Oliver Ames beat Duxbury 1-0 behind Jenna Gilman’s goal late in the first half and another strong defensive performance to book a spot in the D2 Final Four. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – When the ball was cleared out of the Oliver Ames defense, it looked harmless. As the ball landed in between the last Duxbury defender and the goal keeper, everything seemed to be under control. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Jenna Gilman came flying into the picture.
The defender had a 10-yard head start, but Gilman flew past her, forcing the goalie to quickly retreat into the box. It looked like a long touch might allow the keeper to come up with the ball, but Gilman managed to keep it alive and keep her composure. The senior forward pulled the ball to the edge of the box and dispatched a left-footed shot into the now vacant goal.
Gilman’s third goal in as many games would prove decisive, as the OA defense held Duxbury scoreless on Saturday afternoon at Muscato Stadium and the Tigers pulled out a 1-0 win to reach the Div. 2 Final Four for the first time in the new format.
“It was really hard to sit on the bench last year and watch,” said Gilman who missed out on last year’s postseason run with an injury, “but I’m just so happy to keep going this year and see how much further we can get.”
OA has made a habit of starting quickly in the playoffs. Seven of the team’s eight postseason goals have come in the first half. After scoring in the opening minute in the last round against Stoughton, the Tigers nearly repeated the trick on Saturday.
A slip in the midfield allowed Emma Gavin to win possession and she played the ball infield to Lucinda Li Cotter, who in turn sprung Jolie Diaz on the right wing. Diaz was clean through on the keeper but her shot from just inside the box would be right at the goalie.
“The trick to the game is to score right away because then you’re so confident and you can just hold them off,” Gilman explained. “We try to make plays all the time and have while doing it.”
Just a minute later, Sophia Byron had the chance to swing in her first corner of the match and caused havoc inside the Duxbury box. The ball landed inside the six and Gilman, Cotter, Taylor deVos, and Gavin all had chances to take a swing at it but each time the Dragons were able to get a block before finally clearing.
“That something that our coaching staff drive in,” said senior midfielder Mary Cross. “We always say the first five minutes, then when the first five minutes goes by we say the next five. We always go five minutes at a time.”
The front line of Gilman, Cotter, and Diaz has been terrorizing defenders all season and it continued against Duxbury. In the 23rd minute, Cotter picked up the ball in front of the Duxbury defense, turned and ran at her marker before forcing a save with a left-footed shot. Three minutes later, right back Catie Wilson sent a high ball into the box that Gilman did really well to bring under control before snatching at her shot and sending it wide.
In the 29th minute, Diaz looped a ball over the top of the defense. Gilman did well to win the battle for possession and get to the end line, but her low cross into Cotter was cut out just before it got to her strike partner.
“Our chemistry is great,” Gilman said of her partnership with Diaz and Cotter. “We love each other. We really do see each other as little sisters, it’s amazing.”
The Dragons were struggling to get anything going at the other end. OA keeper Janiya Matier was finally given something to worry about when Morgan Cheverie dangerously lined a 25-yard free kick diagonally through the box without a touch.
With the half winding down, OA continued to press for the opening goal. Rhiya Fisher won the ball in midfield and quickly got it forward to Cotter, who played Gilman in behind the Duxbury right back. Gilman’s deep cross picked out Diaz on the far side and she in turn crossed to Gavin in the middle. The ball was allowed to bounce and Gilman latched onto it but sent it just wide.
After controlling play throughout the half, it looked like OA would have to settle for a goalless draw at half, until Gilman’s speed and finishing turned the game on its head.
Duxbury came out for the second half determined to get back into the game and had its best spell of pressure in the match. Cheverie cut across the box on her right foot and forced Matier into her first save. A minute later, Megan Carney showed off her footwork in the box to elude deVos. Byron slid in to make an important tackle and Matier was bravely off her line to smother the loose ball.
Chances were coming at both ends of the field. Cotter hit a ball across the face of goal that was kneed over the bar for a corner. The resulting kick was parried by the keeper into the path of Carly Gibson, but her shot went just wide. After a mishit clearance on a back pass, Elizabeth Yucius had a wide open goal to aim for but put her shot the wrong side of the post.
In the 63rd minute, Diaz had a chance to wrap it up. Cotter again picked up the ball in space in the middle and fired a pass out to the left wing. The freshman forward ran at her marker, cutting inside onto her right foot and curling a shot towards the bottom corner only to unluckily see it come back off the post.
Duxbury was pushing, increasingly desperate to find an equalizer with each minute that ticked off the clock. But, the OA defense, which has yet to allow a goal in the playoffs, continued to hold strong and keep everything well outside the penalty area. Cheverie had one last shot but it was again from distance and easily held by Matier.
“We came a long way,” Byron said about the OA defense. “At the beginning of the season, we made some adjustments and from there we’ve kind of known what to do going forward. It’s all about keeping our composure and talking because we don’t want to get lost.”
She added, “Me and Taylor have done a really good job working together. We communicate non-stop and I don’t think a minute goes by where I’m not telling her where to go or what to do and same thing for her.”
The top seed was moving on and will get the chance to play in the state semifinal.
“It’s amazing,” Gilman said. “Being a senior, going this far this last year, it’s awesome. Being with this group of girls has been a great experience.”
Cross added, “Words can’t describe it. We’ve worked so hard and we’re so happy to be here.”
Oliver Ames (15-3-1) will face No. 5 seed Grafton in the Final Four at a date, time, and location to be determined.
OA senior Jenna Gilman celebrates after scoring the second goal in a 3-0 win over Stoughton in the D2 Sweet Sixteen. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – When you’re the underdog, the team that is new to the playoff experience, the team on the road facing the top seed and league champion, you want to make sure to stay close early in the game. You want to keep within touching distance to build confidence and let the favorite start to fell the pressure.
Stoughton went into Wednesday afternoon’s visit to Muscato Stadium with that game plan, but it last all of 40 seconds before Oliver Ames opened the scoring. The Tigers would add two more within a minute and then kept the Black Knights at arm’s length for the final 70 minutes to secure a 3-0 victory and a place in the Div. 2 quarterfinal.
“They came out gunning for us,” said Stoughton coach Jon Grant. “They came out very fast. They came out very clean and they capitalized on every moment. I tip my hat to them, they’re a phenomenal team. They basically punched us in the mouth the first 10 minutes and then we battled and battled and battled. It’s hard to comeback from a three-goal deficit.
Before the crowd had even gotten settled into the bleachers on a chilly night, OA was on top. Emma Gavin picked up the ball in space in the midfield and slid a pass out to the right wing for freshman Jolie Diaz to run onto. Diaz carried the ball to the end line and then cut the ball back to Gavin, who was making a late run into the box and smacked it past Stoughton keeper Katrina Varnum (seven saves) with a first-time shot.
Eight minutes later, OA doubled its lead on a very similar goal. This time it was Lucinda Li Cotter on the right wing and she dribbled her way to the end line and fired a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Jenna Gilman was waiting to power her shot inside the post.
Less than a minute was off the clock before OA had put daylight between itself and the visitors. Diaz again provided the assist with a hard-hit cross into a mass of bodies in the box. Varnum made a diving parry on the pass, but only managed to knock it to the feet of Carly Gibson, who made no mistake with another unerring finish.
“We had senior night here and it was 0-0 and we spent the whole night in their half, but they’re so hard to break down,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “You have to get to the end line and get the ball across because you’re not going to beat [Katrina] high. The first two goals were low and Carly’s was just a bullet through a crowd.”
Holding onto a 3-0 lead took some of the impetus away from the Tigers, who were content to hold the ball and continue looking for its dangerous front three of Cotter, Gilman, and Diaz.
The rest of OA’s chances in the first half came from set pieces. Taylor deVos forced Varnum into a save with a 35-yard free kick. Another deVos delivery, this time from a better angle, went straight across the box to Gavin at the far post, but the sophomore midfielder could only find the side-netting.
Stoughton was struggling to create anything going forward, which wasn’t helped by an injury to sophomore Emma Tran midway through the half. OA keeper Janiya Matier was forced into only one save, on a ball that ricocheted off the knee of Makenzie O’Connor. The Black Knights almost forced an opening in the final minute when Morgan Cook slid a pass into Shayla Ford, but Matier was off her line quickly to collect on the slide.
Coming out of the break, OA nearly added to its lead. A ball in behind the Stoughton defense let Gavin have a chance from close-range, but Varnum was able to smother it. Seconds later, the ball was recycled out to Gibson, who forced the Stoughton keeper into a nice diving stop to her right.
Stoughton had more possession and more of the territorial advantage than it did in the first half, but the Black Knights still struggled to create any chances of note. The OA back line of deVos, Sophia Byron, Catie Wilson, and Molly Capece was impenetrable.
