Click here for the 2016 HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Awards.
Tag: Goddy Fombe
Sharon Escapes Stoughton With Win, Davenport Title
STOUGHTON, Mass. – Sharon didn’t have the majority of possession or chances on the road at Stoughton on Tuesday afternoon. But the Eagles did walk away with the most important thing: two points.
Those two points clinched a share of the Davenport division title, and by the end of the night, because of Foxboro’s win over Canton, Sharon clinched the title outright.
The 2-0 win over Stoughton gave Sharon its first ever boys soccer Davenport title and first league title since 1994.
“It was tough conditions today. The wind, the shorter field, the narrower field,” Sharon head coach Bryan Kelly said. “They clearly knew how to play the field – I’m going to chalk it up to that. As far as possession, we had to change formations a couple times to find the right one and we found it in the second half and we started to get possession a little better. They definitely had it in the first half, luckily we got that early goal and it kind of led us to victory. Once we established in the 4-4-2, we were set.”
Stoughton set out to use the wind to its advantage in the first half but Sharon registered the first two chances on goal. In the 6th minute, Ben Stamm sprayed Jake Teven wide along the right sideline. Teven put in a service over the Stoughton keeper the died in the area but Andrew Reyes-Jones’ close bid hit off the far post.
Just two minutes later, the Eagles once again were able to escape the pressure from the Black Knights. Stamm found himself on the right sideline wish possession and again, floated a ball that fell to the back post where Reyes-Jones redeemed himself with the close tap in to make it 1-0.
It looked like Stoughton would pull one back immediately as Loubensky Lucas used a nice move to get into the area along the touchline and had his cross knocked down on a handball. However, Sharon sophomore keeper Ethan Kantor used a diving save – his feet stopping the shot down the middle to keep the Eagles up.
For the rest of the first half, Stoughton was on the front end of things but couldn’t convert a dozen crosses into the area. Conor Kavanaghhad one cross hit off the crossbar and cleared and then another fall right through the area without a recipient latching on to it. Rami Hourabidelivered a tempting free kick right into the area but again, Stoughton couldn’t pounce on the loose ball in the area.
The pressure continued into the second half, despite the Black Knights playing against the wind. Noah Schulze connected with Lucas, who had a neat touch to put Jordan Asnes into the area but his bid rolled just wide at the far post in the 45th minute.
In the 58th minute, Goddy Fombe found Kavanagh in the area but his tight angle shot found the side netting on the outside at the near post. One minute later, Kantor had his biggest save in the run of play, robbing the Knights of the tying goal.
Asnes stayed patient as he gained possession in the attacking third, allowing runs to develop and finding a streaking Fabio Ponce De Leon up the middle. Ponce De Leon unleashed a shot that look destined for the back of the net but Kantor made a leaping save, punching the ball clear.
“He’s 3-for-4 on penalty kicks this year, he’s a dynamite goalie,” Kelly said. “I’m glad I have him for another two years too. He’s only a sophomore, he’s been lights out for us all year long and he continued to be today.”
Stoughton continued the pressure as Ponce De Leon connected with Kavanagh for a cross to Lucas, for a touch to Asnes, only for the shot to be partially blocked and smothered by Kantor.
“I don’t know what it is but the final decision, I don’t know what it is,” Stoughton head coach Aaron Salter said. “Not sure if it’s that we just need that one point to get into the tournament or what. We just have had so many games this year where we’ve dominated we just can’t seem to get…I don’t want to say luck, we just can’t seem to get it done.
“We’ve scored enough goals this year but the last few games, I can’t put my finger on it. The boys played well today – I can’t be too upset. We dominated the game. We needed to use the conditions in the first half. I just wish we put our second half performance in the first half and I think the outcome we have been different. To be fair to Sharon, they had two chances and they took them well. That’s what happens in soccer.”
Sharon had a pair of chances on the counter in the 63rd and 65th minutes but both shots were turned away by Stoughton keeper Matt Gallagher.
The Eagles iced the game in the 72nd minute, using the counter to play the ball over the top of Stoughton’s high line. Spencer Hall sprang Marques Benton in alone and he made the most of his chance with a shot into the back left corner.
Sharon boys soccer improves to 9-3-4 overall, and 8-3-3 in the Davenport. The Eagles will conclude the season with a home and home series with Milford, first visiting the Scarlet Hawks on Thursday. Stoughton falls to 8-8-1 overall. The Black Knights will need to get at least a point when they host Canton on Thursday in order to qualify for the state tournament.
Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/13/16
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Click here for a recap of the game.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 0 – Final
Mansfield, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford freshman Jordan Borges scored his first career goal off an assist by Marcello Panno to open the scoring but Mansfield netted four goals in the final seven minutes of the first half to get the win. Sean Lanzillo leveled the score off an assist from Ethan Brill-Cass in the 33rd minute, Cullin Anastasia put Mansfield up 2-1 on an assist from Kevin Bouck in the 35th minute, James Chotkowski made it 3-1 off an assist from Brill-Cass in the 39th minute and then Anastasia made it 4-1 off an assist from Lanzillo just 30 seconds later. Mansfield goalie Nick Ferraz replaced an injured Jed Tolbert in net in the second half and made 12 saves – head coach Steve Sheridan saying Ferraz played phenomenal. Milford head coach Brian Edwards said Zachary Brown and Mike Weber played extremely well for the Scarlet Hawks.
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – King Philip senior Colby Koch opened the scoring for the Warriors, finishing off a one on one situation after a ball over the top from Tyler Mann. Jason Florio netted the game-winner in the 77th minute, finishing at the back post off a feed from Anthony Bozza. North Attleboro netted it’s goal in the 79th minute.
Taunton, 0 @ Stoughton, 4 – Final – Stoughton scored a pair of goals in each half to earn its seventh win of the season. Jordan Asnes opened the scoring with a shot into the bottom left corner after a cross from Marco Antunes. Antunes then set up Loubensky Lucas four minutes later, playing a through ball while Lucas lifted the ball over the keeper to make it 2-0. Senior Goddy Fombe made a nice run out of the back, putting a through ball into Lucas who ran onto it and slotted it home. Sophomore Fabio Ponce De Leon capped the scoring, flicking in a service from Conner Kavanagh at the near post to make it 4-0. Matt Gallagher earned his second shutout of the year in net.
Girls Soccer
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final
Canton, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames scored two goals in each half to pick up its 10th win of the season. Tori Wyman, on an assist from Anna Tempestoso and Kiana Lozzi, on an assist from Abby Hodges gave OA a 2-0 lead at halftime. Jess Robarge, on an assist from Zoe Chazan) and Jackie Mills added second half goal for the Tigers.
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Hannah Reiter netted a pair of goals and assisted on Stephanie Kemp’s goal to lift Mansfield. Kemp also notched an assist in the win. Milford head coach Jay Mastaj said Nichole Dahlgren and Rachel LeBlanc played well on defense.
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to pick up the win over North Attleboro. Chloe Layne scored the game-winner, converting a corner kick from Emma Corcoran in the 65th minute. Kathrine Turner found Rachel Hogan, who volleyed her shot into the net to make it 2-0 with just under five minutes to play. Just 30 seconds later, Corcoran service another corner that Avery Snead latched onto to make it 3-0.
Stoughton, 0 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Izzy DaCosta netted the lone goal of the game to lift the Tigers. Stoughton head coach Tara Daniels said Emerson Sprague, Krista Michensi, Corina Kavengh and Sarah Widrow all played well defensively for the Black Knights.
Volleyball
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final
Mansfield, 3 @ Milford, 2 – Final – In a match filled with long rallies, Mansfield was able to edge Milford, 21-25, 25-19, 24-26, 26-24, 15-8. “It was an outstanding team effort by our whole team,” Mansfield head coach Melissa Heeden said. For the Hornets, Jess Haradon had 43 digs, Chloe Peters had 49 assists, Meg Hill added 14 kills, Julia Harrison chipped in with 12 digs and 10 kills, Jacey Anderson had 22 digs, Emily Kleber finished with eight kills and Olivia Broyles had seven kills.
King Philip, 3 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – King Philip avenged a non-league loss to the Rocketeers last week with a 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20 league win on Thursday. Sydney Phillips paced the offense with 19 kills while adding 18 service points and three blocks. Kat Kmetz had 23 service points for the Warriors along with three kills and two blocks, Amanda Loewen had 11 service points and eight digs and Angela Vellante added 25 service points and two digs.
Sharon, 0 @ Norwood, 3 – Final
Taunton, 0 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton’s Riley Bagley had a strong all around game with with eight kills and 16 digs.
Field Hockey
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Andrea McNeil scored the lone goal of the game while Taylor Carrington recorded the shutout in net for the Bulldogs. Oliver Ames head coach Abby Tepper said Katie Vamosi, Katie Davenport and Sarah Tetrault played well defensively for the Tigers.
