Football
Taunton, 28 @ Attleboro, 14 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (T) Malachi Johnson 44-yard rush, XP good; (T) Jacob Leonard 12-yard pass to Jose Touron, XP no good.
3rd Quarter: (A) Ethan Lako 1-yard rush, Matt Harvie 2-point pass to Ayden Ramirez; (A) M. Harvie 48-yard pass to A. Ramirez, 2-point failed.
4th Quarter: (T) M. Johnson 40-yard rush, J. Leonard 2-point rush; (T) J. Leonard 40-yard rush, XP good.
Canton, 37 vs. Blue Hills Regional, 6 – Final
1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (C) Godson Ofonagoro rush, Hayden Rose XP good; Owen Lane rush, H. Rose XP good.
3Q: (C) O. Lane pass to Josh Richards, H. Rose XP good; (C) H. Rose rush, XP failed.
4Q: (C) H. Rose 35-yard field goal; (C) Cole Ouellette 5-yard rush, H. Rose XP good; (BH) Blue Hills rush, XP failed.
Foxboro, 20 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final 1H: (F) Mike Marcucella 17-yard pass to Rashaan Lewis, Sam Carpenter XP good; (F) S. Carpenter 38-yard field goal; (F) S. Carpenter 44-yard field goal.
2H: (F) Ben Angelini 1-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
Milford, 43 @ Franklin, 24 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (M) Nick Araujo 4-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) Garrett Portesi 28-yard field goal; (M) Romeo Holland 15-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (F) Jase Lyons 69-yard pass to Luke Davis, G. Portesi XP good; (M) Evan Cornelius 10-yard pass to Andrew Rivera, N. Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) J. Lyons 4-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, G. Portesi XP good; (M) E. Cornelius 4-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (F) J. Lyons 12-yard pass to L. Davis, G. Portesi XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) E. Cornelius 3-yard rush, N. Araujo 2-point rush; (M) R. Holland 1-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
King Philip, 14 @ North Attleboro, 24 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 31 – Final 1st Quarter: (M) Tommy Smith 25-yard rush, Travis Hennessey XP good; (M) T. Hennessey 24-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (M) Conner Zukowski 8-yard pass to Drew Sacco, T. Hennessey XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) T. Smith 9-yard rush, T. Hennessey XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Charlie Decelles 3-yard rush, Sean Murphy XP good.
Sharon, 19 vs. Tri-County, 6 – Final 1Q: (S) Gabe Korn 4-yard rush, Jace McCarron XP good.
2Q: (TC) Tri-County 1-yard rush, 2pt conversion failed.
3Q: (S) G. Korn 42-yard rush, 2pt conversion failed; (S) Liam Conway 16-yard pass to David Bondar, XP failed.
4Q: No scoring.
Boys Soccer
Canton, 4 @ Randolph, 1 – Final
Girls Soccer
Taunton, 1 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final – Taunton closed out the season with its first win under head coach Dan Borges. Kaylee Lopes scored the opening goal, assisted by Juliana Matos, less than two minutes into the game and the Tigers were able to hold onto the lead for the next 78 minutes, while outshooting the Whalers 28-2. Senior Hayleigh Porter earned a clean sheet in her final start in goal, while classmate Christina DaCosta had a solid match in defense and senior Emily Calderon sparked the Taunton attack.
Field Hockey
Foxboro, 2 @ Bishop Feehan, 3 – Final
Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Dennis-Yarmouth, 0 – Final
Mansfield, 1 @ Uxbridge, 8 – Final
Taunton vs. New Bedford, 4:00
Boys Soccer
Canton, 1 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Canton found the net early in the second half for the lone goal of the game to secure a key two points on the road at Sharon. Senior Caden Mirliani nodded in a cross from classmate Jake McCabe minutes after the break for the only tally of the contest.
Girls Soccer
Taunton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Taunton got a scoreless draw on the road at North to earn first-year head coach Dan Borges his first Hockomock point. North had a significant edge in shots but couldn’t convert any of their scoring chances, including a bid from Abi Pratt that hit the post and stayed out. Borges praised the play of Cali Melo and Christina DaCosta on the defensive end. Eighth grader Ashlyn Hebert earned her first career start and first career clean sheet in the Taunton goal.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 6 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Attleboro’s Marley Young scored once and recorded three more assists to lead the Bombardiers to a win over a gritty Stoughton squad. Siobhan Landers scored a pair of first quarter goals to set the tone for the Bombardiers while Alyvia Bessette, Nora Desrosiers, and Emilie Chartier each added one. Young added a penalty stroke in the fourth quarter for the visitors. For Stoughton, Katherine Giroux had an outstanding game offensively while Morgan Groppi and Nicole Reid also had strong outings.
