10/06/202210/07/2022

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/06/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Mansfield, 0 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Canton’s offense continued its strong week, scoring five goals for the second straight game in a key Davenport division win over visiting Mansfield. After netting his first goal of the season earlier in the week, sophomore Owen Morrissey scored twice in the Bulldogs’ win on Thursday. Morrissey opened the scoring in the first half, cleaning up a rebound, and then extended the hosts’ lead to 3-0 with the first goal of the second half. Seniors Ryan Kovner, Jack Lauro, and Carson Eagles each scored once for Canton.

Stoughton, 1 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Girls Soccer
Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Shayla Ford’s brace helped Stoughton pull out the home win. Ford scored once in each half, leading the Black Knights to a third win in the last four games and back to .500 on the season. Katrina Varnum picked up the assist on the opening goal and Emma Tran had the second assist. Varnum made six saves to earn the clean sheet. Stoughton’s five wins so far this fall are the most for the Black Knights in a single season since they won six times in 2006.

Attleboro, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro got off to a great start, scoring a couple of early goals to pull away for a big road win. Jamie Davies scored just 27 seconds into the game and then added a second on a Bethany Alves through ball after four minutes. After setting the tone with that quick start, Attleboro added a third when Tatum Leahy finished Zenda Gjoni’s free kick. Gjoni then found the back of the net herself to make it 4-0. Emma Pratt would get one back for the Rocketeers with a second-half goal. Attleboro coach Steve Santos praised his team for playing well in all phases and controlling most of the play.

Field Hockey
Canton, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – After trading goals in the first quarter, Canton took the lead with a goal in the second quarter and added key insurance with a pair of third quarter tallies to secure a win on the road at Mansfield. Canton’s Audrey Koen opened the scoring but Mansfield’s Liv Barry leveled the scoring. Koen gave the Bulldogs the lead back with her second goal of the game and then goals from freshman Carolyn Schiavo and sophomore Izzy Digirolamo in the third iced the win. Mansfield goalie Lily Danehy was spectacular in goal for the Hornets, recording 19 saves. Canton goalie Carolyn Durand made eight saves in the win.

King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – King Philip junior Mara Boldy recorded four points to lead the Warriors to a win under the lights on Macktaz Field against visiting Taunton. Boldy scored a pair of goals and added two assists while Kelly Holmes scored once with a pair of helpers. Kari Calderone and Nikki McDonald each added one goal apiece in the win.

Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton notched its second straight win and second straight shutout, this time earning a 3-0 decision over visiting Sharon. Bella Iacobucci scored a pair of unassisted goals to lead the offensive charge for the Knights while Carly Sanda added a goal off of an assist from Kerry Driscoll.

Franklin, 4 vs. Concord-Carlisle, 1 – Final – In a battle of two teams ranked in the top 10 in Division 1 in the latest MIAA Rankings, Franklin emerged with an impressive 4-1 win over visiting Concord-Carlisle. Haley Wernig put the Panthers ahead just over two minutes into the game and Kaitlyn Carney doubled the lead at the midway point of the opening quarter. Franklin was held scoreless for the second and third quarters but Carney set Wernig up just 19 seconds into the fourth to make it 3-0. After C-C pulled one back a couple of minutes later, Carney iced the win with just over two minutes to play. Devon Barry made seven saves in net for the Panthers.

Foxboro, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Foxboro junior Mary Collins scored less than a minute into the game to set the tone and the Warriors picked up a key division win on the road over Oliver Ames. Collins took a pass from Mya Waryas and found the back of the net just 40 seconds into the game to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. Collins and Waryas linked up again before the end of the quarter with the former grabbing her second goal of the game to make it 2-0. After a scoreless second quarter, Foxboro’s Jenny Gallagher added a key insurance goal with five minutes to play in the third.

North Attleboro, 2 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Volleyball
Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Foxboro hit the road and gave Oliver Ames it could handle, winning the second and fourth sets to push the match to five but the Tigers were able to finish it off and fend off the upset bid, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-9). Junior Sarah Hilliard continued to pace the OA offense with 24 kills while sophomore Caroline Hansen had a big day, adding 13 kills. Senior Larissa Martins recorded 20 service points (five aces) and eight digs, Maddie Homer added 24 digs, and sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 35 assists.

Canton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – In a great back-and-forth battle, Canton outlasted Mansfield in the fifth set to grab a 3-2 (18-25, 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 15-8). Sophomore Zoe Scibelli had an outstanding game defensively for the visitors, recording 20 digs, and also had a great serving night with seven aces. Sophomore Kaitlin Bigham was key to the defense with seven blocks and added six kills for Canton while Fatima Sidibay also had a strong game at the net with five kills and two blocks. Elyssa Buchanan put down 20 kills to pace the Mansfield offense, adding 13 digs while Lilly Verheggen had five kills and nine digs. Keira Fitzpatrick dished out 20 assists and Anna Goulet had eight blocks for the Hornets.

Franklin, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin grabbed its second straight sweep, this time going on the road and returning home with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) win at Milford. Makayla Kuykendall (five aces, 12 kills) had 14 digs and Taylor Lacerda (12 kills, one ace) had 20 digs to anchor the Panthers’ defensive effort.

King Philip, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – King Philip bounced back from dropping the first set to winning three in a row in convincing fashion to secure a 3-1 (19-25, 25-9, 25-9, 25-10) victory over an upset-minded Taunton squad. King Philip once again had a balanced attack with Emily Sawyer (10 kills, two blocks), Sami Shore (eight kills), Ahunna James (eight kills, three digs), and Olivia O’Neil (seven kills, four aces, three digs) all playing well for the Warriors.

Sharon, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton recorded its second straight win and made it four wins and the last five matches, outlasting Sharon, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 15-10) in a five-set thriller. Junior Annalia Eschleman had a strong showing at the net with nine kills while Reagan Lewis added four kills and Maya Ashu chipped in with three kills. Senior Patrik Oliveira shined at the service line with 10 aces while senior Kenna O’Donnell anchored the defense with nine digs.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro pushed its win streak to seven by defending home court in a 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-15) sweep of rival North Attleboro. Natalie Brojek (four kills) put the offense in motion with 18 assists, with Addie Shelton (11 aces, four kills) and Julia Leonardo (seven kills) leading the way.

Golf
Oliver Ames, 156 @ Sharon, 163 – Final – Oliver Ames avoided an upset bid from Sharon to pick up a close win and stay undefeated on the season, taking a 156-163 win home from the Cape Club of Sharon. Senior Michael McGinnis and sophomore Braden Shapiro shot matching 38’s to lead the way for the Tigers while juniors Lucas Riley and Sean Kearns each came in with a 40.

Mansfield, 169 @ Foxboro, 173 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and returned from Foxboro Country Club with a close win over their rivals. Cody Nieratko and Nate McClean earned co-medalist honors after both shot a 41 on the day. Brendan Vokey added a 43 in the win and Davon Sanders chipped in with a 44. For Foxboro, Zac Georgantas (two pars, one birdie) and Mat Sullivan (four pars) each shot 42 on the day, Louis Carangelo (three pars) added a 43, and Reese Curreri (two pars) rounded out the Warriors’ scoring with a 46.

