Tag: Chris Tocci
2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars
Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Mathias Taylor, Oliver Ames
Hockomock League All Stars
Cashel Stuger, Attleboro
Alex Vecchioli, Attleboro
Esvin Morales, Attleboro
Jake McCabe, Canton
Dylan Baird, Canton
Erik Valdovinos, Canton
Sean McCarthy, King Philip
Terry O’Neill, Franklin
Aidan Griffith, Franklin
Rex Cinelli, Franklin
Matthew Angelini, Foxboro
Derek Axon, Foxboro
Matthew Hyland, Mansfield
Dylan Buchanan, Mansfield
Jack Lasbury-Casey, Mansfield
Chris Tocci, Milford
Nick Ribeiro, Milford
Eduardo Santana, Milford
Brody Rosenberg, North Attleboro
Connor Ward, North Attleboro
Casey Milliken, Oliver Ames
Clide Neau, Oliver Ames
Michael Haikal, Oliver Ames
Rhys Davis, Sharon
Riley Rebello, Taunton
Honorable Mentions
Chris Russo, Attleboro
Zach Dowling, Canton
Jorge Sanchez, Foxboro
Jack Moran, Franklin
John Pfeiffer, King Philip
Michael Caridi, Mansfield
Kevin Gomes, Milford
Carson Dameron, North Attleboro
Hector Bucio, Oliver Ames
Brady Daylor, Sharon
Wenderson Silva de Souza, Stoughton
Conal Scully, Taunton
Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 
Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/28/21
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield ended the regular season on a high note, knocking off Attleboro in a well-played game by two evenly matched sides. The lone goal of the game came in the 9th minute of the game when Danny Rowe finished off a flicked on header by Liam Anastasia. Michael Caridi had the throw-in to get the sequence started. Caridi, Dylan Buchanan, Kevin McCarthy, and Ian Leeds played well defensively in front of Jack Lasbury-Casey, who made nine saves for his eighth shutout of the year.
Milford, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Milford junior Arthur Tome bagged a first half brace as the Scarlet Hawks claimed sole possession of the Kelley-Rex division title with a win over Taunton. Eduardo Santana earned a penalty kick and Tome buried it, and then Santana got an assist to set up Tome for a 2-0 led. Chris Tocci added to the lead with a goal in the second half, finishing off a feed from Nick Ribeiro.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames finally solved the puzzle that was the North Attleboro defense, scoring the lone goal of the game with less than five minutes left to play. The Rocketeers denied the Tigers throughout the game with a defensive-minded approach but OA freshman Casey Milliken finished off a pass from Antonio Fernandes to help the hosts earn two points in OA’s season finale. North Attleboro will finish its regular season on Saturday against Attleboro in the annual Leach & Garner Cup.
Sharon, 4 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Girls Soccer
Mansfield, 1 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Mansfield and Attleboro traded first half goals and finished in a draw. With the point, the Bombardiers clinched a return to the postseason for the first time since 2014. Kara Santos opened the scoring, finishing a corner kick from Tarynn Smith midway through the first half. About 11 minutes later, Attleboro equalized to seal a critical point.
Taunton @ Milford, 6:00
Field Hockey
Mansfield, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final
Canton, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final
King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Franklin finally broke through a stingy King Philip defense just over a minute into the second half and added a late insurance goal to get the win. The Panthers clinched the Kelley-Rex division title outright with the victory at home. Freshman Raena Crandall scored an unassisted goal 68 seconds into the third quarter while freshman Haley Wernig doubled the lead with less than five minutes to play in the fourth quarter. Sophia Cuneo, Emily Carney, Kaeley Dubriske all played well for the Panthers. KP sophomore Kelly Holmes had an outstanding game, nearly scoring on a pair of occasions. Seniors Margo Riley, Haley Izydorczak, and Lily Brown also played well for the Warriors while junior Haley Bright recorded 10 saves.
Taunton, 2 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Taunton scored once in each half to grab a win on the road over Milford, sweeping the season series with the Hawks. Junior Caelyn O’Leary put the visitors out in front off an assist from senior Kylie Thorpe and the Tigers took that 1-0 lead into the halftime break. Ashley Amaro scored an unassisted goal in the second half to double Taunton’s lead while Em Gannon recorded the shutout in net for the Tigers.
Oliver Ames, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game.
Stoughton, 2 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Sydney Menz and Mia Allie each scored once as Stoughton went on the road and picked up two points with a victory over the Eagles. Stephanie Costeria and Sarah Horner combined to earn the shutout and win in net for the Black Knights while Jane Hendrixson played well for Sharon.
Volleyball
Mansfield, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – While it looked like Attleboro was going to make the playoffs based on their latest ranking, the Bombardiers made sure they were headed to the postseason for the first time since 2008 by scoring an upset over Mansfield, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-11, 25-23). Attleboro earned its ninth win of the season, securing a .500 record which is an automatic qualifier for the playoffs.In the win, Natalie Brojek dished out 29 assists and had a strong showing at the service line with nine aces. Lilly Boedeker (10 digs) and Julia Leonardo (eight digs, 15 kills) anchored the defense for the hosts.
Canton, 3 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Canton capped off its league schedule with a sweep on the road over Foxboro, taking a 3-0 verdict (25-14, 25-15, 25-18). It was another great team effort for the Bulldogs, led by Amaiah Christian with three kills, two blocks, two digs, and an ace. Jess Vo played great defense in her first varsity start while Zoe Scibelli also had a great defensive match.
King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Click here for a recap and a photo gallery of this match.
Taunton, 0 @ Milford, 3 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames entered Thursday’s match already having earned no less than a share of the Davenport division title, but the Tigers didn’t want to share. OA won the title outright for the first time with a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-15, 25-18) of North Attleboro, avenging a loss to the Rocketeers from earlier this season. Sophomore Sarah Hilliard put down 18 kills and added 16 digs in the win, senior Hadley Rhodes recorded 26 assists, senior Kelli Crowley added four blocks, and senior Amanda Barth chipped in with seven aces.
Stoughton @ Sharon, 6:30
Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/20/21
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Taunton, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro turned three services into the area into three goals to pick up a win over visiting Taunton. The Bombardiers opened the scoring just over the midway point of the first half and doubled the advantage just seconds before the break. Sophomore Luke Hagopian’s cross from the right side popped free in the area and classmate Alex Vecchioli was first to it, smashing in a volley from in close. In the 40th minute, Esvin Morales whipped in a free kick from near the corner flag and senior Connor Adema one-timed a shot past the keeper. In the 52nd minute, a free kick from Cashel Stuger was not cleared and senior Liam Bischoff buried the loose ball into the open net to make it 3-0.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Canton exploded for three goals in the second half to pull away North Attleboro, snapping the Rocketeers’ three-game win streak while extending their own unbeaten run to seven games. Jacob Crugnale put the hosts ahead in the first half and Jake McCabe scored twice and had an assist in the second half for the Bulldogs. Dylan Baird capped the scoring for Canton.
Sharon, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro scored on a penalty kick midway through the second half to get a win over Sharon. The Warriors built out of the back to earn their chance from the spot. Cam Barreira played Alex Penders near midfield, and the junior played senior Jacob Tessier into space on the right side. Tessier carried the ball forward before sending a service to Matt Angelini, who was taken down right near the spot after taking his first touch. Angelini buried the penalty kick just under the crossbar for the lone goal of the game. Derek Axon recorded the shutout in net for Foxboro.