Franklin, 5 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Franklin sophomore Annie Walsh netted a hat trick to help the Panthers land a 5-1 victory. Junior Maddie Hinckley opened the scoring with junior Kate Morse and freshman Erin Walsh each chipping in with two assists. Sophomore Cassi Ronan also had a goal and an assist. Franklin senior Sam Hertzberg had six saves –including two scintillating stops — to get the win in the cage.
Mansfield, 3 @ Milford, 1 – Final
King Philip, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – King Philip’s Christina Hathaway scored a penalty stroke in the first half to give the Warriors the edge at the break. In the second half, with 11 minutes left, Nicole Connor scored from an assist from Alli Meehan to make it 2-0. KP put 30 shots on net but North Attleboro goalie Liz Morehouse had a strong game.
Golf
Foxboro, 172 @ Oliver Ames, 143 – Final – Brady Allbritton earned match medalist honors for Oliver Ames, carding a low round of 34. Mark Bissonette shot a 35 while Ryan McGarry and Matt Kelley each shot 37 on the day. Chad Bearce shot a 42 for Foxboro and Matt Tierney carded a 43.
Stoughton, 179 @ Canton, 154 – Final – Canton’s Tommy Dimock was the match medalist, shooting a match-low 34 on the day at Blue Hills Country Club. Jackson Maffeo added a 39 for the Bulldogs while Matt Martin shot 40 and Pat Duggan shot a 41. Brendan Campbell led Stoughton with a 41.
Franklin, 151 @ North Attleboro, 146 – Final
Taunton vs. New Bedford, 3:00
Wedneday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 09/28/16
Today’s games are selected.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – Ahijah Joseph gave Attleboro the lead with an 18th minute goal, an advantage the Bombardiers took into the halftime break. Franklin senior Hatim Brahimi found the equalizer in the 69th minute to level the scoring.
Canton, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Canton sophomore Paolo Ruggeri scored in the final minutes of the came to complete the Bulldogs’ comeback. Foxboro’s Anthony Barreira and Jeff Melo scored goals in the first half as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead into halftime. But Canton senior Ben Waterhouse cut into the lead with a goal in the 52nd minute and sophomore Paul Corcoran tied the game in the 55th minute. Ruggeri was able to convert with under two minutes to play for the game winner.
King Philip, 2 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Sophomore Tony Bozza netted his first career goal in the opening minutes of the contest off an assist from Thomas Lugten and Lugten doubled the lead before the halfway mark of the first half to lead King Philip. Bozza used a one time finish off a pass from Lugten to put KP up 1-0 in the 2nd minute. Lugten then took a flick from Colby Koch and tucked his chance into the net from inside the area. KP head coach Nick Gale said his back four of Jack Bush, Cam Mullins, Ryan Coulter and Larsen Keys had a strong defensive game in front of goalie Eli O’Neill, who had a strong game against Mansfield’s set pieces.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Pedro Sampaio netted a pair of second half goals to lead the Scarlet Hawks to their second straight win. Sampaio converted a penalty kick to put Milford up 1-0 and then carried possession across the edge of the area before firing in his second of the game.
Taunton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Joe Cerqueira and Nathaniel Cardoza each scored in the first half for Oliver Ames. James Gillespie assisted on Cerqueira’s goal and Chris Lawrence set up Cardoza’s goal.
Stoughton, 2 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sharon cashed in on a pair of corner kicks to build a 2-0 lead at halftime and converted on a free kick for a 3-0 advantage early in the second half. Andrew Reyes Jones opened the scoring, converting a corner from Michael Baur. Jeffrey Gao doubled the lead, finishing off another corner from Baur. Ben Stamm headed home a free kick from Ian Camilli to make it 3-0. Stoughton responded with a pair of goals with sophomore Fabio Ponce De Leon finishing a lofted pass from Tyler Melo coming first and Jordan Asnes finishing a cross from Goddy Fombe to make it 3-2. Camilli iced the game with his second point of the game with a strike from just outside the area to cap the scoring.
Girls Soccer
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Miranda Smith scored twice and assisted on the third goal for the Panthers. Jess Kroushl added a goal and an assist and Emily Mastaj had an assist for Franklin.
Foxboro, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final
Mansfield, 5 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – Emma Oldow scored once and had two assists, Allee Bezeau netted a pair of goals and Emma Goulet and Steph Kemp each scored once and had an assist in Mansfield’s win. Avery Snead scored for King Philip.
