07/14/2021

2021 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Hockomock League MVP

Kyle Sarney, Oliver Ames

Honorable Mentions
Lee Casstevens, Attleboro
Kyle Downing, Canton
Nic Olson, Foxboro
Colman Flynn, Franklin
Will Martin, King Philip
Trevor Flint, Mansfield
James Comisky, Milford
Jack MacLaughlin, North Attleboro
Jaiden Daly, Oliver Ames
Paiden Arya, Sharon
Jalen Castillo, Stoughton
Nolan Tomaszycki, Taunton

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2021 Hockomock League Boys Outdoor Track All Stars

07/14/202107/14/2021

2021 Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Hockomock League MVP

Jordyn Collins, Foxboro

Honorable Mentions
Cassondra Stuger, Attleboro
Kiley Hanlon, Canton
Camryn Collins, Foxboro
Ava Fraulo, Franklin
Sydney O’Shea, King Philip
Alissa Cooke, Mansfield
Catherine Madden, Milford
Arianna Newth, North Attleboro
Ella McDonough, Oliver Ames
Olivia Nau, Sharon
Ashley Camillo, Stoughton
Olivia Dias, Taunton

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2021 Hockomock League Girls Outdoor Track All Stars

07/14/202107/16/2021

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Kelley-Rex Division MVP

Matt Lazzaro, Franklin

Davenport Division MVP

Dylan Coyne, Canton

Honorable Mentions
Harry Wheaton, Attleboro
Jeff Fitzpatrick, Canton
Nick Penders, Foxboro
Owen Kielty, Franklin
Sean Crowther, King Philip
Zander Holmes, Mansfield
Tyler Small, Milford
Connor Ruppert, North Attleboro
Noah Isleib, Oliver Ames
Brady Daylor, Sharon
Iago Bonfim, Stoughton

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse All Stars

06/09/202106/09/2021

Canton Edges Defensive League Title Clash at Foxboro

Canton boys lacrosse — Canton goalie Dylan Coyne makes one of his eight saves, helping the Bulldogs to a 7-6 win at Foxboro in a league title showdown. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. – Midway through the second quarter, it looked like Canton could be running away with Wednesday evening’s showdown against fellow Davenport division leader Foxboro at Sam Berns Community Field, but with both defenses and both goalies on top of their games, the Warriors were able to creep back into the game.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Dylan Coyne came up with a pair of big saves in the final two minutes and was able to run nearly all of the final 40 seconds off the clock on a clear to preserve a 7-6 win for the visitors and gave the Bulldogs the upper hand on winning the league title. Canton was able to pull out the win despite scoring only two goals over the game’s final 30 minutes.

“It was a really good start for our guys,” said Canton coach Ryan Quinn. “I think we got a little bit lost in the middle of the game. Foxboro is a hell of a team. We expected a close game. Fortunately for us, like we’ve talked about all year, timely goals for our offense, really good job by our goalie not only making the saves but making the clears, and our defense doing what they always do.”

The Warriors had a great chance within the opening minute of the game, as midfielder Max Beigel broke free and had a good look at goal only to slam it off Coyne’s mask and out. Canton dominated the rest of the quarter, controlling the ball for long stretches at a time. Foxboro only had one other chance late in the first when Conor Noone spiked a shot on the edge of the crease that bounced wide.

It took eight minutes for the breakthrough goal. Freshman Brendan Tourgee got his hands free to the left side of the goal and went with a low-angle rip for a man-up goal. A minute later, Tourgee nearly added an assist when he picked out Jeffrey Chaput at the post only for Foxboro freshman goalie Adam Addeche to make a big stop.

Canton doubled its lead with another man-up chance. This time it was a sidearm effort through traffic by Jeff Fitzpatrick. Inside the final minute, the Bulldogs tacked on a third. Freshman Patrick Drury was able to beat Addeche (five saves) with a shot on the run.

“It was a lot to overcome with the heat,” said Foxboro coach Matt Noone. “I’m telling you, my team didn’t come ready to play today and that was a very tough Canton team.”

After the rough start, Foxboro settled down to start the second and got on the board when Jack Avery fired a pass across the crease to Noone, who managed to jump, catch, and fire a behind-the-back shot all in one motion to beat Coyne.

The momentum was short-lived, as Canton restored its lead just 30 seconds later after Jack Albert made a great defensive play and a great clear up the sideline in front of the benches. Albert got the ball to Sam Carlino, who spun and fired a shot inside the post. A turnover was converted into a fifth goal, as Tourgee got the ball ahead to Chaput for a free run on goal.

With the game slipping away, Foxboro again came up with a big response, as Noone went with a low-angle shot to make it 5-2 heading into halftime. The Warriors had a little bit extra energy and seemed to be getting control on the defensive end.

Early in the third, Foxboro got one closer. Tom Sharkey used a turnover in the defensive zone to get a free run at Coyne and was able to score from close range.

