By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
Norah Anderson, Senior – Franklin
Franklin retained its Kelley-Rex crown last season and once again it was a stout defense that helped the Panthers bring home the title. Anderson was dominant in the heart of the Franklin back line, growing into her role as the veteran and vocal leader of the defense. While she brings physicality and athleticism, Anderson is also a smart defender, reading plays and sensing where the danger is to be in the right spots. Franklin had nine clean sheets last year, allowing only 11 goals in 18 games and only twice allowing more than one goal in a game. Anderson is a major factor in that solidity at the back, whether defending attackers one-on-one, providing cover for her teammates, or starting a counterattack with a well-timed pass. The Panthers will have their sights set on a three-peat this fall and Anderson’s presence in the center of the back line will be a major reason that they enter the season as favorites in the Kelley-Rex.
Dani Atherton, Senior – Milford
Atherton has been the spark plug for the Milford attack for the past three seasons, helping to keep a relatively inexperienced squad competitive in league play. She scored nine times and had six assists last season and her recovery from a late-season injury will be critical for the Hawks to make a playoff push this year. Quick and tenacious, Atherton is always putting pressure on the opposition defenders. She is willing to make runs into the channels and in behind the back line, but can also drop into space to receive the ball and challenge defenders one-on-one. A strong finisher anywhere near the box, Atherton is a constant threat to make something happen, regardless of how many defenders she is up against. Milford will be hoping to build on the experience of 2021 and Atherton remains the key to unlocking some of the tough defensive units that the Hawks will be up against this season.
Lucinda Li Cotter, Junior – Oliver Ames
Cotter had a breakout sophomore campaign, leading OA in assists and proving to be a constant thorn in the side of opposition defenses. The latest in a long line of talented, speedy wingers at OA, Cotter scored seven times and set up nine other goals last fall. She has a low center of gravity, quick feet, and a tenacity to chase every ball played in behind the defense. Teams need to keep an eye on her at all times because Cotter can turn what looks like a lost cause into a dangerous scoring chance. Whether running past the back line or taking on defenders with the ball at her feet, Cotter’s speed is always a threat to create an opening and she has the vision to pick out the right pass or find a teammate with a pinpoint cross. Although the Tigers will lose some experienced attackers from last year’s team, which was second in the league with 68 goals scored, Cotter returns as a consistent outlet on either flank, giving the Tigers a solid foundation as they seek to repeat as league champs.
Emily Dunlea, Senior – Attleboro
Dunlea stepped into a bigger role in the heart of the Attleboro midfield last season and now the senior returns to try and move the Bombardiers up the Kelley-Rex standings. Not only one of Attleboro’s top creative players, but Dunlea also adds a physical presence in the middle of the pitch, using her size and strength to win the ball back on the deck or win aerial challenges. With quick feet and a good eye for a forward pass, the Eastern Connecticut State commit helps the Bombardiers quickly turn defense into attack and as a box-to-box midfielder she also pops up with late runs to give Attleboro an extra scoring threat. Dunlea is also potent with free kicks and has a dangerous long-range strike, finishing with three goals and five assists last year. Attleboro celebrated a return to the postseason in 2021 and Dunlea will be hoping to lead the Bombardiers back into the tournament this fall.
Sofia Goclowski, Senior – Sharon
Although it was a tough season for a young Sharon team in 2021, Goclowski emerged as a standout playmaker in the center of the pitch. She finished in the top 10 in the league in scoring, racking up seven goals and 11 assists, while accounting for nearly 60 percent of the goals that Sharon scored last year. Despite drawing a lot of attention from opposing teams, Goclowski was able to find pockets of space from which to create. She could take on defenders with the ball at her feet, had the vision to make the right pass even under pressure, and seemed to always pop up in the right place to produce a scoring chance for the Eagles. A box-to-box midfielder, Goclowski didn’t shy away from a tackle or tracking back to help her defense and gave the Eagles much-needed energy in the middle of the park. Sharon will hope that Goclowski’s skill and experience can bring more results for the team this fall, as the Eagles look to make a move up the Davenport standings.