Milford, 1 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Milford converted a corner kick to pick up a tie on the road at North Attleboro. Nicole Dahlgren scored off of Maddie Boyle’s corner for the Scarlet Hawks. Milford head coach Jay Mastaj praised the two-way play of Ashleigh Starks and Maggie Boyle.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Anna Tempestoso, Kiana Lozzi and Abby Reardon were the goal scorers for OA and Zoe Chazon added two assists for the Tigers. Samantha Tichelaar scored for Taunton.
Sharon, 11 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Sharon’s Alex Rabb registered her third hat trick of the season to lead the Eagles while Ally Filipkowski, Jessie Tarnoff and Amanda Klayman each scored two goals apiece. Ally Steinberg and Maxine Gordon each scored once for Sharon.
Volleyball
Mansfield, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Mansfield picked up a 25-16, 20-25, 28-26, 25-19 win on the road at Oliver Ames. Olivia Broyles had nine blocks and four kills for the Hornets while Chloe Peters added 20 service points and Jess Haradon and Jacey Anderson combined for 20 digs. Oliver Ames’ Bridget McCarthy had 27 assists and five aces and Maya Fetcho added 11 kills.
Milford, 3 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – Sharon junior Jess Allan led the Eagles’ offense with nine kills and Cori Jermyn added seven kills.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Maggie Malloy accounted for all of the scoring in the game, scoring a hat trick to lead the Bulldogs.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Jaclyn Brion scored the lone goal of the game with eight minutes remaining to earn Foxboro’s fifth straight victory.
Mansfield, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Click here for a recap from the game. Click here for a photo gallery.
Milford, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final
King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – Click here for a recap from the game.
Golf
Sharon, 181 @ Stoughton, 192 – Final – Max Avratin was the match medalist, shooting a low-round of 44 to lead Sharon. Cam Doherty and Zach Gay led Stoughton, both shooting a round of 47.
Taunton, 191 @ Milford, 154 – Final – Three Milford golfers broke 40 on the day to pace the Scarlet Hawks to the win. Ryan Tomaso carded a low round of 35 while Anthony Arcudi shot 38 and Tylor Renaud carded a round of 39.
Canton, 153 @ North Attleboro, 149 – Final – Four different golfers shot under 40 for the Rocketeers to edge Canton in a key Davenport division showdown. Robbie Congdon shot a 36, David Colasanti shot a 37 and Dylan Kane and Tyler Sinacola both shot 38 in the win. Canton’s Matt Minichiello was the match medalist, carding a low round of 35.
Cross Country
Boys
Sharon, 22 @ Canton, 33 – Final
Girls
Sharon, 15 @ Canton, 49 – Final
Stoughton’s Offense Erupts In Win Over Milford
STOUGHTON, Mass. – The Stoughton Black Knights have been itching to break out offensively. Through four games, the chances have been there but the finish has been missing.
That changed in a hurry on Tuesday afternoon as Stoughton netted the opening inside the first two minutes, doubled its lead before the halfway mark of the first half and added four more goals in the second half in 6-2 win over Milford.
Stoughton caught Milford off guard to start the game, with goalie Matt Gallagher’s clearance eventually bouncing into the area. Senior Jordan Asnes took a touch was given time and space, allowing him to despot his left footed shot into the net for a quick 1-0 lead, just 75 seconds in.
Asnes had another chance with a shot from the top of the 18 and Marco Antunes had his low cross picked off, both inside the first 10 minutes. Five minutes later, the Black Knights broke through. Antunes corner to the far post was batted around between multiple players before falling to the feet of Marcio Dos Santos inside the six and the junior made no mistake, using the outside of his right foot to find the back of the net.
Milford found the back of the net for the first time in the 35th minute. Left back Lucas Caetano delivered a through ball that Pedro Sampaio ran onto. Sampaio cut across the face of goal but was ruled to have been fouled before he could get a shot off, earning a penalty kick. Sampaio calmly finished, tucking his shot into the low left corner to make it 2-1 just before half.
“The boys were good today,” head coach Aaron Salter said. “But they didn’t react as well as they should have after conceding a goal because they were so on top of the game, it was sort of a bit of a shock. I told them at halftime what they had been doing was right, we just need to go back to how we were playing.”
Stoughton quickly found its groove again to start the second half. Inside the first three minutes, the Black Knights earned a corner that Antunes drove to the near post. Dos Santos had his bid stopped on a nice save from Luke Capobianco but Stoughton senior Loubensky Lucas pounced on the rebound to make it 3-1.
The Black Knights’ offense rolled from there. In the 50th minute, Lucas dropped one over the drop that Asnes took possession of inside the area and again finished at the back post for a 4-1 advantage.