King Philip, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – King Philip countered with three unanswered goals in the second half to take care of business on the road in Easton, earning a 3-1 decision over OA. Following a scoreless first half, the Tigers took the lead in the third quarter on a goal from Erin Cottam off a feed from Olivia Stevens. KP tied it before the end of the quarter and took its first lead going into the fourth, where they added a key insurance tally. Leah Santoro scored a pair of goals for the Warriors, Kelly Holmes added one, and sophomore Lucy Weineck added a strong all around performance in the win.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – A pair of second half goals and a few key saves in the final moments helped North Attleboro secure a win on the road in a competitive contest at Alumni Field. North registered 11 corners in the first half but couldn’t solve Mansfield’s defense and goalie Lily Danehy. The Rocketeers finally broke through with just under five minutes to go in the third as Francesca Spencer kept the play alive near the touchline and dropped a pass into the middle where Julia Puccio was able slide a low shot into the net. North added a key insurance goal as the clock ticked under two minutes to go in the game as Puccio got her second, finishing off an assist from Caitlin Vacher. Puccio and Rory McGinley made key stops on Mansfield corners (six total) in the final minutes to prevent a look at goal. Eman Farid (six saves) made multiple saves with a minute to go to preserve the win. Gracie Leary (two saves) and Farid combined for the shutout for North.
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final – For Taunton, Thal Nogueira, Kaysie DeMoura, and Caelen O’Leary all had strong performances.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Sharon senior Alejandra Aguilar scored moments into the game and that proved to be enough as the Eagles fended off visiting Milford. Aguilar carried possession from midfield into the attack before sliding a lot shot into the back of the net just 16 seconds into the game. Sharon’s Natalie Kessler recorded the shutout in net.
Volleyball
King Philip, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – King Philip bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-21, 25-23) on the road over Oliver Ames. Senior middle Emily Sawyer had 11 kills, four blocks, and four aces to lead the way for the Warriors. Senior Ahunna James added six kills, three blocks, and three aces, and senior Sami Shore recorded four kills and four blocks in the win. For Oliver Ames, junior Rachel Fleischman had a standout game defensively with 15 serve receptions, 12 digs, and three aces. Maddie Homer added 25 digs, Clare Kavoulis finished with 24 assists, and Sarah Hilliard recorded 14 kills.
Taunton @ Canton – Postponed to TBD.
Franklin, 3 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final
Milford, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this match – After dropping the opening set, Mansfield rallied to win three straight — including a thrilling 26-24 win in the fourth set — to take down the visiting Rocketeers. Keira Fitzpatrick recorded eight digs and dished out 24 assists in a balanced attack for the Hornets. Elyssa Buchanan had 11 kills along with five digs, three aces, and two blocks, Lexie Scibilia added six blocks, five kills, and a pair of aces, and Lilly Verheggen finished with seven kills, four digs, and two aces for Mansfield.
Attleboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Attleboro went on the road and prevailed in three sets against a tough Stoughton squad (25-19, 25-10, 27-25). Natalie Brojek set the offense in motion with 33 assists and had a stellar day at the service line with nine aces. Julia Leonardo (14 kills) and Addie Shelton (eight kills) led the charge offensively for the Bombardiers. For Stoughton, Patrik Oliviera and Jessie Queeney had strong defensive performances while Maya Ashu led the front row with a great offensive game.
Golf
Stoughton, 186 @ Sharon, 175 – Final
King Philip, 150 @ North Attleboro, 155 – Final
Attleboro, 173 @ Mansfield, 155 – Final – Mansfield earned its first win of the season by taking down visiting Attleboro at Norton Country Club. Senior Drew Urban and junior Cody Nieratko shared medalist honors for the Hornets, each coming in with a round of 38. Nathan McClean added a 39 in the win and Michael Creedon finished with a 40 on the day. Leo Lombardo led the Bombardiers with a team-low round of 39.
