comes into the spring with big expectations of competing for a first league title since 2017 and being a threat in the state tournament.
The North attack should be an area of strength this season with seniors Matt Antonetti, Connor Ruppert, and Clayton Billingkoff all back up top. Antonetti led the team with 57 points in 2021. Juniors Jack Regan and Luke Ward have both had strong preseasons, while freshmen Ethan Gustafson and Brady Brackner could be poised for breakout debuts. Senior Jared Vacher will do his best to get as many possessions as possible for the North attack by winning draws.
North’s defense has plenty of experience as well. Senior Max Hobbs, Anthony Ferro, and James Brennan will get plenty of help from sophomore Connor Rajotte and junior LSM Julian House. The Rocketeers can also count on two experienced goalies with senior Ethan McGrath and junior JT Gallagher both back in the cage this spring.
“We know the Hockomock will be strong this year,” said North coach Kevin Young. “I am excited to watch this group compete and grow as a team.”
2021 Record: 3-11 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Ben Devlin
Oliver Ames coach Ben Devlin stepped down after last season, but he was convinced to come back this spring to lead a young Tigers team. Twenty-four of the 34 players in the program this year are either freshmen or sophomores, so OA will be counting on younger players to step up across the field and Devlin is excited about the promise he sees during the preseason.
Senior midfielder Wyatt Fritchman and junior attacker Ben Reardon will be the leaders on offense. Fritchman was second on the team in scoring last year and Reardon went on a run of nine goals in the final three games of his sophomore season. Senior Wes Tower is back to run things in the midfield and sophomores Ryan Jaco and Alex McAndrew have the potential to find the back of the net.
On the other end of the field, senior Cam Tower has been converted to LSM this season. The other poles will be led by junior Jake Manthous, who also was in charge of the face-offs last year, and sophomore Landon Grothe. Junior Noah Isleib returns in goal to keep things organized on defense and sophomore Ethan St. Jean will be his backup.
“Despite being much younger, we are looking to improve on last year’s results and continue building the program,” said Devlin. “We expect to have some growing pains early in the season, but look to improve as the younger players get experience and develop their game during the season. It’s never easy to rebuild in a talented league like the Hock. There aren’t any easy games as every team is talented and well-coached…but we are setting our sights on winning enough games to reach the postseason.”
2021 Record: 9-6 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Jon Shocket
Sharon has a solid core back from last year’s nine-win team but without any juniors on the squad, there will be a lot of young players in the lineup with most getting their first taste of varsity lacrosse.
With over a half dozen seniors on the roster, head coach Jon Shocket will lean heavily on their veteran leadership and experience as the new players get integrated into the lineup and acclimated with the speed of the high school game. The senior trio of Ben Shocket, Brady Daylor, and Ryan Zunenshine are this year’s captains.
The other seniors on the team include Jace Nestler, Matt Mahoney, James Lillenfeld, and Chance Hanah, and all four will be vital as the Eagles make a push for the postseason. There are four freshmen already in the lineup including Matt Powers in net, Jordan Burke at attack, and Zach Bernstein and Ben Goldberg at defense. Sophomores Gabe Korn, Ryan Brown, Jacob Kaufman, and Ronin Widland will also be in the mix for the Eagles.
“I hope to get a lot of growth from our team as we get more experience,” Shocket said.
Sophomore Trevor Marder made 27 saves, but Medway scored inside the final thre minutes to avoid Foxboro’s first round upset bid. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – This has been a tough season for Foxboro. The Warriors have battled injuries to its top players, seen portions of the team miss time due to COVID, and even had to start a player in goal who had never played the position before. After winning its final two games of the regular season, Foxboro (10-11-0) clinched its tournament berth and was given the No. 27 seed.
If there was any doubt that, when full strength, Foxboro had the potential to earn a much higher seed, Saturday afternoon’s Div. 3 first round playoff game against Medway at Pirelli Veterans Arena was proof.
The Warriors gave the Mustangs all that they could handle in front of the partisan crowd, with sophomore goalie Trevor Marder standing out in his playoff debut. The game was scoreless with less than three minutes to play and a few nervous Medway fans were thinking Foxboro might be able to pull off the upset.
But, a turnover in the defensive zone gave Medway one more chance and a perfect pass set up the game’s only goal, as the No. 6 seed skated away with the 1-0 win and advanced to face its rival Medfield in the second round.
“I couldn’t be prouder of these guys,” said Foxboro coach Mark Cedorchuk. “We’ve dealt with a lot of adversity this year. I couldn’t be prouder of this senior class because they really showed some true grit and true leadership at the end.”
He added, “It just goes to show that we were a better team than what we were seeded. Some of those games that we were just missing guys, we showed tonight that we were better than a 27-seed.”
Medway dominated zone time throughout the game and would have a sizable advantage in shots on goal (28-18) but rarely felt like it had full control. Laurence Eaton broke free for Medway’s first good chance but Marder (27 saves) stayed tall to stop the backhand attempt at the post. The Mustangs would also hit the post in the first.
It took Foxboro 11 minutes to create its first shot on goal, with Jack Watts teeing up Matt Grace for a snap shot from the high slot that forced Medway goalie Evan Monaghan into a save. Derek Axon got in behind the medway defense on a rush up the left side but the back check of Camden Condlin denied the shooting chance.
After a relatively clean first period, the second was riddled with penalties. Alex Infanger had one of Medway’s best power play chances with a shot from the point that was blockered aside and the Mustangs had a goal waved off when Pari Lykourinos knocked in a rebound with his hand.