Five minutes later, Goddy Fombe made a nice run from the back, finding Lucas, who used a class turn to get free and was taken down from behind, earning a penalty. Lucas took the penalty himself, going low to his right for a 5-1 lead.
Stoughton capped its scoring just one minute later in the 15th minute when a service bounced off a defender and Asnes hit it first time to complete the hat trick.
“It was nice to see the forwards show up for the game. The last couple of games, we’ve created chances but the ball hasn’t been hitting the net,” Salter said. “It was nice to see Jordan get a hat trick as well. And then Loubensky got two which I hope will kickstart him for the rest of the near and we can push on.”
Salter also had praise for Antunes, who was dominant in his spot on the right wing and was responsible in creating the majority of Stoughton’s chances.
“Marco was brilliant,” Salter said. “I talked with him before the games and told him ‘You’ve done the right things, but your final ball is something you’ve had to work on.’ We haven’t had much practice because of so many games but he’s obviously been working on it on his own. I always tell the boys to breath before they cross or shoot just to relax themselves.”
Milford grabbed a second goal in the 60th minute as Tiago Carvalho’s corner kick found an open Marcelo Panno in the area for a tap in.
“I don’t know if that goal really changed much,” Milford head coach Brian Edwards said of Stoughton’s early goal in the second half. “I think our performance, top to bottom, was forgettable at best and we have to move on. We just have to be better. You could tell from the beginning of the game until the end, we weren’t in it. It doesn’t matter who you play, if you play like that you’ll get embarrassed and that’s what happened.”
Salter is hoping this win can turn into more positive results going forward, saying, “The key thing today is the boys looked like they had fun. We haven’t had fun in any of our games this year so it was great to see them enjoying it with smiles on their faces.”
Stoughton boys soccer (2-3, 1-3) is back in action on Wednesday with a trip to Norwood. Milford (1-3, 1-3) will play in the opening game of a double header on Saturday at 5:00 at Canton.
Boys Soccer: Ten Players to Watch in 2016
By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
Anthony Barreira, Senior – Foxboro
Foxboro scored a ridiculous 70 goals a season ago and senior striker Anthony Barreira was a big part of that. Although the Warriors lost Devante Teixeira and Joe Morrison, the other two big pieces to Foxboro’s offense, defense shouldn’t rest on their laurels when playing Barreira and Foxboro season. Barreira has been finding the back of the net against Hockomock defenses since he was a freshman and that’s likely to continue in 2016. He’s good with the ball at his feet but one of his biggest strengths is to get free off the ball. He can find the right spot and is able to finish off crosses in a variety of ways. With the ball at his feet, he can play with back to goal or take defenders on one on one. If he’s given a bit of space around the area, he can finish with the best in the state.
Hatim Brahimi, Senior – Franklin
The Panthers have a lot of new pieces in the lineup this season but Hatim Brahimi’s presence in the midfield will help make that transition easier. Speaking of transition, Brahimi is one of the best in helping a team move from defense into an attack. He’s solid with the ball at his feet and is able to spring teammates into open space. If a teammate is making a run into the final third, expect Brahimi to be able to deliver, whether it be on the ground or in the air, and even in the tightest of spaces. He’s confident with the ball at his feet and takes his time in the midfield, without forcing things. In the final third, Brahimi can be a tough to deal with because of his ability to find teammates or finish himself.
Nathaniel Cardoza, Junior – Oliver Ames
The 2015 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Nathaniel Cardoza really emerged onto the Hockomock scene during last year’s season and then opened even more eyes across the state during the Tigers’ playoff run. Cardoza is a two-way center midfielder that really played a role in OA’s offense and defense a season ago. Defensively, he’s able to mark well and anticipate well, often coming away with the ball in one on one situations or intercepting passes. He showed the ability last year to then take the ball and get it up field into the attack quickly. Whether it was getting the ball wide or feeding a through ball up top, his vision was apparent. In the final third, his finishing ability only got stronger as his confidence level grew. He will be a vital piece as Oliver Ames attempts to find success in the Kelley-Rex this season.
Goddy Fombe, Senior – Stoughton
Not many defenders in the Hockomock League turned as many heads as Stoughton’s Goddy Fombe did last year. Head coach Aaron Salter moved some pieces around and Fombe’s switch to center back proved to be a brilliant one. Fombe shined as a center back, bringing a calming presence to the Black Knights’ back line. Center backs have to deal with services both from set pieces and in the run of play and Fombe was able to do so, helping to keep Stoughton in games. Stoughton was able to keep possession at times because of their ability to play from the back. Instead of just clearing it out, Fombe was comfortable with the ball at his feet and would distribute from there. Stoughton is a favorite in the Davenport this season and Fombe is a big reason why.
