12/08/202212/09/2022

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 12/08/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Indoor Track
Oliver Ames, 52 @ Canton, 48 – Final – Oliver Ames took the top two spots in four events to secure a tight win over upset-minded Canton. Ryan Sarney picked up right where he left off from a dominating cross country season to take first overall in the 1000M, clocking in at a league-best 2:45.32 while Alex Callanan took second in 3:06.71. OA also went 1-2 in the 1 Mile (Aidan Dupill, 5:11.64 and Brendan Thomas, 5:11.71), the high jump (Nolan Querzoli, 5’2″ and William Sobieraj, 5’2″), and the shot put (Peter Andromalos, 37’5.5″ and Frederick Hakimdin 33’1.5″). Sobieraj also won the 55M hurdles in 9.92. For Canton, Luke Darling won the 600M in his indoor track debut, clocking in at 1:35.57 while Christian Hanlon took first in the 55M dash in 7.28.

Stoughton, 29 @ Mansfield, 71 – Final – Mansfield made a big statement in its first meet as a member of the Davenport division, sweeping three events and both relays while taking the top team in the league in two more events in a win over Stoughton. The Hornets took the top three spots in the 1 Mile, won by Marco Geminiani (5:00.84) followed by Sam Taylor and Collin Fine, swept the 1000M with Talon Johnson (2:54.11), Colby Quersher, and Sean Higgins going 1-2-3, respectively, and also swept the 2 Mile run as John Sylvain (11:23.60) led the pack, followed by Ben Dury and Sean Whittaker. Junior Evan Thevenot won the long jump with a league-best leap of 19’9.75″ while senior captain Grady Sullivan had the fastest time of all runners in the 300M at 1:28.16. Ayden Agbasi and Billy Gardner went 1-2 in the shot put for the Hornets. Mansfield also swept the relays with the 4×200 (Myles Brown, Evan Rawlings, Nolan Clark, Thevenot) finishing in 1:38 and the 4×400 (Tommy Giudicianni, Troy Penney, Johnson, Sullivan) recorded a league-best time of 3:41. Stoughton’s William Tinkham won the 55M hurdles with a league-best time of 8.27 and Matt Singletary won the high jump (5’10”).

Foxboro, 54 @ Sharon, 40 – Final – Anchored by a sweep in the shot put and wins in six other events, Foxboro got the season started with a win over Sharon. Joe Flanagan had the second best throw in the league in the shot put, leading a sweep with a toss of 44’7″ followed by teammates Harrison Keen and Nicholas Higgins. Daniel O’Malley was a double winner for the Warriors (high jump, 5’8″ and 300M, 37.60) while Chris Proulx (2 Mile, 10:56.94), Brayden Pace (1000M, 3:16.02), Stephen Haney (600M, 1:33.71), and Brooks Stone (1 Mile, 5:05.94) also had first place finishes for the Warriors. Sharon swept both relays and got a pair of wins from Elijah Wisdom (long jump, 18’11.5″ and 55M dash, 6.96) and one win from Alexander Gong (55M hurdles, 8.76).

Taunton, 31 @ Attleboro, 64 – Final – Attleboro swept the 55M hurdles, the 600M, and the long jump on its way to a win over Taunton. Adrian Rivera, who also won the 55M dash for the Bombardiers, led the sweep of the long jump (19’7.75″) followed by Joshua Codella and Jordan Rivera-Silva. Peter DelPozzo won the 55M hurdles (8.68) with Sean O’Hara-Ouellette and Ian Miller rounding out the top three, and Jacob Blazek won the 600M (1:31.67) followed by Sean Kaswale and Austin Bowie. O’Hara-Ouellette and Jake Stromfors also tied for first in the high jump for the Bombardiers. Taunton’s Brayden Cali won both the 1 Mile (5:09.19) and the high jump (5’6″), Sam Denis took first in the 2 Mile (10:48.65), Peter Moor won the shot put (40-02.50), and Andrew Cali clocked in at 2:54.08 for first in the 1000M.

North Attleboro, 36 @ Franklin, 64 – Final – Franklin’s depth proved to be key as the Panthers took two of the top three spots in eight individual events, including sweeps in the 2 Mile and the 600M, to take down North Attleboro. Jonathan Pink clocked in at 11:13.06 to win the 2 Mile, followed by Luke Paragona and Sean Giuliano, while Jake Vaccarezza won the 600M in 1:33.84 with Fraser Baird and Jake Lorenzo rounding out the top three. Franklin also got wins from Harry Gurney (55M hurdles, 9.24), Luke Sidwell (300M, 37.74), and Will Boozang (1 Mile, 5:01.03). North Attleboro’s Nathan Shultz continued his dominance in the winter, taking first in a pair of events: the high jump in a league-best 6-06.00 and the 55M dash in 6.76. The Rocketeers also got wins from Kyle Conroy (long jump, 18-04.75), Mark Etienvre (shot put, 50-04.00), and Connor Peterson (1000M, 2:48.29).

Milford, 36 @ King Philip, 59 – Final – Buoyed by a sweep in both the 55M hurdles and the high jump, along with six more individual wins, King Philip took care of business with a win over Milford. Luca Giardini (8.72) Kevin Smith, and Jack McKenna swept the 55M hurdles while Dylan Woods (5-10.00), Degen Granese, and Keagan Fletcher took the top three spots in the high jump for KP. Granese added two wins of his own in the long jump (19-09.25) and the shot put (36-11.50), Giardini added another win in the 1000M (3.01.38) while Pranav Srinivasan (600M, 1:41.68), Nathan Gebhard (300M, 38.99), and Noah Lerner (1 Mile, 5:19.37) each won. Milford’s Andrew Fletcher (2 Mile, 11:16.17) and Jarret Brown (55M dash, 7.06) each won for Milford.