Carlino had a good look at goal stopped by Addeche midway through the quarter, but the Bulldogs were suddenly struggling to maintain possession and creating very few chances.

Quinn explained, “We weren’t running to the ball, our offense was kind of taking for granted the possessions we had, but I got to tell you Foxboro’s defense is a hell of a defense. They put a lot of pressure on our guys and threw a couple different mixes in.”

Freshman Lincoln Moore almost got Foxboro back within one but his point-blank leaping shot was denied by Coyne (eight saves). The Warriors would get closer when Sharkey added his second of the quarter, beating his marker with a quick dodge and scoring at the near post to make it 5-4.

Noone noted, “My kids battled. We’re young. I only have two seniors on this team.”

After going scoreless in the third, Canton was able to finally find the back of the net 90 seconds into the fourth quarter. Carlino showed his strength to ride several checks and hits from multiple defenders to get to the crease and he grabbed his second of the night.

One minute later, Foxboro was right back in the game. After a Canton turnover on the sideline, Nick Penders cut in from the right, took a hit, and managed to squeeze his shot past Coyne while falling to the ground. This time, Canton needed only a minute to respond. Out of a timeout, Chaput was able to draw defenders at the ‘X’ and find a cutting Carlino, who made a nice catch on the high pass and finished, completing his hat trick and making it 7-5.

The score stayed the same for almost five minutes, but the young Warriors weren’t done yet. Moore was able to beat his man on the left side of goal and fired a high shot past Coyne to bring the hosts back within one with 3:30 to play.

Foxboro had its chances to try and force overtime. Sharkey got free with two minutes to go but Coyne made the stop and then it was Sharkey again getting the run on his marker, this time from behind the goal, but Coyne was again equal to it. The Canton goalie raced upfield on the clear and used up almost all of the remaining time.

“I don’t know if I’ll make it through the year,” Quinn joked. “I’m going to have a heart attack. These games are so good. We’ll have a big practice tomorrow and then hopefully take care of business on Friday.”

At the final whistle there was plenty of back-and-forth between the two teams, as Canton (11-0, 10-0) took a lead in the title race. Nothing has been decided yet though. Foxboro (10-3, 8-1) will have its chance to answer back when the teams meet again at WWII Vets Memorial Field on Friday afternoon. If the Warriors win the rematch, then they will clinch at least a share of the title and Canton will need to win its final game against Oliver Ames to match.

“My team is going to feed off that. You believe me, my team is going to show up to play,” said Noone. “We’re going to get to work tomorrow and I’m telling you we’re going to be ready to play on Friday. If we lose, power to them because they’re going to have to play their best game to beat us.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

05/26/2021

Chaput, Coyne Lead Canton in Defensive Battle at North

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Davenport division title race is lining up to be a three-way race that could come right down to the final games of the season. On Wednesday night at Beaupre Field, two of those teams squared off trying to stay unbeaten in league play and keep pace at the top of the standings.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Jeffrey Chaput scored four times and Dylan Coyne made nine saves to lead Canton to an 8-5 win at North Attleboro in a game highlighted by strong defensive play by both sides.

“It was a big win,” said first-year Canton coach Ryan Quinn. “Our seniors really stepped up and held us together. I’m proud of the way they responded. It was a tough game, physical game, but I thought we were better today.”

North got off to a good start, with Connor Ruppert hitting the post just 90 seconds in. JT Gallagher (seven saves) made a good stop on a long-range shot by Canton’s Jeff Fitzpatrick and then a great check on the edge of the crease by Sam Gugliotta dislodged the ball from Colin Albert and led to a quick North break. Ruppert fed Clayton Billingkoff but his shot went just wide of the cage.

With 5:33 left in the first, the hosts snagged the lead. Billingkoff went to the bounce to beat Coyne and make it 1-0. Brendan Tourgee hit the post for Canton seconds later, but North settled down and doubled its lead with just under two minutes left in the first. Matt Antonetti was able to turn the corner and went up top with his effort for a 2-0 advantage.

The Bulldogs had been struggling to get any rhythm on the offensive end, but used a man-up situation to cut the lead to one before the first break. Chaput fired a shot at Gallagher’s feet, finding the corner and giving Canton momentum.

Tourgee struck the post early in the second and Canton started to get a foothold in the attack. Eamon Kelly turned a steal on one end into a great transition, carrying the ball the length of the field and flipping a pass to Sam Carlino for a low-angle rip that tied the game. Two minutes later, Carlino added his second with a bounced shot on the spin and the Bulldogs took their first lead.

Coyne made a nice stop on a chance by Ruppert and then he was able to deny Will Copley from point-blank range after a turnover on the clear. Gallagher added a nice save before halftime, reading the bounce to deny Carlino a hat trick.

North coach Kevin Young praised his team’s defensive effort. He said, “I know we have good defensemen and today they stepped up. It’s a very inexperienced group and the kids who went in there really filled their role. They played well, they never overextended. Whenever you get a game with two teams under 10 [goals], that’s as good as you can ask for in lacrosse.”