King Philip, 161 @ Franklin, 163 – Final – King Philip freshman Jason Silva fired a co-medalist round and the Warriors picked up their biggest win of the season, knocking off Franklin on the road. With the win, the Warriors clinch at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title; the Panthers can earn a share with a win in their final division match against Taunton. Silva shot a match-low round of 39, junior Ethan Sullivan shot a 40, and both Cam Hasenfus and Evan Regan shot 41 on the day. For Franklin, CJ Steel and Liam Lewandowski each shot 39 in the loss.

Canton, 169 @ Taunton, 173 – Final – Brendan Tourgee fired a team-low round of 41 to help the Bulldogs grab a win over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Huck McCready and Brian Middleton each shot 42 while both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman carded a 44. Taunton’s Logan Letourneau was the match medalist after carding a round of 40 for the Tigers. Alex Dias added a 43 and both Jesse Chaves and Brody Boucher finished at 45.

Milford, 153 @ North Attleboro, 158 – Final – North Attleboro senior Jake Gaskin had another strong outing this week, firing an even-par medalist round of 35 to lead the Rocketeers to a close win over a strong Milford squad on the south course at Heather Hill. Dillon Harding added a 37 for the Rocketeers while Ishan Kohli (40) and Tyson Laviano (41) rounded out the scoring in the win. Milford junior Anthony LaPierre shot a one-over round of 36, David Fleming added a 39, Jacob Hipolito chipped in with a 41, and Nate Lawrence shot a 42 for the Hawks.

Stoughton, 169 @ Attleboro, 149 – Final

Boys Cross Country
Attleboro @ King Philip, 3:45

Girls Cross Country
Attleboro, 34 @ King Philip, 21 – Final – King Philip took the top three spots and had four of the top five finishers to earn a win over visiting Attleboro. Kate Buban was the winner, clocking in at 20:10 for first place. Rachel Bailer (21:20) took second overall, Leah Burke (22:07) was third overall, and Keira Evans finished fifth overall, crossing in 23:10.

09/08/2022

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Attleboro

2021 Record: 11-6-2
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Jessica Pink
Attleboro has been a team on the rise for the past few seasons with a couple of tournament appearances and wins over some of the league’s perennial powers. New head coach Jessica Pink takes over a roster that sees a lot of turnover from 2021, but one that she believes is filled with players ready to step in and take their chances in the lineup.

Speed will be the main strength of the Attleboro attack, which will look to transform any turnover into a quick transition. Junior Siobhan Landers returns to the midfield and will be one of the team’s top playmakers and senior Marley Young will be a focal point on the front line. Their combination of stick skills and leadership will help the younger players adapt to the varsity level. Senior Jordan Mooney will play in midfield with Landers and will help set the tone with her energy to keep the Bombardiers on the front foot.

The back line will have a lot of inexperience, but senior Megan Ferreira is a returning starter and she is going to need to keep communication strong and provide cover in the center of the field. Attleboro is working hard to build more familiarity in the defensive unit this preseason. Sophomore goalie Siany Ortiz will be the new starter this season and, despite being an underclassman, has been very vocal in organizing the defense and keeping things solid.

“We have strong, decisive playmakers who haven’t had a chance in past years to make a name for themselves that are ready to compete,” said Pink. “This team is hungry. Coming in this year to take over the program, I have been impressed every day with the attitude and hard work of my players. I know this season will be a lot of growth for the girls coming up from JV this year, but we are ready to show the Hockomock League what we have in store. “

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Canton

2021 Record: 16-4-0 (Davenport champion)
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Chrissy O’Connor
Expectations remain high in Canton as the defending Davenport division champions are ready to defend their crown and make another run in the state tournament.

The Bulldogs went 16-4 a year ago before dropping a second-round matchup on the road to Reading in triple overtime. They’ll have to find production to replace all three of their all stats from a year ago, but there is still plenty of key pieces all over the field that puts Canton in a prime position to repeat.

It starts in goal with senior Carolyn Durand, who had a breakout junior campaign and earned HockomockSports Second Team honors. She will have a familiar face defending the cage in front of her with Laura Valkanas back at sweeper. In the midfield, the Dogs have Maggie McCready back in the mix. Freshman Carolyn Schiavo and Izzy Cusack have impressed in preseason so far.

Up top, Canton has its leading scorer back in Assumption-commit Ellie Bohane, who scored 13 goals along with nine assists in the regular season and earned HockomocokSports First Team honors. She will be one of the most dangerous players in the attacking half this season.

“Ellie comes into her senior season with experience and confidence,” said Canton head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “We will look to her for her goal scoring ability and overall leadership on the field.”

Foxboro

2021 Record: 15-6-0
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 16
Coach: Melissa Bordieri
Foxboro came up just two games back in the hunt for the Davenport division title a season ago, and with the majority of the team back this year, the Warriors look poised to challenge for the crown this go around.

The Warriors have two of their biggest offensive threats back in the mix led by 2021 HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Mary Collins, who scored 15 goals and added 18 assists. Foxboro will also feature Mya Waryas up front, who was second on the team with nine goals and eight assists in the regular season. Val Beigel and Mia Dinunzio will be key pieces in the midfield again this year.

Defensively, there are more familiar faces with Katherine Ferguson back in the cage and Catherine Cotter returning to a defensive unit that gave up just over a goal a game last year. Freshman Kathleen Staruski will push for minutes in net as well.

“The Hockomock League is historically a very competitive and experienced group of teams and I believe one of the best leagues in the state for our sport,” said Foxboro head coach Melissa Bordieri. “This year will be no different…so we have our work cut out for us, no doubt, but this group has been working hard this offseason and now in preseason. They are a gritty and determined group, so I am very optimistic about how we will perform as a team.”

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Franklin

2021 Record: 20-2-0 (Kelley-Rex champion)
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Final Four
Coach: Michelle Hess
Franklin had one of the most dynamic offenses last season, not only in the Hockomock League where they went 16-0, but also one of the best in the entire state as they reached the Division 1 state semifinals.

What’s good news for Franklin is bad news for everyone else: the Panthers have nearly their entire attacking group back ready to make another run at a state title. The offense will be anchored by Kaitlyn Carney, the 2021 HockomockSports Player of the Year, who scored a league-best 37 goals and added 18 assists. Franklin also has dynamic forward Shaw Downing back fresh off a 20-goal, nine-assist season a year ago. The attack will also feature junior Sophia Cuneo, sophomore Haley Wernig, and sophomore Raena Campbell.

One area that will have some new faces is the defensive unit after the Panthers lose two of the best defenders in the league in Kendall Jones and Kate O’Rourke. Head coach Michelle Hess is looking for Ella Mahoney to anchor the group after starting last year while freshman Devon Barry joins Megan Sullivan and Chloe Strassner as the goalies on the roster.

“After graduating five seniors and winning the Kelley-Rex Division, we are looking forward to defending our three-year title and working hard towards being four-peat champions,” Hess said.

King Philip

2021 Record: 12-5-2
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Kaitlyn Wilder
There are a lot of new faces on the roster for King Philip this season, as the Warriors make a push to unseat Franklin from the top of the Kelley-Rex division and win the league title for the first time since 2018. First-year head coach Kaitlyn Wilder, who takes over for Lisa Cropper, will still have plenty of experience to call on with 18 seniors in this year’s squad.