“First half we had to basically stop the bleeding, we had to stop them from scoring,” Grant explained. “In the second half, it was okay lets see if we can get some offense going. We were able to get a little more forward in the second half, but their counterattack, they dump and they’re fast and they’re good. They capitalize on any mistake.”
In the end, OA managed the second half well, making sure to keep the game from getting dramatic in the closing minutes. After a loss at this stage last year, the Tigers were determined to get to the next round.
“We talked about that,” Sellmayer admitted. “Having Jenna gives us an edge and having Jolie gives us pace up front.” When asked about managing the lead late in the game, he added, “It wasn’t as efficient in terms of containing the ball, but we didn’t give them any corners kicks, they had a couple scary chances. They’re a real physical team and we wanted to match it but didn’t want to foul.”
For Stoughton (8-8-4), this season marked the first playoff appearance in 14 years and has the potential to be a jumping off point for a talented sophomore class that makes up a good chunk of the team’s starting lineup.
“Phenomenal,” said Grant. “Absolutely night and day from last year. The work ethic has been phenomenal, the leadership from the seniors has been phenomenal, they’re going to be missed. We do have a young crew coming up and hopefully they can match the leadership that’s been there, but this has been a good building block for the next two years.”
Oliver Ames (14-3-1) will host the winner of Canton and Duxbury, who meet on Thursday, in the quarterfinal on Saturday at a time to be determined.
Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – For the second straight game, Attleboro exploded offensively in the second half to run away with a big win. Alex Vecchioli took down a deflection off a throw from Luke Hagopian and somehow kept possession between a pair of defenders and ripped a shot to the far post to give the Bombardiers a lead right before halftime. In the second half. Vecchioli grabbed his second of the game early in the second half, tracking down a pass from Lucas Marques before cutting it back onto his left for a shot from just outside the box that was tipped by the keeper and in. Late in the second half, Vecchioli linked up with Kyle Neuendorf, who played a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the defense that was smashed home by Billy Badger to make it 3-0. In the final minutes, senior Steve Etienne tracked down a long punt from keeper Tyler Rocchio and hit a low shot into the back of the net from inside the area.
Foxboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin junior Hansy Jacques scored for the third straight game and the Panthers picked up two points in a 3-0 blanking of visiting Foxboro. Junior Michael Fernandez-Martin opened his varsity account, finishing off a pass from sophomore Matt Honekamp to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Jacques doubled the lead before halftime after an assist from Will Kryzak. In the second half, Trey Lovell buried a penalty kick to cap off the scoring for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Mansfield tallied twice inside a 15-minute span in the second half to pick up two key points on the road at North Attleboro. Aidan Lopes set up Tyler Znoj for a blast from 25 yards out to put the Hornets ahead, 1-0, in the 53rd minute. Mansfield doubled the lead in the 65th minute as Aiden Steele’s header off a corner from Dan Checkoway ended up at the feet of Sean Higgins, who dropped in a shot from just outside the box. Liam Doyle recorded his second straight shutout for Mansfield, making six saves. Derek McGrath anchored another strong Mansfield defensive effort with a great individual performance.
Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Each team converted off a set piece in a 1-1 draw at Milford. Visiting Sharon took the lead in the 18th minute as Adam Eastman buried a free kick from 25 yards out to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Milford pulled level in the 61st minute as Eduardo Santana buried a penalty kick, a call he earned himself, to bring the Scarlet Hawks level. Sharon goalie Matt Baur had a terrific performance in net.
Canton, 2 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – A late goal from Canton helped the Bulldogs pull even and earn a point in a 2-2 draw on the road at Taunton. Carson Eagles scored a late goal to help the Bulldogs erase a one-goal deficit and pull level at 2-2. Jake McCabe scored Canton’s first goal while Taunton’s Javonte Fernandes (first half) and Devin Poe (second half) scored for the Tigers.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Morgan Cook’s goal just before halftime proved to be the winner, as Stoughton picked up its first victory of the season and its first under new coach Jon Grant. Shayla Ford opened the scoring in the third minute, running onto a Sabrina Rodrigues through ball behind the Attleboro defense. Jamie Davies leveled the match for the Bombardiers from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. Stoughton regained the lead in the 40th. Emma Byrne played a ball forward to Cook, who was able to get a telling touch on it and find the back of the net. Stoughton was able to limit Attleboro’s chances for a tying goal in the second half with a strong defensive effort. Katrina Varnum finished with 10 saves to help the Black Knights come out on top.
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton scored late in each half to earn its third win in as many games and move alone into first in the Davenport division. Emily McCabe scored both goals for the Bulldogs, her sixth and seventh of the season, the first assisted by Caira McKinney and the second by Gisella Berardi. While Canton held a sizable (17-4) edge in shots on goal and hit three posts, Taunton continued to fight and remained in the game until the final 90 seconds. Taunton coach Dan Borges praised the play of midfielders Juliana Matos and Emily Calderon for helping the Tigers compete to the end.
Franklin, 2 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of second half goals to maintain its perfect start to the season and hand Foxboro its first loss. Olivia Costa opened the scoring off a Norah Anderson assist and Costa then provided the assist for Selene Hammad’s goal that wrapped up the points for the Panthers. Franklin keeper Rachel Welch finished with six saves, while Foxboro’s Allie Sougaris made nine stops.
King Philip, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Taylor deVos scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers to a win over visiting King Philip. deVos converted a free kick opportunity in the first half to give the Tigers the lead. King Philip’s goal was scored by Heidi Lawrence, finishing a Rihanna Mason corner five minutes into the second half to bring the game level. Shortly after that, deVos buried another shot, which proved to be the game-winner. Catie Wilson, Rhiya Fisher, and Lucinda Li Cotter all had strong games for OA. Janiya Matier made six saves in net for the Tigers.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield and North each scored in the opening 20 minutes of the game and split a point apiece. Meghan McCann scored her first varsity goal four minutes into the game, off an assist from freshman Alexandra Fernandes. Emma Pratt equalized for North 15 minutes later, finishing off a corner to make it 1-1.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sofia Goclowski and Autumn Simon each scored a brace to lift Sharon to its second win of the season, already matching its league win total from 2021. Taylor Standring and Jessica Li each recorded assists for the Eagles and Kate Goloboy earned the clean sheet in goal.
Golf
Milford, 151 @ Attleboro, 157 – Final – After back-to-back close losses, Milford got back into the win column with its second win over the Bombardiers this season. Junior Anthony LaPierre was the match medalist, firing a low-round of 35 at Stone-E-Lea. Nate Lawrence added a 36 and David Fleming came in with a 39 for the Scarlet Hawks. Carter Shelton paced the Bombardiers with a 38 while Leo Lombardo chipped in with a 39.
North Attleboro, 155 @ Stoughton, 190 – Final – Tyson Laviano and Dillon Harding shared medalist honors to pace North Attleboro to a win over Stoughton at Easton Country Club. Laviano and Harding each fired a 38 in the win. Paul Medeiros had a team-low round of 45 for the Black Knights.
Foxboro, 172 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin junior CJ Steel fired a 35 to lead the Panthers to a win in their home opener at Franklin Country Club over visiting Foxboro. Steel, who had one birdie on the day, earned match medalist honors while Jack Hagerty added a 37, Tyler O’Brien shot a 38, and Brendan Collins finished with a 39. Mat Sullivan had a team-low round of 40 for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 162 @ Canton, 165 – Final – Mansfield had a trio of golfers all come in with a 40 to help the Hornets land a rare win for the visiting team at Blue Hill Country Club. Brendan Vokey, Jason Friedman, and Nate McClean each shot 40 in the win while Drew Urban chipped in with a 42. For Canton, Huck McCready earned match medalist honors after carding a 37 on the day. Brian Middleton added a 41, Brendan Tourgee chipped in with a 43, and both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman finished with a 44.
Taunton, 2 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – KP scored all five runs in the first inning to pick up its 10th win of the season and hand Taunton just its second loss. Travis Crawford led off with a double and Rudy Gately was hit by a pitch. Shawn Legere and Brendan Sencaj had back-to-back singles to bring in the first two runs of the game. Max Robison plated Legere with a double and Matt Kelley (two hits) had an RBI single. Matt DiFiore brought in the fifth run with a sac fly. Quinn Garstka picked up the win on the mound, going six innings with four hits and two runs allowed, striking out five. Tommy McLeish closed things out for the Warriors, allowing two hits but throwing a clean seventh.