Franklin, 1 @ Xaverian, 0 – Final – A pair of seniors linked up for the game-winning goal as Franklin swept the season series with Xaverian, pushing their win streak to four straight. Senior Jacob Crisileo set up classmate Jack Moran for the lone goal in the 59th minute.
King Philip, 0 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Milford finally solved King Philip, pumping in a pair of goals inside the final 10 minutes to get two points at home. After over an hour of scoreless play, the Hawks struck on a free kick in the 70th minute. Bill Silva set up Chris Tocci as the Hawks finally broke through for a 1-0 lead. With under two minutes to go, Arthur Tome assisted Eduardo Santana on a goal that made it 2-0. Milford head coach Antonio Pinto praised the effort of his defense, which posted its third straight shutout.
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 10 – Final – After being shutout for the first two times this season, Oliver Ames’ offense exploded for its best output of the season in a win over visiting Stoughton. Senior Hector Bucio recorded a hat trick to pace the offense while freshmen Andrew Martins and Casey Milliken (two assists) each had a brace.Ryan Linhares, Raphael Vache, and John Dobbin each scored once in the win while senior Mathias Taylor had four assists.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Bethany Alves scored with nine minutes to play to lift Attleboro to a big road win that moves the Bombardiers within two points of clinching a playoff spot with three games to go. Kacey Parker opened the scoring for Attleboro inside the first minute. Jamie Davies added a second on an assist by Emily Dunlea. Taunton hung around, battling back into the game, but with nine minutes on the clock Dunlea played a great through ball to Alves for the game-winner.
Canton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Canton and North played to a scoreless draw, leaving both teams chasing points in the final week of the season to clinch a playoff spot. North’s defensive unit of Meghan Dowd, Carli Guertin, Summer Doherty, and Charlotte Moynihan played well in front of keeper Maddie Ferrin to earn the clean sheet. Brayden Rice, Autumn Hewitt, and Sophia Capriotti also had good games in midfield, while Caroline Ferrin had a goal taken off the board late in the first half.
Foxboro, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Jordan Carman scored twice and assisted on two others, powering Foxboro to 13th straight game unbeaten. Neve Taylor also had a brace, while Erin Foley and and Rebecca Foley each scored once. Erin Foley also assisted on three goals and Lindsey Resnick added one helper. Sharon was missing a couple of its starters, but a strong game from Amber Marcus-Blank, who was tasked with marking Kailee McCabe.
Franklin, 3 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – KP scored one early in the first half and one late in the second half to secure a win that keeps the Warriors within two points of league-leading Franklin. Ella Pisani got the opener after 11 minutes when she took a pass from Sarah Harper 25 yards from goal and put it into the top right corner. Harper sealed the win in the second half off a pass from Kylie Anderson. Dani Gresham and Eilish McGowen played well in the KP midfield.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Kyla Melton, Lauren Sellmayer and Mary Cross each scored once as Oliver Ames improved to 12-1-1 on the season. Lucinda Li Cotter recorded a pair of assists while Emily Meyers had the shutout for the Tigers. Shayla Ford played well again for the Black Knights in multiple roles, while Bianca Casna gave Stoughton a good outlet up top and Sophia Lally was strong at the back in her one-on-one battles.
Milford Extends Unbeaten Streak With Win Over Attleboro
MILFORD, Mass. – The Milford boys soccer team entered the season with hopes of winning a fourth straight division title, but after a slow start, the Hawks found themselves on the outside looking in.
But after losing three of its first five games, Milford has completely turned it around and is now the hottest team in the Hockomock League. The Hawks pushed their unbeaten streak to nine and winning streak to five with a 2-0 blanking of Attleboro on Monday afternoon and now sit in first place with three games to go.
“Hard work and unity,” Milford head coach Antonio Pinto said of what has changed since the beginning of the season. “The kids didn’t give up on each other. Especially when we were 0-2, we have really good leaders on this team that rallied everyone together. We have four great captains and even guys that aren’t captains, they pulled everyone together.”
The streak starting with a shutout win over North Attleboro on September 27th, continued with three straight draws, and now the Hawks have won five straight games, including back-to-back wins over Mansfield and Attleboro — the former the team just two points behind in the standings and the latter just three points behind.
“On the field, everything has improved,” Pinto said. “We knew we’d be a competitive team, we didn’t expect to dominate but we want to compete with every team in the state. We’re ready to play no matter who the opponent is. As a whole, even after the first results, we kept our heads.”
Milford boys soccer
Milford applied pressure right out of the gate, registering their first goal-scoring chance just over five minutes in. The Hawks cashed in twice in the opening 40 minutes and senior goalie Kevin Gomes came up with a trio of terrific saves to earn the shutout in net.
The teams traded chances in the first half but it was the hosts who took advantage of their opportunities.
Avi Seri connected with Eduardo Santana with a pass out of the back and Santana turned and played a diagonal ball through to John Borges but Attleboro sophomore keeper Tyler Rocchio reacted well off his line, coming up with his first of many big saves to deny Milford.
Attleboro came back down the other way just three minutes later as sophomore Alex Vecchioli played a nice ball in for Liam Bischoff but Milford senior defender Chris Tocci did well to deny any chance.
Bill Silva launched a ball down the left sideline for Arthur Tome, who was able to go at the defender one-on-one and was fouled in the box as he cut towards the touchline. Tocci stepped up and buried a low shot to the keeper’s right for a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.
It looked like the Bombardiers would pull level just two minutes later as Vecchioli, known for his left foot, unleashed a blast from distance off his right foot but Gomes made a terrific leaping one-handed parry over the bar to preserve the lead.
Eight minutes later it was Milford’s turn for a big chance. Junior Nick Ribeiro played a service into the area that was misplayed by the defense, giving Santana an open look from in close but his shot was right at Roccio, who did a nice job to hold on and prevent any rebound opportunity.
Attleboro senior Esvin Morales looked to pull even with what has become a signature move of his. With an attacking free kick about 25 yards out, Morales — who has scored twice doing this — shot it quickly before the wall was set but Gomes was quick to react and made a diving save to keep it out. On the ensuing corner, Vecchioli’s header was gobbled up by Gomes.
Milford doubled its lead with less than five minutes to play in the opening half. The play started in their own defensive third as senior Alex Siqueira played it quickly to classmate Christian Dinis on the right way. Dinis went central to Tome, who played a ball through behind the defense to Dylan Borr and the junior tucked away his low shot past the oncoming charging keeper into the far post for a 2-0 lead.
The first 20 minutes of the second half was mostly played between the boxes but with time at a premium and facing a two-goal deficit, Attleboro started to push more numbers forward to try and create chances.
Morales dropped a free kick in the area in the 58th that fell to Chris Russo but the senior didn’t get enough on his shot and it went wide. Two minutes later, Vecchioli curved a free kick around the wall but Gomes made a terrific diving save to keep it out.
The chances continued in the 62nd minute when Vecchioli kept the ball in play down the left flank and centered for Kyle Neuendorf but Seri came through with a key intervention to deny a chance.
“I always have a lot of confidence in our back line,” Pinto said. “Sometimes they scare me a little because they can take a few too many touches, they’ll take it past players…but at the end of the day, they get it done, they get their job done.