Offensively, KP will once again lean on junior midfielder Kelly Holmes to set the tone. The team’s leading second-leading scorer in 2021 was instrumental in pushing the Warriors into the attack. Junior Mara Boldy (12 goals and eight assists last year) will join up with Holmes to give KP a potent forward line and classmate Nicole McDonald is poised for a bigger role in the attack. Junior Bridget King will be a key player in transition and sophomore Abby MacDonald could be ready for a breakout year in the midfield.

The Warriors were strong on the defensive side of the ball last season, allowing only 17 goals in 19 games, but that was a senior-laden group and new players will be counted on to step in this fall. Seniors Lauren Barriero and Charlotte Raymond will give the relatively inexperienced group valuable leadership and provide much-needed communication on that end of the field. Goalie should be a position of strength for KP this year with seniors Haley Bright and Samantha Sweetman both back between the pipes.

“Preseason has been great so far, we have a big roster with talented, hardworking field hockey players,” Wilder explained. “Looking to use our big roster to our advantage, utilize our senior leadership to help them, and the underclassmen to excel this season.”

Mansfield

2021 Record: 4-13-2
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Theresa Nyhan
Mansfield has battled through back-to-back difficult seasons, and even though the Hornets qualified for the state tournament based on the new statewide rating system a year ago, the Hornets are looking to have a big bounce-back campaign in 2022.

Behind a renewed enthusiasm, a youthful energy boost, and strong team speed, the Hornets look ready to challenge for the division title, this season in the Davenport division. The team is led by seven seniors that bring experience to each layer of the field. It starts with senior Lily Danehy, a three-year starter in goal for the Hornets. One of the most experienced netminders in the Hock will be the backbone of the defense while classmates Fadila Krieche and Audrey Murphy are returners on defense.

Senior Danni Cuzzi and junior Lola Varricchione both bring speed and experience to the Hornets’ midfield unit. Up front, Mansfield will look to improve its scoring output and will turn to Rose Maher, Ava Adams, and Kristin Kipp to apply pressure on opposing defenses.

“The team intends on turning things around this year,” said head coach Theresa Nyhan. “The Hornet squad is young, fast, and enthusiastic!”

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Milford

2021 Record: 1-17-0
2021 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jenna Casello
Milford has a new head coach this season in Jenna Casello and she’s hoping to push the program in a positive direction as they navigate a daunting Hockomock League schedule.

The Scarlet Hawks have 10 seniors on the roster this season and will lean on their leadership and guidance, both on and off the field. Casello will look to her three captains — Hailey Beagle, Jordan Douglas, and Ashlynn Ringo — to lead the way. Ringo will be a player to watch this season as she patrols the midfield, playing a crucial role in helping the Milford back line while also organizing and orchestrating the Hawks’ offense.

Up front, senior Kay Wheelock is set to provide pressure on opposing defenses. Although new to the center forward spot, Casello has liked what she’s seen so far and the team will be looking to target Wheelock up front.

“Being a new coach this year, I am hopeful that I will have a positive impact on the team and lead them in the right direction this season,” Casello said. “We will have a fresh new start and are ready to show off our skills in the Hock. One strength for us this year will be using the entire field. Throughout our preseason we have been working on not only stretching the field vertically but horizontally as well. Our midfielders are constantly scanning the field and looking to transition the ball as needed.”

North Attleboro

2021 Record: 7-9-3
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Karen Folan
With the majority of the roster intact from a season ago, North Attleboro is looking to take a big step forward and make some noise in their first season back in the Kelley-Rex division.

The Rocketeers are loaded with experience all over the field, especially in the attacking half. Senior center forward Julia Puccio starts her fourth year on varsity and emerged as one of the most dangerous scorers a season ago. She was third in the Hock with 23 goals last season and earned HockomockSports First Team honors. She’ll be joined on the left wing by classmate Caroline Folan (nine goals, five assists), a three-year member of the team that is often the catalyst of the attack with her strong passing.

North has a lot of veterans in the midfield with seniors Ava Spencer and Caitlin Vacher along with juniors Kelsey Thompson and Emily Burnham – all four saw valuable minutes last season and will help North both defensively and offensively. In the defensive half, junior Gracie Leary had a breakout season in net and had a great offseason preparing for this year. In front of her are returning varsity members and seniors Rory McGinley, Maddie Bailey, Ava McKeon, and Ella Luistro.

“This group has played together for some time and they have developed strong skills throughout their careers,” said head coach Karen Folan. “The chemistry and camaraderie they have off the field, shows on the field, with cohesive passes and strong communication.”

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Oliver Ames

2021 Record: 11-7-2
2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach:
With key returners spread out all over the field, new head coach Alex Sylvia is looking to continue the momentum that the Tigers have had the past couple of seasons.

The Tigers won the Davenport division two seasons ago and had a thrilling overtime playoff win last year before bowing out in the second round to top-seeded Masconomet. Sylvia, who played collegiately locally at Stonehill College, will have contributors from all four classes, including senior Julia Maclaine. Maclaine is a seasoned veteran that plays the full length of the field, a key piece of the defense as well as a dangerous attacker with the ball. She’ll be joined by junior Megan Crabtree in the midfield, both of which are returners.

Up top, junior Erin Cottam is one of the top scoring returners from last year after scoring 14 goals and registering seven assists. She will be one of the main options for OA up front and freshman Kayla Kenney has impressed so far in the preseason and will be a key new addition to the attack. Defensively, OA has some veterans on the back line with senior captains Olivia Stevens and Abby Welz. They have a lot of varsity experience and will anchor the defense in front of junior goalie Olivia O’Rourke.

“I am excited for the season as the head coach this year,” Sylvia said. “During tryouts, I witnessed amazing talent, and now our team is strong and ready to work for this entire season. Each player understands their role and is ready to work toward their goals.”

Stoughton

2021 Record: 4-13-0
2021 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Caitlin Jamiel
For the first time in over 40 years, Stoughton field hockey will have a new head coach on the sidelines. Caitlin Jamiel takes over for the legendary Dan Mark and she will be leaning heavily on the returning players.

After moving to goalie for the first time last year, Stephanie Costerio (109 saves last year) is back in the cage for the Black Knights with much more experience under her belt, and she will be the backbone of the defense.

Jamiel will also look for guidance from her four captains: Kerry Driscoll, Andrea Khouzami, Carly Sanda, and Katherine Giroux. Driscoll was a key piece of the defense last season, Khouzami patrolled the midfield, and both Giroux and Sanda were a part of the Stoughton offense.

“We will be relying heavily on our returning captains to show their maturity on the field, and lead our young team through difficult moments,” Jamiel said. “We have a lot of energy coming into our program this season, and we are so looking forward to building our program into a competitive one.”

2022 Hockomock League Field Hockey Preview

Taunton

2021 Record: 5-11-2
2021 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Liz Hathaway
With a blend of experience and new faces, Taunton is hoping to compete in a very deep Kelley-Rex division and push for a spot in the postseason.