Girls Indoor Track
Oliver Ames, 54 @ Canton, 38 – Final – Julia Maclaine won a pair of individual events and was apart of the winning 4×200 relay team to lead Oliver Ames to a win in the season opener. Maclaine clocked in at 45.03 to take first in the 300M and won the high jump at 4’8″, and then teamed up with Grace Okocha, Aubrey Thibault, and Catie Wilson to take the relay in 1:56.12. Okocha also won the 55M dash for the Tigers (7.88), Thibault won the long jump (15’7.5″), and Oliver Ames swept the 600M with Deanna Flaherty (2:00.16), Kensie Graham, Erin Reilly, and Brynn Cushing taking the top four spots. For Canton, Jayda Proffit (10.59) and Katherine Oliver went 1-2 in the 55M hurdles, Emma Massih won the shot put (28’2″) with Allie Wong taking third, and the Bulldogs’ 4×400 relay team of won by .27 seconds.

Stoughton, 45 @ Mansfield, 51 – Final – Trailing by four points going into the the relays, Mansfield won the 4×200 by less than a second and then the 4×800 by less than six tenths of a second to earn 10 points and pull out the win over Stoughton in a terrific back-and-forth battle. Rosie McIntyre, Taylor Palinski, Avery Hawthorne, and Brooke Penney clocked in at 4:37.59 — just ahead of Stoughton’s 4:38.57 — while the Hornets’ 4×400 relay team of Abigail Scott, Meghan Driscoll, Olivia Barry, and Chloe Guthrie won in a time of 1:52.39, just ahead of the Black Knights at 1:52.95. Guthrie also won the long jump (31-09.00), Anna Moore was first in the 2 Mile (12:50.02), and Elyssa Buchanan won the 55M hurdles (9.34). Stoughton’s Shayla Ford won a pair of events, first in both the 300M (44.84) and the 55M dash (7.78), Julie Richardson had a dominate win in the 600M (1:51.6), Gabriele Julien won the high jump (4-10.00), Elaine McCarty won the 1000M (3:40.17), and Lily Branco crossed first in the 1 Mile (6:41.84).

Foxboro, 62 @ Sharon, 35 – Final – Foxboro won both relays and took first in seven more events to open the season with a big win over Sharon. The Warriors picked up wins from Chloe Davies (high jump, 4-10.00), Dalia Fitzgerald (long jump, 14-06.50), Erin Haney (shot put, 22-11.50), Aine Fitzpatrick (2 Mile, 13:36.40), Casey Dahl (1000M, 3:35.75), Ella Campbell (300M, 46.77) and Brooke Davies (1 Mile, 6:20.62). Sharon’s Maude Kilmer won two events, taking first in the 55M hurdles (9.20) and the 55M dash (7.60), while Eva Olszewski won the 600M in 1:53.91 for the Eagles.

Taunton, 46 @ Attleboro, 54 – Final – Down to the relays, Attleboro secured the win by taking the 4×200 relay in 2:00.19 to finish off a win over Taunton. The team of Zenda Gjoni, Gabriela Sprovieri, Lindsey Anastasia, and Jessica Jennison were the winning relay team for the Bombardiers. The Bombardiers also got key points from a sweep in the shot put, led by Kimberley Packard-Flores’ winning throw of 26-02.00 with Arianna Amaral and Ella Blaisdell taking second and third, respectively. Gjoni added a win in the 55M hurdles (10.64), Anastasia took first in the 55M dash (8.08), Rebecca Rainey won the high jump (4-08.00), Emilia Smith took first in the 2 Mile (12:56.10), and Alexis Cincotta crossed first in the 600M (1:57.74). Taunton picked up wins from Isabella Leiete (long jump, 13-10.75), Braelyn Nichols (1000M, 3:40.96), Ava Uhl (300M, 46.64), and Emersym DePonte (1 Mile, 5:46.44).

North Attleboro, 22 @ Franklin, 77 – Final – Franklin opened the season with a dominant showing, winning eight events, sweeping two of them and scoring in all of them, while taking both relays to beat North Attleboro. Lily DeForge, who set the school record in the shot put, won the event in 35-01.50 followed by Elizabeth Hopkins and Darby Nicholson while Sarah Dumas (9.01, Barra Pfluke, and Cailyn Bruno swept the 55M hurdles. Dumas also won the 55M hurdles (9.01) and other winners for the Panthers were Abigail Griffith (high jump, 5-00.00), Mackenzie Mann (2 Mile, 14:04.79), Sophia Cuneo (55M dash, 7.94 and 300M, 45.50), and Ella McLaughlin (600M, 1:54.14). North’s Julia Simpson (1000M, 3:34.51) and Katie Galcoczy (1 Mile, 6:07.87) each won for the Rocketeers.

Milford, 41 @ King Philip, 59 – Final – King Philip swept both the long jump and the 1000M race to collect key points to earn a win over Milford in the season opener. Alex D’Amadio (15-11.50), Ali Gill, and Madeline Hill were the top three finishers for the Warriors in the long jump while Olivia Archambault (3:42.35), Ella Lussier, and Cheyanne Kelley went 1-2-3 in the 1000M. KP also picked up wins from Gill in the 300M (43.65), D’Amadio in the high jump (5-10.00), Katherine O’Neil in the shot put (32-02.00), and Madeline Hill in the 55M hurdles (9.98). Milford had four individual winners: Sydney Kalil (2 Mile, 12:01.83), Kiyanni Simas (55M dash, 7.48), Kay Wheelock (600M, 2:02.09), and Carly Haley (1 Mile, 6:24.46).