Canton, 165 @ Oliver Ames, 149 – Final – Oliver Ames had six golfers come in under 40 in a key win over division rival Canton in a battle of Davenport heavyweights. Junior Sean Kearns was the match medalist, shooting a low-round of 36 to lead the way for the Tigers. Junior David Rodgers chipped in with a 37 while seniors Noah Isleib and Michael McGinnis each shot a 38 to round out the scoring for OA. For Canton, Huck McCready continued his strong start to the season with a team-best round of 39 and Brian Middleton added a 41 for the Bulldogs.
Boys Cross Country
Franklin, 16 @ Attleboro, 45 – Final
Foxboro, 25 @ Canton, 32 – Final – Canton got strong runs from Riley Swearingen, Austin DiBasio, Dom Gray, Maks Alves, and Declan Monahan.
Milford, 26 @ North Attleboro, 29 – Final
Girls Cross Country
Franklin, 15 @ Attleboro, 50 – Final
Foxboro, 20 @ Canton, 43 – Final – Canton’s top finisher was Johanna Bouwmeester and freshman Maddie Driscoll had a solid race with an eighth-place finish.
The Hockomock League kicked off its girls soccer season and we have the team-by-team rundown of how everyone stacks up this year. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2019 Record: 7-9-2 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Steve Santos
Last year, Attleboro was just one win away from ending its playoff drought and while the Bombardiers aren’t going to have a tournament to look forward to this season they have plenty of experience and talent coming back to be in the mix in what should be a wide open Kelley-Rex division. The Bombardiers will also have an extra week to prepare after the first two games against Taunton were postponed.
Attleboro should be potent in front of goal this season. Senior forwards Isabella Salviati and Briley Harnois have been dynamic scoring threats for the past three years and have proved to be a tough combination for teams to handle. Senior Jessica Gates also returns to play provider and pull the strings from midfield.
Sophomore Emily Dunlea will pair up with Gates in the center of the midfield, while senior Cassondra Stuger and Meghan Panzer were on the outside. Panzer can also step in and give Attleboro minutes up top when Harnois or Salviati need a breather.
At the back, senior Eleanor Graber and junior Olivia Calderon have been teaming up in the center, while seniors Gabby Bosh and Riley Sullivan have been the outside backs. Sophomore Alexis Campbell will be back in goal after seeing time as a freshman last year. Experience won’t be an issue for the Bombardiers, which should help them cope with the challenges of a unique season.
“The rule modifications cater to our style of play maybe more than it does for other,” said Attleboro coach Steve Santos. “There are a lot of returning players, so I think we’ll be okay. We just have to be able to adjust.”
2019 Record: 12-9-0 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinal Coach: Idris Senyonjo
Canton made a run to the Div. 2 South semifinal a year ago and the perpetually young Bulldogs will be hoping to build on that experience and challenge Foxboro for the division title this fall. Former coach Kate Howarth is plying her trade with the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, so Idris Senyonjo takes over this season and picked up an impressive win on his debut with the team scoring eight goals in the process.
The attack has been a strength for Canton for the past several years and with senior forwards Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia back to lead the line the Bulldogs have a pair of potential match winners up front. Junior Gabriella Herivaux adds a different dynamic to the forward line and senior Mia Gilmore emerged last year as one of the league’s top playmaking midfielders.
In the heart of the pitch, Canton has plenty of players who can contribute both on offense and defense. Sophomore Emily McCabe is coming off a strong rookie season and combines well with Gilmore in the middle. Senior Sarai Costello is another player that the coaches expect big things from this year.
Consistency on defense will be a big point of emphasis this year and junior defender Allie McCabe and junior goalie Elyse Broderick should give the Bulldogs a foundation to build on. Freshmen Mekhala Costello and Ava Gilmore have impressed coached during the preseason and both are expected to step in and add strength to the back line.
“I am coming into a program that has a great group of girls who love the game and play for each other,” said Senyonjo. “This made it easy for me to start implementing my philosophy and approach of the game. No matter how short the season might be, I believe we have a good group of girls who will be hungry for a great season.”
2019 Record: 16-2-2 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal Coach: Katie Stalcup
Foxboro has won back-to-back Davenport division titles and comes into this season with eyes on a three-peat and a roster loaded with talent and experience. The Warriors had one of the best attacks in the Hock in 2019, scoring 80 goals as a team, while only allowing 12. Expectations are very high for Foxboro to win a third title in a row, something it hasn’t done since winning the league from 1985-90.