Milford, 3 @ Mansfield, 9 – Final
Sharon, 2 @ North Attleboro, 11 – Final
Softball
Attleboro, 18 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Attleboro scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to put away the Panthers and pick up an important road win. The Bombardiers got off to a great start, scoring three runs in the first. Leadoff hitter Lindsey Perry went 3-for-6 and scored three times, including in the first. Sarah Maher and Lauren Eby each drove in one in the first. Perry scored again in the second, taking home on a wild pitch. Attleboro added a fourth in the third, but Franklin rallied to cut the lead to one (4-3). Carly Johnson-Pellegri and Aislinn Lavery each had RBI. The Bombardiers responded with three more in the fourth, including back-to-back doubles from Lily Routhier and Eby. Franklin cut the lead down to 8-5 with a pair of runs in the bottom half, as Kiera Kotwicki drove in one and scored the other. Attleboro doubled the lead in the sixth. Merry Bosh had a big triple to bring in one. The visitors sent 11 batters to the plate in the seventh and broke the game open, taking advantage of a couple errors to put together a rally. Perry doubled in a run and came in to score for the third time. Franklin kept battling and got three back in the bottom half, including back-to-back doubles from Georgia Harvey and Hannah Cacciapaglia.
Oliver Ames, 7 @ Canton, 5 – Final
Stoughton, 3 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Alyssa Edwards plated all of Stoughton’s runs with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth. Kate Bulger had a pair of hits and Sydney Menz had one for the Black Knights.
King Philip, 4 @ Taunton, 2 – Final (10 inn.)
Mansfield, 19 @ Milford, 11 – Final – Mansfield pounded out 18 hits and scored 19 runs to pick up a division road win. Following a six-run third inning, the Hornets held an 11-0 edge, but Milford answered with a pair in the bottom of the third. Mansfield scored twice in the fifth, but the Hawks rallied for three to make it 13-5. The teams each scored six runs in the sixth inning. Olivia DeTrolio had four hits to lead the Hornets and drive in three. Alanna Conley had three hits and a pair of RBI, while Cat Kipp continued to swing a hot bat with two hits and four RBI. Olivia Bovey had two hits and three RBI and Liv Madeira added two hits for the Hornets.
North Attleboro, 16 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – The first Sharon batter reached on a dropped third strike but then Kelly Colleran retired the next 21 hitters that she faced to pick up the no-hitter. She finished with 18 strikeouts. Mandi Hanewich, Ally Levine, and Shaelyn Burns all had three hits and three runs scored. Grace Simmons also had three hits and drove in four, while Colleran helped her cause at the plate with three hits, a homer, and five RBI. Maryellen Charette, Emma Hanwell, Mary Rogers, and Maddie Bailey each had a hit and a run scored for North.
Boys Lacrosse
Foxboro, 14 @ Canton, 2 – Final
Franklin, 13 @ King Philip, 6 – Final
Mansfield @ Milford, 4:30
North Attleboro, 15 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Canton, 6 @ Foxboro, 16 – Final – Foxboro won a battle of the top two teams in the Davenport division and took charge in the title race. Paige Curran continued to be tough to stop offensively, scoring five goals and assisting on two others. Val Beigel and Cate Noone each chipped in with four goals and Mya Waryas scored once and dished out four assists. Mary and Kate Collins each scored once with Mary adding three helpers and Kate assisting on one goal. Audrey Campbell made four saves to grab the win in goal.
King Philip, 3 @ Franklin, 14 – Final – Franklin handed KP its first league loss of the season and took control of the Kelley-Rex title race. The Panthers celebrated senior night and got contributions from all seven of its graduating players. Kenzie Baker had a strong game in the Franklin midfield and Anna Grasso played well in defense. Kate O’Rourke had a hat trick, Stella Regan had two goals and an assist, Jackie O’Neil had a goal and an assist, and Maura Cogavin had a goal. Brigid Earley made five saves. Junior Katie Peterson sparked the Panthers offense with four goals and a pair of helpers and classmate Kaitlyn Carney had three goals and one assist. Haley Izydorczak scored a pair of goals and Julia Marsden had one for the Warriors, who got six saves from freshman goalie Kaitlyn Parish.
Milford, 3 @ Mansfield, 9 – Final
Oliver Ames, 17 @ North Attleboro, 10 – Final – OA moved even with North in the league standings with a big road win. Catie Wilson continued to be a strong presence in the OA attack, scoring seven goals and dishing out a pair of assists, while Jess Widdop was strong in goal with 10 saves. Georgia Costello added five goals and a helper for the Tigers. OA coach Rylie Dalzell credited the defense for picking up the win. Taylor McAndrew caused turnovers and grabbed ground balls and Alyssa Kiff led the team with her communication at the back.
Sharon, 9 @ Taunton, 10 – Final – Cali Melo scored four times and Taunton scored a last-second goal to pick up its first win of the season. Maddison Szala had a hat trick, Aria Cordeiro had two goals, and Sarah Clark found the back of the net for the Tigers. Athena Merck and Bailey Garte each had three goals and an assist for the Eagles. Keira Lydeard had a pair of goals and Anna Hertzel had one in the loss. Tess Letendre had 11 saves and helped keep Sharon in the game right to the end.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Franklin’s Vayshnav Malhotra and Sameen Shaik both won in straight sets without dropping a game as the Panthers picked up a 5-0 win over Attleboro. Both Malhotra and Shaik won 6-0, 6-0 while senior Drew Mahoney added a 6-2, 6-1 victory in third singles action. The duo of senior Thomas Broyls and sophomore Jay Gorgas secured a 6-2, 6-1 first doubles win while junior Tyler Fitzpatrick teamed up with sophomore Ahan Shetty for a 6-0, 6-1 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton won at top two singles, but OA showed off its depth by winning at third singles and winning both doubles matches. Kylash Ganesh had a 6-1, 6-1 win at third singles to get things started for the Tigers. Top doubles pair, Patrick Dolan and Alex Efremidas, pulled out a 6-2, 7-5 win for a second point and Alex Vasilou and Ben Dias clinched the win for OA with a 6-4, 7-5 hard-fought victory at second doubles.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final
Taunton @ King Philip, 3:45
Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final
Girls Tennis
Franklin, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final
Canton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – After dropping the second set, Oliver Ames’ Mia Corradini prevailed with the win in the third set tiebreaker to complete the 5-0 sweep for the hosts. Corradini took second singles 6-3, 3-6, 10-6, Hannah Farber added a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, and Elizabeth O’Brien was victorious 6-2, 6-2 at third singles. OA also swept doubles action with Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou taking a 6-2, 6-2 verdict at first doubles, and Olivia Querzoli and Marina Mierzwinski prevailing 6-1, 6-3 at second doubles.
Foxboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final
Milford @ Mansfield, 3:45
Sharon, 5 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final
Boys Volleyball
King Philip @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 6:00
Milford @ Bellingham, 6:00
Taunton vs. Brockton, 5:15
Baseball
Canton, 10 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Canton senior catcher Sean Sullivan threw out the tying run at third in the top of the seventh and junior Matt Lesser finished off the save in the same at-bat for the final out as the Bulldogs outlasted King Philip on the road. The Bulldogs scored in each of the first innings, taking advantage of a handful of KP defensive miscues to eventually lead 8-3 after four innings. King Philip cut the deficit down to just a run with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by back-to-back RBI doubles from Brendan Sencaj and Rudy Gately. Jay Kelleher’s single — Canton’s fourth straight to start the sixth — brought in Matt Chafin and Jack Digirolamo (three hits) to put the visitors ahead 10-7. KP bounced right back in the bottom half with two runs of its own, a long triple from Sencaj (three RBI) to bring in Matt Kelley and Shawn Legere. KP got the tying run on with a single and a steal, but Sullivan gunned him down at third after a ball in the dirt. Travis Crawford also had two hits and two RBI for the Warriors.
Foxboro, 2 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Franklin pushed across three runs in the first inning, two more in the third, and never looked back in a win under the lights over Foxboro. Evan Raider and Henry Digiorgio had back-to-back sacrifice flies to plate a run apiece and Jase Lyons had a two-out RBI single to plate Chris Goode (HBP) to seize and early 3-0 advantage. Digiorgio added an RBI double to score Goode (double) in the third, and Lyons added another RBI base hit to extend Franklin’s advantage to 5-0. Eisig Chin added an RBI triple in the sixth for the Panthers, and Joe Tirrell brought two home with a base hit to left. Jacob Jette got the win on the mound for the Panthers, allowing two runs (one earned) one three hits and one walk, striking out four. Ryan LeClair had two hits and scored a run for Foxboro.
Softball
Mansfield, 13 @ Sharon, 0 – Final (5 Inn.) – Mansfield made it three wins in a row with a shutout of Sharon. Julia Kelly and Amanda Schwarz combined on a one-hitter for the Hornets, who also pounded out 14 hits as a team. Mansfield took a 4-0 lead in the first. Callie Lake singled and would score on a base hit by Liv Madeira. Jill Koppy and Molly Kucharski also had RBI singles in the inning. The Hornets doubled their lead in the second. Kelly led off with a double and would score on an error, while Madeira and Alanna Conley both drove in runs with singles. Mansfield completed the scoring in the third with five more runs. Lake drove in one and Casey Moussette plated a pair. Madeira and Conley each finished the day with three hits and Lake had a pair.