“And Kevin is an extraordinary keeper, made two or three great saves. [Vecchioli] can hit with both feet and had two great shots from outside and Kevin came up with a save each time. And props to their keeper [Rocchio] too, he made some great saves too.”
Attleboro’s Toby Smith made a great hustle play to keep the deficit at two in the 65th minute. Ribeiro connected with Dinis, who made a nice run out the back, but Smith came across the field to intercept the play and clear.
Junior Lucas Marques held possession in the attacking third, switching the play to the right side for a service from Neuendorf that was met by a header from Yianni Skordas but the shot was just off target.
“We worked hard in the second half,” said Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira. “They got their breaks and they capitalized in the first half. Unfortunately a penalty, that can throw a team off a little bit. And then they got a late goal in the first half, that was a dagger. It took us a while to get going in the second half, [Milford] has great ball possession, which is difficult to try and take it away.
“The last 20 minutes we pushed some people up to create some breaks and their goalie made some good saves. [Rocchio] made some good ones too. We knew it was going to be a battle but they played a little bit better soccer than we did.”
Milford boys soccer
Milford controls its own destiny with three of its four final games against division foes, and two of those games are at home. But even with a two-point lead entering the final stretch, Pinto says the focus isn’t on another division title.
“These guys aren’t worried about a division title right now, they aren’t worried about the standings, they just come out each time ready to play,” Pinto said. “They love to play soccer and they treat each game like a final. Each game is as big as the one before it.”
Milford boys soccer (8-3-2 Hockomock, 9-3-2 overall) returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts King Philip. Attleboro (6-3-3, 6-4-3) will look to bounce back on the same day when it hosts Taunton.
Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/08/21
Today’s games are listed below.
Football
Attleboro, 22 @ King Philip, 30 – Final
1st Quarter: (KP) Rudy Gately, 2-yard rush, Matthew Kelley XP good.
2nd Quarter: (KP) Charlie Grant 7-yard pass to Will Astorino, M. Kelley XP good; (KP) Crawford Cantave 1-yard rush, XP failed.
3rd Quarter: (A) Kaiden Murray 3-yard rush, Anthony Salviati XP good; (KP) M. Kelley 23-yard field goal; (A) Logan Briggs 82-yard rush; Matt Harvie 2pt pass to L. Briggs.
4th Quarter: (KP) C. Grant 35-yard pass to Tom Brewster, M. Kelley XP good; (A) K. Murray 4-yard rush, A. Salviati XP good.
Oliver Ames, 12 @ Canton, 7 – Final
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (OA) Jake Grimaldi 2-yard rush, XP failed.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (OA) Collin Williamson 62-yard rush, 2pt failed; (C) Vincent O’Brien rush, Hayden Rose XP good.
Stoughton, 13 @ Foxboro, 49 – Final
1st Quarter: (F) Dylan Gordon 8-yard rush, Sam Carpenter XP good; (F) Tom Marcucella 42-yard pass to Rashaad Way, S. Carpenter XP good; (S) Anthony Girolamo 5-yard rush, Jonah Ly XP good; (F) D. Gordon 2-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) D. Gordon 36-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good; (F) D. Gordon 23-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good; (F) T. Marcucella 5-yard pass to Nick Medeiros, S. Carpenter XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) D. Gordon 90-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
4th Quarter: (S) B. Clark 1-yard rush, XP failed.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 35 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
1st Quarter: (F) Jared Arone 69-yard pass to Mack Gulla, Garrett Portesi XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) J. Arone 15-yard pass to Shane Kindred, G. Portesi XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) M. Gulla 56-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good; (F) M. Gulla 73-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good.
4th Quarter: (F) Jase Lyons 24-yard interception return, G. Portesi XP good.
Milford, 27 @ Mansfield, 24 – Final (OT)
1st Quarter: (Mil) Evan Cornelius 1-yard rush, Nick Araujo XP good.
2nd Quarter: (Mil) Tyler Lane 1-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (Mans) Drew Sacco 5-yard rush, James Gilleran XP good; (Mans) Conner Zukowski 1-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good.
3rd Quarter: (Mans) James Fichera 3-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good.
4th Quarter: (Mil) E. Cornelius 40-yard pass to Damien Carter, N. Araujo XP good.
Overtime: (Mans) J. Gilleran 30-yard field goal; (Mil) E. Cornelius 9-yard pass to D. Carter.
Sharon, 15 @ Martha’s Vineyard, 7 – Final (OT)
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (MV) Touchdown, XP good.
4th Quarter: (S) Gabe Korn 5-yard rush, Jace McCarron XP good.
Overtime: (S) G. Korn 3-yard rush, G. Korn 2pt rush good.
Boys Soccer
Franklin, 1 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Esvin Morales set up the tying goal and scored the game-winner just minutes later as the Bombardiers rallied to take a win over Franklin. With the win, Attleboro moves into a first place tie in the Kelley-Rex division with Mansfield. Franklin opened the scoring just before the half hour mark. Tyler Powderly used his speed to get down the right wing and play in a cross. The initial ball was cleared but only as far as junior Max Tobin, who one-timed it into the top corner to put the visitors ahead. Attleboro’s best chance of the first half came in the 17th minute when senior Yianni Skordas forced a turnover and pushed forward, centering to Morales. Morales cut back to evade a defender and the keeper but his shot on goal was denied by Franklin senior midfielder Terry O’Neill. In the second half, Cashel Stuger played the ball to Morales, who turned and played a ball over the top of the defense and sophomore Alex Vecchioli finished the half volley from a step inside the area to bring the hosts level. Four minutes later, after Franklin was whistled for a handball, Morales stepped over the ball and placed a shot on frame while the Panthers were setting up the wall and it just beat the diving keeper for the game-winner.
Milford, 2 vs. Hopedale, 0 – Final – Milford scored a pair of second half goals to earn a win over local rival Hopedale. John Borges had two assists for the Scarlet Hawks, setting up both goals. First, Borges found Eduardo Santana to put the hosts in front and then Borges assisted on a goal from Chris Tocci.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Senior Riley Fitzpatrick scored a pair of goals to lead the Panthers to a win at home over the visiting Bombardiers. Fitzpatrick had a beautiful header off a free kick from Norah Anderson and scored her other goal off a pass from Anya Zub. Zub had two assists in the win, setting up senior Stella Regan for the other Franklin goal.
Foxboro, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final
Sharon, 4 @ Milford, 5 – Final – Dani Atherton had a hat trick and an assist to lead Milford to a wild win over Sharon. It was Milford’s second win in the past three days. Paige Caldon added her second goal in as many games and Cailyn Paccico had one for the Hawks. The Eagles got two goals apiece from Wendy Wooden and Carly Pinnix. Olivia Soby had two assists and Sofia Goclowski had one for Sharon and Amber Marcus-Blank played well defensively.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 5 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Madison Ellis scored a hat trick to pace the Bombardiers to a big win on the road over Mansfield. Attleboro recevied a great defensive effort from Trinity Harrison and the Bombardiers transitioned from defense to offense smoothly due to the strong play of Jordan Croteau. Olivia Hillman had a strong game on the right side for the visitors and scored once.
Foxboro, 0 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Canton’s Ellie Bohane scored late in the fourth quarter to give the Bulldogs a win over Foxboro, stretching their unbeaten streak to eight. Bohane converted a pass from Sierra Abbott for the lone goal of the game while Carolyn Durand made key saves down the stretch to preserve the shutout.
Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Four different players found the back of the net, two from each team, and Oliver Ames and North Attleboro split the two points in a 2-2 draw. Tyla Delamere and Georgia Costello each scored for the Tigers while Julia Maclaine and Costello each had an assists. Caroline Rolan (from Emily Burnham) and Zoe McKeon scored for the Rocketeers.
Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Zofia Bangs scored the lone goal of the game as Stoughton picked up a win on Senior Night.
Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield earned a key division win in the form of a 3-0 sweep (25-15, 25-5, 25-15) over the visiting Bombardiers of Attleboro. Julia Kelly had a big game with 11 kills, five aces, and a pair of digs, Nicole Santos added seven aces and four kills, Lexie Scibilia chipped in with three kills, three blocks, and a pair of aces, and Christina Lydon and Izzy Flint combined for 21 assists. For Attleboro, Julia Leonardo recorded eight kills while Brianna Frissora had a great game at the net.
Foxboro, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton bounced back from a tough five-set loss to Westwood with a clean 3-0 sweep (25-8, 25-17, 25-22) over visiting Foxboro. Jess Wright continued to lead the offense for the Bulldogs with 12 kills and added eight digs. Taylor Reynold dished out 22 assists to go with six aces, Syd Gallery added five kills and two aces, and Anna Verille continued to shine defensively with 15 digs and two kills.
Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this match. – The battle between the top two teams in the Hockomock League lived up to the hype as King Philip rallied from a two-game deficit to stun Franklin, 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-23, 15-12). Sami Shore, Ahunna James, and Emily Sawyer all played well at the net for KP in the comeback win while Samantha Asprelli and Gianna DeLorenzo anchored the back row in the win. Sofia Riedel had a big day at the service line for KP with 11 service points and three aces. For Franklin, Brigid Earley (two blocks) and Taylor Lacerda (22 digs) each had 14 kills while Lindsey Tarantola added nine kills and eight blocks.
Milford, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – In an incredibly close match, Milford prevailed with a 3-2 win (27-25, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 15-11). For Taunton, Hayley Krockta and Mikayla Cleary each had 11 kills while Anna Abouzeid dished out 28 assists.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – In a match tighter than the final score shows, North Attleboro secured an important 3-0 win (25-22, 26-24, 25-20) win over Oliver Ames. For the Tigers, junior Maddie Homer recorded 25 digs, senior Hadley Rhodes dished out 26 assists to go along with five kills, sophomore Sarah Hilliard added 14 kills and 10 digs, and sophomore Claire O’Rourke chipped in with eight kills and three aces.
Golf
Attleboro vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 2:30
Foxboro, 157 @ Oliver Ames, 152 – Final – Oliver Ames earned its 10th win of the season by taking down Foxboro in a close match at Pine Oaks. Senior captain Jake Kaplan shot a medalist round of 35 to lead the way for the Tigers. Junior Michael McGinnis and sophomore Aden Ashley each shot a 39 to count for the scoring for the first time in their careers. Sophomore Lucas Riley and junior Daniel Paul both added a 40 in the win.
Sharon, 171 @ Canton, 147 – Final – Sophomore Mekhala Costello capped a tremendous week with another medalist round, this time a one-over par round of 35 to lead the Bulldogs to a big win at home over Sharon. The win clinches at least a share of the Davenport division title for Canton. Mike Loenetti added a 36 in the win, Conor Hunter chipped in with a 37, and Will Gefteas finished with a 39 for Canton. Eric Carter led the way for Sharon with a round of 41, Owen Kevorkian added a 42, and Nathan Daley, Noah Glassman, and James Spoto all shot a 44 for the Eagles.
Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/04/21
Today’s games are listed below. This post will be updated with any changes as they are submitted.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro @ Sharon – Postponed to TBA.
Mansfield @ Canton – Postponed to Thursday, 10/7 at 6:00.
Milford, 2 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Milford senior Chris Tocci converted a pair of penalty kicks to give the Hawks an important win on the road at Foxboro. The visitors took the lead in the first half after David Desa was taken down in the box and Tocci stepped up and buried his chance. Foxboro knotted the score at 1-1 when Matt Angelini scored in the second half but minutes later, John Borges was fouled by the keeper and Tocci scored from the spot once again.
Franklin, 5 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Five different players found the back of the net as Franklin had its best offensive showing of the season in a win at Stoughton. Jack Moran opened the scoring on a goal from Nelson Martinez while Will Krysak scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal on an assist from Terry O’Neill. Noah Cain, Gavin Scagliarini (from Connor Brown), and Andrew O’Neill (from Trey Lovell) also scored for the Panthers.
King Philip, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Oliver Ames came out of the games flying, scoring less than two minutes into the game, tacking on two more within the first 10 minutes, and riding a total of five first half goals to a win at home over King Philip. Hector Bucio headed in the opening goal in the 2nd minute, finishing off a cross from Ryan Linhares. OA doubled the lead two minutes later when freshman Casey Milliken got his first of the game on a pass from Clide Neau. Milliken then returned the favor in the 7th minute, connecting with Neau, who made it 3-0. Mathias Taylor (from Milliken) scored on a great shot from distance and Milliekn (from Neau) grabbed his second shortly before halftime. Milliken completed his hat trick on a feed from Linhares.
Taunton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – North Attleboro scored with just over 10 minutes to play and senior Brody Rosenberg made a pair of key defensive plays as the Rocketeers topped Taunton. Carson Dameron sprayed the ball wide to the right wing and Griffin Rhodes tracked down the loose ball. Rhodes’ looping cross was met at the near post by Givany Carney, who beat the keeper to the ball and his header went inside the near post in the 69th minute. Rosenberg had a goal line stop in the second half and then came up with a big clearance on a loose ball inside the six yard box in the final minute after Taunton’s Riley Rebello hit the underside of the crossbar with a shot from 25 yards out.
Girls Soccer
Sharon, 0 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Attleboro was able to pull out a win in the rain, holding off Sharon with a one-goal advantage and then adding a second goal in the final minute to secure the points. Jamie Davies put Attleboro in front in the 24th minute and then assisted on the second goal in the 79th. Allison Rebelo hit a one-touch shot into the top corner to make it 2-0. Alexis Campbell played well in goal to keep the clean sheet for Attleboro. Sharon coach Cat Sullivan praised defender Jordanna Morris and midfielders Sofia Goclowski and Amber Marcus-Blank for their performances in the tough conditions.
Canton, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Tarynn Smith continued to be in torrid form in front of goal, scoring what turned out to be the game-winner against Canton. It was the fifth straight win for the Hornets, who are in a three-way tie atop the Kelley-Rex. Alexi O’Keefe added the second goal for Mansfield.
Foxboro, 10 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Three different Warriors scored hat tricks, as Foxboro continued its unbeaten run, extending it to nine games. Kailee McCabe scored three times and had three assists, Erin Foley had three goals and two assists, and Jordan Carman added one assist to her three goals. Neve Taylor also found the back of the net for Foxboro. Brooke Barreira and Lauren Miley both had assists in the win. Alexis Sougaris earned the clean sheet with three saves.