Max Gurnon, Senior – Mansfield
Over the past couple of seasons, Max Gurnon has been the standard for center backs, and defenders in general. Mansfield’s defense has been very well organized in the past couple of seasons thanks in large part to Gurnon. At the high school level, having an organized, stable back four can go a long way. Not only can Gurnon defend well in the air against crosses and throw ins, he’s an attacking threat on the other end off of set pieces. He showed last year he can rise above defenders and get his head onto the ball to finish. On the ground, Gurnon does well to keep possession for the Hornets and has strong distribution skills. Mansfield was hard to score on a season ago and with Gurnon and two other defensive starters returning this year, it will be a tough task for teams again in 2016.
Harry Lancaster, Senior – Attleboro
Harry Lancaster has been making plays for Attleboro for the past three years and that won’t be changing for his senior year. Lancaster has been a jack of all trades for head coach Peter Pereira in his time, starting as an outside mid before transition to the middle of the pitch. He saw time as a striker as well but now will be a vital part of the Bombardiers’ defense. He’s showed off his ability to take players on one on one and now will be tasked with stopping them. He’s got a high soccer IQ, which will allow him to help the Bombardiers start their attack from the back. He’s strong with the ball at his feet and should add a lot of experience to Attleboro’s defense this season.
Tyler Mann, Junior – King Philip
During his sophomore season, Tyler Mann really turned some heads with his attacking presence and finishing ability. He possesses a really strong first touch, which is a tremendous asset to have, especially in the final third. He’s deceptively good in the air, which is tough for defenses when they have to mark defender Cam Mullins. Mann can play with his back to goal and can hold the ball up while the attack gets going, or he can run into space and run onto a pass. With the ball at his feet, he can be tough to stop and when he is near the area, he’s one you don’t want to give much space to or he’ll make you pay.
Thomas McCormick, Senior – Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames had the second most goals scored a year ago and striker Thomas McCormick was a big reason why. McCormick scored six goals in the regular season and added nine assists. McCormick is an absolute pest for defenders to deal with, and we mean that in a positive way. He moves very well off the ball, which can make it difficult for defenses to keep track of him. He has a knack for finding the ball at the right times, especially inside of the area. Oliver Ames is known for its dangerous set pieces and McCormick is either the play maker himself or the one who finds the back of the net.
Cam Mullins, Senior – King Philip
If you had to pick one player in the Hockomock League to describe as a ‘field general,’ Mullins would be a top candidate. Even as a center back, Mullins is a vocal leader that helps the Warriors keep shape from front to back. Defensively, teams have a hard time scoring through the air due in large part to Mullins’ marking and aerial wins. On the flip side, Mullins is a big target on offense when it comes to set pieces and long throw ins. His presence in the area also frees up other players. Mullins is a no-nonsense defender, making it hard for defenses to penetrate, especially up the middle. He has a good physical presence so opposing teams aren’t able to dominate on the attack. Mullins is one reason that King Philip is a dark horse for the Kelley-Rex title this season.
Fabio Ponce De Leon, Sophomore – Stoughton
A year ago at this time, not many people around the league knew much about then-freshman Fabio Ponce De Leon. Now, just about the whole league knows who he is and what he adds to Stoughton. Ponce De Leon really emerged as a true scoring threat last year, finishing with a team-high eight goals. The crazy thing is, he could have even more if he had a couple of bounces go his way. He showed a high level of confidence during his rookie year, especially with the ball at his feet. Whether he was in the center of the pitch or pushed out wide, he had no problem taking on defenders. He can beat a defender one on one, or he can use his vision to find an open teammate. Although defenses will be more alert to Ponce De Leon this year, we expect him to be a top offensive player in the league.
Boys Soccer: 2016 Davenport Division Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2016 Davenport Boys Soccer Preview
Canton
2015 Record: 3-10-4
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Danny Erickson
For the first time in a decade, the Bulldogs missed out on the postseason last year but with a large group of experienced players returning, the 2016 team is looking to start a new playoff streak. Canton graduated just two starters from last year’s team and looks to be in the mix for the Davenport division title this season.
Canton will look to its four captains for guidance with the quartet spread out nicely on the field. Junior Jake Verille and senior Ben Waterhouse will bring skills and versatility to the midfield. Senior Danny Hartnett is experienced and will anchor the back line while classmate Sammy Papakonstantino will be relied upon to be a catalyst up top for the Bulldogs.