Senior Kaysie DeMoura is fresh off a super season with the state champion softball team and is looking to carry some of that success onto the turf with the field hockey team. She burst onto the scene last year as one of the top box-to-box players in the Hock and finished as the team’s leading scorer with four goals and six assists. She’ll look to work with senior forward Caelyn O’Leary (six goals, one assist) to give the Tigers a dynamic 1-2 punch offensively. Sophomore Caroline Vallarelli has impressed with a strong skillset in the midfield so far this preseason.

There will be some familiar faces on the defensive end, but some changes as well. Junior Jasmine Lucier, who previously started on defense for the Tigers, will make the transition to goalie this year. Head coach Liz Hathaway notes that Lucier has worked very hard during the offseason and has established herself in between the pipes. Taunton will lean heavily on Thal Nogueira, a smart defender that has been the anchor of the defense for the past few seasons. They are a great ball tackler with a great sense for defensive position.

“We are a young team, we graduated seven starters from last season,” Hathaway said. “We have a strong returning defense and a young forward line that have stepped up during the preseason. Our younger players are really looking to make a name for themselves and working hard. Our team has worked hard and is looking forward to the season ahead.”

03/21/202203/21/2022

Canton Falls In Overtime in Return to D2 Title Game

Canton girls hockey — Canton junior Maya Battista clears a puck in front of goalie Carolyn Durand in the second period. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

BOSTON, Mass. – For the first six minutes of overtime in Saturday afternoon’s Div. 2 state title game at the TD Garden, Canton had dominated. The Bulldogs had five shots on goal in the extra period and had a flurry of chances while on the power play, but they couldn’t find the winner.

Algonquin had one chance in OT, but that was all it took for the Titans to end Canton’s reign atop the division.

Sophomore Mallory Farrell raced up the right wing, got a step on the Canton defense, and cut straight towards the goal. She dragged the puck through the crease and just past the stick of Canton goalie Carolyn Durand before depositing the title winner into the open side of the net. The 2-1 come from behind win clinched Algonquin’s first state championship and ended a seven-game postseason win streak for the Bulldogs.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“It came down to a really outstanding power move by Mallory,” Canton coach Dennis Aldrich said. “That was a top-notch move. She had a little more in the tank than our forecheckers anticipated on that, we took our angle, and it was just a little bit off. I’m glad it ended like that, if it had to end against us, a great move like that rather than a trickler or something like that.”

The game started in Canton’s typical style, with the Bulldogs making sure to get the puck deep, aggressively forechecking, and staying compact in the defensive zone. It took the Titans 13 minutes to register their first shot on goal.

Payton McDonough created the first opportunity for Canton, forcing a save with a shot from the slot. Thirty seconds later, Ellie Bohane picked the pocket of an Algonquin defenseman behind the net and played it front to Maggie Dailey, but the shot went just wide. Allie McCabe then went on a long rush from the defensive zone and teed up McDonough for another shot that was stopped by Algonquin’s Lana Pacific.

Canton grabbed the lead after nearly 10 minutes. Maya Battista was able to knock down a puck at the blue line and found tons of space open in front of her. The junior defenseman skated into the slot and then sniped a wrister high to the stick side to make it 1-0.

“She just has a knack of getting pucks through,” Aldrich said of Battista. “That was a really nice shot. I’ve gotten used to seeing that nine or 10 times this year. She does a really good job, she shoots with her head up, she shoots strong, and there was a good screen on that too.”

Algonquin tried to respond and tested Durand with a shot by Lauren O’Malley from the point that was comfortably gloved. McCabe then went on another long rush through all three zones before firing a shot from the right-wing circle that Pacific kicked aside.

Searching for a second goal, Canton continued to put pressure on the Algonquin defense. Tori Carr’s shot forced Pacific into a pad save and Bohane hustled to collect the rebound but the Titans goalie stayed tall to block the backhand effort. McCabe hit Tess Khoury with a long, angled pass that gave the forward to try a slap shot, which was gloved.

The Titans were struggling to get looks at goal but nearly took advantage of a bounce off the boards behind the net to tie the game. A shot ricocheted straight back and into the crease where Alexandria Davies pounced only to have Durand react quickly to smother the shot.

Canton’s best chance of the second came with four minutes left in the period. Battista threw another testing shot on net from the blue line and the rebound fell to Anna Lehan, but she flipped her backhand shot just wide of the top corner. Durand needed to be awake to glove a shot from Farrell in the closing seconds of the period to keep it 1-0.

There were plenty of chances for Canton to give itself a cushion early in the third. McCabe had a shot from the point saved and Algonquin just about managed to clear the rebound before it was squeezed over the line. The puck came out to Devan Spinale and she also forced Pacific into a pad stop. Battista’s shot was tipped in front by Lehan but again the Algonquin goalie was equal to it.

“Especially in the third period, there were a couple of tips and there was one that was tipped off her shoulder,” Aldrich said. “I think both teams are totally tapped out, they left everything out there. It was a great high school hockey game. It was kind of what both coaches anticipated.”

The Titans made Canton pay for not taking its chances. Farrell cut in from the left wing boards, dragging the puck past two Bulldogs before forcing a save with a backhand shot. Durand wasn’t able to secure it and the Bryn Domolky was in the right place to tip it home just before Canton’s defense could clear.

After tying the game, Algonquin had a good stretch where it looked like it might grab the lead. Emily Johns set up Farrell for a one-timer that fizzed wide, Davies got free after a slip at the blue line but sent a shot high, and Durand made a stop on Farrell as she cut across the zone.

With weary legs from the big ice at the Garden, the game was slowing down but Canton had enough in the tank to nearly win the game in regulation. Battista hit Audrey Koen with an angled outlet pass. At first Koen struggled to bring it under control, but she chased after the puck, beat the defense, and flicked a near-post backhander that somehow slipped past the post.

Aldrich said, “It was anyone’s game. I thought we had it in the third. We’ve had a lot of puck luck up to this point and they ended up having a little bit more today.”

Ninety seconds into the overtime, Canton had a power play opportunity, the first for either team in the game. The Bulldogs took advantage of the extra skater to put the pressure on Pacific. Battista had a shot saved from the point, McCabe had another chance in the right wing circle knocked aside, and Carr cut inside from the left wing boards and forced a blocker save with a rising shot.

The power play and the aggressive attack may have just taken that little extra out of the Canton defense and Farrell exploited it, speeding down the wing, and not stopping until she was in the arms of her teammates streaming off the bench.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Canton (18-7-0) was playing in its fourth state title game in the last five seasons (not counting the shortened 2021 season). The Bulldogs saw a trip to the Garden taken away in 2020, had a season halved by the pandemic, have battled with illnesses, and early season injuries, but through it all still managed to be there at the end, playing on the final day.

“A lot of them were young when we were able to last play a tournament game,” Aldrich explained, “but to have them play back in 2020 and not be able to get here, no one on either team had been here before. I was smiling as soon as the whistle went in the Natick game, knowing that the girls were finally going to get experience it.

“It’s always tough, you tell the kids, you’re always going to look at this as like a crash ending but so much that these kids have done to get here to this point is just incredible. They were here and they stuck together.”

03/15/202203/15/2022

Canton Grinds Way Back to the Garden to Defend Title

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – The final two minutes of Monday night’s Div. 2 state semifinal at the Gallo Ice Arena felt like an eternity.