Attack continues to be one of the strengths for the Warriors led by senior forward Jordyn Collins. The Bryant University-commit scored 23 goals last year and already has two to her name after one game this fall. Junior Kailee McCabe is the lynchpin of the midfield, dominating with and without the ball and adding to the team’s scoring punch. Senior Katelyn Mollica can get up and down the wing and her crossing ability gives the strikers more opportunities to get on the board.
It isn’t all about the offense. The Warriors are also stingy on the other end of the field. Senior defender Emma Dahl will lead the back line this season and senior Grace Ferguson will be a key player in the heart of the midfield, helping Foxboro play the possession style of soccer that it prefers. Senior Morgan Sylvestre gives the Warriors an experienced, talented shot-stopper in goal.
“We are all just so excited to be playing soccer and I am so excited about this team and our talent,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “We know that this season will look a little different, but we are going to make the most of it and enjoy ourselves and enjoy winning soccer games.”
2019 Record: 12-5-1 2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Tom Geysen
Franklin had one of the league’s top defenses in 2019, holding teams scoreless in 11 of the final 12 games of the 2019 regular season. The Panthers will hope to be just as stingy this year and, with the rule changes in place, try to add more scoring punch, as they look to get back on top of the Kelley-Rex division standings for the first time since 2015.
Sophomore Norah Anderson will be back in the heart of the Franklin defense after an impressive rookie campaign and her physicality will be important after the graduation of Sabrina Addi. Senior Carissa Alers will partner Anderson in the middle and junior Izzy Arnold will be on the outside. Senior Julia Bertone and freshman Rachel Welch will both see time in goal, replacing Brenna Atwood.
Senior Erin Quaile will be in the heart of the midfield for the Panthers, providing endless running and contributions in both boxes. Sophomore Bridget Leo saw a lot of time at the end of last season and she will be in the midfield again. Junior Stella Regan is also back after a long time out with broken leg and gives Franklin a different option with her skill on the ball as she continues to work back to 100 percent.
In the attack, senior Sydney St. Marie will be the primary goal scorer, and she is off to a good start after two goals in the season opening win against Milford. Junior Riley Fitzpatrick will join St. Marie up front and there are several younger players that could step in and help out the offense, including freshman Anya Zub, who had an assist on her debut.
“We’re moving along,” said Franklin coach Tom Geysen. “it’s just hard to assess progress because of the changes in rules and everything. The kids are hesitant. My advice is play as hard as you have to play to get the job done and if they call an indirect, then they call an indirect.”
2019 Record: 21-1-0 2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Final Coach: Gary Pichel
King Philip reached the Div. 1 South final last year, for the second time in three seasons, but enter the fall without not only the program’s top two all-time scorers but with a large group of seniors that helped the program win two of the last three league titles and nearly finish an undefeated season. Even without some of the big names from last year, KP brings back a number of players who saw action in that finals run and will be counted on for bigger roles this year.
With Chloe Layne and Avery Snead, goals were never an issue for the Warriors. This season, several players will look to pick up the scoring load. Sophomore Ella Pisani and senior Kiera Lindmark will both lead the attack but will get help from senior midfielder Jenny Montville, who had several big goals during the playoff run in 2019.
Seniors Ava Tormey and Maeve Lawlor will provide control in the midfield and will get a boost from the return of senior Charlotte Majer to the program. Majer spent last year with a development academy program and will be a big boost to the Warriors in the center of the pitch.
Defense could be a strength for KP, with several returning players. Sophomore Grace Lawler was impressive as a freshman, regularly marking the opposition’s top attacker. Senior Paige Varvarigos is also back after a strong season at outside back. Seniors Taryn Greenberg, Jillian Anderson, and Taylor Thompson will also help out at the back. Senior Emma Glaser will take over in goal.
“We will all do the best we can and hope for the best in a much abbreviated season,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “I hope the best for all of our teams and to have fun and to do it safely. The most important thing is to keep our girls healthy while returning to competition so they can do what they like to do best!”