Milford, 3 @ North Attleboro, 6 – Final – North continued to get dominant pitching to extend its win streak to four games. Zoey McDonough was in the circle and struck out 15 batters, while allowing only five hits and a walk, to pick up the victory. Mandi Hanewich had a pair of hits, a walk, and two RBI to pace the offensive attack. Kelly Colleran had a double and drove in two, while Emma Hanwell and Ally Levine each had a hit and an RBI. Maryellen Charette and Shaelyn Burns both had a hit and a run scored for North.
Boys Lacrosse
King Philip @ Attleboro, 3:45
Canton, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – For Oliver Ames, Ben Reardon (two goals, three assists) and Ryan Jaco (three goals, two assists) each had five points while Wyatt Fritchman recorded a pair of goals. Noah Isleib was terrific in net for the Tigers with 21 saves.
North Attleboro, 13 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Behind a strong defensive effort and a standout performance from Jared Vacher at the face off X, North Attleboro secured a quality win over a quality opponent on the road at Sharon. Vacher won 12 of 18 face offs in a battle of two of the top faceoff specialists in the Hock against Sharon’s Ben Shocket. Senior Clayton Billingkoff scored a team-high five goals to pace the offense while senior Connor Ruppert added four goals. JT Gallagher had a big game in net with 10 saves for the Rocketeers.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 15 – Final – Julia Marsden, Makenzie McDevitt, and Morgan Cunningham each recorded four points to lead King Philip to a big win over visiting Attleboro. Both Marsden and McDevitt scored four goals apiece while Cunningham had one goal and three assists.
Oliver Ames, 8 @ Canton, 12 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – The Bulldogs remain unbeaten and in a tie for first in the division by holding off the Tigers. Canton closed out the half with four straight goals to take a two goal lead into the break and extended the lead to as many as five goals in the second half. Emily McCabe led the way for the hosts with four goals and two assists. OA held a 4-3 lead midway through the opening half. Hailey Bourne got her first to start the scoring before McCabe answered back. Canton then jumped in front when Carly Fitzgerald’s pass in front was tipped home by Ella Yeaton. Catie Wilson tied it for OA and Gergia Costello made it 3-2. After Devan Spinale tied it again, Bourne got her second and Wilson added another for a 5-3 lead. Off the draw, McCabe found Shannon McGrann for a goal to cut the lead to one and McGrann tied it three minutes later from a free position. Spinale and Fay Gallery added two more, the last coming with 22.1 on the clock, for a 7-5 lead. Early in the second half, Costello got OA within one but Allie McCabe spun through the heart of the OA defense to restore the two-goal lead. Jess Widdop made a couple of saves on Canton free positions before Emily McCabe dodged from the top and found her way to goal. McCabe added another just seconds later to make it 10-6. A steal by Olivia O’Rourke led to a goal for Wilson but Yeaton found McCabe cutting through the middle to make it 11-7. Allie McCabe added her second for the Bulldogs before Wilson wrapped up the scoring in the final minute. Elyse Broderick made seven saves in goal for Canton.
Foxboro, 18 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mya Waryas scored five goals and dished out two assists and the Warriors rolled to another big league win that keeps them in a tie for first place in the Davenport division. Paige Curran (two assists) and Mary Collins (one assist) each added four goals apiece for Foxboro, which also got two goals and an assist from Cate Noone, a goal and an assist from Kate Collins, a goal and two assists from Val Beigel, and a goal from Grace Riley. Audrey Campbell made 10 saves to pick up the win in goal.
Taunton, 3 @ Franklin, 20 – Final – Franklin had over a dozen players find their way onto the scoring sheet in a big win over visiting Taunton. Kenzie Baker and Jamie Tanner finished with three goals apiece to pace the offense. Cali Melo, Maddison Szala, and Aria Cordeiro each scored for Taunton.
Sharon, 2 @ North Attleboro, 15 – Final – Bailey Garte scored both goals for Sharon and Ava Jacobson had an assist.
Boys Tennis
Taunton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – Oliver Ames defended home court by winning all five matches against visiting Taunton. The freshmen duo of Alex Efrimidas and Patrick Dolan had a standout performance in the win, both playing strong at the net to secure a 6-3, 6-3 win at first doubles.
Mansfield, 1 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon secured a pair of wins in both singles and doubles play to grab a win over visiting Mansfield. Sophomore Matthew Lally emerged victorious after a tenacious battle with Mansfield freshman Neema Khosravani, taking first singles 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 10-8. Freshman Jacob Slovsky added a 6-4, 6-4 win at third singles for the Eagles. Seniors Ruemon Bhattacharyya and Mitch Weiss won at first doubles (6-1, 6-1) while juniors Kevin Li and Hyojae Park took the win at second doubles for the Eagles. Mansfield sophomore Kailash Elumalei rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 10-6 win at second singles.
Milford, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, North Attleboro’s first doubles tandem of junior Griffin Rodden and sophomore Arnav Raghuvanshi prevailed in a third set tiebreaker to complete the five-match set for the Rocketeers. Rodden and Raghuvanshi won 6-2, 5-7, 10-7 while sophomore Tim Le and junior Brody Gaulin rolled to a 6-0, 6-0 victory at second doubles. Senior captain Will Folan secured a 6-0, 6-0 first singles win, junior Brody Carter added a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles, and freshman Darren Liang took home a 6-0, 6-0 win at third singles.
Girls Tennis
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Elizabeth O’Brien overcame a one-set deficit to earn a win in a third-set tiebreaker to complete the sweep on the road over Taunton. O’Brien rallied for a 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 win at third singles, Hannah Farber added a 6-1, 6-1 win at first singles, and Mia Corradini prevailed with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback win at second singles. The team of Morgan Vasiliou and Caroline Peper grabbed a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles while Marina Mierzwinski and Olivia Querzoli battled to a 6-3, 6-3 second doubles win.
Sharon, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Sharon won both doubles matches in straight sets to highlight a 4-1 win over Mansfield. The team of senior Ritu Sreeram and sophomore Sophia Oh grabbed a 6-0, 6-3 win at first doubles while seniors Alice Zaniewski and Rachel Rashukin emerged with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second doules. Junior Ale Aguilar added a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles.
Stoughton, 1 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro swept both doubles matches in straight sets and added two more wins from singles action to secure a win over visiting Stoughton. The senior tandem of Saharla Yusuf and Tina Lam grabbed a 6-2, 5-1 (inj.) win at first singles, and sophomores Kyra Johnson and Presley Biller didn’t drop a single set in a 6-0, 6-0 win at second doubles for the Bombardiers. Senior Ella Lynch-Bartek added a 6-1, 6-2 first singles victory and sophomore Maddie Fulscado earned a 6-0, 6-3 win at second singles. Stoughton’s Stefani Reznikow emerged with a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles.
Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 97 @ Milford, 39 – Final – Attleboro’s Kaiden Murray took first in three individual events as Attleboro grabbed a big win on the road over Milford. Murray won the 100M, the 110M hurdles, and the long jump while Chris Leonardo was a double-winner in the shot put and the discus. Jack Blouin and Ethan Sylvia went 1-2 in the 1 Mile, and Sylvia added a win in the 800M for the Bombardiers. Adrian Rivera was second in the 200M dash (won by Jordan Rivera-Silva), took third in the high jump, won the triple jump, and was apart of the winning 4x100M relay team. (with Rivera-Silva, Zyeem Charles, and Josh Codella)
Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro, 73 @ Milford, 63 – Final – Emilia Smith and Jahela Douglas each won a pair of events to lead the Bombardiers to a close win over Milford. Smith anchored a sweep of the 1 Mile (followed by Taylor DeCristoforo and Bailey Ellis) and the 2 Mile (followed by DeCristoforo and Kacey Parker), and Douglas took first in the triple jump and led a sweep of the 200M (followed by Alexis Cincotta and Sophia Lyons). Rebecca Rainey led a sweep of the 400M hurdles (along with Zenda Gjoni and Allie McNamara) and Aariana Ridge won the long jump (followed by Natalie Berganza and Katerina Trieb).
Franklin returns a loaded roster after reaching the state title game. Read full team previews for the new season below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 2-13 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Chrissy Quinn
Attleboro will continue rebuilding this season, but the Bombardiers also feel like there is talent and experience on the roster to improve on the results of 2021 and possibly climb a spot in the division standings. Last season was a struggle, Attleboro had the fewest goals scored and most goals allowed in the league, but so much of the roster was getting its first taste of varsity play. With that year of experience, the Bombardiers are expecting more at both ends of the field.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Senior midfielder Olivia Calderone will lead the Bombardiers in attack. Sophomores Molly Moore and Addison Papagolos are back to provide a threat around the cage, while seniors Corrine Whiting and Kelsey Sherry and junior Jordan Mooney give Attleboro a lot of depth in the attack. Freshmen Isabella Cavallini and Ryann Mooney are a pair of talented newcomers who are going to get the chance to boost Attleboro’s scoring punch.