Natick pulled its goalie and, with the extra attacker, seemed to have the puck confined to the Canton zone. Shot after shot was thrown towards the front of the net, most finding the way blocked by a green jersey or a well-positioned stick or skate. A few found their way through but ended up hitting a pad or finding their way into Carolyn Durand’s glove.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

With less than 10 seconds remaining, senior Payton McDonough leaned over one last defensive zone face-off. She was able to tie up the puck, eating precious seconds off the clock. When it finally got kicked loose a wild shot sent the puck behind the net long enough for the horn to sound and send the Bulldogs racing off the bench.

Canton’s defense of its Div. 2 state title will continue to the final day of the winter season, as the Bulldogs held on for a 2-1 win over the Redhawks and a return to the TD Garden for an opportunity that the pandemic denied them in 2020.

“I’m just really excited for these girls,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “Two years ago these seniors were on a team that didn’t get to go to the Garden and we didn’t know if it was going to be in the cards again. You just don’t sell these kids short.”

McDonough said of the final sequence, “Eight seconds is a long time, so it was just pure determination. We’ve come this far, we’re not going to end it here. We were locking onto the girls, just trying to protect Carolyn, make sure she could see the puck.

“I think it’s really awesome what we did two years ago, but it didn’t really seem tangible. We never got to experience it. We really used that as motivation to hold on for that whole third period.”

The game didn’t start well for the Bulldogs, as Natick controlled play for much of the opening period. Tess Khoury, who scored twice in the quarterfinal win over Duxbury, got Canton’s first shot on goal three minutes in but the Bulldogs couldn’t build momentum as they were forced to kill off almost six minutes of Natick power play time.

After the kill, Canton got a boost of energy and went to work on the forecheck. Ellie Bohane and Audrey Koen pinned Natick behind its own net and then forced a turnover. The loose puck fell to Koen, who patiently moved into the slot before firing a shot past the shoulder of Natick goalie Elli Beigel.

It was a goal against the run of play and the Redhawks went right back onto the front foot. A spinning shot from leading scorer Colleen Quirk forced Durand into a pad save and then Bohane raced out to block a slap shot from Hadley Green. In the final minute of the period, Caroline Gates pinched in from the blue line and fired a shot that smacked the outside of the post.

Natick’s momentum carried over into the second and, only a minute into the period, Quirk got loose in the slot and placed a wrist shot high to the blocker side to tie the game.

The goal seemed to wake the Bulldogs up. After being outshot 9-5 in the first, Canton would outshoot Natick 13-3 in the second, creating chance after chance and keeping the Redhawks locked inside their defensive zone.

“It was definitely a wake-up call,” junior defenseman Maya Battista explained. “Natick is a great, aggressive team and we realized that if we didn’t play to our best then we were going to get beat and we came out flying after that and now we’re here.”

Battista was especially active in the attack, moving the puck well and getting shot after shot on target. A rebound from a Battista shot fell to Khoury, who flicked a shot high to the glove side. Beigel made the stop but the puck got loose behind her and Gates had to come through and clear it off the line. McDonough also had a good chance from the edge of the crease that Beigel kicked aside.

Midway through the period, Canton’s pressure turned into the go-ahead goal. Battista again created the opening with a shot from the left point. Anna Lehan was left all alone on the edge of the crease and she pounced on the rebound and buried the close-range chance.

“Something like that happens, they don’t go into a shell,” Aldrich said about his team’s reaction to the game being tied. “They tighten their belts and just go to work. Kids are doing everything they can.”

Canton had a power play and created a flurry of chances but couldn’t extend the lead. That continued into the third, as Bohane forced another turnover in the attacking zone and put a low shot on goal from the left wing circle, but Beigel got a pad to it. Quirk nearly pulled her team level with a great hustle play, racing all the way into her zone on the back check and then carrying the puck the length of the ice before forcing Durand (17 saves) into a good stop.

The Bulldogs nearly put the game away with three minutes to go. Bohane won the puck in the corner and played it out to the point. Devan Spinale angled a shot towards the far post where Lila Spinelli was stationed. Spinelli got a piece of the shot to direct it on goal but Beigel did very well to get a pad across in time to make the save.

“Coach calls us a blue collar team,” said McDonough. “We’re not really flashy, scoring a lot of goals, we’re just making sure we’re all doing our jobs, getting the puck out of the zone, getting the puck in deep, and hopefully getting some shots on net.”

A one-goal lead meant a test of Canton’s nerves over the final few minutes.

Durand snagged a blast from Gates and kept her calm in the tumultuous final seconds. Every player on the ice was throwing themselves in front of shots and even standing a few feet from the play it was difficult at times to see what direction the puck was headed. In the end, it was enough to secure the win and to book a place in the state final.

Aldrich said, “We asked them, what will you do to come out on top? You kind of saw it. Even when we didn’t get the blocks, I was proud of them because we didn’t want it going on net and for the most part it didn’t. I was really proud of how they stuck together.”

“This team is a family and everything we do is centered around being together and playing our best together,” Battista remarked. “It’s a great opportunity to do what we never got to do freshman year. I’m just happy to be back going to the Garden. It’s an exciting time.”

Canton (18-6-0) will take on No. 10 seed Algonquin, which beat No. 11 Medfield in overtime, at the TD Garden on Sunday at a time to be determined.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

03/13/202203/13/2022

Canton Upsets Top Seed Duxbury, Returns to State Semi

DUXBURY, Mass. – Some teams just seem to have that knack for finding a way to grind out a win. Every game is a little bit different, but in the end the result is the same. Canton has definitely developed into one of those teams.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Despite being on the road, despite facing the top seed, and despite having to wait almost an hour after the scheduled face-off for the game to begin, Canton seemed unfazed heading into Saturday night’s Div. 2 quarterfinal against Duxbury at The Bog. After all, the Bulldogs have been here before.

Allie McCabe opened the scoring, Tess Khoury scored twice in the third period (including an empty netter), and Carolyn Durand came through with big saves down the stretch, as Canton earned a 3-0 win. It was the second time that the Bulldogs had beaten (and shutout) the Dragons this season and it seals Canton’s fourth state semifinal appearance in the past five seasons (not counting last winter where there were no playoffs).

“Our girls play so many tight games, it doesn’t really bother them,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “We expect that’s how it’s going to be because all year it’s been like that. That’s probably why we were a nine-seed, we didn’t beat people by three goals, we beat people by one, but we won.”

When asked about Canton’s ability to find ways to win this time of year, McCabe, who will be going to the third state semifinal of her career, replied, “It’s definitely our teamwork. We’re basically a family, we do everything together. At practice, we sprint a lot, it’s tiring but it helps us. We’re always prepared and I guess we’re always there for each other when we’re nervous. We are always there to help each other out.”

After a lengthy wait to get on the ice, Canton got a power play opportunity just 26 seconds into the game. McCabe had a good look on goal from outside the right wing circle that Duxbury goalie Anna McGinty fought off. McCabe would later make a nice rush up ice and have a shot partially blocked on its way to goal. Those were the only two shots on target for Canton in the first.