After scoring the final three goals of the first half, Canton added the first two of the third quarter as well. Fitzpatrick got his hands free and fired a man-up goal and then Chaput intercepted a clearance and was able to beat Gallagher with a leaping shot from straightaway.

Just seconds after Coyne made a great kick save, North was able to cut the lead back to two. Antonetti assisted on a man-up rip by Ruppert to make it 5-3. The teams then traded goals in the span of 16 seconds. Tourgee fed Chaput right in front but Jared Vacher won the face-off and Antonetti was able to convert on the other end.

Down by two, North had a great opportunity to get back into the game. Coyne was penalized for a hit with 2:21 left in the third. Defender Sean Connolly stepped into the cage for the rest of the quarter, but the Rocketeers managed only one shot off target in that period and the Bulldogs maintained their lead into the fourth.

“I saw the momentum swing a few different times and frankly I thought it was going to go their way a little more,” Young said. “I thought they were solid moving the ball up and down, in the clear and the ride. I’ve got guys who’ve never seen varsity before and it shows at times, but the guys stepped up and played like old pros.”

Ruppert completed his hat trick with a spin and low shot 90 seconds into the quarter, but Fitzpatrick won the draw and Canton turned it into a quick response. Fitzpatrick got the ball ahead to Carlino who moved it along to Chaput and he fired a quick-release shot into the top corner just 12 seconds after North cut the deficit to one.

“Our attack has a knack for the big goal and the big moment,” Quinn said. “When we need it, they always give it to us.”

Canton sealed the win with 1:58 to play. Tourgee made an interception and the ball ended up in the stick of AJ Thomas for the finish. Coyne made the goals stand up, saving chances from Ruppert and Antonetti and then adding a ninth save just before the minute mark on another low rip by Ruppert.

Quinn said, “Today was all about our goalie and our ‘D’. I’m pumped about our attack, but our goalie and ‘D’ really held it down for us. He’s really the heartbeat of our team. he does a great job communicating for our defense, our defense listens well, and then our attack just finished when we needed it.”

Canton (8-0, 5-0) remained in a tie for first with Foxboro. North Attleboro (5-3, 4-1) dropped one game back in third place. The two teams will meet again on Friday afternoon.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

05/13/202105/13/2021

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Preview

EDITOR’S NOTE: Only teams that responded to HockomockSports.com with information regarding their team and the upcoming season are listed in this year’s preview.

Attleboro

2019 Record: 4-14
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Kevin Patton

Attleboro is a young program and, after the two-year break, also has a young roster, but the Bombardiers have a group of experienced players to lean on at both ends of the field to try and build on the four wins from 2019.

Senior Michael Strachan will lead the Attleboro attack and he’s joined up top by junior Keigan Conley, who played two years ago as a freshman, and sophomore Carter Shelton. In the midfield, senior Dan White and Matt Perry will be joined by junior Ryan Betts. Attleboro has a lot of depth in the midfield with juniors Chad Beaupin and Seth LaPlaca and senior Elijah Turner, who has transferred in from Xaverian. Junior Freddy Wheaton and senior goalie William Runey will be the leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Wheaton’s brother John and freshman Bobby Sawyer will also jump in on defense. Senior Jack Nagy and freshmen Ethan Lyons and Shane Evans will also see action in defense this season. Freshman Harry Wheaton will be the backup goalie this year.

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

“After missing last season due to pandemic, our team (like all others in the league) is young,” said Attleboro coach Kevin Patton. “However, we do have a lot of varsity experience on the team from returning players. This coupled with leadership from our captains has me excited for the season.”

Canton

2019 Record: 12-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Interim Coach: Tommy Galvin

Canton came close to winning its third league title in program history in 2019, finishing just a game back of Foxboro, and now the Bulldogs return a veteran spine for the new coaching staff to build around. With a few exciting newcomers, especially in attack, Canton could be ready to challenge for its third title in the past eight seasons.

Experience will be key for the defensive unit. Senior goalie Dylan Coyne provides a big frame and a tough, physical presence in goal. In front of him, senior Jack Albert is a strong on-the-ball defender and freshman LSM Colin Blake should be able to step right in and make an impact. Canton is hoping to limit the transition game and use its strength to keep the opposition away from goal. Senior midfielder Jeff Fitzpatrick is strong on the faceoff ‘X’ and can jump into the attack. Junior Sam Carlino has been explosive through the first two games, with 12 goals already, and he leads a relatively young attacking crew. Sophomore attacker Jeff Chaput and freshman midfielder Brendan Tourgee should contribute to Canton’s offense right away.

“We have a mix of veteran players and new players and I am very excited to see what this group can accomplish this year,” said Canton interim coach Tommy Galvin. “We have great leadership and are a gritty team who plays until the final whistle.”