Emily McCabe, Senior – Canton
There was a run of games towards the end of last season when it seemed like McCabe couldn’t stop scoring. The skillful midfielder had a breakout junior season, becoming one of the league’s top attacking threats and helping Canton make a late push to secure a playoff berth. In a relatively young team, McCabe demonstrated her ability to orchestrate things from the center of the pitch, smartly keeping possession, avoiding pressure from opposing defenders, and picking out the right passes to get the Bulldogs moving forward. As the season progressed, McCabe also showed that she could get forward herself, making intelligent runs into the box, finding space behind the defense, and finishing off chance after chance. A dangerous free kick taker, McCabe started to use that long-range shooting ability to good effect to lead the Bulldogs in goals (14) and assists (nine). Her rich vein of scoring form coincided with Canton losing only two of its final 10 matches in the regular season, securing a .500 record and a spot in the state tournament. With a more experienced roster around her, McCabe could help the Bulldogs put in a league title challenge.
Ella Pisani, Senior – King Philip
Pisani has emerged as one of the top creative players in the league over the past two seasons, becoming one of the Hockomock’s top scorers despite being the focus of opposing defenses. She finished last year with 19 goals and nine assists, playing up top or dropping in behind the forwards to find spaces where she can deliver the killer pass. With her quick feet and skills on the ball, Pisani is a nightmare for opposing defenders. She can beat players with her speed but also has the control in tight spaces to find a sliver of shooting room or slip a pass through to a teammate in a better position. Pisani’s versatility is also important because she can move anywhere along the front line, making it more difficult for teams to man-mark her and giving the Warriors different looks to their attacks. KP will be aiming to unseat Franklin at the top of the Kelley-Rex this season and Pisani’s creativity and finishing will be critical for the Warriors to get back on top of the league.
Emma Pratt, Senior – North Attleboro
After a breakout junior season in which she led North with nine goals and four assists, Pratt will be hoping to provide Big Red with even more attacking threat this fall as they make the move back to the Kelley-Rex division. Pratt is one of North’s creative outlets in midfield and her playmaking ability will be key to the Rocketeers producing scoring chances. With her speed and ability to find open space, Pratt is difficult for opposing defenses to pick up. She has good skills with the ball, able to beat defenders and make room for either a shot or to find a teammate. Pratt can play up top or drop into the midfield, has the speed to make runs out wide, and is willing to get stuck into a tackle, allowing North to defend from the front. The Rocketeers will be hoping to make some noise in the Kelley-Rex this year and Pratt’s skill and versatility are major pieces for North to build around.
Lindsey Resnick, Junior – Foxboro
While a lot of the attention will be on how the Warriors replace the scoring and midfield presence of All-American Kailee McCabe, Foxboro’s underrated defense should continue to be solid with Resnick sweeping things up. The junior was integral in the Warriors only allowing 20 goals in 22 games last season, including three clean sheets in the postseason. Even as an underclassman, Resnick was a vocal leader in the back line. She has the speed to cover a lot of ground as the last line of defense and her ability to read danger allows her to snuff out most attacks before it leads to a scoring opportunity. She is also a tall, commanding presence on set pieces on both ends of the field and has the ability to start Foxboro attacks out of the back with good distribution. Foxboro will have some new faces in new roles this year, but the defense should be sorted out with Resnick returning to now be the veteran leader and keep things organized as the Warriors look to challenge for another league title.
Kara Santos, Junior – Mansfield
Mansfield will be hoping to make its first season in the Davenport division a title-winning one and the Hornets will lean on the experience of Santos, a three-year starter, to make sure the defense is ready to go again this fall. Santos helped the Hornets hold teams to just 17 goals in 18 games last year, recording eight clean sheets along the way. A strong, physical presence, Santos also has the quickness to cover ground and cut out attacks in the channels. She is an intelligent defender, reading the play well to get a step on attackers, and is tough to beat one-on-one. Santos is also a danger on set pieces, scoring seven times last season, and her composure on the ball is a major factor in Mansfield’s buildup, as she can pick out the right pass into the midfield or find a forward making a run with an accurate long ball. The Hornets have a lot of experience returning from last fall and Santos will add veteran leadership along the back line to keep Mansfield in the running for a league title.