Foxboro continued to create scoring chances in transition. Tom Marcucella had a rush down the right wing but just missed the net from the face-off circle. Steven Bridges played a pass from behind the net to Axon out in front but Monaghan reacted quickly to smother the shot. Watts and Grace nearly combined to good effect only for Grace’s shot to slide just wide of the post.
The Warriors had a great breakout of the zone with two minutes left in the second. Watts played the puck up the boards and Axon’s deft touch took it past the defenseman and into the path of Grace, but Monaghan stuck out a pad to deny the opening goal. Marder then pulled off a nice glove save to rob Jack Carr in front.
Marder was just getting started and he would get plenty of help from his defensemen as well. Carr had another great look from the slot but Dylan Pothier put himself in the way to block. Just seconds after Sean Murphy hit the post with a rocket of a wrist shot, Nathan VanSaun was free in the slot until Sully Kenneally came diving across to block.
Then it was time for the Foxboro goalie to steal the show. Marder moved quickly to deny VanSaun, who was wide open in the slot, and he threw out a pad to stop another close-range chance VanSaun. Just seconds later, after Watts nearly hit on the break only to have Monaghan get a toe to a shot from the wing, Marder robbed Ryan Gagnon on the doorstep.
“Trevor played lights out,” said Cedorchuk. “Our D played spectacular. They all played well and our goalie really stepped up. He made some spectacular saves. There were a couple leg saves he made that I just thought that’s going in and he stuck out the leg.”
In the end, Marder could only do so much. A poor clearance from deep inside the defensive zone was picked off at the blue line and gave Eaton a free path to goal. The Medway defenseman saucered a pass across the crease to Gagnon coming in at the far post and he slammed it into the back of the net to finally end Foxboro’s resistance.
The Warriors would have one last chance with two minutes to go, but Ben Ricketts couldn’t get a clean shot off from the slot and Monaghan saved it comfortably. Medway saw out the final seconds to move on.
Cedorchuk said, “They got that one little play at the end when we were trying to come out of the zone. We misplayed the puck that one time and that was the break that they capitalized on but our guys came to play.
“They definitely left everything out on the ice and they played with intensity and fast pace and I thought for the most part we matched them.”
Boys Basketball
Foxboro, 83 vs. Middleboro, 52 – Final – Foxboro’s offense was nearly unstoppable in the third quarter as the Warriors used a 26-point frame to blow the game wide open in a win over Middleboro, claiming the Warrior Classic Championship. Senior Dylan Gordon made half of his 12 field goals in the third quarter alone and had 14 of his team-high 28 points as Foxboro turned a 10-point halftime lead (35-25) into a 61-36 advantage going into the fourth. Junior Alex Penders added 16 points on eight makes from the floor and Sam Golub sank four threes, finishing with 13 points.
King Philip, 56 vs. Hanover, 65 – Final – King Philip cut the deficit down to three going into the final quarter but the Warriors couldn’t keep pace with Hanover over the final eight minutes. KP used a 24-point third quarter, getting a pair of threes from Charlie Grant (11 points), seven points from Braeden Sottile (13 points) and six from Will Laplante (15 points) to make it 45-42 going into the fourth but Hanover pulled away with the win over the final eight minutes.
North Attleboro, 27 vs. Randolph, 51 – Final – North Attleboro trailed by just six at halftime and played good defense throughout, but couldn’t keep pace with the Blue Devils in the second half. Casey Poirier scored half of his eight points in the first and Givany Carney had four as the Rocketeers established a 10-6 lead after eight minutes. Randolph took control with a 19-point second quarter, taking a 25-19 advantage into the break. Brody Rosenberg added six points for North.
Stoughton, 66 vs. Southeastern, 44 – Final – Stoughton held Southeastern scoreless for over seven minutes in the third quarter, turning a tie game at halftime in a blowout win. The Knights were deadlocked at 32-32 at the break but came out and dominated the Hawks in the third, opening on a 15-0 run before Southeastern got on the board with under a minute to go. Stoughton put the game away with a 9-2 burst to open the fourth quarter. Connor Andrews scored 11 points in the pivotal third quarter and finished with a game-high 25 points while junior Rayan Sablon connected on five threes and finished with 20 points. Konrad Rogers chipped in with a career-best 11 points.
Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 53 vs. Walpole, 62 – Final – Despite three players in double digits, Foxboro fell to visiting Walpole in the final of the Warrior Classic. Kailey Sullivan led the way with 17 points and was named to the all-tournament team. Hannah Blake and Camryn Collins each finished with 13 points.
Oliver Ames, 46 vs. Medfield, 64 – Final – Oliver Ames entered halftime trailing by just two (29-27) but a big third quarter from Medfield created the separation the Warriors needed to get the win. Caroline Peper had a team-high 15 points, Jasmyn Cooper added 14 points, and Sarah Hilliard chipped in with 10 points for The Tigers, who will host Medfield in a rematch on Thursday.
King Philip, 58 @ Shrewsbury, 29 – Final – KP won for the second time in as many days and clinched a spot in the state tournament. The Warriors held Shrewsbury to just two points in the first quarter and 10 points in the opening half to build a double-digit lead. Coming out of the break, KP scored 22 points in the third quarter to break the game open and then secured the win by holding Shrewsbury to only five points over the final eight minutes. Emily Sawyer had a big day in the middle for the Warriors, nearly matching Shrewsbury on her own by scoring 24 points. Julia Marsden and Elizabeth Molla each scored 10 points in the in win and Jackie Bonner returned from an injury to knock down a pair of threes and score eight points.