10/15/2022

Attleboro Slips Past Milford Behind Rocchio’s Shutout

Attleboro boys soccer Tyler Rocchio — Attleboro goalie Tyler Rocchio pounces on a loose ball just before Milford freshman Johnny Castro in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

MILFORD, Mass. – If possession and scoring chances determined the outcome of a game, Milford would have recorded a landslide victory on Friday afternoon.

But it comes down to goals, and that lone strike in the game belonged to visiting Attleboro, who bunkered down defensively and got a big performance from junior goalie Tyler Rocchio to earn a 1-0 win and a key two points.

“They totally outplayed us and had beautiful possession but my goalie was hot,” said longtime Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira. “That save down there was massive. We were gutsy today, had a lot of numbers back and we did whatever it takes to get it out of there. [Rocchio] did a good job and the defense played solid back there. They had a lot of outside shots, we didn’t let them get in.

“They were the better team, their two kids in the middle have great touch. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do to get a point here or there.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The teams entered the contest locked in a tie for second place in the Kelley-Rex division, trailing Franklin by two points. The Bombardiers earned a big 4-0 win in the first meeting in the second week of the season although the Hawks were without a handful of starters.

With a nearly complete lineup – Milford was still without leading goal scorer Eduardo Santana – this time around was bound to be a closer contest.

It played out that way as the hosts asserted control over the first 20 minutes of the game.

Nick Ribeiro’s free kick was flashed wide by center back Kaua Pereira in the fifth minute, and just minutes later, Ribeiro’s switch to John Borges was headed into the area and freshman Johnny Castro nearly won the loose ball before Rocchio gobbled it up.

Milford’s best chance of the first half came just before the midway point as Ribeiro played Arthur Tome out wide on the left. Tome confidently attacked the defense, cutting into the middle before using a clever back heel touch to set up Ribeiro for a one-timer from just outside the box. The shot curled past Rocchio’s reach but hit off the inside of the post and stayed out.

Attleboro went back down the other end and cashed in with its first big chance of the opening half. Junior Alex Vecchioli was double-teamed and was knocked off the ball. Instead of a whistle, Vecchioli quickly got back to his feet, won possession back, carried toward the goal, and blasted a hard shot from a tight angle to the far post side netting.

“Alex’s goal was all work, work, work,” Pereira said. “They knocked him down, he got back up and got the ball again and went to goal.”

Milford nearly unlocked the Attleboro defense minutes later as Borges and Ribeiro combined on a nice one-two, the former breaking into the area but a strong challenge from Bombardier defenders Jake Stromfors and Zach Diffenderfer denied the Hawks.

An errant pass in the back nearly led to the equalizer in the final moments of the first half but Attleboro center back Toby Smith recovered to track down the loose ball, winning back-to-back 50/50 challenges to keep the visitors ahead.

We played until the end, we played tough so I’m proud of that but the scoreline is what it is,” said Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “You can dominate a game but it doesn’t always reflect on the scoreboard because part of the game is scoring goals. We played fine but we didn’t do the number one thing which is scoring.”

The second half was dominated by the hosts but they couldn’t quite solve the Attleboro back line, featuring Ian Miller alongside Stromfors, Diffenderfer, and Smith, plus Lucas Marques in a center defensive mid role.

In the 44th minute, sophomore Rodrigo Lourenço sent in a corner that Pereira sent wide, and then Smith came up with a good defensive tackle on Borges after a long ball from Nate Dinis two minutes later. In the 54th minute, Andre Baiano blasted a left-footed shot that was well-struck but was just over the bar.

“They’ve grown, and they are communicating well with each other,” Pereira said of his defense. “They are skinny little guys but they get the job done. Smith doesn’t care who’s in front of him, he’ll make the tackle and do whatever it takes. The outside fullbacks have been getting better and better too. And with teams like Milford, we needed to have numbers back.”

The biggest stop for the Bombardiers came in the 63rd minute. As the hosts continued to knock on the door, it looked like Tome was set to break through and bring the Hawks level. From the left sideline, he was able to cut in and get off a well-hit right-footed shot that looked destined for the top corner as the far post but Rocchio timed his leap perfectly and parried the ball away with one-hand with what certainly will be one of the best saves of the year.

“That was massive,” Pereira said.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Milford pushed numbers forward in the final minutes but couldn’t connect on a through ball or a cross into the area and the Bombardiers escaped with the win.

“The players might be a little agitated after two losses, they aren’t used to losing but I’ll tell you right now, I’m very confident,” Pinto said. “Our main goal is to get one point to get us into the playoffs, then we want to make sure we aren’t getting cards…if we get to the playoffs with a full, healthy roster, I think we can cause some problems.”

Attleboro boys soccer (8-2-3 overall, 7-2-3 Hockomock) is on the road next week at King Philip. Milford (8-5-1, 7-4-1) will try to snap its brief two-game skid on a trip to North Attleboro.

09/08/2022

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Attleboro

2021 Record: 9-8-3
Coach: Peter Pereira
While last year’s record doesn’t jump off the page, it was a good season for the Bombardiers and a step in the right direction for the program.

There were a lot of varsity debuts a year ago, and a lot of new faces in the lineup for longtime head coach Peter Pereira. This year is the opposite as many of those players are back and looking to make a serious challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title. Highlighting a deep and talented group of returners is a trio of HockomockSports Second XI selections from a year ago: senior forward Esvin Morales, junior goalie Tyler Rocchio, and junior midfielder and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Alex Vecchioli.

That trio gives the Bombardiers a top player in most key spots on the pitch. Vecchioli will be flanked by some familiar faces as senior Lucas Marques, junior Billy Badger, and junior Luke Hagopian are all back in the mix after starting last season. Juniors Kyle Neuendorf and Richard Ferreira provide key depth off the bench for the midfield unit. Up front, senior Steve Etienne will complement Morales at striker with juniors Nick Ticas and Clay Tyler able to provide energy off the bench.