Foxboro

2019 Record: 12-7
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal
Coach: Matt Noone

Foxboro is in search of a three-peat of Davenport division titles, but the Warriors will also be looking to the future with a relatively young and inexperienced roster. There are only three seniors on the roster this season, so underclassmen will be getting the chance to contribute right away at both ends of the field.

Senior Nick Penders has been on varsity since his freshman season and will be an important contributor both at the faceoff ‘X’ and in the attack. He will be joined in the midfield by classmate Max Biegel, whose athleticism makes him a factor on offense and defense. Junior Tommy Sharkey, sophomore Finn Stapleton, and freshman Tony Sulham will round out the midfield unit. At the back, senior Paul Andrews will add leadership once he returns from a football injury. Junior Jack Avery saw some time as a freshman and he’ll get help in the attack from sophomore Conor Noone and freshman Lincoln Moore. Juniors Dylan Kerrigan and Ben Ricketts will lead the defensive corps until Andrews returns and freshman Adam Addeche will continue a family legacy as he steps in at goal.

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

“Right now we are shaking a lot of rust off,” said Foxboro coach Matt Noone. “We are young, but we will be tough! I look forward to this young team as they grow and come together.”

Franklin

2019 Record: 18-3
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Lou Verrochi

Franklin has developed not only into a league power, having won the outright Kelley-Rex division title in each of the past five seasons, but is showing that it can compete with the top programs in the state. In 2019, the Panthers reached the South semifinal and lost by just one to perennial power Duxbury. This year’s team expects to be just as skilled and athletic as usual with sights set on another league crown.

The centerpiece of the Franklin attack will be senior Matt Lazzaro, an All-American in 2019, and he will be partnered up top by sophomore Luke Davis, whose brothers Will (goalie) and Jake (attacker) are both playing college, and sophomore Jayden Consigli, who moved from Northbridge. The midfield is loaded with athletes, including Owen Kielty, Joe Consigli, Tim Walsh, and Mike Griffin. Zach Harvey will lead the defensive unit along with Ben Harvey and Kyle Palmieri. Senior Jack Maguire will step in between the pipes with freshman Matt Corvi also ready to jump in and play goal when needed. Justin Alexander will be taking faceoffs, following in the footsteps of his brother Jacob who was the league MVP in 2019.

“We have a very competitive group of lacrosse athletes this year,” said Franklin coach Lou Verrochi. “We are looking forward to see what this group can do during our Hock schedule and hopefully advance in the state tournament.”

Mansfield

2019 Record: 8-10
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Tim Frias

Mansfield reached the postseason in 2019 only to have to face Franklin in the first round. With 10 seniors returning this spring, the Hornets will be hoping to lean on their experience to challenge the Panthers in the race for the Kelley-Rex division crown and get playing time for a large and talented sophomore class getting its first taste of varsity action.

The Hornets should have the speed to burn and plenty of aggressive play in the middle of the field with seniors Nico Holmes, Ethan Bruce, and Joe Gormley. Seniors Thomas Norton, Jake Quirk, and Dylan Morris will give Mansfield some versatility and dynamism in the attacking zone. Seniors Ben Johnston, Frankie Kennedy, and Ben Tatusko will be the leaders in the defensive corps. Sophomore Ryan DeGirolamo will step into the cage and anchor the defense.

“There are a number of key young players we look at to play an integral part in this year’s team,” said Mansfield coach Tim Frias. “Our strength will be speed and size.”

North Attleboro

2019 Record: 10-8
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Central/East Quarterfinal
Coach: Kevin Young

North Attleboro finished a game out of first in 2019 and now two years later the Rocketeers will be looking to take that next step and snatch back the Davenport division title from Foxboro. North has a good blend of experience and new faces, strength in defense, and dynamic attackers to challenge for the league title this year.

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Defense is going to be a key for the Rocketeers. Senior Tyler Sarro has been a starter since his freshman year and the St. Michael’s-commit is going to be the leader in the defensive end of the field. Senior LSM Sam Gugliotta will add more experience at the back, while Eric Hobbs and James Brennan look ready to step into bigger roles. In the attack, juniors Matt Antonetti, Connor Rupert, and Clayton Billingkoff will try to build on the experience they had as freshmen to shoulder the scoring load this season. Midfielder Jared Vacher is going to step in at the faceoff ‘X’ and North has a pair of new goalies, Ethan McGrath and JT Gallagher, who have had solid preseasons and look ready to compete at this level.

“COVID has hit all sports hard,” said North coach Kevin Young. “We are focusing on getting all players ready to step into any role. It will be a challenging year but, we’re glad to be back.”

Oliver Ames

2019 Record: 14-5
2019 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round
Coach: Ben Devlin

Oliver Ames won 14 games in 2019 and finished tied with King Philip for second in the Kelley-Rex division, but two years later only one player from that team is back as the Tigers look to make noise in the Davenport. Despite its inexperience, the Tigers will be hoping that the underclassmen can step in and help OA challenge for a league title.