Stoughton, 52 @ Waltham, 61 – Final – Stoughton put up a great fight but fell on the road in its final game of the season. Senior Vanessa Phelimond led Stoughton with 11 points while senior Kate Bulger chipped in with nine points.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro had an offensive explosion on Tuesday afternoon, netting a pair of shorthanded goals in a win over Attleboro. The Warriors put 54 shots on net with Jack Watts pacing the offense with a hat trick and one assist. Ben Ricketts added two goals and Matt Grace finished with three assists.
Canton, 6 vs. Boston Latin, 2 – Final
Stoughton, 2 @ Taunton, 2 – Final
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – Canton got a pair of second period goals from its defense to come from behind and beat Franklin. With the win, the Bulldogs sweep the season series with the Panthers and complete an undefeated league campaign. Franklin took the lead in the first when Molly Hurley redirected a pass from Lindsay Dennett. Canton answered back in the second, as Tori Carr and Maya Battista both found the back of the net. The Bulldogs were able to fend off pressure from the Panthers in the third to pick up the win.
Girls Basketball
King Philip, 52 @ Taunton, 44 – Final – Emily Sawyer scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to help the Warrior hold off Taunton and pick up a road win. KP led 13-9 after the first quarter and extended its lead to five points at halftime. The teams were even in the third quarter, so the Warriors kept their five-point edge going into the the fourth. KP outscored Taunton 16-13 over the final eight minutes to secure the victory. Julia Marsden added 12 points for KP and Jackie Bonner had six. Kameron St. Pierre was Taunton’s top scorer with 16 points, including 11 in the second half. Jillian Doherty chipped in with 13 for the Tigers and Cali Melo had nine points before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Boys Hockey
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro senior Ben Ricketts found the back of the net twice to help the Warriors skate to a non-league win over Stoughton/Brockton. Ricketts scored the first goal for Foxboro and then the third goal, assists from Steve Bridges and Alex Coveillo on the first and Coviello again on his second. Derek Axon’s unassisted shorthanded goal proved to be the game-winner while Matt Grace (from Tom Marcucella and Brett Axon) tacked on a key insurance goal. Sophomore Trevor Marder played well in net for the Warriors with 24 saves. Anthony DeSousa scored the lone goal for the Black Knights.
King Philip, 2 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 3 – Final (OT)
Girls Hockey
Canton, 5 vs. Dennis-Yarmouth, 2 – Final
King Philip, 4 @ Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Kelly Holmes scored twice and Sydney O’Shea and Morgan Cunningham lit the lamp once each as King Philip skated to a league win over Mansifeld/Oliver Ames. Both Holmes and O’Shea also had a pair of assists and Cunningham had one, and Mallory Johnston had 19 saves in net for KP.
Stoughton/Sharon, 2 vs. St. Joseph’s Prep, 6 – Final – Ava Buckley accounted for both of Stoughton/Sharon’s goals but the Knights fell to St. Joseph’s Prep. Zoe Bangs assisted on both goals while Peri Rodman recorded one helper.
Wrestling
D2 State Dual Meet (Oliver Ames, Sharon, Mansfield, Milford, North Attleboro), 10:00 (@ North Andover) – Milford won three meets to claim the D2 State Dual championship while Oliver Ames took third and Sharon rounded out the top four. The Scarlet Hawks picked up a win over Plymouth South (60-18) to advance to the semifinal, where they secured a win over the Tigers (42-24). In the championship round, Milford pinned down a win over Minnechaug (52-22). Oliver Ames opened with a win over Mansfield (56-21), moved to the semifinals with a win over Dracut/Tyngsboro (43-33), and then after falling to Milford, rallied to avenge its league loss to Sharon with a come-from-behind 35-32 win, capped by a pin from heavyweight Jaden Hinton. Hinton, Kyle Hardie (145), Giovany Juste (170), and Nathan Lipski (132) went 4-0 on the day. Chris Mills (220) rallied for a win that cut the Sharon lead to three going into the last match, won by Hinton.
Brockton Quad (Taunton) – Taunton had another impressive day on the mat, picking up four wins at the Brockton Super Quad. The Tigers secured wins over Woburn (78-6), Quincy/North Quincy (63-12), Brockton (45-24), and Xaverian (52-27). Six Taunton grapplers went 4-0 on the day: Michael Leskoski, Anthony Vieira, Xavier Sandoval, Christian Balmain, Ethan Harris, and Peter Ye.
Boys Basketball
Mansfield @ Bridgewater-Raynham – Postponed to Wednesday, 2/2 at 6:30.
Girls Basketball
Stoughton, 30 @ Brookline, 62 – Final – Stoughton dropped a contest on the road at Brookline on Monday evening. Evie Lam led the offense for the Black Knights with 11 points while Alyssa Edwards hauled in seven rebounds.
Milford, 71 vs. Burncoat, 59 – Final – Maddalena Mannucci Pacini scored a career-high 40 points, including 24 in the second half, to lead the Hawks to a big non-league win. Pacini buried seven threes, went 11-for-13 from the free throw line, and scored in double digits in three of the four quarters to set a new career mark. Erin Michelson added eight points for the Hawks, all in the first half, and Brooke Ferreira and Jess Douglas chipped in with six points apiece. Milford jumped out to a 23-9 lead after the first quarter and carried that advantage for the rest of the night.
Boys Hockey
Franklin, 6 vs. Weymouth, 1 – Final – Franklin scored twice in the first, once in the second, and three times in the third to win its opening round matchup of the Ed Burns Hockey Classic with Weymouth, avenging its loss to the Wildcats from earlier this season. Ben Jarosz scored a hat trick for the Panthers, scoring once in each period while Logan Marchand, Ben Paterson, and Christian Shabbick each had one goal. Sophomore Cole Pouliot-Porter made 20 saves in the win. Ryan Sicchio, Anthony Lampasona, and Shabbick each had a pair of assists in the win.