Stoughton, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – The rain didn’t slow down sophomore striker Anya Zub, who recorded a hat trick to power Franklin to a win that moves them into a tie at the top of the Kelley-Rex. Kelly O’Connor added a goal and an assist and Stella Regan had a pair of helpers for the Panthers. Haylie Aniki had a good second half in goal for the hosts and Chloe Barca stood out in the Franklin midfield. Sivannah Marcy scored Stoughton’s lone goal, running onto a ball over the top by Morgan Cook. Katrina Varnum had a good game in net for Stoughton, helping keep Franklin to four, and Sabrina Rodrigues had a strong game at the back.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – Lauren Sellmayer and Camryn O’Connor scored second half goals to lift OA to a come-from-behind road win at Kelley-Rex leader KP, handing the Warriors their first league loss of the season. After a scoreless first half, Rihanna Mason scored for the hosts to put them in front, but OA tallied twice in the final 20 minutes to secure the victory and stay in a first-place tie with Foxboro in the Davenport division. Sellmayer headed in a corner kick from Katie Gibson in the 73rd to bring the Tigers level. A minute later, O’Connor won a foot race on a breakaway and tucked away the game-winner. Allison Evin, Emily Meyers and Mary Cross all had great games for the visitors.
North Attleboro, 6 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Six different players scored for North Attleboro to pick up the win and move the Rocketeers back to .500 in the league. It took almost the entire first half for the opening goal. Following a timeout inside the final minute, Haley Sinacola scored with a 35-yard free kick, her fourth of the season, to put the hosts in front. Steph McKenna doubled the lead in the second half off an Autumn Hewitt assist. Charlotte Moynihan hit an Emma Pratt pass first-time for the third goal and then Jessica Hennessey followed with her first varsity goal (on an assist from Brooke Sullivan). Hennessey added an assist, setting up Pratt for North’s fifth, and Lily Adams rounded out the scoring off a pass from Casey Butanowicz. North coach Bill Wallace added that Morgan Eaton, Sophia Capriotti and Lauren Peckham played well in the win.
Field Hockey
Franklin @ Algonquin – Postponed to Monday, 10/18 at 4:00.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 3 vs. Walpole, 2 – Final
Taunton, 1 @ Sharon, 3 – Final – Taunton stayed alive with a win in the third set and pushed the Eagles in the fourth set but Sharon was able to close it out for a 3-1 (23-25, 15-25, 25-23, 20-25). For Taunton, Jessica Foley had a strong game at the service line with nine aces. The Tigers also had a balanced attack led by Aislinn Campbell (six kills), Angie Lynch (five kills), Mikayla Cleary (five kills), Hayley Krockta (three kills), and Kylie Burgo (three kills).
Golf
Sharon @ King Philip – Postponed to Tuesday, 10/5 at 3:15.
Attleboro @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:30
North Attleboro @ Mansfield – Postponed to TBA.
Oliver Ames @ Milford – Postponed to TBA.
Hockomock Boys Soccer: Players to Watch in 2021
By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
2021 Hockomock Boys Soccer Players to Watch
Matt Angelini, Senior – Foxboro
There aren’t many strikers in the league with the amount of varsity experience that Foxboro senior Matt Angelini has. A four-year member of the Warriors’ varsity team, Angelini has improved each and every season and could be poised for a breakout year in 2021. He bagged a pair of goals as a sophomore and then was Foxboro’s leading scorer during last year’s abbreviated season with six goals, which was tied for the fourth-most during the regular season. He is very dangerous inside the box and has a knack for finding a loose ball or a rebound but he can also play with the ball at his feet; he’ll make defenses pay when given space outside the area.
Caleb Cassetta, Senior – King Philip
King Philip lost a very large senior class to graduation but head coach Mike O’Neill has some veteran players to lean on, including three-year player Caleb Cassetta. Cassetta is a true box-to-box midfielder and we’ve seen over the course of the past two seasons just how skilled he is with the ball on his feet. He can help translate defense to offense and is a calming presence on the ball. When King Philip is looking to build its offense, it’s likely going to come through Cassetta at some point. Whether it’s just keeping possession, hitting the through ball in the final third, or having a go from distance, expect him to be the engine for the Warriors this season.
Matt Hyland, Senior – Mansfield
It could be a pretty big year for Mansfield senior Matty Hyland, both on the pitch this fall and on the court during the winter. Head coach Steve Sheridan said the midfield unit is the backbone of the team this year and Hyland is a big reason for that. He’s not only a great option in the air, which fits really nice in the Hornets’ attack plans, but he’s very smart with the ball at his feet. He will be tasked with pulling the strings in the central midfield. He showed last year the ability to link the defense with the offense. He can also drop back and be a key piece of the defense while smoothing the transition and solidifying the middle. We’ve seen it in the past and it’s bound to happen again this season: Hyland can be= lethal from distance. If defenses decide to sit back and give him space, he has no problem putting one on target from distance.
2021 Hockomock Boys Soccer Players to Watch
Terry O’Neill, Senior – Franklin
There isn’t much to say about Franklin senior Terry O’Neill that we haven’t already said sometime over the past two seasons, but that won’t stop us from doing so again here. A truly versatile player, O’Neill can play just about anywhere on the pitch, playing mostly in a holding mid spot as a sophomore and then dropping deeper to solidify the defense last season. One thing we’re looking forward to this season is the return of heading the ball. The players did a nice job adjusting to the rules modified by COVID, but heading is such a key aspect of the game and it’s certainly a big part of O’Neill’s game. He does a nice job really standing out in his box against set pieces, and on the other end of the pitch, he’s the one setting the offense up whether it’s with a cross, a set piece service, or a shot on a free kick.
Riley Rebello, Junior – Taunton
Taunton had its already abbreviated season cut short last fall, only getting four games in early on in the season. That means there weren’t many players that were able to gain valuable experience, getting used to the speed of the varsity level. Junior Riley Rebello already had a full season under his belt, playing nearly every minute as a freshman. That will be huge for head coach Taylor Whitters and her Tigers this season because they have a very young roster. Whether it’s at center back — where he played the majority of his freshman year — or further up the pitch, which is what we saw more of recently, Rebello will be a key cog in the middle of the pitch. His versatility will be important too as he can step up front and score (like we saw in the season opener against Stoughton) and if the Tigers need to pack it in or park the bus to protect a lead, they have Rebello’s height and skill to rely on.
Giovanni Ruggeri, Senior – Canton
Canton could be poised for a big year with a strong core of players, including a pretty talented senior class that top goal scorers Jacob Crugnale and Erik Valdovinos plus the calming veteran presence of Dylan Baird. But if there’s one thing in common that recent division champs of the Davenport division have in common, they are among the top defensive units in the league. Canton has a strong core back there which is anchored by senior goalie Giovanni Ruggeri, who is entering his second year as the starter in net but has two years of experience after getting good minutes as a sophomore. We saw a big jump last year as Ruggeri played with a lot of confidence and came up with some big saves for his squad. Now a senior, Ruggeri will be one of the top keepers in the league and he does a nice job controlling his area. That will be key as opposing teams try to break the Bulldogs down and use set pieces to attack the back four.
2021 Hockomock Boys Soccer Players to Watch
Mathias Taylor, Senior – Oliver Ames
There was a lot of spotlight on the Class of 2020 for Oliver Ames, and for good reason as that group led the program to back-to-back division titles, one in the Kelley-Rex and last year in the Davenport division. Losing over a dozen players is always tough, especially when they made up nearly the entire starting lineup. But one key piece to the puzzle is back for the Tigers in senior captain Mathias Taylor, who has two years of varsity experience under his belt and is hoping to lead a young and inexperienced group back atop the division. Taylor is very skilled with the ball at his feet and moves the ball well, he seems to always find space to be an option for teammates. He played striker for a lot of minutes last year so he can certainly get up field and be a threat in the final third, whether it’s with a shot or getting on the end of a service.