The lone player with varsity experience is senior attacker Remi Creighton. One of the league’s most creative players, Creighton had 60 points as a sophomore and will be the spearhead of OA’s attack. Seniors Doug Oliveira and Ross Carroll will also add to the offensive punch and sophomore attacker Ben Reardon will make his varsity debut this season. Juniors Wyatt Frichtman and Wes Tower will both step in after a year with JV in 2019. Senior Brendan Cross and Michael Branagan will be joined on defense by sophomore Jake Manthous and freshman LSM Landon Grothe. Sophomore Noah Isleib and junior Cam Tower will battle for the starting goalie spot.

“It’s tough to replace what OA lax graduated last year,” said OA coach Ben Devlin. “We now have a lot of kids that haven’t played together before and many who haven’t played a lacrosse game in over two years. We’ll be focused on getting these guys on the same page and working off some rust while incorporating a lot of young players.”

Sharon

2019 Record: 7-11
2019 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jon Shocket

Sharon has a team loaded with upperclassmen this season and, despite missing last spring, the Eagles are hoping that experience will carry them up the standings to challenge Foxboro at the top of the Davenport division.

The Eagles will be hoping to bolster the attack this season, led by senior Drew Litner, who played a part in more than half of the team’s goals as a sophomore. Junior Brady Daylor will be taking on a bigger role in the midfield this season and his classmate Ben Shocket could be ready for a breakout season on the faceoff ‘X’ after being third in the league in faceoff wins as a freshman. Defensively, senior Shea Letendre will be the vocal leader and senior Adam Rabb is back in goal to anchor things at that end of the field.

“We’re very excited about the upcoming season,” said Sharon coach Jon Shocket. “We have several returning starters with a majority of our team seniors and juniors.”

2021 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

05/11/202105/11/2021

Boys Lacrosse: Ten Players to Watch for 2021

Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch 2021 — Franklin senior attacker Matt Lazzaro will be one of the players to watch at the start of the new boys lacrosse season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Players are listed alphabetically

Dylan Coyne, Senior – Canton

The Bulldogs will have a new coaching staff this season and a lot of new players who weren’t part of the 2019 team that came within a game of winning their first league title since 2015, but Coyne will be a familiar face in the Canton goal. As a sophomore, Coyne jumped in the cage and stopped more than 57% of the shots he faced, good for fourth-best in the league. He allowed only 7.4 goals per game and made 180 saves. With good size and agility, it’s hard to find a lot of open space to shoot at him and Coyne has good reflexes to stop shots from close range. With a lot of roster turnover, Canton will be counting on its goalie to provide a foundation for a league title run.

Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Remi Creighton, Senior – Oliver Ames

Oliver Ames has made great strides in recent seasons and won 14 games in 2019. While most of the core of that team has graduated, Creighton was one of the top playmakers two years ago and will be a spark plug for the Tigers in attack this spring. Quick, athletic, and creative in front of goal, Creighton scored 21 times and led the team with 37 assists in 2019. He has an eye for a shot but also uses his ability to beat defenders to open up scoring chances for his teammates. OA is moving to the Davenport division this spring and will be hoping to make a run at a league title and the Tigers will be relying on Creighton’s dynamism to push them over the top.

Luke Davis, Sophomore – Franklin

The Panthers are definitely a program that reloads rather than rebuilds and it seems like each spring there are new underclassmen ready to step in and become stars. Davis looks to be the next attacker to continue that tradition. Davis has made an immediate impact. In his debut, he scored six goals and showed off the combination of quickness, stick skills, shot strength and accuracy, and willingness to combine with his fellow attackers that made his brother Jake a standout too. Franklin enters every season with the expectation of being the top team in the Kelley-Rex division and bringing in new faces like Davis every season makes it easier to meet those lofty goals.

Evan Hazard, Senior – Milford

Milford will face a new challenge this season with the move to the Kelley-Rex division and the Hawks will be hoping that Hazard can continue to be one of the league’s top-performing goalies to stay competitive. Hazard allowed more than 12 goals per game as a sophomore in 2019, but also led the Hockomock with 244 saves. The University of New England-commit stopped more than 55% of the shots he faced, putting him in the top half of Hock goalies. Hazard can expect to be busy again this spring, especially with two games against high-scoring Franklin, but he will give the Hawks confidence that he can stand up to the barrage and keep things close in most games.

Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Matt Lazzaro, Senior – Franklin

Two years ago, Lazzaro broke out as one of the league’s top scorers, racking up more than 100 points and helping Franklin to another league title. He was named a first-team All-American after scoring 59 goals and dishing out 48 assists, more than tripling his 30 points as a freshman. The Penn State commit showed that he had the lethal combo of being able to score at will but also be unselfish and find openings for his teammates. He also had big games against the best opponents, including a six-goal, three-assist performance against defending state champ BC High. This spring, Lazzaro will be the focal point of the Panthers’ attack and looks ready to put up even bigger numbers for the Kelley-Rex favorites.