Canton, 4 vs. Burlington, 0 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Eamon Kelly scored twice and Brendan Tourgee had a goal and two assists, as Canton dominated its first round game in the Ed Burns Hockey Classic. Kelly opened the scoring just 28 seconds into the game, as he followed up Tourgee’s initial shot and then lifted the rebound high to the clove side from close range. Six minutes into the second period, Kelly doubled the lead. He took a pass from Tourgee in the right wing circle, dragged it past a stick check and then roofed his shot from a tight angle. Tourgee sealed the win with 6:59 left to play, finding space inside the left wing circle and picking the far corner. Billy Delello tacked on a fourth inside the final minute, as he was in the right place to finish off a chance created by fellow senior Michael Leonetti. Freshman Colin Davis made 12 saves to record the shutout, as Canton outshot Burlington 34-12. The Bulldogs will take on Natick in the next round on Sunday.
Foxboro, 5 vs. Norton, 2 – Final – Foxboro scored four goals between the first two periods and tacked on one more in the third for a win over Norton. Derek Axon scored twice for the Warriors while Steven Bridges, Ben Ricketts, and Tom Marcucella each lit the lamp once in the win. Alex Coviello and Ricketts each recorded a pair of assists and Sullivan Keneally, Henry Diamond, and Bridges each had one helper. Sophomore Trevor Marder earned the win in between the pipes for Foxboro.
Mansfield, 2 @ Bishop Feehan, 8 – Final
North Attleboro, 1 vs. Silver Lake, 4 – Final
Stoughton, 3 @ Southeastern, 1 – Final – Chris Andrade shined between the pipes and Colin Alessi accounted for all three goals to lead the Black Knights to a win over Southeastern. Alessi scored a hat trick while Andrade turned in 25 saves in the win.
Taunton, 3 vs. Apponequet, 2 – Final (OT) – Colton Scheralis scored with five seconds left in overtime to give Taunton its second win over Apponequet in the past week. After skating to a 2-2 tie in regulation, the Tigers looked destined for a tie until Scheralis lit the lamp just before the buzzer to give Taunton the two points. Loran Corcoran and Evan Pereira also scored for Taunton while Conner Goranson, Connor McGrath, and Nathan Fernandes each had an assist. Freshman Cam Tomaszycki recorded 23 saves to get the win in net.
Boys Basketball
Oliver Ames, 66 @ Southeastern, 67 – Final – Oliver Ames led after each of the first three quarters but Southeastern scored the go-ahead bucket with just over two seconds to play to steal the win from the Tigers. Junior Zach Tagliamonte scored a team-high 25 points for the second straight game to pace the Tigers. Jake Grimaldi chipped in with 17 points and Drew Baxter had 10 for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 72 @ Weymouth, 61 – Final – Deadlocked after three quarters, Stoughton poured in 24 points and get some key stops to secure a win on the road at Weymouth. Freshman Matt Greenspoon hit a big three and added another field goal in the fourth quarter to spark the Black Knights, finishing with 11 points (all in the second half). Senior Connor Andrews scored nine of his team-high 24 points in the final frame and junior Rayan Sablon had 11 of his 19 points in the last frame to help Stoughton get the win.
Girls Basketball
Sharon, 46 @ East Bridgewater, 63 – Final – Jasmine Davis scored 27 points and added 20 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles fell on the road in a non-league game. Rachael Hager chipped in with 12 points for the second straight day.
Stoughton, 35 @ Canton, 60 – Final – Fay Gallery led the way for the Bulldogs with 23 points, including four three-pointers, as Canton extended its win streak to five games. The Bulldogs held a three-point lead after one and extended it to 10 by halftime. The Black Knights stayed within 13 heading to the fourth, but Canton outscored the visitors 19-7 over the final eight minutes to pull away for a big win. Kiara Cerruti scored 14 and Sydney Gallery added seven for Canton. Kate Bulger scored 13 for the Black Knights, including six in the first, and Vanessa Phelimond and Raina Tat each scored six.
Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 8 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Troy Carlisle scored a pair of goals and assisted on two other, helping North sweep the season series against Attleboro. Carlisle opened the scoring with a breakaway goal four minutes into the game and then picked up an assist about four minutes later when he set up Jack Dluhy in the slot. Attleboro goalie Nick Piazza made a pad stop but Joe Quinn knocked in the rebound. North hit the post twice in the first and Attleboro had a shot cleared off the line. Carlisle got his second when he stole the puck in the attacking zone and found the top corner. Nick Longa made it 4-0, assisted by Nik Kojoian and Mark Ayvazyan. North then got two more 39 seconds apart to lead 6-0 after two. Quinn scored his second off a Dluhy assist and Brody Gaulin was credited with a tip of Austin Comery’s shot from the point. Kojoian got his second assist early in the third when Anthony Westcott’s shot from the point went in off the bar. Gaulin added a 4-on-4 goal with 8:37 to play, assisted by Brady Sarro. Attleboro got on the board in the final 90 seconds, as Sean Marshall went the length of the ice on the power play and buried his shot in the top corner past North goalie Nate Kelly (eight saves). Piazza finished with 46 saves in the loss.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final
Foxboro, 1 @ King Philip, 6 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – King Philip sophomore Brad Guden scored a hat trick to lead the Warriors to a league win over Foxboro at the Foxboro Sports Center. King Philip scored twice in the first, three times in the second, and tacked on one more in the third to get the win. Guden set up KP’s first goal, carrying possession into the offensive zone before teeing up classmate Sam Naggar for a one-timer from the blue line that found its way through. Less than two minutes later, John Campbell used a nice move in front to beat the goalie, assists going to Sean Crowther and Kevin Birenbaum. Foxboro cut the deficit in half with 8:08 to play in the first as senior Ben Ricketts intercepted a clearance attempt and fired a wrister that was partially stopped but trickled over the line. Guden lit the lamp twice in the second, first firing a low wrister from the blue line that found the back of the net, and then minutes later, had another low shot take a fortunate deflection off a Foxboro skate and into the back of the net. Crowther came flying down the left side before roofing a shot with less than two minutes to go to make it 5-1 after two periods. Guden completed the hat trick in the third, finishing off a pass from Crowther for a 6-1 edge. Senior Josh Marcoux made 33 saves in net for Foxboro.