Chris Tocci, Senior – Milford
Milford has had some of the most gifted offensive players over the past couple of seasons from Hock MVP Walisson de Oliveira two seasons ago, Pedro Araujo in 2019 during the run to the state final, and most recently All-American selection Leo Coelho. But the Hawks have had some pretty good defenders during that span as well and senior Chris Tocci has been one of them. Now in his third year starting at center back, Tocci has gotten better each and every season. After being a big reason that the Hornets allowed just six goals last season (in 13 games), Tocci is back to anchor this year’s defense which looks to be a strong point for the Hawks. Tocci is like a quarterback in the defensive third, helping the backline keep its shape. He is strong in the air as well, often being the one to come up with a big clearance on corners or set pieces.
Alex Vecchioli, Sophomore – Attleboro
Attleboro sophomore Alex Vecchioli had a breakout season in his first year of high school, emerging as one of the most reliable options for the Bombardiers, patrolling the center of the pitch. His strong freshman season saw him lead the Bombardiers in goals scored. He’s a very confident player and very strong with the ball at his feet. Not only can he find teammates with nice through passes or balls over the top, but he can also go at defenders one-on-one and beat them. He showed off a strong shot last year and will be a dangerous option on set pieces for Attleboro again this season. Defenses will be keying in on him a bit more, so it will be interesting to see how he does against the added pressure.
2021 Hockomock Boys Soccer Players to Watch Link
James Zhang, Senior – Sharon
Anyone who saw Sharon play a year ago knows just how important James Zhang was for the Eagles. Now a senior, Zhang patrolled the middle of the pitch for the Eagles a season ago, helping them transition from defense to offense and had some nice takes on goal from distance. Zhang can play anywhere up the middle, as he’s just as comfortable sitting back as a part of the defense as he is getting the ball at his feet and attacking opposing defenses. Zhang’s versatility is what really makes him stand out among his peers. If the Eagles need a goal, expect Zhang to be a top candidate to come up with the key play. Opposing defenses aren’t going to want to give him much space, especially in the attacking third. Expect Zhang to be an on-field leader this season for the Eagles.
2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Attleboro
2020 Record: 2-5-6
Coach: Peter Pereira
The Bombardiers seemed to get things in gear just as last season was coming to an end, finishing the season unbeaten in its final five games. But there won’t be much carryover to this year as Attleboro only has three starters back from a team that lost 14 seniors to graduation.
It will be a lot of new faces for longtime head coach Peter Pereira, who is still trying to fit the puzzle pieces together to figure out the best combination for his Bombardiers. Senior Cashel Stuger joined the lineup last season and will be a main part of the Attleboro defense this year with Lucas Marques, Ian Miller, and John Blouin all in the mix to see minutes. Junior Esvin Morales begins his third year on the varsity level and has the most experience at this level on the team. Morales is a crafty midfielder that is very dangerous in the attack and on set pieces. Seniors Liam Bischoff and Thomas Russo have good varsity experience and should see expanded roles this year.
Sophomore Alex Vecchioli exploded onto the scene last year, scoring a team-high four goals. He’ll join Morales to solidify the Attleboro midfield but he’s no stranger to getting forward and making some noise in the attack. Sophomores Tyler Rocchio and Brady Whitmarsh are battling for the starting position in goal while Pereira is looking for the likes of Connor Adema, Yannie Skortas, and Emilio Ticas to step up in the attack.
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Canton
2020 Record: 6-3-3
Coach: Danny Erickson
Canton was the main challenger to OA’s division title win last season, playing tough against the Tigers in both matches. In fact, the Bulldogs’ lone losses were to both division champs in OA and Milford, the latter coming in the semifinal of the Hock Cup.
Canton has a large chunk of those players returning to the pitch for this season and a lot of them have multiple years of experience playing at the varsity level, which means expectations are high for Canton. OA has been the team to beat in the Davenport for the majority of the past decade but it looks like that could be different this year with how much skill the Bulldogs have.
There are veteran players all over the field, starting in the back with the anchor of the defense in senior All-Hockomock selection Giovanni Ruggeri, who returns as the starting goalie. Establishing a strong defensive group in front of Ruggeri will be key but the Bulldogs have a track record of getting better defensively as the season goes on. There is a lot of firepower going forward with senior Dylan Baird being the link in the midfield, helping the Dogs transition from defense to offense. There will be a lot of options in the attacking third with both Erik Valdovinos (three goals, two assists) and Jacob Crugnale up front (goal, seven assists). Junior Jake McCabe is also back after scoring three goals and notching two helpers.
“We are so excited to head into the season,” said head coach Danny Erickson. “Our team has a very high ceiling for success and we are working hard to reach that ceiling. Couldn’t have much more difficult of an early-season schedule playing Franklin, OA, and Milford to open up the Hock so we will certainly be presented some very tall tasks right out of the gates.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Foxboro
2020 Record: 4-6-2
Coach: Dan Ambrosio
Foxboro is leaning on a strong senior class, a group of talented returners, and a mix of new faces to try and make a run at the Davenport division title. The heart of the team will be with the senior class, including four-year player Derek Axon and midfielder Alex McGarry.
Axon has been on the roster since his freshman year and will start in net for the Warriors, leading the way for what head coach Dan Ambrosio hopes is a strong defensive unit. Foxboro has been on the lower half of the Davenport table in terms of goals against in each of the past two seasons but Ambrosio believes he has a strong defensive unit that will play well in front of Axon. McGarry, a three-year member of the varsity squad, will be a key piece in the middle of the pitch.
It’s not often a team gets a transfer with not only varsity experience, but experience playing in the Hockomock League. But the Warriors added Jorge Sanchez, who has two years of playing at Canton under his belt and could be a big boost for Foxboro. Senior forward Matt Angelini has improved each year with the program and will be one of the top strikers in the league while junior Alex Penders has impressed so far in the preseason. Sophomore John Hollis made a splash during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and could be poised for a breakout year for the Warriors.
“The group has done an outstanding job of coming together as a team,” Ambrosio said. “We look forward to playing the Foxboro way and competing to win the Hockomock regular season.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
franklin
2020 Record: 3-5-4
Head Coach: Fran Bositis
Hall of Fame head coach Fran Bositis is back on the sidelines for his 51st season in charge and he and his Panthers are anxious to get back to normal soccer after last year’s abbreviated season that featured rule changes that altered the game.
Bositis has liked what he’s seen so far in the preseason with the team improving after each training session and after each scrimmage. Having a trio of four-year players is an advantage that many teams won’t have so the Panthers will lean heavily on seniors Terry O’Neill, Tyler Powderly, and Aidan Griffith for their veteran leadership. There are a lot of upperclassman on the roster with seniors Jack Moran, Nelson Martinez, and Kevin Proenca all back in the mix after playing last season.
O’Neill, the 2019 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, is the spine of the team, patrolling the middle of the pitch. We saw early on in his career his ability to get forward and become a scoring threat but he also showed he can sit back and solidify the defensive unit. Both Powderly and Griffith provide a lot of speed on the outside. Junior Trey Lovell and sophomore Rex Cinelli earned some minutes a season ago while Bositis expects junior Will Krysak and sophomore Sean O’Leary to be steady contributors this season.