Drew Litner, Senior – Sharon

Even though he was just a sophomore in 2019, Litner was the primary playmaker for the Sharon attack, accounting for more than half of the team’s goals. The Rhodes College-commit had a breakout season with 32 goals and a team-high 43 assists. His 75 points were the eighth-best in the league. Quick, shifty, and with a low center of gravity that makes it hard for defenders to stay in front or get clean stick checks on him, Litner showed a lot of creativity around the cage. Sharon will be hoping to make a move up the standings and challenge Foxboro for the Davenport division crown this spring and Litner’s ability to score and set up goals will be crucial to the Eagles reaching that objective.

Sam Mattson, Senior – King Philip

King Philip comes into a new season hoping this will be the year that the Warriors can unseat Franklin from the top of the Kelley-Rex and one of the players that KP will be counting on is Mattson. The team’s top returning scorer, Mattson had a strong sophomore season with 22 goals and 10 assists from the KP midfield. The UMass-commit brings plenty of size and strength on both ends of the field and the Warriors will be hoping for a breakout spring from a player who has already shown the ability to make big plays in big games. If KP is hoping to win its first league title since 2014, then Mattson and others will have to step into bigger roles this season.

Nick Penders, Senior – Foxboro

The Warriors will be very young this spring, as they try to make it a three-peat of Davenport division titles. Penders is one of only three seniors on this year’s roster and the midfielder will play a key role in leading Foxboro’s attack. With good size, and strength, Penders will be a tough presence on the face-off ‘X’ and he will also be expected to take on a bigger role in creating scoring opportunities for an offensive unit that has talent but lacks varsity experience. Foxboro is a perennial favorite to bring home a league title and, even with a youthful look, this year will be no different. Penders and his fellow seniors will have to provide the on-field leadership to fend off the other teams in the division who will be aiming to take Foxboro’s spot at the top of the standings.

Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

Jake Quirk, Senior – Mansfield

One of several seniors who got significant playing time as sophomores in 2019, Quirk will be one of Mansfield’s top attackers this season. The leading scorer from the 2019 team, which reached the first round of the playoffs only to be matched up against Franklin, Quirk scored 18 goals and had a team-high 17 assists. The athletic playmaker will be counted on to help the Hornets try to improve their offensive output this spring and could be poised for a breakout year in the attack. Quirk is one of 10 seniors on this year’s roster and Mansfield will be hoping that experience can help mount a challenge to the Panthers’ control of the Kelley-Rex division title.

Tyler Sarro, Senior – North Attleboro

North Attleboro has relied on a strong defense to compete for the Davenport division title every season. In 2019, the Rocketeers allowed only 133 goals in 18 games and finished just a game behind Foxboro in the standings. Sarro, a senior defender and St. Michael’s-commit, will be the leader of North’s defensive corps this spring. During a strong sophomore season, Sarro showed the ability to mark up some of the league’s top attackers. His quick hands and accurate checks make him tough to beat one-on-one and he is a vocal presence at the back, keeping everyone in the right spots. North will be leaning on its experienced defense again this season as it looks to unseat Foxboro as Davenport champ.

Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Players to Watch

03/25/2021

2021 Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Kelley-Rex Division MVP

Rocco Bianculli, King Philip

Davenport Division MVP

Sean Connolly, Canton

Below are the official 2021 Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars and honorable mentions, selected by the coaches in the league. 2021 Hockomock League Boys Hockey All Stars

02/11/202102/12/2021

Canton and Franklin Skate Away With a Point Apiece

Franklin Boys Hockey — Canton and Franklin boys hockey renewed their rivalry at Metropolis Rink and the rivals battled to a 2-2 tie with all the goals coming in the second period. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

CANTON, Mass. – Even in the most irregular of seasons, Canton and Franklin’s rivalry on the ice matters.

When the two teams met on Thursday night at the Metropolis Rink, the game had no bearing on either winning yet another league title and neither team was preparing for its typical postseason run. But, regardless of the circumstances, both teams skated a little faster and things were a little more intense because of who was on the opposite bench.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Five days ago, Franklin battled back to tie the game only for Canton to score a late winner. On Thursday, nothing could separate the two teams. Twice Franklin went in front and twice Canton found the tying goal. The teams skated to a 2-2 tie, with all four goals scored in the second period.

“We were on the phone for hours one night figuring out how to do this in a shortened season,” said Canton coach Brian Shuman. “I know the kids appreciated it immensely on both teams.

“That’s the best team we’ve faced all season and they’re one of the best teams in the state with their skill and their speed. A lot of our guys have never experienced this rivalry before at this level and I’m really proud of them for how they battled.”

Both teams flew out of the gates and the action was end-to-end. Even if the scoring chances were limited in quantity, there were high quality opportunities for both teams to break the deadlock.

“You’ve kind of got to bring yourself back down a little bit because everybody’s amped up tp play,” said Franklin coach Anthony Sarno.” Our guys have a ton of respect for those guys and those guys have a ton of respect for us, coaches included, and it’s just good hockey all-around.”