In defense, senior Avery Vieira and junior Ally Haigh are back to protect the goal. Both are strong presences in the defensive area with their athleticism and reading of the game. Sophomore Kristen Vasquez-Trudeau and junior Ella Stromfors also return and have shown great progress during the preseason. Attleboro will have a pair of new goalies this season with senior Alex Insani and freshman Peyton McCauliffe.
“I am excited to watch this talented group of athletes come together on the field this season,” said Attleboro coach Chrissy Quinn. “They have great potential and I think our program is making positive strides in the right direction.”
2021 Record: 5-9 2021 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Casey Bradley
Canton got off to a decent start in 2021, winning five of its first seven games, but the Bulldogs closed with a tough stretch, losing each of the last seven, including overtime losses to Oliver Ames and Whitman-Hanson to end the season. Former Bulldog Casey Bradley steps in as the head coach and she is confident that a year of experience will be the key for a lineup that is largely unchanged from last spring and has the potential to move up the standings.
The Bulldogs will have a strong midfield group. Senior Allie McCabe is a three-sport star and gives them energy and leadership alongside junior Ella Yeaton and sophomore Devan Spinale, who had an impressive rookie season as an attacker. Freshman Annie McLean will step in and add a new dimension to the midfield. Senior Carly Fitzgerald and junior Emily McCabe give Canton a lot of depth at that end of the field.
Defensively, seniors Tess Khoury and Sydney Gallery will hold down the middle of the field in front of classmate Elyse Broderick, who is stepping into the cage after four seasons as the goalie on the soccer team. Broderick’s athleticism will be important to help Canton’s defense hold off the opposition.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
Bradley said, “As a first-year head coach, I couldn’t be more excited to work with this group. These girls love the game and love working with one another every day. We have great leaders. I believe as long as we work hard and spend our time together efficiently, we will be a really strong team this year and may surprise some people.”
2021 Record: 11-2 2021 Finish: Reached D2 East Quarterfinals Coach: Kathleen McCullough
Last season, the first under new head coach Kathleen McCullough, Foxboro lost its season opener against Franklin then rolled through the next 11 games before falling by a goal against Bedford in the state tournament. Over that 11-game win streak, the Warriors outscored teams 204-44. Foxboro’s schedule looks a little tougher this year to help build up towards a potential tournament run, as the nine-time defending Davenport champs return a loaded lineup on both ends of the field.
The Warriors should have one of the most potent attacks in the league this season with a junior class that is loaded with talent and now has a year of varsity experience as well. Senior Kate Collins gives the team leadership up front, while junior Paige Curran was second in the league in scoring as a sophomore. Junior Mya Waryas and sophomores Valerie Beigel and Mary Collins would be the headliners in most teams’ attacking units.
While the offense will draw a lot of headlines, Foxboro’s defense is experienced and difficult to score on. Seniors Hannah Blake and Meghan Burke will be the leaders ahead of classmate Lilli Jones, who is stepping into goal this year after having a strong fall for the field hockey team. Junior Grace Riley and Jennifer Gallagher make this one of the deeper defensive groups in the Hock. Freshman midfielder Cate Noone is a newcomer to watch, who could make an instant impact all over the field.
“Our biggest strength is that we have a large returning group this year,” said McCullough. “My hope is that their playing experience and the fact that they have been playing together since youth level will develop the confidence needed to compete well against our opponents. We have put together a strong schedule this year and we look forward to challenging ourselves as a team and program.”
2021 Record: 18-1 2021 Finish: Reached D1 State Championship Coach: Kristin Igoe Guarino
There is no hiding that the goal for Franklin this season is to return to the state championship game and bring home the program’s first title. Even just a quick look at the roster shows why. The Panthers return the vast majority of last year’s team that was seconds away from overtime in last year’s final and added a few new faces that could be impact players. Franklin has experience and depth at every position. With a league win streak that has extended beyond 80 games, Franklin’s next goal is to be the best in the state.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
While those are lofty expectations, Franklin has a lineup filled with college commits. In the midfield and attack, seniors Stella Regan, Jackie O’Neil, Kate O’Rourke, Maura Cogavin, and Kenzie Baker are entering their third seasons as starters and all can be playmakers. Katie Peterson and fellow junior Kaitlyn Carney are both coming off impressive sophomore seasons and junior Lindsay Atkinson and Jamie Tanner can be threats anywhere near the cage.
Defensively, Franklin will be aggressive and athletic. Senior Anna Grasso will be the leader at the back in front of classmate Brigid Earley, who was the star of the final with a series of great saves. Juniors Riley Cross and Payten Crandall make a group that works well together. Freshman goalie Ella Mahoney is a new face that will get some time this year and gives Franklin depth at that position as well.
“I am really excited for this season, as this is one of the most talented and cohesive Franklin teams I have ever coached,” said Franklin coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “Everyone is all in and it is our goal to win a state championship!”
2021 Record: 12-3 2021 Finish: Reached D1 East Quarterfinals Coach: Kourtnie Wilder
Overall, King Philip had a strong season in 2021. The Warriors only lost three games and two of those were to state finalist Franklin and the other to Div. 1 East finalist Concord-Carlisle. Still, KP can look at it as a season to build experience, get players back into the groove of varsity lacrosse, and prepare for more this spring. With a strong returning corps. KP will be eyeing a tournament run.
Experience will be important up front where Saint Anselm-commit Julia Marsden is back after a 50-goal junior season and will be joined by fellow senior Lily Brown, who had 55 points last year. In defense, senior Haley Izydorczak is in her third year on varsity and gives KP a strong presence in the crease.
In goal, KP has a pair of talented juniors who will both see time. Emily Campbell and Haley Bright give the Warriors enviable depth in the cage. Senior Colleen Crowther is another experienced defender that will help out at the back. There are plenty of talented underclassmen who can step in this season, including four freshmen, Abby MacDonald, Sammy Cloutier, Makenzie McDevitt, and Sierra King.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
“Our greatest strength is we have a lot of returners that we are going to rely on heavily this year,” said KP coach Kourtnie Wilder. “The players we have are experienced and excited to play together again this season. We also have a few new ninth graders that are going to give us more depth on the field this year.”
2021 Record: 8-6 2021 Finish: Reached D1 East Preliminary Round Coach: Mary Kiley
Mansfield has a third coach in as many years with Mary Kiley taking over this spring. Kiley is a former league MVP and a four-time league champion with King Philip and she’ll be looking to push Mansfield into contention in its final spring in the Kelley-Rex. The Hornets will have experience in defense but looking for new faces to step up and contribute to the attack to make a push for the postseason.
Junior goalie Caitlin Zajac impressed in her debut season and she will be back between the pipes to provide leadership to the back line. The rest of the defensive unit is also experienced with seniors Grace Bertolino, Gabriella Geminiani, and Kayla Doherty adding intensity and aggression at that end of the field, while also looking to spring the Hornets in transition.
The attack is largely new this season. Juniors Ava Adams and Brooke Butler have looked solid in the preseason and sophomores Lola Varricchione and Cammy Shanteler will look to build on solid rookie seasons. Sophomores Keira Fitzpatrick and Ella Souza are two newcomers in the Mansfield attack who will be looking to make immediate impacts.
“On attack we have great discipline and patience with the ball, waiting for just the right opportunity to score,” said Kiley. “We’re looking forward to a competitive season this year.”
2021 Record: 1-12 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Kacey Abbriano
With 28 players on the roster this spring, Milford will have the numbers to try and make a push up the division standings, but only eight of those players are returning from last year. There will be a lot of new faces for first-year head coach Kacey Abbriano to try and get up to speed with the new defense she is implementing.
Midfield is an area of experience for the Hawks with senior Aislinn Bennett and junior Carly Haley and Emily Croteau all back from last season. The hope is that their athleticism and leadership will help Milford improve the number of scoring opportunities that it is able to create this season with an eye on improving on the one win from 2021.
Junior goalie Caitlyn Bangert is another returning player from last year who will be counted on to provide a dose of experience in the defensive end of the field. Although many of the players are new to the varsity level this year, Milford is largely led by upperclassmen with only two sophomores, attackers Ryara Madruga and Rhea Mathew, on the roster.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
“Besides the obvious of trying to win games, we’re trying to build confidence in our player’s skills and ability, work together with one another, and just have a fun season together,” said Abbriano. “I’m excited for this season and look forward to getting started!”