Attleboro did graduate one of the best center backs in the league in Cash Stuger so there will be a hole to fill there but Pereira has a solid trio of experienced seniors in Jake Stomfors, Toby Smith, and Ian Miller to rely on defensively. Juniors Zack Diffenderfer and Joshua Codella are also in the mix for minutes in the back four.

“It is a hard-working group and I believe we have the potential to win some big games,” Pereira said.

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Canton

2021 Record: 14-5-4 (D2 State Finalist)
Coach: Danny Erickson
The Canton boys soccer team made history last year with its run to the Division 2 state final and while it will be a big ask to replicate such a special run, the Bulldogs have plenty of key pieces to at least challenge for a division title and have a go at another big run.

Canton lost the majority of its lineup from a year ago after graduating seven of the 11, but with a large, talented senior class, Hall of Fame coach Danny Erickson always has his squads ready to compete. The biggest piece back to the puzzle is senior striker Jake McCabe, a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection that tied for the league-lead in goals during the regular season a year ago with 13 goals.

Having 13 seniors on the squad will give the Bulldogs a boost, including veteran players like Caden Mirliani, Ashton Cetoute, Carson Eagles, and Brian Shea. Junior Zaza Francoeur picked up some valuable minutes a year ago and will be a key piece in the attack this year.

“We will certainly need to reinvent how we play after losing so many weapons but we have a great group,” said Erickson. “Lots of guys competing hard for the opportunity to contribute. That should help us compete in the always-tough league.”

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Foxboro

2021 Record: 9-9-1
Coach: Dan Ambrosio
Foxboro has a strong core of returners back from last year’s squad that qualified for the postseason and will be looking to incorporate some young players to challenge for the Davenport division crown.

The Warriors will need to get the new players up to speed quickly because the injury bug has already hit, taking seniors Jorge Sanchez-Garcia (All Hock honorable mention last year) and starting defender Ian Foley for the season. Head coach Dan Ambrosio will lean heavily on his senior captains, striker Alex Penders and defender Marco Pacini. Penders, a standout on the hardwood for Foxboro’s basketball team, isn’t your typical striker but standing at 6’5, he’s a nightmare for opposing defenders and a dream for teammates serving the ball into the area.

Pacini is a seasoned veteran as a four-year member of the varsity team and will be the anchor of the back line. Sophomore Ryan Cotter will take over in net behind Pacini and the back line. The strength of the squad could be in the middle with a trio of juniors: John Hollis, Ryan Flaherty, and Pradyu Gubbala. All three are returners from a year ago and will be key pieces in not only helping the back line but orchestrating and organizing the attack.

“The strength of the attack lies in the ability to counter quickly, while defensive organization is a strength when without the ball,” Ambrosio said.

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

franklin

2021 Record: 11-5-4
Head Coach: Fran Bositis
Franklin will be looking to replicate its success from last year after the Panthers came just three points shy of the division title and earned a win in the state tournament.

The Panthers didn’t graduate a huge senior class but they did lose some key pieces like HockomockSports Best XI selection Terry O’Neill in midfield and Second XI selection Aidan Griffith on defense. But there is plenty of talent back all over the pitch for the Franklin, who will certainly be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex crown this year. Franklin’s four captains are spread throughout the field with Best XI selection Rex Cinelli back at center back, Will Kryzak up front, Trey Lovell in the middle of the pitch, and Griffin Tolonen in net.

Cinelli is coming off a very strong sophomore campaign and will join forces with Will Klawson to anchor the back line, which has impressed so far this preseason. Lovell will partner with Noah Cain at center mid to help the Panthers transition from the back, and orchestrate the offense. Juniors Hansy Jacques and Andrew O’Neill will provide depth alongside Kryzak up front. Michael Fernandez Martin, Garrett Scagliarini, and Matt Honekamp are new names to keep an eye on.

“It’s still early but our athletes are working hard and I know that we are all excited for the upcoming season,” said Hall of Fame head coach Fran Bositis. “We are looking forward to the challenge of competing in the Hockomock League.”

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

King Philip

2021 Record: 3-13-2
Coach: Mike O’Neill
After battling through an injury-plagued 2021 season, the King Philip boys soccer team is aiming to be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex division title this year.

The Warriors boast a strong group of seniors that will be the heart and soul of the squad but will be looking to integrate some young and new faces in order to challenge in a very talented Kelley-Rex division. After scoring just 20 goals last year, the Warriors are hoping offense will be a strength this year behind a deep mix of creative and quick wing players. Senior Matt Crago returns after a terrific junior season (four goals, two assists) and will be a go-to option in the midfield and out wide. He’ll be joined by junior wing Will Bowen and junior wing Dermott Amorim.

Up top, KP will look to junior Tommy Lomuscio to find the back of the net. As a sophomore, he scored five goals and had nine assists – factoring in on just under half of the Warriors’ offense production. Senior goalie Connor O’Reilly made some huge saves a year ago and is back in net this year. Senior Tom Meader will anchor the back line at center back while senior Oliver Blackburn and sophomore Sayan Panda will lend some help to the defense from the center mid spot.

“I think the Hock is wide open this year, which is just another way of saying that there is a tremendous amount of parity,” said KP head coach Mike O’Neill. “Any win is a good win in the Hockomock League. We have strengths in our captains and our senior leadership. In order to be really competitive, we will need our younger players to contribute right away.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Mansfield

2021 Record: 8-5-4
Coach: Steve Sheridan
Mansfield is looking to make a big splash in its first season competing in the Davenport division and enter the season as an instant contender.