He added, “A season without Canton, wouldn’t have been a season.”

The Panthers had a good early chance with a quick breakout. Joe LeBlanc’s outlet pass from the defensive zone hit fellow defender Justin Abely, who redirected it to Dylan Marchand. Canton goalie Liam Polles (23 saves) made the first stop and then was able to get a block on Justin Magazu’s follow up chance on the rebound.

Eddie Gillis forced a pad save from Franklin netminder Gary Mandia (21 saves) with a deflected shot. Sam Carlino nearly created a great opening for Dylan Coyne right in front of goal, but the Franklin defense managed to get a block and then the loose puck slid away from the stick of Leo Owens at the post.

Magazu was able to open a lane for Domenic Lampasono, but Polles stayed strong and was able to stop the close-range chance.

“They’ve got a lot of quick forwards, lot of speed, so we were just trying to step up and play between the dots, take away the bodies and make them dump the puck in,” Sarno explained. “Neutral zone, we weren’t trying to play with it too much, short passes. In this rink, any turnover in the neutral zone and it’s a breakaway and if anyone can exploit that it’s Canton.”

It was a defensive-zone turnover that would lead to the opener. Just 90 seconds after the intermission, a reverse pass caromed off the end boards and right out in front to Aidan Hunt. Polles nearly made a great save. He was able to catch the one-time, but as he was scrambling across goal to get in position he was deep in the crease and he ended up on the wrong side of the goal line.

Momentum from the goal didn’t last long. It only took a minute for the Bulldogs to even things up. Sean Connolly’s shot from the point was parried by Mandia, who somehow saw the puck through the crowd in front. Franklin wasn’t able to clear the rebound, with Andrew Valkanas keeping it alive and getting it back to Connolly at the blue line. The second shot had eyes and snuck through traffic and into the back of the net.

Seconds after Mandia was able to deny Tommy Phaneuf what looked like a sure goal, the visitors regained the lead. Magazu raced down the left wing and flipped a pass across the slot to Marchand at the far circle and his one-timer gave Polles no chance, sneaking inside the post.

This time, the lead lasted seven minutes before Canton again found an equalizer. Valkanas created the chance by teeing up Jeffrey Chaput. Mandia made the blocker save but Valkanas was there for the rebound.

Things tightened up in the third period, as neither team wanted to take a big risk that could lead to a winning goal for their opponents. Mandia was forced into a good save on Phaneuf and Lampasona dug out the rebound, but Canton was noticeably tiring in its second game in as many days.

“We exerted so much energy in the first and second periods and in the third, credit to them, they were flying and still had their legs and we were hanging on,” said Shuman. “Classic Franklin/Canton game. Comes down to the third period and the last minutes and so happy we had a chance to experience it this year.”

Franklin still had its legs and created a couple of chances that could’ve won it. Magazu was a constant thorn in the Canton defense’s side and he somehow split a pair of defensemen at the blue line, drew a third, and laid a pass off to Lampasona, who missed the net from close range.

With five minutes to play, Marchand got free in the zone and fired a shot that Polles stopped at the near post. Marchand stayed with the rebound and set up Magazu right in front, but again the Canton goalie came through with a big save to preserve a point.

“They played hard this year,” Sarno said. “We didn’t know if we were going to have the season, then we were, then we weren’t. Hats off to the boys, they fought through some adversity.”

Canton (9-0-1), which remarkably has lost one game in the past three seasons combined, will close out its league campaign against Oliver Ames and Foxboro. Franklin (10-2-1), which has clinched at least a share of the Kelley-Rex title, closed out its season on Thursday.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

01/18/2021

Chaput Snipe Lifts Canton to Win Against North

Canton boys hockey — Sophomore Jeffrey Chaput celebrates his second period goal that turned out to be the game-winner for Canton against North Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

CANTON, Mass. – North Attleboro got bodies in the way all game long, not letting pucks get through on goal, but sometimes it only takes a sliver of space to find the back of the net.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Sophomore Jeffrey Chaput got that one chance in the second period and buried it in the top corner and it turned out to be all that the Bulldogs would need. Canton added an empty net goal in the final minute and skated to a 2-0 victory over North Attleboro that puts the teams in a tie for first in the Davenport division.

“North Attleboro does a great job blocking shots, they always have,” said Canton coach Brian Shuman. “They sell out, they take away the shooting lanes. Also a failure on our part, too many shots above the knees, which are the easiest shots to block. We have to keep it low, along the ice, and find shooting lanes. Stop trying to go top shelf on their goalie and try to create more rebound opportunities.”

It was an even game, despite Canton’s edge in shots on goal. Both teams came out flying and the Bulldogs showed no rust from having a week off between games.

Shuman explained, “We’ve been fortunate enough to be skating normally, so I think that in itself is keeping us in a good flow and a good rhythm. We’re just lucky to be playing right now because there are a lot of teams that unfortunately aren’t.”