Franklin, 7 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Franklin scored three goals in each the first and second periods on its way to a league win on the road over Taunton. Christian Shabbick scored a hat trick for the Panhters, scoring with eight minutes left in the first (on an assist from Ben Paterson) to make it 3-0, again less then two minutes into the second (from Anthony Lampasona) to make it 4-0, and then completed the hat trick (on another assist from Paterson) to push the lead to 6-0. Dylan Marchand added a pair of goals, Ryan Sicchio scored on the power play in the first period, and Paterson lit the lamp once and had a total of three assists. Freshman Jack O’Connor made 16 saves for the win. Taunton sophomore Conner Goranson scored off of an assist from senior Nathan Fernandes in the third period. Freshman Cam Tomaszycki made 46 saves in net for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 7 @ Cardinal Spellman, 2 – Final – Stoughton’s Sean Farley scored a pair of goals to help the Black Knights pick up their second win over Cardinal Spellman this month. Ryan Summers, Joe McNulty, Cooper Card, Colin Alessi and Charlie Caputo each added one goal for Stoughton.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 4 @ Medway/Ashland, 1 – Final – Audrey Koen scored a pair of goals to lead Canton to a third straight win and its fifth win in the last six games.
Franklin, 0 @ Medfield, 1 – Final (OT)
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 2 @ Westwood, 2 – Final
King Philip, 9 @ Dedham, 0 – Final
Stoughton/Sharon, 2 vs. West/East Bridgewater, 7 – Final
Wrestling
Canton, 12 @ North Attleboro, 69 – Final
Sharon, 62 @ Foxboro, 14 – Final – Ashmith Yeruva, Vehnil Rangaraman, Adam Landstein, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Kyle Samuels, Aaron Cashton, Phil Varvak, Cormac Horlbogen, Ethan Siao, and Ron Loebl each won for the Eagles, who clinched at least a share of the Davenport division title with the victory.
Mansfield, 21 @ Franklin, 49 – Final
Milford @ King Philip, 6:00
Oliver Ames, 78 @ Stoughton, 6 – Final – Senior Gio Juste, juniors Ryan Widdop, Kyle Hardie, and Victor Romeiro, and freshman Rory Gallagher-Lambert each earned a pinfall win for the Tigers.
Taunton, 72 @ Keefe Tech, 9 – Final – Ryan Jones (113), Christian Balmain (152), John Mandeville (160), Peter Ye (195), and Logan Frank (220) all won by pin to help Taunton secure a win on the road over Keefe Tech.
Boys Swimming
North Attleboro @ Canton, 5:15
King Philip, 29 @ Taunton, 43 – Final
Girls Swimming
North Attleboro @ Canton, 5:15
King Philip, 63 @ Taunton, 17 – Final
Boys Basketball
Foxboro, 70 @ Abington, 65 – Final – Foxboro took a lead in the first quarter and never trailed the rest of the way in securing a win on the road over Abington. Senior Dylan Gordon hit 10 shots from the field, including just one three-pointer, on his way to a career-high 27 points to pace the Warriors, who led 13-8 after one and 33-25 at halftime. Junior Alex Penders added 18 points while the Warriors got key three-pointers from Sam Golub, Ryan LeClair, Andrew Finn, and Cam Barreira. Foxboro carried a 50-44 lead into the final quarter.
Mansfield, 65 @ BC High, 87 – Final – Mansfield held a one-point lead (19-18) after the first quarter but couldn’t recover from the 10-point deficit it faced at halftime to suffer its first loss of the season. Senior Matt Hyland had a team-high 20 points while Dante James and Jack Lasbury-Casey each chipped in with 12 points.
Girls Basketball
Mansfield, 54 vs. Notre Dame Academy, 40 – Final – Mansfield trailed by two after the first quarter but then put together an 18-8 second to take a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish, picking up a non-league home win. Abby Wager led the way for the Hornets with 16 points and Natalya Gill added 13, including three makes from beyond the arc. The duo combined for 10 of Mansfield’s 12 points in the first, but NDA led by two after eight minutes. In the second, Mansfield scored 18 points to head into the locker room up by eight. Wager and Hallie Popat (seven points) each scored five in the quarter and Gill knocked down a three. Wager and Gill were back at it in the third, teaming up for 11 of Mansfield’s 15, as the Hornets went into the fourth up by 10. NDA was held to just five points in the final quarter, as Mansfield locked down defensively to seal the win. Kara Santos scored six points on her return to the lineup.
Boys Hockey
Canton, 3 vs. Newburyport, 1 – Final
Franklin, 9 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro scored a first period goal to cut Franklin’s lead in half at 2-1 after a period of play, but the Panthers scored seven unanswered over the final two periods to secure the win. Ben Jarosz and Adam Quinn each scored twice and recorded two assists apiece to pace the Panthers’ offense. Dylan Marchand added a pair of goals and an assist, Dom Lampasona scored once and had one helper, and eight other Panthers recorded one point. Franklin freshman Jack O’Connor made 14 saves for the win. Ben Ricketts scored for Foxboro off of an assist from Derek Axon.