Duxbury was hardly peppering the goal on the other end. Right at the end of the power play, Megan Carney came out of the box and got behind the Canton defense for a breakaway, but Durand (16 saves) stayed tall, stayed with the puck, and made the stop. She also came up with a big pad stop late in the period, but Duxbury, which had the lion’s share of zone time, only managed four shots on goal in the first.

The Dragons came out for the second intent on creating more chances and a minute in Ayla Abben forced Durand into a pad save with a shot from the slot. It was one of only three shots the hosts would put on goal in period.

Canton controlled play in the second, turning the tables and putting pressure on Duxbury’s defense. Audrey Koen flipped a clearance up ice from her own blue line that found Payton McDonough coming off the bench, leading to a backhander that McGinty needed to stop. Two minutes later, Ellie Bohane (who scored the OT winner in the previous round) broke into the zone and dropped a pass to Anna Lehane, who’s shot was partially blocked but on target.

A power play opportunity midway through the second helped Canton solidify its control. Maya Battista was floating from the blue line to behind the net and she teed up McDonough for a tip in front that was just wide. The pair combined again seconds later for a shot from the slot and again it was just wide.

The pressure continued and it felt like a goal was coming for the visitors. With 11 seconds remaining on the power play, McCabe, the Hockomock League MVP, got the puck in the high slot and was given time and space to move closer to goal before firing a wrister into the top corner past McGinty to put the Bulldogs in front.

“That was crucial,” McCabe said of getting the first goal. “We beat them last time and we knew we could do it but a bunch of people were like, no it’s just a fluke game, you weren’t supposed to beat them. Once we got that [goal] it was like, okay let’s go, we can keep going.”

If the crowd was stunned to see Duxbury fall behind, then it was about to be floored by what happened next. Just two minutes into the third and with the first shot for either team in the period, Canton doubled its lead. McDonough again proved to be a massive presence in the attacking zone, blocking a clearance on the left wing boards and driving towards net. The puck squirted loose and right to Khoury on the edge of the crease. She roofed her shot and made it 2-0.

“It was awesome,” McCabe said of the second goal. “I was not expecting that. We knew it was going to be a tough game but when we saw that I was like, okay, take a little breath. Obviously there was a lot of time left, but it was awesome.”

Down by two goals, the Dragons found another gear and started to dominate play. Maddie Greenwood had a pair of big chances at the near post that Durand blocked with her pad and then her glove. Flynn Bridgett let loose with a pair of slap shots from the point that found their way through traffic, but both were turned aside by Durand.

Aldrich said, “I’ve heard other coaches talk about their goalie being the best in the state, show me one who is better than her.”

The chances kept coming. Abban raced into the zone on the right wing, cut across the middle and ripped a shot that Durand coolly gloved as it was heading under the bar. Carney had a chance on a two-on-one with three minutes to play but she shot wide of the far post and Greenwood came closest to scoring when her quick-release rocket went off the post, behind Durand, and out the other side.

Canton’s defense, including McCabe, Battista, Tori Carr, and Devan Spinale, was doing what it needed to crowd the middle, not allow chances on the edge of the crease, and clearing pucks out to the neutral zone. With help from the forwards, Canton kept the Dragons at bay.

With the clock winding down, Khoury was able to get the puck past the Duxbury defenseman on the blue line and everyone watched as it meandered down ice and settled into the back of the net. The empty net goal clinched yet another hard-fought playoff victory for the Bulldogs.

“To be able to hold them in two games to zero goals, our girls buy into what we do here,” said Aldrich. “We work hard and it’s paying off. When your best player, Allie McCabe, is leading the team in blocked shots, as a coach it’s a pretty easy thing to bring the other guys along.”

McCabe explained, “We all worked together. Carolyn played awesome, she blocked a ton of shots at the end. Our players blocked shots, we were just there for each other, and helped us get through it.”

Canton (17-6-0) will face No. 5 seed Natick in the semifinal on Monday at Gallo Arena at 7:15. The Bulldogs won each of the last three semifinal appearances and reached the final at the TD Garden.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

03/02/202203/03/2022

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 03/03/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Girls Basketball
Division 1
#20 North Andover, 53 @ #13 Attleboro, 46 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Boys Hockey
Division 1
#33 King Philip, 1 @ #1 St. John’s Prep, 3 – Final

Division 2
#27 Mansfield, 4 @ #6 Walpole, 9 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game.

#25 North Attleboro, 3 @ #8 Newton South, 1 – Final – Junior Mark Ayvazyan scored the game-winning goal with under two minutes to go as the Rocketeers pulled off the upset on the road over Newton South. North led 1-0 just minutes into the game on a goal from Nick Longa. South tied it with a goal in the second, and it stayed tied until the final moments of the game. Nik Kojoian tacked on an empty net goal to ice the win. Sophomore Kyle Gruber had a strong game in net with 26 saves.

Division 3
#26 Taunton, 0 @ #7 Nashoba, 6 – Final

Girls Hockey
Division 2
#24 Watertown, 2 @ #9 Canton, 4 – Final – Canton erased a pair of one-goal deficits in a 4-2 win over visiting Watertown. The Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 after a period on a power play goal before Ellie Bohane tied it up in the second. Maya Battista scored her first of the game in the same period to bring Canton level again at 2-2. Tori Carr put the Bulldogs ahead 3-2 and Battista added her second to make it 4-2. Carolyn Durand played well in net for Canton with 15 saves, including some timely stops.

02/19/202202/19/2022

Saturday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/19/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Franklin, 74 vs. Burncoat, 55 – Final

Girls Basketball
Franklin, 35 vs. Central Catholic, 54 – Final – Franklin led 23-20 at halftime but was outscored 34-12 in the second half to end its win streak at 54 games. It was the first loss for the Panthers since the 2019 state semifinal. It was both the most points that the Panthers have allowed this season and the fewest points they have scored. Ashley Dinges scored 24 (14 in the third quarter) and Calire Finney scored 18 (12 in the fourth) to lead the Raiders. Katie Peterson scored 10 points for Franklin, including eight in the first half. Stefany Padula (6-of-7 on free throws) and Olivia Quinn both scored eight points in the loss. Franklin will face Bridgewater-Raynham in the consolation round on Sunday.

Boys Hockey
Attleboro vs. Westwood, 4:30

Canton @ Needham, 7:30 (@ Babson)

Foxboro, 2 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final

King Philip, 3 @ Walpole, 2 – Final (SO)

North Attleboro, 1 vs. Mansfield, 4 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Oliver Ames vs. Quincy, 7:30

Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 @ Barnstable, 2 – Final – Barnstable scored twice in the third period to end Canton’s six-game win streak. Payton McDonough scored with about 90 seconds left to cut the lead to one. Carolyn Durand made 16 saves in the loss.

King Philip, 3 @ Dennis-Yarmouth, 2 – Final – Three different players found the back of the net for the Warriors to help them pick up the road win. Morgan Cunningham, Sydney O’Shea, and Ally Donovan each scored and Jen Daniels and Meg Sherwood had assists for KP.