Jack Digirolamo sprung Brendan Tourgee down the left wing for an early chance that was saved by North goalie Kyle Gruber (23 saves). Andrew Valkanas stayed with the puck after his initial shot was blocked and had a good look coming off the right wing boards, but again Gruber stood tall.

The chances kept coming for Canton in the first. Digirolamo had a shot blocked in front and the rebound fell to Tourgee at the post, but the freshman forward was denied by the freshman goalie’s pad. AJ Thomas had another chance between the circles with a quick spin and shot but Gruber, who was making his first varsity start, was again equal to it.

“Why not?” chuckled North coach Ben McManama when asked about having his goalie make his debut against the Bulldogs. “I was a little worried about doing that but you can tell he’s a tough kid mentally and you know what? You’re going to have to learn sometime and we thought it would be good experience for him.”

North started to get more looks in the offensive zone as the first period wore on. Charlie Connolly angled a shot from the right point that was tipped in front by Joe Quinn, but went just wide of the post. In the final seconds of the first, Nik Kojoian pushed towards goal from the left circle but was denied at the post by Canton goalie Liam Polles (15 saves).

Despite starting on the kill, Canton dominated zone time in the second, keeping North pinned back in its defensive zone. Even with all that pressure, it was North that had the edge in shots on goal (6-5) in the period. The Rocketeers defensemen continually got in the way of shots and kept Canton out of the middle.

“It can be a little deceiving sometimes,” said McManama. “There may be a lot of zone time, but are we giving up quality shots? I think we didn’t give up too many except for the goal they scored. They did a good job of keeping everything to the outside and our goalie did a great job and we also helped him out.”

Jake Gruber had a good chance for North when he forced a turnover near his own blue line and then forced a blocker save from Polles on the other end of the ice. Mark Ayvazyan almost had a breakaway for the Rocketeers, but pulled up short of the crease to avoid a defenseman and then fired just wide.

By that point, Canton had gotten its one good chance. After a spell of pressure in the zone that saw a couple of shots blocked in front, the puck kicked out to Chaput just inside the left circle. He barely settled the puck before whipping a shot into the top corner that gave the goalie no chance.

“Jeff had a great shot and a quick shot, quick release that kind of surprised the goalie,” said Shuman. “He worked hard. He had the best game I’ve seen him play in his two years for us and he deserved that.”

The pattern continued in the third period, with Canton using its speed to gain the zone and put pressure on the North defense, but with the visitors holding firm and creating the occasional scoring opportunity on the other end.

“Coach Spillane said it best on the bench, let’s get some breathing room and get that goal early in the period,” Shuman said of Canton’s approach to the third period. (With his assistant coaches unavailable this week, Shuman asked former Franklin coach Chris Spillane to help out on the bench.) “We had a couple good chances, just couldn’t bury it.”

Sam Clarke nearly tied the game inside the first minute of the third. He blocked Jay Kelleher’s shot from the point and raced past the Canton defense before forcing a blocker stop from Polles.

It was a warning for the Bulldogs that the game wasn’t over. The best chance to double the lead came when Dylan Coyne’s shot from the slot was blocked and the rebound fell to Eddie Gillis, but his tip slid just wide of the post.

North came closest to tying the game with 2:30 remaining. Tyler Sarro stretched to tip a clearance in the neutral zone to avoid an icing and, after a battle behind the Canton net, the puck came out to Nick Longa on the edge of the crease. Polles kept his pads on the ice and was able to cover up.

Just a few seconds after North pulled its goalie, Canton wrapped up the win. Sam Carlino blocked a pass on one end, chased the puck down, and flicked into the empty net to make it 2-0 with 40.2 on the clock.

“We’re going to have to look at the film and see how we can generate more offense,” said McManama. “Sometimes they do such good job with our ‘D’ zone coverage that we get stuck down there. We’re going to have to work on ways to get ourselves better entries through the neutral zone.”

Canton (3-0) and North Attleboro (1-2) will meet again on Wednesday at the New England Sports Village.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Hockomock League MVP

Hockomock League All Stars

Hockomock League MVP

Hockomock League All Stars

Kelley-Rex Division MVP

Kelley-Rex Division All Stars

Davenport Division MVP

Davenport Division All Stars

2021 Hockomock Boys Lacrosse Preview

Dylan Coyne, Senior – Canton

Remi Creighton, Senior – Oliver Ames

Luke Davis, Sophomore – Franklin

Evan Hazard, Senior – Milford

Matt Lazzaro, Senior – Franklin

Drew Litner, Senior – Sharon

Sam Mattson, Senior – King Philip

Nick Penders, Senior – Foxboro

Jake Quirk, Senior – Mansfield

Tyler Sarro, Senior – North Attleboro

Kelley-Rex Division MVP

Kelley-Rex Division All Stars

Davenport Division MVP

Davenport Division All Stars