2021 Record: 7-6 2021 Finish: Reached D1 East Preliminary Round Coach: Amanda Welch
North Attleboro has had several coaching changes in the past two seasons but still managed to finish second in the Davenport division last spring. New head coach Amanda Welch will look to build on that this year with a solid returning corps. North lost six times in 2021, but all of those were to teams that qualified for the postseason and the Rocketeers will look to continue their success against the teams around them in the standings to get back in the postseason mix.
Leading scorer Taylor McMath is back to spearhead the North attack. The senior finished with 24 goals last season, and she will have help up top from junior Ava McKeon. Their speed and stickhandling make them tough to stop around the cage. North will also count on seniors Kelsey Briere and Morgan Eaton to add punch to an attack that was fourth-best in the league last year (behind only Franklin, Foxboro, and King Philip).
Defensively, North is counting on the leadership and athleticism of senior Summer Doherty to keep things solid at the back. Senior Zoe McKeon is another quick, athletic defender that gives North a strong foundation in front of senior goalie Avery Beale. Welch is hoping that some of the underclassmen will be ready to make instant impacts this season, including freshmen Lily Ramm and Ellie Regan.
“Overall, this 2022 season will look a lot different than last year,” Welch said. “We had some rough patches in the past but now we are back, focused, and ready to show the league what we have.”
2021 Record: 6-6 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Rylie Dalzell
After a 2-6 start to the 2021 season, which included half of those losses coming to Foxboro and Franklin, the Tiger roared down the stretch, winning the final four games to finish at .500. New head coach Rylie Dalzell, who played at King Philip, is hoping that momentum will carry over this spring with an experienced group that sees seniors taking important roles in every position.
In the attack, seniors Georgia and Ava Costello will be back to provide the scoring punch that the Tigers hope will keep them in the running for the postseason. Junior Catie Wilson and Olivia O’Rourke will also chip in offensively, while also providing cover for the defensive group.
Senior midfielder Hailey Bourne returns in the midfield, giving OA a dose of athleticism and providing defensive effort. The defensive group will be a lot of new faces as the only returning defenders from last year’s team are sophomore Taylor McAndrew and senior Alyssa Kiff. Senior Jessica Widdop is the team’s returning goalie.
“This year the team has many strengths,” Dalzell said. “Something that has been great for us is our senior leadership across the field. We have seniors in all positions across the field. The team is very athletic and dynamic, and every player on the field could play in any position. There are many contributors on this team and I expect big things from many different individuals.”
2021 Record: 2-11 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Shara Ginthwain
After graduating three Div. I commits in the past three seasons, it was inevitable that Sharon would have a rebuilding season. After winning twice in 2021, the Eagles bring back five players from last year’s team and an exciting group of underclassmen that will jump right into the lineup and could provide the energy to get the Eagles back up the Davenport standings.
Senior Athena Merck will provide leadership at the back for Sharon this season, while classmate Kaitlyn Galeota will do the same in the attack. Junior Tess Letendre is an important returning player, as she had a solid season in goal as a sophomore and adds vocal leadership for the defensive unit. Sophomore Anna Hertzel could be poised for a breakout season as the team’s playmaker.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
The freshmen class has a lot of skill and is expected to be a big boost to the team’s depth. Bailey Garf and Ava Jacobson are newcomers in the midfield that could provide goals this year, while Serene Bien-Aime will try to prevent goals in the defense.
“From just the first week of the season, I can see that this team is made up of really driven players who work hard to improve every day!” said Sharon coach Shara Ginthwain. “We are so excited to get the season started and see what we can do!”
2021 Record: 4-10 2021 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Adilson Galvao
After graduating the program’s all-time leading scorer Alana Tavares, Taunton will head into a new season with a new coach and a lineup filled with new faces in hopes of getting the Tigers back into the postseason. First-year coach Adilson Galvao is hoping that his seniors will provide leadership for a young crew that is looking to continue Taunton’s being competitive across the Hock.
Taunton will turn to a core of returning players that the Tigers hope will make new connections and keep the attack flowing. Sophomore Cali Melo is a quick, athletic player that they are hoping has taken a leap this spring. Senior Aria Cordero, Samantha Crowley, and Sarah Clark will give the team a lot of experience on both ends of the field.
In addition to the returning players, Taunton has a few new faces that will be looking to make a quick impression at the varsity level. Melissa Jesus will step into goal this year after playing on JV last year, while Alanna DeJesus and Maddison Szala have both stood out in the preseason.
2022 Hockomock League Girls Lacrosse Preview
“The team has a mix of new and young faces that look poised to get better as the season progresses and lineups get figured out to maximize our potential,” Galvao said. “Our seniors on the team have been doing a great job leading practices and getting the team ready for this year.”
Baseball
Taunton @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:45 at Taunton High.
Attleboro @ Franklin – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ Milford – Postponed to Wednesday, 6/16 at 3:45.
Softball
Franklin @ Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ Stoughton – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:45.
Boys Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 7 @ Canton, 12 – Final – Canton increased its lead throughout the game and pulled away from Oliver Ames to clinch a share of the Davenport division title. Tied 1-1 after the first quarter, the Bulldogs built a 5-3 lead by halftime and pushed it to 9-6 after three quarters of action. For OA, sophomore Ben Reardon paced the offense with four goals while junior Wyatt Fritchman added a pair of goals and an assist. Sophomore Noah Isleib made 19 saves in the cage while Brendan Cross, Michael Branagan, Drew Nickla, and Landon Grothe played well defensively for the Tigers.
Franklin, 15 @ Billerica, 7 – Final – Franklin used a stellar defensive performance to pass one of its toughest tests of the season, allowing just two goals in the second half to secure a win on the road over Billerica. The Panthers pumped in five goals in the opening quarter and staked a 9-5 advantage at halftime. Jack Maguire had a strong game in net while Zach Harvey, Kyle Palmieri, and Ben Harvey all played well on close defense. Sophomore Luke Davis led the offense with eight points, scoring five goals to go along with three assists. Senior Matt Lazzaro added four goals and three assists while sophomore Jayden Consigli registered six assists in the win.
Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 14 @ Canton, 13 – Final (OT) – Oliver Ames senior Emma Pereira won the draw to start overtime and set up Catie Wilson for the game-winning goal nine seconds into overtime as the Tigers grabbed an overtime win on the road. Pereira and Hailey Bourne paced the offense for the Tigers while Georgia Costello was also a big factor in draw controls for OA. Taylor McAndrew had a big day defensively with five pass interceptions. Jess Widdop was one of the stars of the game for the Tigers, shining in net by making key saves throughout the contest.
Milford, 9 @ Taunton, 15 – Final – Taunton senior Alana Tavares had a hand in 11 of the Tigers’ goals and Tasia Lajoie was involved in six to help the hosts split the season series against visiting Milford. Tavares scored a team-high eight goals and added three assists while Lajoie found the back of the net five times with one helper. Freshmen Cali Melo and Jillian Emond each scored once in the win, senior Rosemary McGrath added an assist and junior Emily Gannon turned away 10 shots.
Boys Tennis
Franklin @ Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:45.
Girls Tennis
Oliver Ames @ Canton – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/15 at 3:45 at Oliver Ames.
North Attleboro @ Sharon – Match canceled. Teams play at North Attleboro on Tuesday at 3:45.
Wrestling
North Attleboro @ King Philip, 5:00
Milford @ Mansfield, 6:00
Canton, 27 @ Sharon, 49 – Final
Foxboro, 36 @ Franklin, 30 – Final
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 vs. Durfee, 0 – Final – Taunton defended home court with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-11, 25-16) to clinch the South Alliance League championship, finishing the regular season at 16-1. Senior Tyler Stewart registered 10 kills and seven blocks, Mattia Casagrande added nine kills and a pair of aces, Faisal Mass chipped in with four kills, and Jakob Thorpe had three kills, two aces, and a block to round out a well-balanced attack. Daniel Medina (two blocks) had 15 assists in the win while Travis Nunes anchored the defensive side of the ball.
Baseball
North Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – North Attleboro senior Dennis Colleran tossed a complete game one-hitter to help the Rocketeers earn a split with the Tigers on the season. Colleran allowed a total of three baserunners with a walk and one batter hit by a pitch but struck out 11 in the win. North scored one run in each the first and second innings, OA halved the deficit with a run in the third, but the Rocketeers scored twice in the fifth and added another insurance run in the seventh. Sophomore Derek Maceda had three hits, including a triple that he eventually scored on a single by Tyler Bannon in the seventh. Evan Vigorito knocked in three runs, driving in two of those with a triple in the fifth while Aidan Weir had an RBI single in the second.