“We think we have the technical ability this fall to play some good soccer,” head coach Danny Erickson said. “We were competitive last Fall but couldn’t figure out how to get the ball in the back of the net and get a result. I’m confident that we are ready to take the next step and see the positive results come this Fall.”
Erickson added there is a battle for the starting goalie spot right now between senior Sean Mitchell and junior Abe Garber.
Foxboro
2015 Record: 15-2-3
2015 Finish: Reached D3 South Semifinal
Coach: Joe Franchino
It will be far from easy for Foxboro to replace the 2015 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Devante Teixeira (20 goals, 16 assists), who graduated, and two-time league all star Joe Morrison (eight goals, 15 assists), now playing full-time with his academy team. But senior Anthony Barreira (18 goals, 12 assists) is back for his fourth year on varsity and the Warriors get former league all star Jeff Melo back to bolster the back line, which will make the transition easier.
Barreira is set to be a top striker in the league and Melo showed during his sophomore year that he can be one of the best defenders in the area. AJ Bubencik’s conversion from a defender to a midfielder will be key for the Warriors this season as well. Sophomore Nic Beigel had a great rookie campaign and will be a key piece for Foxboro this season along with juniors Shawn McNamara and Ryan Kelley. Aaron Wentling and Bobby Harrison will fight for the starting spot in net this season.
“We are not the same team as last year but the quality is still here and my expectations are to win games,” head coach Joe Franchino said.
Milford
2015 Record: 4-13-1
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brian Edwards
Milford had a strong debut when it joined the Hockomock League in 2013 but were able to capture just seven league wins over the past two years. Brian Edwards has taken over at the helm of the Scarlet Hawks and is looking for a bounce back season in his first year.
The Scarlet Hawks will be relying upon its three captains to make the turnaround. Senior Marcello Panno is one of the most versatile players in the league with Edwards referring to him as a ‘swiss army knife.’ Edwards expects Panno to play roles both offensively and defensively. Defensively, senior Danny Mendoza is going to be tasked with handling top strikers from around the league. Edwards credited Mendoza’s work rate and his ability to make those around him better. Junior Andre Oliveira will be a major part of Milford’s attack this season. Oliveira will be one to watch, especially on the counter attack.
“We expect to see a focus on technical skill and ball movement as opposed to direct play,” Edwards said. “This is an attack which will be geared towards moving the ball in tight spaces against high pressure.”
Edwards also noted the team will focus on a team defensive effort, with an effort to deny opponents space in the final third.
North Attleboro
2015 Record: 1-14-3
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Geoff Burgess
After a rough couple of years, the North Attleboro Rocketeers are hoping a switch to the Davenport Division could be the perfect platform to launch a turnaround. With a good amount of players that saw either starting minutes or valuable time off of the bench back, the Rocketeers will look to ramp up their play, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Juniors Noah Barney and Zach Matracia saw a lot of minutes as outside backs last year and will look to bring that experience back this year. Senior John Brennan will try to anchor the back line from the center of the pitch while the Rocketeers look to find the right fit in the middle to complete the defense. Junior Brendan Matracia will occupy the goalkeeper spot with a good amount of minutes played from his sophomore year under his belt.
“We have gone from being young and green to being a group of seasoned varsity players,” head coach Geoff Burgess said. “It should be a resurgence for the program.”
Offensively, senior captains Leo Charlebois and Conor Danahey will be two of the main options up top. Burgess noted that junior Josh Rodriguez had a strong summer and will be a playmaker this year. In the middle of the pitch, junior Gabe Pinhancos will be complemented by classmate Ryan Pasquel and sophomore Marcus Costa.
Sharon
2015 Record: 10-7-1
2015 Finish: Reached D2 South Second Round
Coach: Bryan Kelly
Even though Sharon lost a strong group to graduation, the Eagles are relying on a new crop of seniors to lead them in 2016. The Eagles also expect to get contributions from juniors, sophomores and freshmen in different areas of the field.
Senior captains Ian Camilli and Shali Patel will lead from the heart of the field at center midfield while fellow captain Benjamin Stamm will be a viable attacking option. Sophomore Ethan Kantor will take over the starting job for Andrew Filipkowski, a 2015 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection that graduated. Shubojit Roy-Chowdhury will be the anchor of the back line as a center defender. Head coach Bryan Kelly is looking for breakout seasons from Oliver Hu, Jacob Tevin, Jeremy Cabral, Marques Benton Jr., Spencer Hall, Andrew Reyes-Jones and Michael Baur.
“[On top of our seniors and juniors] there will be several sophomores and freshman called up throughout the season who will only add to the strength of the team,” Kelly said.