The Hornets join the Davenport in a challenging year with Oliver Ames looking to make it three straight Davenport titles (four overall), a Canton squad fresh off of a state finals appearance, a revitalized Stoughton squad, a very skillful Sharon team, and a competitive Foxboro group. Despite losing 14 seniors from last year’s squad that went 8-5-4, Mansfield has a solid core intact for a big year.

It starts with captains Aidan Steele, Grady Sullivan, and Dan Checkoway – all three are seasoned veterans and know what it takes to compete in the Hock. Steele plays up top as a target forward while Sullivan and Checkoway patrol the midfield, along with the talented Connor Palinski. Junior Lucas DeSousa and sophomore Tyler Znoj have impressed early on in the midfield while sophomore Cooper Austin is in the mix up front.

Head coach Steve Sheridan is turning to senior Liam Doyle, who missed all of last year with an injury, to take over in net. Senior Derek McGrath will anchor the back line in front of Doyle while sophomore Matthew Sullivan has had a strong camp in the back as well.

“We don’t have as much varsity experience as I’d like, but we have a good bunch of kids that hopefully click sooner rather than later,” Sheridan said.

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Milford

2021 Record: 12-4-3
Coach: Antonio Pinto
The defending Kelley-Rex champions might have some inexperience and youth in some spots in the lineup, but the Scarlet Hawks return a strong core of players ready to defend their title.

Milford has won four straight division titles, two in the Davenport and now two straight in the Kelley-Rex, and will be looking to make it five straight with another banner this year. Returning HockomockSports Best XI selection Nick Ribero is such a steady presence in the midfield and does a great job spreading the ball and finding open teammates. He will have a lot of options with Arthur Tome (seven goals, nine assists), Eduardo Santana (nine goals, five assists), and John Borges (two goals, eight assists), all back this season.

After losing Best XI selection Chris Tocci (center back) and Kevin Gomes (goalie), the Hawks will have some inexperience in their own final third. The Scarlet Hawks will turn to junior Nate Dinis to anchor the back line after he played some key minutes a season ago.

“We have a very young squad going into the season, but a tight group of kids who are together 24/7, a very family-like team here at Milford this season,” said Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “Offensively we will have to figure out ways to score goals. Defensively we are very young and inexperienced but have a tight group of kids that will help each other out.”

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

North Attleboro

2021 Record: 8-8-2
Coach: Mike Lacasse
An untimely departure from the girls’ program at North forced a bit of a shakeup in the coaching ranks as Geoff Burgess moves over to the girls and Mike Lacasse, who has coached the JV team for a number of years, moves up to take over varsity.

Lacasse and the Rocketeers will look to make some noise in a very talented Kelley-Rex division, and look to get back to the state tournament. The strength of the squad will be in the midfield as the Big Red has some familiar faces back in key spots. Senior Carson Dameron is back for his third year as a starter and will be joined by classmates Zach Smahi and Griffin Rodden. Juniors Kaden Burns and Quinn Conley will patrol the flanks while sophomore Patrick Etienvre could be poised for a breakout campaign after some impressive minutes as a freshman.

Defensively, North Attleboro has the challenge of replacing one of the better keepers in the league in David Floyd as well as HockomockSports Second XI selection Brody Rosenberg at center back. Seniors Jack Regan (outside back) and Sam Bush will try to solidify the backline with junior Owen Goeller in position to start in net. Up front, the Rocketeers will turn to senior Givany Carney, a powerful striker, and junior Bryce Newth, to produce some goals.

“We have a good mix of young talent and experience in some key positions,” Lacasse said. “I am excited to see what this team can accomplish this season, as they look to continue the progress they had toward the end of last year.”

2022 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Oliver Ames

2021 Record: 13-4-2
Coach: John Barata
For most programs, losing the league MVP plus the league’s top goal scorer would be a massive hurdle to get over. But this isn’t something new for Oliver Ames, who has won three straight division titles and eight overall since the 2011 season. While graduation will certainly hurt, the returners and new arrivals have OA right back in the mix for another title.

Despite the loss of Mathias Taylor (MVP) and Clide Neau (tied for a league-high 13 goals), the Tigers have plenty to be excited about, starting with sophomore Casey Milliken, who finished atop the points leaderboard during the regular season a year ago and earned HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year honorable mention.

On top of that, Joey Carney is back in the mix in the midfield looking to capitalize on a solid sophomore campaign (four goals, two assists), and sophomore Andrew Martins will see an increased role after impressing as a freshman. And like always for OA, they will lean heavily on the captains: senior Hector Bucio, who had a breakout year with seven goals and three assists, and senior Jake Williams. Sophomores Luke Churchill has also impressed so far this preseason.

“OA is excited to compete in the Hockomock League,” said OA head coach John Barata. “We are working to get into the tournament this season. We want to grow as a team and have a lot of fun.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Sharon

2021 Record: 6-9-3
Coach: Scott Nathan
Sharon battled its way through injury after injury last season, showing glimpses at times (wins over league champs Milford and Oliver Ames, finishing on a four-game unbeaten streak) but missed out on a spot in the state tournament.

With a host of talent returning this year, the Eagles are serious contenders to challenge for the division title in what is shaping up to be one of the deepest years in the Davenport. The Eagles look to have a strong defensive group this year anchored by HockomockSports Second XI selection Rhys Davis at center back. He’ll be joined by seniors Tyler Goodman, Brandon Mauricio, and Tony Yang to not only give the Eagles a veteran backline but one with skill and pace. Senior Matt Baur is back with the program and returns to his starting spot in net.

The Eagles also have some key pieces back in the midfield and up front. Senior captain Adam Eastman will be looking to build on his nine-goal season from last year, which was tied for fifth most in the Hock. Seniors Rishi Shetty, Malachi Diaz, and Miguel Vasconcelos provide depth up front. Cam Birnbaum and Kevin Lu are also returning players from last year’s squad that could see valuable minutes.