2019 Record: 6-8-4 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Kevin Smith
Last season was a learning experience for a young group of Hornets, but even with only four returning varsity players Mansfield finished just one win shy of a playoff appearance. This year, Mansfield brings back 18 players from last season’s roster, including nine starters, so the Hornets will expect to quickly return to being one of the challengers for the Kelley-Rex title.
Even with all of the returning players, Mansfield remains a young team. There are three freshmen, five sophomores, and six juniors on the roster. Despite their youth, many saw plenty of time on the field last year and will be leaning on that experience for more success this fall.
Junior Katie Miller returns in the heart of the midfield and gives Mansfield a foundation to build its attacks and to stifle the opposition. Junior Maria Sevastos will return in the defense and the speedy converted forward gives the Hornets a threat on the outside. Junior Tarynn Smith will be back up top after a solid season leading the line and sophomore Olivia Salisbury returns in goal after a strong rookie year.
“After a year of experience under the young kids’ belts, I’m excited to see how much they’ve learned and how they can apply it this fall,” said Mansfield coach Kevin Smith.
2019 Record: 9-6-4 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round Coach: Lou Colabello
Milford made a run at a league title last fall and reached the state tournament, but now the Hawks are moving into the Kelley-Rex division and doing so without 32 goals and several key pieces from the spine of last year’s team. With experience at the back and in goal, the Hawks will be hoping to be tough to beat and let the young attack have a chance to win games.
Senior Carly Ferreira is back in goal this season and has already been busy, coming up with more than 20 saves in the season opener against Franklin. With seniors Catherine Madden and Alyssa Monahan in the back line, the Hawks won’t lack for leadership and experience in the defensive third. Senior Brianna Franzini will add more of that veteran presence in the midfield, which was hard-hit by graduation.
Up top will be sophomore Dani Atherton, who reached double digits in goals during her freshman season and can play as a forward or as a creative midfielder. Sophomores Brooke Ferreira, Serena Borges, and Brooke Guerreiro all saw limited action as freshmen, but will be expected to step into bigger roles this year to shore up the center of the pitch and push into the attack.
“I think the season will depend on how quickly we adjust once games begin,” said Milford coach Lou Colabello. “Replacing key players in the midfield will be a big part of how successful we are. Hopefully, we can get better from game to game. One thing is for sure, we will play hard and have fun doing it.”
2019 Record: 4-10-4 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this season, coming off a tough, four-win campaign. Although many of the names will be new, the Rocketeers feel confident that the revamped defensive unit will make them tough to beat this year and allow them to compete against the top teams in the division, as they proved in a scoreless draw with Oliver Ames in the season opener.
Senior Jordyn Sullivan and junior Summer Doherty are the lone returning players that saw time in the back line last year, but they will be pushed by a host of other players ready to step in. Seniors Ari Newth and Katie Manning, juniors Charlotte Moynihan and Autumn Hewitt, and sophomores Brooke Sullivan and Haley Sinacola will all see time in the defense. Senior Kaylah Seavey and sophomore Maddie Ferrin will be in goal this season.
After missing last season with a knee injury, senior Lydia Santos will provide leadership in the midfield. Classmates Abby Noreck and Ari Rice will also see time in the middle, while a trio of sophomores – Clara Giuliano, Lily Adams, and Caroline Ferrin will add energy and speed in the center.
Up top, senior Tess Collins and junior Steph McKenna are back to lead the line with their speed and creativity. Senior Ally Scott and junior Brayden Rice will give North depth and different looks up top, while sophomore Emma Pratt is a newcomer that could contribute in the attack right away.
“We are working hard to figure this all out,” said North coach Bill Wallace. “Spirits are high and practices have been productive. Girls are possessing better and better and hopefully that will equate to more success on the scoreboard.”
2019 Record: 14-5-2 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal Coach: Britt Sellmayer
Oliver Ames returns to the Davenport division this fall. The Tigers won three straight Davenport titles before moving to the Kelley-Rex (making it four straight titles in their first year in the new division) and with an experienced, if still relatively young, group they expect to challenge Foxboro’s place at the top of the standings this season.
The Tigers have only four seniors on the roster this year, but they have 17 players with varsity experience. While the attack will certainly miss the scoring Erin Holmberg’s scoring touch and the new rules will hinder OA’s typically prolific set piece scoring, there is plenty of strength throughout the roster to be both tough to break down and tough to keep away from goal.