Oliver Ames, 6 @ Quincy, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames junior Sean McCarthy scored a hat trick but the Tigers fell on the road to Quincy. Sophomore Andrew Livingstone lit the lamp twice and had three assists for OA while freshman Shaun Teehan scored once and had one assist. Sophomore Sean Kearns had a pair of assists while McCarthy and Matt Lawson each tallied one helper.
Stoughton, 5 vs. East Bridgewater, 6 – Final – Stoughton’s Sean Farley found the back of the net twice but the Black Knights lost a tight contest with East Bridgewater. Charlie Caputo, Ryan Summers, and Cooper Card also scored for the Black Knights.
Taunton, 1 @ Somerset-Berkley, 4 – Final
Girls Hockey
Franklin, 1 @ Algonquin, 1 – Final (OT) – Franklin scored with under a minute left in the third period to earn a comeback point against Algonquin. Down 1-0, the Panthers pulled the goalie and Ava Villella redirected a shot from Maggie McCaffrey with 5.9 seconds to go to pull even.
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Longmeadow, 2 – Final
King Philip, 5 vs. Archbishop Williams, 1 – Final
Gymnastics
Attleboro @ North Attleboro – Postponed to TBD.
Mansfield @ King Philip, 12:30
Sharon, 127 @ Taunton, 124 – Final
Boys Hockey
Attleboro vs. Dighton-Rehoboth/Seekonk, 5:30
Canton, 1 vs. Barnstable, 1 – Final
Foxboro, 2 vs. Northbridge, 1 – Final – Jack Watts and Ben Ricketts each scored once as the Warriors opened their season with a win over Northbridge. Matt Grace had the helper on the first goal while Brady Callahan and Dylan Pothier set up Tickets for the second goal. Josh Marcoux earned the win in net for Foxboro.
Franklin @ Catholic Memorial – Postponed to TBD.
Mansfield, 2 @ Barrington (R.I.), 2 – Final
Taunton, 4 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Taunton’s Conner Goranson scored a pair of third period goals, his second with less than a minute to help the visiting Tigers take a point one the road at Asiaf. Nathan Fernandes and Michael Lucier each had a goal and an assist while Colton Scheralis and Loran Corcoran both chipped in with a pair of assists. Charlie Caputo and Colby Strunk both scored a pair of goals for the Black Knights.
Girls Hockey
Mansfield/Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Bishop Feehan, 4 – Final (OT)
Stoughton/Sharon, 1 vs. Hanover, 7 – Final
Wrestling
Marlboro Quad (Canton), 11:00
Foxboro Super Quad (Foxboro, Sharon) – Sharon went a perfect 3-0 on the day, picking up wins over Plymouth North (60-38), Boston Latin (53-30), and Plymouth South (44-36). Ashmith Yeruva won all three of his matches at 106, picking up three pinfall wins including one in 40 seconds against Boston Latin. Adam Landstein (120, three pins each less than a minute in), Aaron Cashton (152, two pins), and Cormac Horlbogen (182, three pins) all went 3-0 as well for the Eagles.
Braintree Quad (Mansfield), 10:00
Milford Tournament (King Philip, Milford) – Milford took first place with eight individual champions while King Philip finished third after sending four grapplers to the finals. The Hawks soared to a first place finish with 269.5 points, Ashland took second with 177, and KP finished third at 139.5. Aidan Baum (106), Michael Boulanger (113), Robert Lyons (120), Joseph Testa (132), Paul Hough (152), Dan Alves (160), Cameron Phillips (195)m and Hampton Kaye-kuter (220) all won for the Hawks while William Conniff (170) was the lone champion for the Warriors.
North Attleboro Quad (North Attleboro), 10:00
Marshfield Super Quad (Oliver Ames), 9:30
Weymouth Super Quad (Stoughton), 9:00
Sandwich Early Bird Invitational (Taunton) – Taunton continued its strong start to the season by cruising to a first place finish at the Sandwich Early Bird, recording 243 points with six individual winners and two more finalists. Brandon Mendes took first in the 120 bracket, winning all four matches by pinfall, taking out the top three seeds along the way. After a bye in the first round, Xavier Sandoval had back-to-back pins before winning the 132 final with a 6-0 decision. Ben Mandeville had four pinfall wins to claim the 145 bracket, top-seed Christian Balmain took two matches by pinfall then two more by decision to win at 160, Ethan Harris won two matches to secure the 182 title, and Peter Ye beat all three of his opponents by pin for the 195 title. Michael Leskoski (106) and Anthony Vieira (126) each took second for the Tigers.
2020-2021 Record: 1-8-0 Coach: Greg Chamberlain
Attleboro had a difficult 2020-21 season, as delays and big breaks early in the season led to three games in three days to close things out. The Bombardiers will be hoping that they can build off that experience and make a push to get back into the postseason mix with several underclassmen stepping in to supplement the returning corps.
The offense has depth to it this season and head coach Greg Chamberlain is expecting a lot of grit and effort in the attacking zone to create scoring chances. Senior Nate Parker will be the leader of the forward line but he will get help from juniors Colin Flynn and Mike Lachance, who have both had two seasons on varsity already. Freshmen Austin Bessette and Nate Conroy have impressed the coaches in the preseason and could be ready to contribute right away.