Stoughton/Sharon @ Hanover, 2:00 (@ Zapustas Ice Arena)

02/17/202202/17/2022

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/17/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
King Philip, 59 @ Xaverian, 56 – Final – King Philip led from the tip, keeping the Hawks at arm’s length throughout to get the season sweep. Danny Clancy scored seven of his nine points in the first quarter as the Warriors jumped out to an 11-7 lead. Junior Will Laplante (22 points), senior Braeden Sottile (11 points), and freshman Tommy Kilroy (10 points) each hit a three in the second to keep KP up, 26-20, at half. Laplante had seven in the third to keep the Warriors ahead, and then added 12 in the fourth, going 6-for-6 from the free throw line.

Girls Basketball
Milford, 28 @ Hopedale, 56 – Final

Sharon, 50 vs. Norton, 66 – Final – Jasmine Davis scored 27 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Eagles.

Boys Hockey
Foxboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final

Girls Hockey
Canton, 1 vs. Duxbury, 0 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Audrey Koen scored the lone goal of the game, six minutes into the second period, and the Bulldogs played a strong defensive game to shut out Duxbury and hand the top seed in Div. 2 its first loss of the season. In a game that featured very few scoring chances for either team, Maya Battista’s shot from the point was deftly redirected by Koen on the edge of the crease. The tip eluded the left pad of the Duxbury goalie and snuck inside the far post. It turned out to be the only goal of the game, as Canton’s defense held the Dragons to only 15 shots and Carolyn Durand stopped them all. Canton’s defense, led by Allie McCabe, Devin Spinale, Tori Carr, and Battista, stood out to protect the lead in a physical matchup. It was the sixth straight win for the Bulldogs.

02/10/202202/20/2022

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/11/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Taunton, 52 @ Attleboro, 48 – Final – Taunton senior Trent Santos sank a pair of free throws with 4.9 seconds left to ice the win for the Tigers. Santos scored eight of his 16 points in the final frame, hitting of half of his four three-point field goals to lead the Tigers, who trailed 14-9 after a quarter but held the hosts to two points in the second quarter to seize a 20-16 edge at the break. A three-pointer from Attleboro’s Evan Houle put the Bombardiers up 41-38 with four minutes to go but Taunton sophomore Cyrus Morrisette finished a tough take to the rim, Tristan Herry (14 points) drew an offensive foul, and a layup from from Faisal Mass put the Tigers ahead 42-41. Colin Morais (20 points) hit two free throws as Attleboro jumped ahead again but a tough floater in the lane from Herry gave Taunton the lead again, this time for good. Santos added a three with 90 seconds to go to pad Taunton’s lead. Evan Houle added 14 points for the Bombardiers, hitting four three-pointers in the second half.

North Attleboro, 38 @ Canton, 59 – Final – Canton connected on eight of its 10 three-pointers in the first half, racing out to a big lead that it never relinquished in a win over North. Nate Mei (13 points) had two of his triples in the first eight minutes and Lanse Dorcelus scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half as Canton established double-digit leads at the end of the first quarter (21-10) and at halftime (38-15). Matt Chafin and Ashton Cetoute added third quarter triples to help the Bulldogs keep a large lead (51-26) going into the final quarter. Brody Rosenberg and Givany Carney each had 12 points for the Rocketeers.

Sharon, 64 @ Foxboro, 60 – Final – Locked in a close contest the entire way for the second straight game, Sharon emerged with a hard-fought victory on the road over Foxboro. The Eagles’ largest lead of the second half peaked at nine less than a minute into the second half, but it was closer than that the rest of the way. In fact, a 10-0 burst from the Warriors quickly erased that and the teams stayed within two possessions the rest of the way. Sharon carried a 53-51 lead into the fourth quarter and got five points from Matt Baur (16 points), four from Jacob McLoughlin (nine points) and a bucket from John Baez (nine points) to hold on for the win. Dylan Gordon (16 points) banked in a three with just under four minutes to to cut the deficit to one, 59-58 but a strong take from McLoughlin a minute later pushed it back to three. Alex Penders (16 points) cleaned up his own miss with 2:30 to go to one again cut it to one. McLoughlin hit a floater with under a minute to go and Baur added a free throw and the Eagles ended the game without giving up a point over the final two minutes. Donyae Pierre had a big first half for the Eagles, scoring all 12 of his points then to help the Eagles establish a 38-32 halftime lead.

King Philip, 63 @ Milford, 65 – Final – Milford senior Justin Luchini grabbed an offensive rebound and kissed it off the backboard with 1.6 seconds left to give the Scarlet Hawks the win over King Philip. Milford missed on its first layup attempt but Luchini (19 points) poked the rebound free and put it back up and in for the winner. Milford held a 42-29 lead at halftime before King Philip came storming back. Senior Paul Roberts added 14 points, freshman Andrew Rivera added nine points, and junior Wyatt Zagami chipped in with eight points for Milford.

Mansfield, 56 @ Franklin, 55 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.

Stoughton, 46 @ Oliver Ames, 42 – Final – Anchored by senior guard Josh Rivera, Stoughton had one of its best defensive performances to secure a road win at OA and its first season sweep of the Tigers since the 2010-2011 season. Defense was the story for both teams from the get go, with OA taking an 8-7 lead after one and Stoughton carrying a 17-14 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Black Knights got the offense going, closing the third on a run capped by a three from junior Rayan Sablon (career-high 26 points) at the buzzer. Sablon went on to score 10 points in the fourth for Stoughton, who pushed the lead to as much as nine before a couple of threes from OA’s Zach Tagliamonte (10 points). Rivera capped it with three free throws down the stretch. CJ Williams added a team-high 12 points for the Tigers.

Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 81 @ Taunton, 47 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Attleboro’s offense was clicking on all cylinders on Friday night, as the Bombardiers scored at least 19 points in each quarter to pull out the road win. Meghan Gordon scored 30 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead Attleboro, which also got 12 points and 14 rebounds off the bench from freshman Vanessa Ellis. Taunton started well on senior night, as Olivia Gannon scored all eight of her points and Abby Souza scored four of her nine in the first quarter, but Gordon was also on fire from the opening tip, matching Taunton’s total with 14 points in the first eight minutes. Attleboro extended its lead in the second with Gordon scoring seven and the Bombardiers knocking down three triples. Kameron St. Pierre (team-high 16 points) kept the Tigers close by knocking down four from deep and racking up 12 points. Attleboro stormed out of the break with a 22-point third quarter to break the game open. Gordon added another seven, while Lindsey Perry scored six and Lily Routhier added four. Kayla Goldrick scored nine points and dished out eight assists for the Bombardiers, while Routhier, Perry, and Avery Vieira had eight points apiece. Cali Melo had four points, three steals, and three assists and Jillian Doherty had four points for the Tigers.

Canton, 71 @ North Attleboro, 41 – Final – Kiara Cerruti scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to the road win. In the process, Cerruti became the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,068 points, surpassing the 1,057 points of Eileen Morneau. The game was tied at 7-7 after one, but then Canton went on a run, outscoring North 21-5 in the second to take control. Both teams found a rhythm on offense in the third, as they combined for 36 points, but a 24-12 fourth quarter put the game away for the Bulldogs. Fay Gallery added 13 points, five rebounds, and seven assists and Erin Beatty had eight points and six boards for Canton. Maia Mahoney added six points and Han Hong had four assists in the win. Summer Doherty was North’s top scorer, finishing with 15 points (all in the second half) and Taylor McMath had seven.