Stoughton
2015 Record: 9-8-3
2015 Finish: Reached D2 South Second Round
Coach: Aaron Salter
After another successful campaign, the Black Knights are hoping to push their postseason streak to three straight years. Stoughton will face the challenge of graduating seven seniors, including some key pieces from each part of the field, but there the group of returning players should give the Black Knights plenty of optimism.
Stoughton has scored over 30 goals in back to back seasons (38 in 2014, 31 in 2015) and will look to make their offense a strong suit again this year. The Black Knights are returning three of their top four scorers, including sophomore Fabio Ponce De Leon (eight goals, two assists), Jordan Asnes (five goals, five assists) and Loubensky Lucas (five goals, one assist). Lucas has been finding the back of the net for three years and head coach Aaron Salter notes he’s had a strong preseason thus far.
“I felt last year we didn’t kill off enough games and left teams with life still in them,” Salter said. “This year we will be hoping to close out games much easier.”
Defensively, the Black Knights are hoping experience will help anchor the back line. Tyler Melo will be a factor in the midfield while Goddy Fombe and Noah Schulze both emerged as strong options on defense last season. Salter admitted there were players in new spots last year but now with a year under their belts, they have developed the awareness and look strong in the preseason.
HockomockSports.com 2015 Boys Soccer Awards
Click here for the 2015 HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Awards
The 2015 Hockomock Boys Soccer All Stars & HMs
Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Devante Teixeira, Foxboro
Hockomock League All Stars
Zach Rodrigues, Attleboro
Harry Lancaster, Attleboro
Patrick Hession, Canton
Devante Teixeira, Foxboro
Anthony Barreira, Foxboro
Joe Morrison, Foxboro
Rob Lowey, Foxboro
Nick Parent, Franklin
Henri Guilmette, Franklin
Dan Geraci, Franklin
Joseph Kellett, King Philip
Cameron Mullins, King Philip
Tyler Mann, King Philip
Maxwell Gurnon, Mansfield
Christopher Elsner, Mansfield
Mike Da Silva, Milford
Matt Coscarella, North Attleboro
Chris Romero, Oliver Ames
Keegan Nutt, Oliver Ames
Nathaniel Cardoza, Oliver Ames
Thomas McCormick, Oliver Ames
Andrew Filipkowski, Sharon
Noah Kurland, Sharon
Fabio Ponce de Leon, Stoughton
Goddy Fombe, Stoughton
Austin Botelho, Taunton
Honorable Mentions
Junior Coca, Attleboro
Sammy Papakonstantino, Canton
AJ Bubencik, Foxboro
Hatim Brahimi, Franklin
Brandon Zioldowski, King Philip
Michael Kirejczyk, Mansfield
Justin Borges, Milford
Gabe Pinhancos, North Attleboro
Jack Carroll, Oliver Ames
James Dunlea, Sharon
Tyler Melo, Stoughton
Derek Pereira, Taunton
The 2015 Hockomock Boys Soccer All Stars & HMs
Below are the official Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Devante Teixeira, Foxboro
Hockomock League All Stars
Zach Rodrigues, Attleboro
Harry Lancaster, Attleboro
Patrick Hession, Canton
Devante Teixeira, Foxboro
Anthony Barreira, Foxboro
Joe Morrison, Foxboro
Rob Lowey, Foxboro
Nick Parent, Franklin
Henri Guilmette, Franklin
Dan Geraci, Franklin
Joseph Kellett, King Philip
Cameron Mullins, King Philip
Tyler Mann, King Philip
Maxwell Gurnon, Mansfield
Christopher Elsner, Mansfield
Mike Da Silva, Milford
Matt Coscarella, North Attleboro
Chris Romero, Oliver Ames
Keegan Nutt, Oliver Ames
Nathaniel Cardoza, Oliver Ames
Thomas McCormick, Oliver Ames
Andrew Filipkowski, Sharon
Noah Kurland, Sharon
Fabio Ponce de Leon, Stoughton
Goddy Fombe, Stoughton
Austin Botelho, Taunton
Honorable Mentions
Junior Coca, Attleboro
Sammy Papakonstantino, Canton
AJ Bubencik, Foxboro
Hatim Brahimi, Franklin
Brandon Zioldowski, King Philip
Michael Kirejczyk, Mansfield
Justin Borges, Milford
Gabe Pinhancos, North Attleboro
Jack Carroll, Oliver Ames
James Dunlea, Sharon
Tyler Melo, Stoughton
Derek Pereira, Taunton