Defense could be a strong unit this season, as the Bombardiers have decent skaters and decent depth along the blue line. Senior Sean Marshall will be the key to that group, providing on-ice leadership. Sophomore Dane Holske had a good first season on varsity and can help out both in defense and at forward. Senior Nick Piazza is capable of being one of the top netminders in the league and will be back between the pipes for Attleboro this season.
“Biggest thing that is a positive for us is the guys wanna earn some respect and be tough to play against,” said Chamberlain. “We understand what we have but we think our schedule can help us gain some real confidence.”
2020-2021 Record: 11-0-1 Coach: Brian Shuman
The Davenport division has been ruled by Canton, which has won the title every season since the league split. The Bulldogs bring back a lot of returning players to hunt a 12th straight league title and defend the Div. 2 state title that they won back in 2019-20, but for many of the players, this will be their first season with a full slate of games.
Canton is known for its goalscoring, but the Bulldogs typically start from the defensive zone and this year should be no different. Senior Sean Connolly, the reigning league MVP, will be back at the blue line alongside classmate Ryan Doucette. Juniors James Young and Leo Owens should also see plenty of time on the ice with seniors Brennen Pecararo and Jay Kelleher slotting in at defense or at forward. The goalie job is up for grabs coming into the season with a three-way battle going on between senior Aiden French, junior Carson Eagles, and freshman Collin Davis.
As usual, the Bulldogs should be potent in front of the goal this winter. Senior Eamon Kelly, the team’s leading scorer last year, is back for his fourth season on varsity. Seniors Andrew Valkanas, Tommy Phaneuf, Sam Carlino, and Eddie Gillis will all chip in and junior Jeff Chaput could be poised for a big season after scoring 13 points last year.
“Solid team defense is the expectation as always this season, and we ask all positions to be important players all over the ice,” said Canton coach Brian Shuman. “Our forwards need to be able to shut down opponents and our defense must contribute to our offensive production to have a successful year.”
2020-2021 Record: 4-6-0 Coach: Mark Cedorchuk
Just two years removed from one of the best seasons in program history, Foxboro comes into the winter with an experienced squad, featuring nine seniors, to try and make another push for a state tournament berth. Although the Warriors went 4-6 in the shortened 2020-21 season, four of those losses were against Franklin and Canton and the other two were to North Attleboro by a combined three goals, so there is potential for the Warriors to get back to their 2019-20 form.
The forward line should have plenty of firepower this season with the return of seniors Jack Watts, Matt Grace, and Ben Ricketts, who combined for 13 goals in 10 games last year. Fellow forwards Derek Axon and Steven Bridges will give Foxboro good leadership and depth in the forward line. The Warriors also got plenty of scoring from the blue line, with senior Tom Marcucella adding four goals and three assists last winter.
Improvements in the defensive zone (and not playing almost every game against the league’s top-scoring teams) will be expected this season. Marcucella is listed as a defenseman but has the versatility to line up in multiple positions and he will be helped on defense by classmates Dylan Pothier and Brady Callahan. Junior Alex Coviello and sophomore Sully Kenneally are also going to step into bigger roles on the blue line this season.
“I would say all nine of our seniors are going to be major contributors and that’s definitely a first for Foxboro hockey and it’s a good thing!” said Foxboro coach Mark Cedorchuk. “I would say we will be skilled and experienced.”
2020-2021 Record: 10-2-1 Coach: Anthony Sarno
This will be a new-look Franklin team that takes the ice this season, looking to win its 11th straight league title and make a deep run in the postseason. The Panthers graduated 16 seniors from last year’s team and only return seven players with significant varsity experience to try and manage a schedule loaded with some of the best teams in the state.
Senior forward Dylan Marchand is the key returning player in the forward line. The team’s leading scorer last year, the speedy center scored eight goals and nine assists in 13 games. Seniors Justin Magazu and Domenic Lampasona and juniors Ben Jarosz and Ryan Sicchio will also return to add more firepower to the attacking end of the ice. With 14 new players on the roster, there could be a lot of new names on the score sheet this winter.
Defensively, the Panthers will lean on experienced players like seniors Aidan Hunt and Jack MacKinnon to guide the younger players, as they take on the high-end talent that Franklin will face right from the start of the season. In goal, sophomore Cole Pouliot-Porter and freshman Jack O’Connor will both get chances between the pipes.
“I am optimistic with the youth we have and excited to watch us grow together,” said Franklin coach Anthony Sarno. “We will just have to weather the ebbs and flows, try to remain even-keeled, communicate, and trust each other as a team in order for us to grow and move forward as a complete unit.”
2020-2021 Record: 9-1-0 Coach: Paul Carlow
Last season, King Philip won a share of its first league title since 2006, picking up a rare win against rival Franklin in the process. With 12 returning players and a roster that has 16 upperclassmen, the Warriors will try to make more history by winning back-to-back titles for the first time in program history and also put together a run in the state tournament.
There are four players coming back this year that averaged a point per game in 2020-21. Three of those players are forwards. Seniors Shaun Fitzpatrick and Sean Crowther and junior James Boldy, who combined for 15 goals and 22 assists in 10 games last season. Senior Nolan Feyler will be a big boost, as the forward had a strong sophomore season but missed all of last year due to an injury. Senior Kevin Birenbaum is another of the nine seniors on the forward line.
Sophomore defenseman Brad Guden is the fourth Warrior who averaged a point per game last year. He broke into the lineup and scored 10 times and had 10 assists in his first varsity season. Seniors Nolan Jackson and Quin Garstka add leadership and experience at the blue line and sophomore Max Robison returns after an impressive rookie season. Senior Kyle Abbott will be back between the pipes for the Warriors.