Foxboro, 72 @ Sharon, 52 – Final – Foxboro bounced back with a big win on the road and clinched its place in the state tournament. The Warriors were led by its underclassman backcourt, as freshman Kailey Sullivan scored a career-high 26 points and sophomore Camryn Collins finished with 24. Jasmine Davis scored 19 points to lead the Eagles and Rachael Hager added 17.

Franklin, 65 @ Mansfield, 34 – Final

Milford, 29 @ King Philip, 35 – Final – The Warriors outscored Milford 11-5 in the fourth quarter to pull out a defensive struggle. The first quarter was a struggle for both teams on the offensive end and finished 5-4. In the second, KP found the range to score 13 points and extend the lead to eight at the break. Maddie Paschke and Leah Santoro each scored four points in the quarter to help KP build its lead. Both would finish with six on the night. The Hawks stormed back in the third, coming out of halftime with a 14-6 quarter to tie things up heading to the fourth. Maddalena Mannucci Pacini scored six of her game-high 11 points in the third and Emily Croteau added all four of her points in the frame. KP got baskets from five different players in the fourth and held Milford to two made baskets to seal the win. Emily Sawyer led the way for the Warriors with eight points and Julia Marsden added five. Jill Araujo scored five for the Hawks and Khatrina Leger chipped in with four.

Oliver Ames, 70 @ Stoughton, 27 – Final – Oliver Ames built a double-digit lead by halftime and never looked back in a win on the road at Stoughton. Caroline Peper and Jasmyn Cooper each scored 15 points for the Tigers, who led 31-15 at the halftime break. Anna Murphy chipped in with 10 points for the visitors. Senior Kate Bulger led all scorers for Stoughton with 11 points and sophomore Alyssa Edwards grabbed eight boards.

Boys Hockey
Mansfield, 2 @ Canton, 7 – Final

Girls Hockey
Canton, 4 vs. Lincoln-Sudbury, 0 – Final – Audrey Koen scored a pair of goals and Carolyn Durand made 19 saves to earn the shutout, as Canton picked up a big non-league win. It is the fifth straight win for the Bulldogs. Tess Khoury scored one and had a pair of assists, while Payton McDonough had a goal and assist. Allie McCabe had two helpers in the win.

02/02/2022

Battista Nets Canton Win Over KP and Outright Title

CANTON, Mass. – With a chance to clinch a third straight league title, Canton had to ride its luck at times down the stretch of Wednesday’s visit of King Philip to the Metropolis Rink. A disallowed goal, a save on a breakaway, and a power play opportunity in the final minute of regulation gave the Bulldogs a chance.

After its two previous overtime games ended in losses, Canton was hoping third time would be the charm.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Payton McDonough swung the puck around to junior defenseman Maya Battista and she blasted a shot from the point, through a screen in front, and squeezed it past KP goalie Mallory Johnston to seal a 2-1 victory and three-peat of Hockomock League championships.

“We definitely work on the power play multiple times per week and it’s good having puck-moving defensemen that can control the play,” said Canton assistant Nick Maffeo. “It gives us a lot of opportunities to generate some offense. The four-on-three power play was a unique situation, but a quick chalkboard refresher and away we went with it.”

It was a frustrating way for the game to end for the Warriors, who had battled back to tie the game, thought they had gone ahead midway through the third period, and had several other chances to win it in regulation.

“Two evenly matched teams, we played tough against each other the first game,” said KP coach Ken Assad. “They’ve got a hell of a defense and goaltender is strong. We battled and we threw pucks at the net, we just didn’t put them in.”

Canton started the game well. Allie McCabe danced her way through the neutral zone, carrying it the length of the ice before forcing a glove save out of Johnston. A couple minutes later, Tess Khoury had a couple of whacks at a loose puck in the slot. The first two efforts were blocked and then Johnston stuck out a pad to stop the third.

The game had been tight, with neither defense conceding much ground and both teams limiting scoring chances to a minimum. Things opened up when the Bulldogs went on the power play. A nice passing sequence from Battista to McCabe to Audrey Koen forced a nice save and then McDonough teed up Khoury at the edge of the crease but the tip went wide.

With the power play nearly over, Koen retreated behind her own goal and cleared a puck up the near side boards. It took a friendly carom into the path of Khoury and she took off. A nice drag move erased the final KP defender and Khoury went to the back hand before finishing off the far post and in.

“Great goal, good hustle,” Maffeo explained. “As the power play was winding down, that’s the time to go for it and Tess certainly did. She had a nice dangle and little kiss off the post.”

The goal seemed to spark the visitors, who finished the first period with a flurry of chances. Jen Daniels had a good look on a one-timer from the slot but McCabe managed to get across and block. Meg Sherwood then fired a shot from the point that eighth grader Catie Putt tipped in front, but Canton goalie Carolyn Durand smothered the chance.

KP continued to create chances into the second. Daniels was stuffed when she had a chance at the back post and Mara Boldy’s shot from the point was kicked aside. Canton almost doubled its lead when Khoury again got loose in the slot, but her shot this time came back off the post and stayed out.

Only two minutes after nearly falling behind by two, KP tied it. Sydney O’Shea found a lot of room in the high slot and her quick-release wrister on the turn gave Durand no chance to react as it arrowed past her on the blocker side.

“We told her low and hard and that’s what she did,” said Assad. “She followed what we asked her to do and just wish we could’ve banged in some more pucks today. We have to be more consistent getting to loose pucks.”

With only 20 seconds remaining in the period, KP nearly grabbed the lead. Kelly Holmes, the league’s leading scorer, showed off her stick skills to glide into the zone, but Durand was able to get a piece of the breakaway chance.

In a game between two good defensive teams, a tie game in the third period usually means chances are going to be even tougher to come by and that was the case on Wednesday. KP finally was able to break out and get behind the Canton back line, Holmes dragging it around Durand and stuffing it in at the far post.

The officials took a beat and waved off the goal, ruling that the net had come loose prior to the puck crossing the line. It was a let off for the Bulldogs.

“I thought it was in before the post came off, but the ref had a better view of it than I did,” said Assad. “I give my girls a lot of credit. It’s still a very positive locker room and nowhere but up from here.”

Holmes had another opportunity with a breakaway three minutes later, but this time there was no controversy, as Durand came up with a huge save to keep things level. Battista had a good look for Canton on the other end, when her shot from the point took a deflection on its way to goal, but Johnston stood tall and then covered the rebound.

A bench minor in the final minute gave Canton the chance to go back on the power play. A steal at the blue line almost turned into a two-on-none break going the other way, but Holmes was left frustrated again, as the horn sounded to end regulation.

The power play carried over into OT and the Bulldogs made it count. Battista got open pinching in towards the left wing circle and she found the winner.

“We have a small league but it’s a tight and competitive league,” Maffeo said about winning another league title. “Every win and every loss is magnified, so it does mean quite a bit. This is a memory that I hope they carry with them as friends and teammates going forward.”

Canton (9-5-0) will host Dennis-Yarmouth on Saturday, while King Philip (9-4) will travel to Foxboro to face Mansfield/Oliver Ames.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.