“I feel the outlook is bright as long as we continue to work hard and look to make small improvements every day,” Bositis said. “I also feel that we have very good senior leadership and that this will be important in helping our younger players develop.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
King Philip
2020 Record: 5-4-4
Coach: Mike O’Neill
The Warriors graduated nearly its entire starting lineup, losing a total of eight players from the starting 11, along with five more seniors from last year’s squad, but somehow KP boasts a strong returning group of players.
That’s a credit to head coach Mike O’Neill, who has shown since he took over the varsity team that he will take full advantage of the depth of his roster, getting a lot of player’s minutes each season. Last year’s abbreviated season was no different; KP has half a dozen players back with varsity experience ready to make a run at the division title.
There are four captains: Caleb Cassetta, John Pfeiffer, Sean McCarthy, and Stephen Griffin, and all four bring something a little different to the table. Cassetta can do a bit of everything, from being the maestro of the midfield, to shoring up the defense, to sliding up front to score goals. Pfeiffer plays both defensively and in the midfield and provides key leadership, McCarthy is an aggressive outside back, and Griffin is a four-year member of varsity that can play in a variety of roles going forward.
Junior Matt Cargo could be poised for a breakout year in the midfield while senior Dan Fifolt is back in the mix to give KP at outside back. Junior Andrew Seropian has had a good preseason so far while sophomores Tommy Lomusico, Will Bowen, and Dermott Amorim are all competing to try and give the Warriors a boost on the offensive end.
“I think there is going to be a lot of parity in the Hock this year,” O’Neill said. “It will be difficult (as always) to win games. We graduated 13 seniors and 8 starters last year. That is a significant loss of experience on the field, but it also provides opportunities for younger players. I am excited to see which players will step into the available roles and have a breakout year.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Mansfield
2020 Record: 6-4-2
Coach: Steve Sheridan
For years, Mansfield has been known as a defensive team that sets the tone with its physicality, taking advantage of set pieces on the offensive end to win games. Things might be a little different in 2021.
While Mansfield still boasts a strong defensive group, the heart and soul of the team is in the midfield. There is a lot of creativity in the group that features senior captains Matty Hyland and Danny Rowe along with juniors Grady Sullivan and Connor Palinski. The unit has impressed in the preseason, moving the ball around, combining to get up field and attack opposing defenses. Mansfield has traditionally used a lot of subs for its forwards under Sheridan and that looks like it will be the case again this year with senior Liam Anastasia and junior Dan Checkoway both in the mix.
Four-year varsity player Dylan Buchanan will take on a new role this year, making the switch to defense. His speed will make it tough for opponents to get in behind the Hornet back line. Senior Michael Caridi is another returner and he will join Buchanan in the back in front of senior goalie Jack Lasbury-Casey.
“This is the first time in a very long time that I can honestly say that the defense is not the strength of our team, the midfield is!!”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Milford
2020 Record: 10-0-3
Coach: Antonio Pinto
The target on Milford’s back this season will be bigger than ever as the Scarlet Hawks enter the season with three straight division titles; last year’s Kelley-Rex crown and two from the Davenport prior to that. While the Hawks are certainly in the hunt to make it four straight, they’ll do so without their best player from the past two seasons.
Last year’s Hockomock League MVP and lone Massachusetts All-American selection Leo Coelho graduated alongside nine other players that helped Milford won the Hockomock Cup last season. That class also included star midfielder Lucas Da Silva and 2019 playoff hero and goalie Leo Oliveira. While it might seem like the cupboard is a bit thin, the Hawks have reloaded with some new talent eager to win a title of their own.
Kevin Gomes has been on varsity since he was a sophomore and has plenty of varsity starts in net under his belt. He came off the bench in the Hockomock Cup and came up huge to help the Hawks take the win. Milford also has veteran centerback Chris Tocci back in the fold; Tocci is not only one of the most experienced backs in the league but he’s one of the most skilled and his prowess in the air is key for the Hawks.
Senior Avi Seri and juniors Arthur Tome and Hulanger Pires all took advantage of their expanded roles last season and will be key in the offense this season.
“We have a good direct style of play,” said head coach Antonio Pinto.
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
North Attleboro
2020 Record: 3-6-3
Coach: Geoff Burgess
It was a good offseason for the Rocketeers, who used their time between seasons to improve their craft. North has developed a reputation for a defense-first-minded program over the past couple of seasons and the Big Red is sticking true to its colors in 2021.
The strength of the team lies in the defense with a lot of experience in the defensive third. Senior captain Brody Rosenberg will slide into a center back role and anchor the defense from there while sophomore Kaden Burns returns to his outside back position after picking up vital experience during last year’s abbreviated season. Senior David Floyd returns in goal this year after posting a 1.50 goals against average last season.
Connor Ward has been making plays in this league for a long time and look for that to continue during his senior season Ward uses his versatility and creativeness to orchestrate the Rocketeer push forward. Sophomore Carson Dameron is another returner in the midfield unit for North Attleboro; look for senior Jaad Ismail and juniors Griffin Rodden and Givany Carney to give North’s offense a boost.
“We have a great mix of experience and talent that will hopefully lead to a successful year,” said North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess. “The team really came together this summer at Camp Manitou and they really believe in each other. They really want to work hard to improve each day and are one of the most coachable groups we have ever had. We are all really excited to get back to normal soccer and see what this season holds for us.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Oliver Ames
2020 Record: 12-1-0
Coach: John Barata
Oliver Ames spent the majority of the last decade at the top of the mountain in the Hockomock League, winning five Davenport division titles and two Kelley-Rex crowns since the league split. The Tigers are the defending champs in the Davenport and lost just one game (Hock Cup) last year, but this will be the biggest turnover that OA has seen in a long time.
Oliver Ames graduated over a dozen players, including nearly its entire starting lineup of a team that scored a league-best 59 goals and had a league-low five goals against. Not only did the Tigers lose a talented senior class, but a majority of the players were also either two or three-year starters, so there will be a lot of new faces getting playing time at the varsity level for the first time. Senior captain Mathias Taylor is the most experienced player back for the Tigers after getting a lot of time as a sophomore and starting last fall. His versatility will be key as the Tigers carve out roles for the new players; Taylor can control the play from the middle of the pitch, move up front as a dangerous attacking option, or sit back some to help solidify the defense.
Hector Bucio is the other returner starter for the Tigers after earning some minutes after a sophomore, picking up some starts in the process, and will be a big part of the offense for OA. Michael Haikal also saw time on the field during the COVID-shortened season and will see an expanded role this year as one of the team’s captains. With new faces in the mix, OA is focusing on attacking with pace while stressing getting numbers behind the ball to defend against the tough competition in the Hockomock League.
“We are excited to be back playing regular soccer and looking forward to seeing how this very young and inexperienced team gels during the season,” said OA head coach John Barata. “We hope to win a couple games and get these underclassmen a lot of experience.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Stoughton
2020 Record: 0-10-2
Coach: Jon Grant
It starts with the fundamentals for head coach Jon Grant and his Black Knights: an improved defensive effort to stay in games and better technical play to increase scoring games.