“We have a tough schedule this season but we are looking to challenge for another Hockomock League title,” said KP coach Paul Carlow. We have great leadership from our seniors and a good mix of skill and speed with the younger players. I’m really looking forward to working with this group and build on last year’s success.”
2020-2021 Record: 5-6-0 Coach: Mike Balzarini
With its top six forwards all back from last year, there is optimism that Mansfield will consistently put the puck in the back of the net and in turn, challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title.
And another big positive for the Hornets is junior Chris Hormann back between the pipes with a solid amount of varsity experience now under his belt. That combination of experience in the offensive zone and in the crease is what Mansfield is hoping translates to success. The challenge will be getting a new mix of defensemen working together as the Hornets graduated the majority of that unit.
Leading scorer Mark DeGirolamo returns with a lot of varsity experience under his belt, coming off a season with eight goals and five assists. He’s joined by Dillon Benoit (7 goals, 5 assists), Kyle Oakley (2 goals, 5 assists), Doherty (2 goals, 3 assists), Liam Anastasia (6 goals, 5 assists), and Brayden Purtell (4 goals, 2 assists). As the stats suggest, the Hornets have a very even top two lines which means head coach Mike Balzarini can trust both units to get it done.
Looks for the line of Cullen Egan, Cody Gordon, and Connor Davey to provide energy and some offensive punch throughout the season. Balzarini is looking for some new faces to step up on the blue line. A mix of depth pieces are back, and the Hornets have converted some forwards to defensemen looking to solidify that unit. Patrick Gormley, Brendan Flynn, Will Cameron, Ryan DeGirolamo, and Ty Carroll are all in the mix to get some minutes.
“Last season was difficult for everyone so we’re excited for a more normal year,” Balzarini said. “We’re going to be quick and we have multiple lines that can be a factor for us. We’ve seen some success on offense in our scrimmages so scoring should be a strength, these kids are working well together.”
2020-2021 Record: 8-6-0 Coach: Kyle Heagney
North Attleboro returns 14 players from last year’s roster, including two of the league’s top three scorers, and the Rocketeers will be looking to use that experience under first-year coach Kyle Heagney (who formerly coached Norton and was a North assistant the past two seasons) to challenge Canton at the top of the Davenport division and to put together a playoff run.
Although the Rocketeers bring back senior forwards Nik Kojoain and Brady Sarro, who combined for 41 points in 14 games last year, North is a team built on hard work and team effort in the offensive zone, rather than on individual stars. Seniors Sam Clarke and Nick Longa and juniors Joe Quinn and Mark Ayvazyan will provide plenty of help in front of goal and all have plenty of experience at the varsity level.
North graduated only one of its defensemen from last year. Senior Austin Comery will be the leader for North at the blue line and he will be assisted by classmate Anthony Westcott. Sophomore Kyle Gruber is back in goal for North after an impressive debut season, where he was thrown in against some of the league’s top teams, including a first appearance against Canton.
“Our strength is that we are not a team of superstars,” said Heagney. “We are a team of hockey players that will win first in the locker room before the ice. We look forward to the season and having fun. These are memories that will live forever with our players.”
2020-2021 Record: 1-10-0 Coach: Mike Zucarelli
Oliver Ames has been in a rebuilding phase under head coach Mike Zucarelli. The Tigers won just once in the shortened 2020-21 season and head into this winter with a roster loaded with underclassmen. While this may be a difficult season, Zucarelli is excited for the potential on his team and the growth the program is making for the future.
Seniors Cam Tower and Eliot Cohen will be instrumental in shoring things up at the blue line. The two defensemen will need to provide leadership for the younger players and help limit the opposition scoring chances. Junior forwards Sean McCarthy and Jack Perron will hope to improve the team’s scoring punch as well, after OA was held to 10 goals in 11 games last year. Zucarelli is already seeing more confidence and better decision-making in the offensive zone and is hoping the team’s work rate will lead to more chances.
With seven sophomores on the roster, OA will rely on its youth movement to turn things around. After a lot of growth in the offseason (both physically and mentally), Zucarelli thinks that the septet is ready for the challenges of playing varsity hockey day-in, day-out. Winger Andrew Livingstone and center Matt Lawson will add to the team’s production in the offensive zone and defenseman Landon Grothe could be a standout in the defensive end of the ice. Junior Brandon Burke had a solid summer with his club team and will be the starting goalie for the Tigers this winter.
“If we continue to put in the effort I have seen both on and off the ice to start this year, I believe these young men have the opportunity to do something special,” Zuccarelli said.
2020-2021 Record: 0-6-1 Coach: Kris Metea
Taunton had a tough 2020-21 season, as the Tigers were only able to six games, and come into a winter of transition. The roster is going to be very young, with only nine upperclassmen (juniors and seniors) in the program, so there will be a lot of younger players getting their first taste of varsity action and others experiencing a full season for the first time.
The forward line has a lot of speed and the Tigers are going to rely on that energy to try and create scoring chances. Senior Nathan Fernandes is the most experienced forward returning and he will be joined up top by junior Connor McGrath.
Defensively, the Tigers will be an inexperienced group but there is potential and the desire to get better over the course of the season. Senior Ethan Ross will be the leader at the blue line and junior Colton Scheralis can add his experience there as well. Freshman Cameron Tomaszycki will be jumping between the pipes this season to get his first varsity action.
“We are happy to be back for a full year,” said Taunton coach Kris Metea. “Last season was full of delays, pauses, and feelings of frustrations that made for a very long, short, season. The lessons learned from last season has made the players within the program grateful for a return to a more normal season. We will plan to improve every day and be a better, more complete team by the end of the season.”