Mansfield, 4 @ King Philip, 7 – Final – Mansfield took the lead with a run in the top of the third but King Philip responded in a big way, plating six runs in the bottom half and never looked back to earn head coach Jeff Plympton his first career win. Senior Conor Cooke collected two of his three RBI in the third with a base hit, adding another with a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Sophomore Tommy Martarano also drove in two runs in the big third inning while Mikey Malatesta and Nick Viscusi each had one RBI. Sophomore Rudy Gately earned the win, allowing just one run through six innings before Mansfield tried to mount a last-inning comeback. Jack Mullen came in and struck out two to close the door. Luke Urban (RBI) and Eric Sullivan (two RBI, run) each registered a pair of hits for Mansfield.
Softball
Franklin, 16 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Franklin’s offense stayed hot and got contributions throughout the lineup in a win on the road at Milford. Senior Gabby Colace had three hits, including a home run, while driving in three runs and scoring four times to pace the Panthers. Freshman Carly Johnson-Pellegri (two hits) also had a home run with three RBI, Georgia Harvey drove in four runs on three hits, and Lauren Cote had two hits and three RBI for Franklin. Aislinn Lavery, who added two hits and an RBI, struck out five in six innings of work.
Boys Lacrosse
Canton, 16 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Foxboro, 14 @ Sharon, 8 – Final – Foxboro had a strong first half, outscoring the Eagles 7-0 and never looked back to get the win in the first meeting of the two teams. For the Eagles, Drew Litner, Jace Neatler, and Brady Daylor each scored a pair of goals while Ben Shocket won 18-of-26 faceoffs. Adam Rabb made 12 saves in net for Sharon.
Franklin, 19 @ Milford, 0 – Final
King Philip @ Mansfield, 3:45
Oliver Ames, 3 @ North Attleboro, 13 – Final – For Oliver Ames, sophomore Ben Reardon had a goal and two helpers, Ben Cohen scored his first career goal, and Wes Tower found the back of the net once.
Girls Lacrosse
Taunton, 11 @ Attleboro, 7 – Final – Taunton senior Alana Tavares found the back of the net eight times to help the Tigers score a win on the road. In their second win over the Bombardiers this week, Taunton also got two goals from Tasia Lajoie (one assist) and one from freshman Cali Melo. Emily Gannon made eight saves in net for Taunton.
Sharon, 4 @ Foxboro, 19 – Final – Tess Letendre had a great game in goal for the Eagles, making 15 saves. Jenna Goldstein scored three of Sharon’s four goals. Athena Merck had the fourth, assisted by Molly McAlevey.
Milford, 3 @ Franklin, 20 – Final – Sydney Hawkins and Riley Cross each registered their first goals of the season for the Panthers while Brigid Earley made six saves in net.
Mansfield, 1 @ King Philip, 12 – Final – King Philip raced out to an 8-0 lead by halftime and never looked back in a win over visiting Mansfield. Julia Marsden and Haley Izydorczak each scored a hat trick to pace the Warriors’ offense, Peyton Mellman and Lily Brown each scored twice, and Ally Donovan and Morgan Cunningham (assist) each found the back of the net once. Emily Campbell turned aside eight shots to get the win in net for KP.
North Attleboro, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final – Oliver Ames scored twice in the final 30 seconds to steal a win away from North Attleboro. Emma Pereira set up both goals, coming up with a loose ball in her own half before finding Emma Sharkansky, who quickly dished off to Catie Wilson for a goal with 12 seconds left to make it 11-11. Pereira won the ensuing draw for the Tigers, sprinted up the field and passed to Sharkansky who ripped a quick shot in for the game-winner with three seconds to go. Head coach Gen Rogan praised the defensive work of Taylor McAndrew, Emilee Nuss, and goalie Emma O’Donnell.
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ Quincy, 0 – Final – Taunton continued its unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-16, 26-17) on the road at Quincy. Daniel Medina had a strong game distributing the ball offensively, dishing out 33 assists to go along with three aces. Jakob Thorpe put down 10 kills for the Tigers while Tyler Stewart had another strong all around game with 18 kills, nine digs, and a pair of blocks. Mattia Casagrande (nine digs) and Travis Nunes (seven digs) both played well defensively and in serve receive for the Tigers.
Boys Soccer
Sharon, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Sharon senior Michael Baur headed in a corner kick from classmate Brian Higgins in the 78th minute to deliver a win for the Eagles.
Girls Soccer
Oliver Ames, 6 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames freshman Catie Wilson scored a brace in a two-minute span midway through the first half to spark the Tigers to a road win. Senior Erin Holmberg (assist), senior Abby Hodges, junior Emma Pereira, and sophomore Allison Evin (assists) also scored for Oliver Ames. Seniors Olivia Carroll and Leah Johnson had strong games for the Tigers while sophomores Emily Meyers and Maisy Hakimdin combined for the shutout in net.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – North scored twice in the second half to break open a scoreless game and pick up the road win. Twelve minutes after the break, Alex Moulson’s shot was deflected to Ari Rice at the far post and she knocked it in for the eventual game-winner. Twelve minutes from full time, North sealed the win when Steph McKenna’s through ball found Olivia Wills, who slotted it past the keeper. Regan Fein earned her third clean sheet of the season for the Rocketeers, while North coach Bill Wallace said Colette Petit, Abi Slaney, Lily Cameron all played inspired for North.
Boys Cross Country
Attleboro, 33 @ Mansfield, 23 – Final – Mansfield’s Michael and Owen Mullahy took first and second, respectively, to lead the Hornets to a win over Attleboro in the season opener. Michael Mullahy won the race in 17:07 with Owen finishing just one second later at 17:08. The Hornets also got top five finishes from Benjamin Giffen (fourth, 17:50) and Collin Stevens (fifth, 17:55). Attleboro’s Nathan Seybert was the top finisher for the Bombardiers, taking third overall in 17:32.
Results: 1. Michael Mullahy, Mans (17:07) 2. Owen Mullahy, Mans (17:08) 3. Nathan Seybert, Att (17:32) 4. Ben Giffen, Mans (17:50) 5. Collin Stevens, Mans (17:55) 6. Francis Wenner, Att (17:56) 7. Ethan Sylvia, Att (18:00) 8. Neil Bowie, Att (18:10) 9. Zach Martin, Att (18:34) 10. S. Cataloni, Att (18:43)
Canton, 26 @ Foxboro, 31 – Final – Results: 1. Ryan Proulx, Fox (16:36) 3. Nate Palter, Fox (18:51) 6. Jake Parkman, Fox (19:32) 10. Nicolas Olson (20:04)
Franklin, 25 @ King Philip, 34 – Final – King Philip had two of the top three runners but Franklin had four of the top six finishers to pick up a win on the road over the Warriors. KP’s Mike Griffin (14:34) won the race with Mike Norberg (14:51) taking third place. Franklin’s Tyler Brogan was second overall while Nicholas Calitri, Camden Harrington, and Declan Walmsey all scored key points for the Panthers.
Results: 1. Mike Griffin, KP (14:34) 2. Tyler Brogan, Frank (14:51) 3. Mike Norberg, KP (14:51) 4. Nicholas Calitri, Frank (15:12) 5. Camden Harrington, Frank (15:50) 6. Declan Walmsey, Frank (16:03) 7. Dan Botte, KP (16:04) 8. Clancy Golden, Frank (16:39) 9. Griffin Sieczkiewicz, Frank (16:45) 10. Joseph Zercie, Frank (16:48)
Milford, 33 @ Sharon, 26 – Final – Depth was the key for the Eagles in their season opener as Sharon took second, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth to earn a win over the visiting Hawks. Milford’s Max Manor crossed first in 15:22 but the Eagles’ Mark Starovoytov took second while Bradley Weiss and Jordan Saks grabbed key points by finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
Results: 1. Max Manor, Mil (15:22) 2. Mark Starovoytov, Shar (15:51) 3. Liam Bennet, Mil (15:56) 4. Bradley Weiss, Shar (16:00) 5. Jordan Saks, Shar (16:07) 6. James Comisky, Mil (16:15) 7. James Kong, Shar (16:20) 8. Jacob Dubin, Shar (16:21) 9. Siddhath Reddy, Shar (16:25) 10. Balint Mihajlovits, Shar (16:41)
North Attleboro @ Stoughton, 3:45
Oliver Ames @ Taunton, 3:45
Girls Cross Country
Attleboro, 36 @ Mansfield, 23 – Final – Mansfield’s depth was on full display in its season opener. Tessa Lancaster set a new home course PR, clocking in at 20:23 to win the race. Mansfield took fourth through seventh and added two more top 10 finishes to beat Attleboro. Attleboro’s Kelly Neuendorf was the top runner for the Bombardiers, taking second play in 21:16.