And so far, so good as Grant has seen improvement on both ends of the pitch throughout the preseason. Throughout each of the last two seasons, the Knights have shown glimpses and the goal this season is to string together consistent performances and limit the mistakes to keep Stoughton in the game. Captains Rhuan Carvalho and Joao Marotti, both seniors, give the Knights some experience up top as they battle against a tough Hockomock League schedule. Although Evan Khang and Kyle Grant as just sophomores, they saw a lot of time last season and will bring that experience and talent to Stoughton’s midfield.
Defensively, the Knights will turn to senior captain Owen Roddy to anchor the defense. He will be joined by classmate Val Pierre to try and solidify the Stoughton back line.
“Everyone is excited to be back out on the field and it will make it even sweeter as we add the competition of the season,” said Jon Grant. “This season we are looking to not beat ourselves by limiting our mistakes. This mentality will put us in a good position each game to compete. Combine that with great effort and a positive attitude and we have a pretty good recipe for success.”
Hockomock League Boys Soccer
Taunton
2020 Record: 0-3-7
Coach: Taylor Whitters
The Tigers only played four games last fall due to COVID so there wasn’t much of an opportunity to pick up varsity experience for the younger players, which make up most of the roster for the 2021 season. The lineup will feature mostly juniors along with a group of sophomores so Taunton will lean heavily on the few players that have played at this level before.
That starts with juniors Riley Rebello and Joseph Renquinha, who both enter their third season apart of the varsity team. Rebello has seen time just about everywhere for the Tigers, including at center back, attacking mid, and up front at striker. The experience that both he and Renquinha possess will be key as the young Taunton team tackles a difficult schedule. Taunton is also looking for juniors Aidden Fitting, Quincy-Jones Sylvia, Conal Scully, and Jonathan Trinh to step into big roles right away.
Taunton will rely on a strong work ethic to try and put pressure on teams, using team speed to attack opposing defenses. The Tigers have been in a lot of close games — three of the for from last season, and 11 of their games in 2019 were decided by a goal or less. Taunton will be hoping to end up on the other end of those one-goal results this season to try and make a push for the postseason. Sophomores Javonte Fernandes, Delano Costa-Hanlon, and Joshua Letourneau, alongside junior Sete Deletoile, will be in the mix on their first year with the team.
“I am hoping for us to continue to mature this season and raise the bar a little higher each game,” said head coach Taylor Whitters.
Milford Overcomes Heat and Scrappy KP Defense
MILFORD, Mass. – The heavy duty fans at the end of each bench were doing little to combat the heat in the gym, but for second-seed Milford the bigger issue in Monday evening’s Central quarterfinal was the defense being played by 10-seed King Philip.
During the regular season, the Hawks swept both meetings with the Warriors but KP was buoyed by its road win over Nipmuc in the opening round and was set on frustrating Milford, extending plays as often as possible. In the end, Milford’s offense, led by star hitter Felipe Guerra and junior middle Chris Tocci, had enough firepower to pull out a 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 25-13) win.
“I thought our first 10 points or so of the match were really good and I was hyped and then it kind slowed down,” said Milford coach Andrew Mainini. “The instant excitement of a playoff match wore off quick and I think with the heat they were tired and unfocused. That caught up to us, but I think we rebounded after that.”
KP coach Emily Tkowski said of the Warriors’ improvements in playoffs, “The communication has been a lot better. Things just kind of fell into place for us. Our outside hitters really dominated [against Nipmuc]. Today they didn’t have much of a performance, our passes weren’t really there to get them to the outside, but they were a huge help for us.”
Early in the opening set, it looked like the pattern of play from the regular season was going to continue. Milford jumped out to a 9-4 lead with Guerra getting an early kill and ace and two kills from Julio DaSilva. After Guerra smashed a hit from the back row and Tocci hung in the air for a kill in the middle, Milford seemed to have things in control, but KP was not going to go quietly.
Hits on the outside by Josh Saintilus and Thomas Beck got the Warriors back into the first set, pulling as close as 18-15. KP took advantage of a mishit to close the gap again to 22-18, but Milford found a little rhythm with setter Valdir Aragoso feeding Tocci for a kill and then picking the right pass for a blast by Guerra. DaSilva closed the first with an ace.
The KP defense seemed to pick up with the start of the second set. Libero Billy Hessler and setter Aidan Lindmark led the way on the back line, but all of the players stepped up to extend plays and put pressure on the Hawks to make the perfect pass and perfect hit to get points.
“My libero really stepped up these past few games,” Tkowski said of Hessler. “He’s gotten so much better this season where he really tries to get a touch on every ball no matter how hard it’s hit.”
She added, “I wish we weren’t playing defense so much and we didn’t have to be so scrappy. I felt like we were always trying to come back from behind and that’s a hard way to play.”
Jeremy White had back-to-back kills to put KP up 7-6, but Tocci sparked an 8-0 run that had Milford up 15-10 and seemingly on the brink of taking control of the match. KP kept fighting back. Two swings from Beck and one from Nick Basile got the Warriors within one. An ace by by Beck tied things up at 16-16.
After Milford libero Jose Nugra chased down a ball to set up a Guerra kill, the Hawks took an 18-17 lead, but KP rattled off three straight points to regain the advantage. A Guerra ace had Milford up 21-20. Yet again, KP rallied with five straight points, all on Milford errors, to even the match at one set apiece.
“Their defense in that second and third set was crazy,” Mainini said. “They got a hand on everything we were hitting. It wasn’t always a perfect pass but they were to back each other up.”
KP had momentum heading into the third set and Milford looked increasingly frustrated. Saintilus had a kill and an ace, as the Warriors took an early lead, but Guerra crushed a kill right into the body of Hessler that got the bench fired up.
While the hitting drew the biggest cheers, it was a strong service game that turned the match around for the Hawks. Junior Oscar Orellana took over with Milford up 11-8 and he served seven straight points, including three aces, to push it to a double-digit lead. Saintilus scored from the back line and Carson Mitteness had a block to try and stem the tide, but Orellana’s run had flipped the momentum of the match and KP never really recovered.
Guerra picked the line with a kill and then snuck a serve in the back corner to close out the third set and put Milford on the brink of a spot in the semis. After his performance in the third, Orellana got the ball to start the fourth and got Milford out to a 5-0 lead.
“His serve wasn’t overpowering but he was just hitting open spots and spots where there was some confusion,” Mainini said. “He totally got us a big lead in that third set, which was crucial.” About starting with Orellana at the service line in the fourth set, Mainini added, “It’s actually not what we usually do but after that third set we couldn’t switch it up from there.”
The Hawks wouldn’t pass up the chance to put the Warriors away. Milford never let KP get any run together in the fourth, Tocci going back-to-back on kills to make it 17-6 and then going back and forth with Guerra to push Milford to a 23-10 lead.
“Consistency is the name of game,” Mainini explained. “If your passing isn’t there, then nothing else is consistent. Ours was a little spotty. Chris played a pivotal role for us because if the passing was off he followed the setter and kept the ball in play strategically. Having them (Chris and Felipe) in tandem was really big for us today. “
Tkowski said, “I was really hoping when we won that second one we could carry through with the momentum but Milford’s really a great team and they really turned it on.”
Milford (16-3) will host six-seed Wachusett on Wednesday evening in the Central semifinal. It is Milford’s third straight semifinal appearance. The Hawks are trying to get to the final for the first time since winning back-to-back sectional titles in 2012 and 2013.