“The Hock is among the strongest leagues in the state,” said head coach Scott Nathan. “We look forward to getting the chance to play against so many quality teams. The boys can’t wait to get started!”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Stoughton

2021 Record: 0-17-1
Coach: Ruben Teixeira
Stoughton struggled through a difficult schedule last season but there is a bit of a buzz about the Black Knights entering this season.

First year head coach Ruben Teixeira, who has coached both at the high school and collegiate level, had a great turnout for tryouts and the Black Knights will be looking to bounce out of the bottom of the standings and make a serious run at the Davenport division title.

Stoughton has a good amount of returning players from a year ago, including a lot of young players that were getting their first varsity experience. Teixeira will look to his seniors to guide the way, especially early on. Senior Joao Marotti sets the tone with his hard work and will be a factor both defensively and offensively for Stoughton. His versatility will provide Teixeira with some flexibility in the midfield. Another senior to keep an eye on is Matheus Groberio, a new addition to the program that has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. He could be an instant impact player for Stoughton this season.

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Taunton

2021 Record: 5-10-3
Coach: Taylor Whitters
Taunton had an excellent start last year, winning four straight to open the season but the momentum came to a halt and the Tigers finished at 5-10-3 and on the outside looking in for the postseason.

With nearly its entire squad back in the mix this season, the Tigers will be looking to replicate that start and then carry it even further and challenge for the Kelley-Rex title. Taunton was young last season as the lineup featured mostly juniors and sophomores, but now the Tigers are one of the most experienced groups and will be looking to use their speed to challenge the rest of the Hock.

Riley Ribello was a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection on defense but he’s shown he can play at center mid or move up top and be a dangerous attack, and it’s likely that’s where we’ll see him this season. The Tigers also have Quincy Jones-Sylvia back at center back while Josh Letourneau, Ian Robicheau, and Jonathan Trinh all saw time at outside back and will provide key defensive depth this year.

Conal Scully proved to be a top attacking option last year with the ability to score from a variety of spots on the pitch. Aidden Fitting plays with a ton of pace on the outside and the Taunton midfield will get another speedy player in Javonte Fernandes, who is back on the field after playing goalie last season. Vinicius Lira Lima and Az-Anael St. Marc provide attack depth for the Tigers.

“We have a lot of individual talent, however, it is our unmatched team chemistry and synchronicity on the pitch that will undoubtedly make this our year in the Hock,” said Taunton head coach Taylor Whitters.

09/09/202109/09/2021

2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Attleboro

2020 Record: 2-5-6
Coach: Peter Pereira
The Bombardiers seemed to get things in gear just as last season was coming to an end, finishing the season unbeaten in its final five games. But there won’t be much carryover to this year as Attleboro only has three starters back from a team that lost 14 seniors to graduation.

It will be a lot of new faces for longtime head coach Peter Pereira, who is still trying to fit the puzzle pieces together to figure out the best combination for his Bombardiers. Senior Cashel Stuger joined the lineup last season and will be a main part of the Attleboro defense this year with Lucas Marques, Ian Miller, and John Blouin all in the mix to see minutes. Junior Esvin Morales begins his third year on the varsity level and has the most experience at this level on the team. Morales is a crafty midfielder that is very dangerous in the attack and on set pieces. Seniors Liam Bischoff and Thomas Russo have good varsity experience and should see expanded roles this year.

Sophomore Alex Vecchioli exploded onto the scene last year, scoring a team-high four goals. He’ll join Morales to solidify the Attleboro midfield but he’s no stranger to getting forward and making some noise in the attack. Sophomores Tyler Rocchio and Brady Whitmarsh are battling for the starting position in goal while Pereira is looking for the likes of Connor Adema, Yannie Skortas, and Emilio Ticas to step up in the attack.

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Canton

2020 Record: 6-3-3
Coach: Danny Erickson
Canton was the main challenger to OA’s division title win last season, playing tough against the Tigers in both matches. In fact, the Bulldogs’ lone losses were to both division champs in OA and Milford, the latter coming in the semifinal of the Hock Cup.

Canton has a large chunk of those players returning to the pitch for this season and a lot of them have multiple years of experience playing at the varsity level, which means expectations are high for Canton. OA has been the team to beat in the Davenport for the majority of the past decade but it looks like that could be different this year with how much skill the Bulldogs have.

There are veteran players all over the field, starting in the back with the anchor of the defense in senior All-Hockomock selection Giovanni Ruggeri, who returns as the starting goalie. Establishing a strong defensive group in front of Ruggeri will be key but the Bulldogs have a track record of getting better defensively as the season goes on. There is a lot of firepower going forward with senior Dylan Baird being the link in the midfield, helping the Dogs transition from defense to offense. There will be a lot of options in the attacking third with both Erik Valdovinos (three goals, two assists) and Jacob Crugnale up front (goal, seven assists). Junior Jake McCabe is also back after scoring three goals and notching two helpers.

“We are so excited to head into the season,” said head coach Danny Erickson. “Our team has a very high ceiling for success and we are working hard to reach that ceiling. Couldn’t have much more difficult of an early-season schedule playing Franklin, OA, and Milford to open up the Hock so we will certainly be presented some very tall tasks right out of the gates.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Foxboro

2020 Record: 4-6-2
Coach: Dan Ambrosio
Foxboro is leaning on a strong senior class, a group of talented returners, and a mix of new faces to try and make a run at the Davenport division title. The heart of the team will be with the senior class, including four-year player Derek Axon and midfielder Alex McGarry.