Results: 1. Tessa Lancaster, Mans (20:23) 2. Kelly Neunendorf, Att (21:16) 3. Kimberly Esteban, Att (21:33) 4. Jessica Alestock, Mans (22:03) 5. Emma Lamson, Mans (22:21) 6. Anne Riley, Mans (23:15) 7. Devin Anderson, Mans (24:35) 8. Morgan Coleman, Att (24:36) 9. Alexis Divasta, Mans (25:11) 10. Grace Benton, Mans (25:40)
Canton, 34 @ Foxboro, 23 – Final– Results: 1. Abby Hassman, Fox (19:57) 2. Jenn Yeomans, Fox (21:35) 5. Emily Steele, Fox (22:24) 7. Isabel Hallal, Fox (22:58) 8. Mabel Linck, Fox (23:20) 10. Sophia Sougaris, Fox (23:52)
Franklin, 26 @ King Philip, 33 – Final – Franklin had seven of the top 10 runners, including seventh through 10th, to edge King Philip for the win. Sidney Hawkins was second while Sarah Giuliano and Caitlin Casey were fourth and fifth, respectively, to grab key points for Franklin. King Philip’s Maya Evans won the race in 18:57.
Results: 1. Maya Evans, KP (18:57) 2. Sidney Hawkins, Frank (19:10) 3. Ava Pisani, KP (19:16) 4. Sarah Giuliano, Frank (19:18) 5. Caitlin Casey, Frank (19:25) 6. Meg Sherwood, KP (20:00) 7. Charlene Peng, Frank (20:32) 8. Ruth Ann Mulvey, Frank (20:37) 9. Emma Nelson, Frank (20:40) 10. Liliana Duffy, Frank (20:41)
Milford, 33 @ Sharon, 23 – Final – Sharon took the first three spots to open the season with a win over visiting Sharon. Daphne Theiler won the race for the Eagles in 18:13 while Eliana Boxerman (18:14) and Juliana Dudziak (18:15) followed right after in second and third, respectively. Milford’s Emma Lawrence was the top runner for the Hawks with a fourth place finish.
Results: 1. Daphne Theiler, Shar (18:13) 2. Eliana Boxerman, Shar (18:14) 3. Juliana Dudziak, Shar (18:15) 4. Emma Lawrence, Mil (18:26) 5. Sara Comisky, Mil (19:14) 6. Lexi Marcolini, Mil (19:39) 7. Kerry O’Connor, Mil (19:43) 8. Margaret Li, Shar (20:38) 9. Kavya Anbarasu, Shar (21:29) 10. Sierra Robison, Shar (21:33)
North Attleboro @ Stoughton, 3:45
Oliver Ames, 30 @ Taunton, 25 – Final – Oliver Ames had the top two runners in the race but the next five to cross the finish line were Tigers from Taunton High to secure the win for the home team. Junior Lily Valcovic (21:21) was third, sophomore Nia Mainer-Smith (21:40) was third, and senior Kailey Melito-Santos (21:49) was fifth overall.
Golf
Attleboro, 176 @ Mansfield, 154 – Final – Jason See carded a low-round of 36 to earn match medalist honors and lead the Hornets to a win over visiting Attleboro at Norton Country Club. Nate Morreale added a 38 for Mansfield while Joseph Gormley finished with a 39 and Ryan Dow carded a 41. Attleboro’s Jack Handy led the Bombardiers with a 39 while Brendan Raymond added a round of 41.
Sharon, 171 @ North Attleboro, 161 – Final – North Attleboro junior Sam Gallagher was the lone golfer to shoot under 40 on the day, carding a low-round of 39 to lead the Rocketeers to a win over Sharon. Aidan Weir added a 40 for North while both Jillian Barend and Justin Strom shot 41. Andrew Glaser led the Eagles with a 40, Eric Carter added a 41, and Nathan Daley finished with a 42.
Stoughton, 188 @ Franklin, 156 – Final – Franklin’s Pat Dolan had his best outing of the season, shooting a low round of 37 to earn match medalists honors and lead the Panthers to a win over Stoughton. Jack Paterson followed with a 38, Quinten Faro added a 40, and Jake Blaney shot a 41 for the Panthers. Stoughton’s Max Huminik and Joe Mark each shot a 45.
Game of the Week – Football
North Attleboro, 7 @ King Philip, 25 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (NA) Tyler DeMattio 9-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good.
2nd Quarter: (KP) Robbie Jarest 54-yard pass to Alex Behling, XP no good.
3rd Quarter: (KP) R. Jarest 20-yard pass to A. Behling, Conversion no good.
4th Quarter: (KP) Ryan Halliday 3-yard rush, Conversion no good; (KP) R. Halliday 27-yard rush, Dylan Conti XP good.
Football
Canton, 28 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 7 – Final 1st Quarter: (C) Kyle Fitzgerald 7 yard rush, Owen Lehane XP good; (C) Johnny Hagan 37 yard pass to David Allen, O. Lehane XP good.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (C) K. Fitzgerald 20 yard rush, O. Lehane XP good.
4th Quarter: (C) Gersom Rivera 4 yard rush, O. Lehane XP good; (DR) Jared Ramos 1 yard rush, Adam Peirera XP good.
Mansfield, 31 vs. BC High, 10 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (M) Cincere Gill 29 yard rush, Michael DeBolt XP good; (BCH) Cormac Kennelly 25 yard field goal good.
2nd Quarter: (M) M. DeBolt 26 yard field goal good.
3rd Quarter: (M) C. Gill 64 yard rush, M. DeBolt XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Jack Moussette 48 yard pass to M. DeBolt, M. DeBolt XP good; (BCH) Bobby Wiesenhahn 34 yard pass to Louis Timmins, C. Kennelly XP good; (M) M. DeBolt 79 yard rush, M. DeBolt XP good.
Sharon, 14 vs. Nauset, 33 – Final
Taunton, 13 vs. New Bedford, 24 – Final
Boys Soccer
Mansfield, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro senior Dylan Barreira converted a penalty kick in the first half for the goal of the game.
Taunton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – North Attleboro’s James Sales scored on a penalty kick in the 5th minute to give the Rocketeers two points in their season opener. Taunton’s Colton Madeira, Riley Rebello, and Shane Froio played well defensively in front of Nolan Melo (seven saves).
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Junior Colin Milliken picked up where he left off last season, scoring twice and adding one assist to lead the Tigers to a win on the road. Senior Nick Farley netted his first career goal and assist in the win for the Tigers, who also got goals from Jimmy Keane and freshman Hector Bucio. Ben Cohen and Dillon Cupples each had assists.
Girls Soccer
Canton, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Briley Harnois scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with nine minutes left to play, helping Attleboro start the season with a victory. Kat Dennehy scored the first goal for the Bombardiers. Ashley Macia played well in goal, according to head coach Steve Santos, who called the win a “great team effort.”
Foxboro, 2 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Jordyn Collins scored a second half brace to lift the Warriors to a win in the battle of last season’s league champions. Foxboro dominated the ball throughout the game, holding the Hornets without a shot on goal. Collins hit the post in the first half, but opened the scoring 12 minutes after the break when she was played through by sophomore Jordan Carman. In the final minutes, Collins wrapped up the points when Lizzy Davis hit a free kick from inside her own half that was allowed to bounce just outside the Mansfield penalty area. Collins outran two defenders and slipped a shot inside the post.
Milford, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Despite Milford controlling large portions of the game and pressured the Panthers, goals by Sydney St. Marie and Stella Regan (assisted by Carly Alston) lifted the hosts to a win in the season opener.
Sharon, 0 @ King Philip, 9 – Final
North Attleboro, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Alex Moulson scored twice and assisted on the other two goals to lead the Rocketeers to a division win. Moulson opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a free kick and then she doubled the lead on an assist by Ari Rice. Abi Slaney scored a second half goal off a Moulson corner and the Olivia Wills followed suit minutes later. Regan Fein held a clean sheet for 70 minutes and Caitlin Echeverri finished the final 10 minutes. North coach Bill Wallace said that Lily Cameron, Steph McKenna, and Alex Hardy were strong in North’s transition game and Lydia Hershey and Collette Petit were strong in the back line.
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Stoughton scored first but Oliver Ames knotted the score before halftime and scored six straight to get the win. Freshman Jenna Gilman scored four goals for the Tigers while Erin Holmberg (assist) scored twice. Allison Evin, Katie Gibson, Catie Wilson, and Cam O’Connor each had an assist for OA. Stoughton freshman Shayla Ford put the Black Knights ahead before OA cashed in with a flurry of goals before half. Freshman Emma Tremblay had a strong game defensively for Stoughton, Mackenzie Manning was strong in center mid, and senior Briana Buckley played well in net.
Field Hockey
Canton, 1 @ Norwood, 2 – Final
Golf
North Attleboro, 171 @ Foxboro, 169 – Final – Foxboro’s Dylan Quinn carded six pars, finishing with a team-low round of 41 to lead the Warriors to a close win over North. Matt Fosella (four pars) added a 42 while Noah Hicks (two pars) and Matt Lathrop (three pars) both shot 43. North Attleboro’s Jillian Barend was the match medalist, shooting a low round of 40.