Senior Emma Pereira is a dominant presence in the middle of the pitch and she will be joined by Reese Pereira and Lauren Sellmayer to try and take control of the midfield. Junior Allison Evin can play up top or in the midfield and classmate Camryn O’Connor is a dynamic playmaker and tough to stop when she starts running at defenses.
Kathryn Gibson will solidify the defensive unit, while Jenna Gilman provides speed on the wings. In goal, OA has two solid options with senior Emma O’Donnell and junior Emily Meyers sharing time between the pipes.
OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “The biggest issue for the new rules is the interpretation by referees, we have had them come to practice twice and one scrimmage. Let’s just say the games were different. Hopefully the kinks get worked out.”
2019 Record: 0-17-3 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Catherine Sullivan
Despite its record last season under first-year head coach Catherine Sullivan, Sharon demonstrated the ability to compete with the top teams and Sullivan is hoping that with an experienced corps and the addition of talented younger players the Eagles will be a tough team to beat in a very competitive Davenport division this year.
Experience will be a key at the back. Three-year starting goalie Cass Barbera has proven to be a solid shot-stopper and her leadership is a confidence boost for the entire defensive unit. Senior Molly McAlevey will be the anchor of the back line with her physicality and communication. Sophomore Sally Brouhard is coming off a strong freshman season, where she emerged as one of the team’s top defenders.
Senior Amelia Scappaticci adds steel to the midfield and gives cover to the back line and classmate Emily Griffin adds the speed from the center of the pitch to get forward as often as possible. Sophomore Sofia Goclowski and freshman Kate McLaughlin are a pair of newcomers that should step into the midfield and add a different dimension with their skill. With new faces helping out in the attack, Sharon will be looking to find the back of the net more consistently this year.
“We have excellent leadership this season with a great mix of strong returning players and new talent stepping in,” said Sullivan. “The Davenport division looks to be extremely competitive this year, but our kids are dedicated to improving our style and speed of play, and I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of growth in short time this season.”
2019 Record: 3-13-2 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Hermes Lima
Stoughton made strong strides last season, scoring 34 goals as a team, which was three times the total from the year before and the Black Knights will be hoping to keep that going this fall under new coach Hermes Lima. A tough loss to Canton on the opening day won’t deter Stoughton, which is hoping to continue building on the experience gained last season.
The attack should be potent again with the combination of sophomore forward Shayla Ford, coming off an impressive rookie campaign, and four-year starter and leading scorer Mackenzie Manning, who has developed into a dynamic playmaker either up top or in the midfield. Senior Rebecca Desousa and sophomore Isabella Rodrigues will both be expected to use their speed and aggressiveness to add to the offense, as the Black Knights promise to be a threat on the counterattack.
Senior Nikki Anderson is a versatile defender who can play in the center of the pitch or drop into the back line and she will be counted on to lead a young defensive group. Sophomore Sabrina Rodrigues is tenacious at the back and Liv Tran’s speed will help stymie the opposition. Speed and pressure will be two keys for the Black Knights at the back this season.
“I am here to continue the growth and culture of this program while also helping them become young successful individuals not only on, but off the field,” said Lima. “My goal is to ensure players learn a few things, create their own path, and reach for the moon!”
2019 Record: 2-14-2 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Michael Couture
For the second time in two seasons, Taunton heads into a new season with a new coaching staff and with the goal of building a foundation for the program to compete against the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division. First-year head coach Michael Couture will be counting on a mix of experience and youth to improve on last year’s results.
The Tigers have players up front that can ask questions of the opposing defenses and on the other end of the field Taunton will try to soak up pressure and break quickly. They will also get an extra week of practice before games kick off after the games with Attleboro were postponed.
Experience will come from a group of seniors that have spent multiple years at the varsity level. Seniors Emily O’Gara and Madison Ribeiro can both play up top or in the midfield, while classmates Caitlin Smith, Kayla Botelho, and Morgan Zakrzewski provide leadership in the defensive third. Junior Isabella Anslow will be between the pipes this season. Sophomore midfielders Abigail Gamble and Christina DeCosta and sophomore forward Emily Calderon will provide energy and could step right in to contribute this season.
“Our main goal during the season is to get better every single day and play like it can be taken away from us at any time,” said Taunton coach Michael Couture. “We are on our way to building something special here at Taunton High and have the right group of dedicated girls.”