Axon has been on the roster since his freshman year and will start in net for the Warriors, leading the way for what head coach Dan Ambrosio hopes is a strong defensive unit. Foxboro has been on the lower half of the Davenport table in terms of goals against in each of the past two seasons but Ambrosio believes he has a strong defensive unit that will play well in front of Axon. McGarry, a three-year member of the varsity squad, will be a key piece in the middle of the pitch.

It’s not often a team gets a transfer with not only varsity experience, but experience playing in the Hockomock League. But the Warriors added Jorge Sanchez, who has two years of playing at Canton under his belt and could be a big boost for Foxboro. Senior forward Matt Angelini has improved each year with the program and will be one of the top strikers in the league while junior Alex Penders has impressed so far in the preseason. Sophomore John Hollis made a splash during the COVID-shortened 2020 season and could be poised for a breakout year for the Warriors.

“The group has done an outstanding job of coming together as a team,” Ambrosio said. “We look forward to playing the Foxboro way and competing to win the Hockomock regular season.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

franklin

2020 Record: 3-5-4
Head Coach: Fran Bositis
Hall of Fame head coach Fran Bositis is back on the sidelines for his 51st season in charge and he and his Panthers are anxious to get back to normal soccer after last year’s abbreviated season that featured rule changes that altered the game.

Bositis has liked what he’s seen so far in the preseason with the team improving after each training session and after each scrimmage. Having a trio of four-year players is an advantage that many teams won’t have so the Panthers will lean heavily on seniors Terry O’Neill, Tyler Powderly, and Aidan Griffith for their veteran leadership. There are a lot of upperclassman on the roster with seniors Jack Moran, Nelson Martinez, and Kevin Proenca all back in the mix after playing last season.

O’Neill, the 2019 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, is the spine of the team, patrolling the middle of the pitch. We saw early on in his career his ability to get forward and become a scoring threat but he also showed he can sit back and solidify the defensive unit. Both Powderly and Griffith provide a lot of speed on the outside. Junior Trey Lovell and sophomore Rex Cinelli earned some minutes a season ago while Bositis expects junior Will Krysak and sophomore Sean O’Leary to be steady contributors this season.

“I feel the outlook is bright as long as we continue to work hard and look to make small improvements every day,” Bositis said. “I also feel that we have very good senior leadership and that this will be important in helping our younger players develop.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

King Philip

2020 Record: 5-4-4
Coach: Mike O’Neill
The Warriors graduated nearly its entire starting lineup, losing a total of eight players from the starting 11, along with five more seniors from last year’s squad, but somehow KP boasts a strong returning group of players.

That’s a credit to head coach Mike O’Neill, who has shown since he took over the varsity team that he will take full advantage of the depth of his roster, getting a lot of player’s minutes each season. Last year’s abbreviated season was no different; KP has half a dozen players back with varsity experience ready to make a run at the division title.

There are four captains: Caleb Cassetta, John Pfeiffer, Sean McCarthy, and Stephen Griffin, and all four bring something a little different to the table. Cassetta can do a bit of everything, from being the maestro of the midfield, to shoring up the defense, to sliding up front to score goals. Pfeiffer plays both defensively and in the midfield and provides key leadership, McCarthy is an aggressive outside back, and Griffin is a four-year member of varsity that can play in a variety of roles going forward.

Junior Matt Cargo could be poised for a breakout year in the midfield while senior Dan Fifolt is back in the mix to give KP at outside back. Junior Andrew Seropian has had a good preseason so far while sophomores Tommy Lomusico, Will Bowen, and Dermott Amorim are all competing to try and give the Warriors a boost on the offensive end.

“I think there is going to be a lot of parity in the Hock this year,” O’Neill said. “It will be difficult (as always) to win games. We graduated 13 seniors and 8 starters last year. That is a significant loss of experience on the field, but it also provides opportunities for younger players. I am excited to see which players will step into the available roles and have a breakout year.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Mansfield

2020 Record: 6-4-2
Coach: Steve Sheridan
For years, Mansfield has been known as a defensive team that sets the tone with its physicality, taking advantage of set pieces on the offensive end to win games. Things might be a little different in 2021.

While Mansfield still boasts a strong defensive group, the heart and soul of the team is in the midfield. There is a lot of creativity in the group that features senior captains Matty Hyland and Danny Rowe along with juniors Grady Sullivan and Connor Palinski. The unit has impressed in the preseason, moving the ball around, combining to get up field and attack opposing defenses. Mansfield has traditionally used a lot of subs for its forwards under Sheridan and that looks like it will be the case again this year with senior Liam Anastasia and junior Dan Checkoway both in the mix.

Four-year varsity player Dylan Buchanan will take on a new role this year, making the switch to defense. His speed will make it tough for opponents to get in behind the Hornet back line. Senior Michael Caridi is another returner and he will join Buchanan in the back in front of senior goalie Jack Lasbury-Casey.

“This is the first time in a very long time that I can honestly say that the defense is not the strength of our team, the midfield is!!”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Milford

2020 Record: 10-0-3
Coach: Antonio Pinto
The target on Milford’s back this season will be bigger than ever as the Scarlet Hawks enter the season with three straight division titles; last year’s Kelley-Rex crown and two from the Davenport prior to that. While the Hawks are certainly in the hunt to make it four straight, they’ll do so without their best player from the past two seasons.

Last year’s Hockomock League MVP and lone Massachusetts All-American selection Leo Coelho graduated alongside nine other players that helped Milford won the Hockomock Cup last season. That class also included star midfielder Lucas Da Silva and 2019 playoff hero and goalie Leo Oliveira. While it might seem like the cupboard is a bit thin, the Hawks have reloaded with some new talent eager to win a title of their own.

Kevin Gomes has been on varsity since he was a sophomore and has plenty of varsity starts in net under his belt. He came off the bench in the Hockomock Cup and came up huge to help the Hawks take the win. Milford also has veteran centerback Chris Tocci back in the fold; Tocci is not only one of the most experienced backs in the league but he’s one of the most skilled and his prowess in the air is key for the Hawks.

Senior Avi Seri and juniors Arthur Tome and Hulanger Pires all took advantage of their expanded roles last season and will be key in the offense this season.

“We have a good direct style of play,” said head coach Antonio Pinto.

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

North Attleboro

2020 Record: 3-6-3
Coach: Geoff Burgess
It was a good offseason for the Rocketeers, who used their time between seasons to improve their craft. North has developed a reputation for a defense-first-minded program over the past couple of seasons and the Big Red is sticking true to its colors in 2021.

The strength of the team lies in the defense with a lot of experience in the defensive third. Senior captain Brody Rosenberg will slide into a center back role and anchor the defense from there while sophomore Kaden Burns returns to his outside back position after picking up vital experience during last year’s abbreviated season. Senior David Floyd returns in goal this year after posting a 1.50 goals against average last season.

Connor Ward has been making plays in this league for a long time and look for that to continue during his senior season Ward uses his versatility and creativeness to orchestrate the Rocketeer push forward. Sophomore Carson Dameron is another returner in the midfield unit for North Attleboro; look for senior Jaad Ismail and juniors Griffin Rodden and Givany Carney to give North’s offense a boost.

“We have a great mix of experience and talent that will hopefully lead to a successful year,” said North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess. “The team really came together this summer at Camp Manitou and they really believe in each other. They really want to work hard to improve each day and are one of the most coachable groups we have ever had. We are all really excited to get back to normal soccer and see what this season holds for us.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Oliver Ames

2020 Record: 12-1-0
Coach: John Barata
Oliver Ames spent the majority of the last decade at the top of the mountain in the Hockomock League, winning five Davenport division titles and two Kelley-Rex crowns since the league split. The Tigers are the defending champs in the Davenport and lost just one game (Hock Cup) last year, but this will be the biggest turnover that OA has seen in a long time.

Oliver Ames graduated over a dozen players, including nearly its entire starting lineup of a team that scored a league-best 59 goals and had a league-low five goals against. Not only did the Tigers lose a talented senior class, but a majority of the players were also either two or three-year starters, so there will be a lot of new faces getting playing time at the varsity level for the first time. Senior captain Mathias Taylor is the most experienced player back for the Tigers after getting a lot of time as a sophomore and starting last fall. His versatility will be key as the Tigers carve out roles for the new players; Taylor can control the play from the middle of the pitch, move up front as a dangerous attacking option, or sit back some to help solidify the defense.

Hector Bucio is the other returner starter for the Tigers after earning some minutes after a sophomore, picking up some starts in the process, and will be a big part of the offense for OA. Michael Haikal also saw time on the field during the COVID-shortened season and will see an expanded role this year as one of the team’s captains. With new faces in the mix, OA is focusing on attacking with pace while stressing getting numbers behind the ball to defend against the tough competition in the Hockomock League.

“We are excited to be back playing regular soccer and looking forward to seeing how this very young and inexperienced team gels during the season,” said OA head coach John Barata. “We hope to win a couple games and get these underclassmen a lot of experience.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Stoughton

2020 Record: 0-10-2
Coach: Jon Grant
It starts with the fundamentals for head coach Jon Grant and his Black Knights: an improved defensive effort to stay in games and better technical play to increase scoring games.

And so far, so good as Grant has seen improvement on both ends of the pitch throughout the preseason. Throughout each of the last two seasons, the Knights have shown glimpses and the goal this season is to string together consistent performances and limit the mistakes to keep Stoughton in the game. Captains Rhuan Carvalho and Joao Marotti, both seniors, give the Knights some experience up top as they battle against a tough Hockomock League schedule. Although Evan Khang and Kyle Grant as just sophomores, they saw a lot of time last season and will bring that experience and talent to Stoughton’s midfield.

Defensively, the Knights will turn to senior captain Owen Roddy to anchor the defense. He will be joined by classmate Val Pierre to try and solidify the Stoughton back line.

“Everyone is excited to be back out on the field and it will make it even sweeter as we add the competition of the season,” said Jon Grant. “This season we are looking to not beat ourselves by limiting our mistakes. This mentality will put us in a good position each game to compete. Combine that with great effort and a positive attitude and we have a pretty good recipe for success.”

Hockomock League Boys Soccer

Taunton

2020 Record: 0-3-7
Coach: Taylor Whitters
The Tigers only played four games last fall due to COVID so there wasn’t much of an opportunity to pick up varsity experience for the younger players, which make up most of the roster for the 2021 season. The lineup will feature mostly juniors along with a group of sophomores so Taunton will lean heavily on the few players that have played at this level before.

That starts with juniors Riley Rebello and Joseph Renquinha, who both enter their third season apart of the varsity team. Rebello has seen time just about everywhere for the Tigers, including at center back, attacking mid, and up front at striker. The experience that both he and Renquinha possess will be key as the young Taunton team tackles a difficult schedule. Taunton is also looking for juniors Aidden Fitting, Quincy-Jones Sylvia, Conal Scully, and Jonathan Trinh to step into big roles right away.

Taunton will rely on a strong work ethic to try and put pressure on teams, using team speed to attack opposing defenses. The Tigers have been in a lot of close games — three of the for from last season, and 11 of their games in 2019 were decided by a goal or less. Taunton will be hoping to end up on the other end of those one-goal results this season to try and make a push for the postseason. Sophomores Javonte Fernandes, Delano Costa-Hanlon, and Joshua Letourneau, alongside junior Sete Deletoile, will be in the mix on their first year with the team.

“I am hoping for us to continue to mature this season and raise the bar a little higher each game,” said head coach Taylor Whitters.