Freshman Kelly O’Connor chases down a ball in the Franklin attack. The Panthers fell 2-0 to Brookline in the Round of 16. (HockomockSports.com)
FRANKLIN, Mass. – The team felt like mirror images of each other. From the formations to the strength of the lineups, the style of play, it was like the Spiderman meme come to life on a soccer pitch. In a game that is so evenly matched, sometimes it takes a moment of brilliance to decide the outcome.
On Tuesday night at Pisini Stadium, it was Brookline that had that moment. A 59th minute strike by Eleanor Bergstein proved to be the difference, with the Warriors adding another in the final minute, to secure a 2-0 win over No. 4 seed Franklin and reach the Div. 1 quarterfinal.
“They’re a good team, we’re a good team, we play very similar games, it just wasn’t our night,” said Franklin coach Jodi Klein. “It was very, very even, but that’s what every game is going to be like when you get to this level. They had two chances and they capitalized on them. If we had capitalized on the ones we had, we’d be in a different spot.”
The game featured few chances for either team, but it was the Panthers who had the better looks in the first half.
Only three minutes in, Franklin put together a flowing move down the left with freshman winger Kelly O’Connor playing a nice give-and-go with Stella Regan, cutting it back to the midfielder just inside the box. It looked like Regan was going to line up a shot, but instead she angled a pass into the six-yard box looking for the late run of forward Anya Zub. It took a heads up clearance to prevent the opening goal.
Brookline was looking to hit quickly in transition, but the Panthers were doing an excellent job of cutting out most attacks. Central defender Norah Anderson led the way for Franklin’s defense, alongside sophomore Maddie Horton. Left back Lily Deforge also had a strong game deputizing for the injured Izzy Arnold.
“Norah is unbelievable,” Klein said. “Maddie had a great night. Our center midfielders were on point. They did an unbelievable job defending. They have a lot of skill in the midfield, we just couldn’t generate up top.”
The Warriors were able to create only one clear chance in the opening 40 minutes. Amara Ukomadu ran down the right channel and from a tight angle decided to go for goal. Rachel Welch had to get over quickly to prevent the shot from sneaking into the top corner.
Six minutes later, Franklin had another nice move down the left side. O’Connor continued her impressive rookie campaign, tricking her way past the defender to get to the end line. Her cross eluded both Zub and Riley Fitzpatrick, who had made the run in from the wing to the back post.
Franklin’s best chance may have come in the 26th minute. Anderson lined up a 25-yard free kick and curled it towards the top corner. Her first try was saved but the official ordered the kick retaken, as he hadn’t blown his whistle. Anderson tried again to the same spot and the Brookline keeper was there again.
“We had multiple good chances to score, way more actual chances than they had and we just couldn’t get on the end of it,” Klein explained. “We didn’t test that goalkeeper at all. She’s tall and she’s good up high, but we didn’t test her once.”
It was a similar pattern in the second half. The game was fast-paced, competitive, and both teams were battling through the midfield, but there were few clear scoring opportunities on either end of the field. Just two minutes in, Zub pressured the keeper on a ball over the top and Fitzpatrick had a half-chance on a loose ball but sent it wide.
The game turned midway through the half. First, Madeline Moor burst out of defense and raced down the left wing to send in a cross to Gianna Pentland, who maybe could have done better with a free header in the box. A minute later, Bergstein scored the winner. She broke free in the right channel, but when she turned back in field it looked like the Franklin defense was in good position. Then she rifled a shot from the edge of the box, off the crossbar, and in.
Brookline grabbing the lead energized the away bench and Pentland had a chance to put the game away after a mishit clearance fell to her 20 yards from goal, but she shot wide. The game started to get more stretched, as Franklin started to push more numbers forward into the attack.
With just a couple minutes remaining, Franklin finally managed to get past the initial line of defense, as Regan played a nice ball behind the right back for O’Connor to run onto. It was the same combination of players that linked up for the overtime winner in round one. This time, O’Connor played a cross into the middle, but too close to the keeper, who was out to collect.
In the final minute, with Franklin (14-2-2) pushing everyone high up the pitch desperate for an equalizer, Brookline sealed the win. Vilena Tchernychev played a ball in behind the back four and Ukomadu ran onto it, before firing a cool finish past Welch.
“We have a lot of talent coming back next year,” said Klein, who was the interim coach this season while Tom Geysen was out. “There’s a lot of players in JV who are chomping at the bit to come up next year and I’ve got a couple of stud freshmen coming up too. We have a very bright future. Franklin is a big, big soccer town, and I hope I’m the one here to do it.”
Sophomore Anya Zub (5) drives at the Mansfield defense during Franklin’s 3-1 win at Alumni Field. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Sometimes everything just clicks on the pitch. The game plan, the formation, the passes, the runs, the marking, the energy, everything comes together over 80 minutes and makes it hard for the opposition to keep pace.
In Wednesday night’s Kelley-Rex title showdown at Alumni Field, Franklin had one of those rare nights. The Panthers hardly put a foot wrong from the opening whistle, scored twice in the opening 18 minutes, and walked away with a 3-1 victory over Mansfield.
“That was the best 80 minutes of soccer we’ve played all season,” said Franklin coach Jodi Klein. “That is what we’ve been working for all season long. We knew how we needed to play to beat this team and they did it.”
Franklin’s win ended a run of four straight defeats to the Hornets, including a 1-0 loss almost exactly a month ago, opened up a four-point gap on Mansfield in the title race, and kept Franklin two points in front of King Philip with two matches to play. It was the first time in the last seven meetings that either team scored more than one goal.
“They played great,” Mansfield coach Kevin Smith admitted. “They were fast, they were quicker than us to the ball, they connected their passes, and they came out in the first 20 minutes and scored the two goals and then we started settling in a little bit. On the whole, the better team won tonight.”
It was mostly one-way traffic in the opening half. Franklin needed only two minutes to fashion a good chance, as freshman Kelly O’Connor got forward down the left wing and crossed to an unmarked Anya Zub on the edge of the six-yard-box. The Panthers’ top scorer headed the chance wide.
Chances kept coming. In the eighth minute, an out-swinging corner was partially cleared to Bridget Leo, who hit a perfect half-volley from 20 yards only to have Mansfield keeper Olivia Salisbury made a full-stretch save to prevent the opening goal. It turned out to be only a momentary reprieve. On the ensuing corner from Izzy Arnold, Salisbury could only knock it down and Zub made no mistake from close range.
The lead was doubled in the 18th minute. Another run down the left by O’Connor opened up the Mansfield defense. Her line drive cross into the box missed Zub’s run but Riley Fitzpatrick cut in from the right wing and was able to direct the cross past the dive of Salisbury.
Franklin kept coming. The midfield trio of Stella Regan, Chloe Barca, and Leo were passing their way past the Hornets and forcing a lot of running and tackling out of holding midfielders Bridget Hanley and Katie Miller. While there were impressive performances all over the pitch, it was O’Connor that stood out in the first half. Every time the freshman touched the ball, the Panthers created a chance.
Another O’Connor cross was palmed out of the box but right to Regan, who teed up Leo for a shot from distance that went well over. A minute later, O’Connor was running at the back line again, dancing past a pair of defenders before firing a shot into the side netting.
At the half-hour mark, O’Connor and Regan played a nice one-two with Regan slipping the winger in behind the defense. O’Connor got all the way to the end line and fired a cross off Salisbury that Hanley had to be alert to clear.
“She’s a monster,” Klein said about O’Connor. “She doesn’t have a ton of points this season, but she creates so much offense. She just creates chances and excitement and energy. She doesn’t stop and I’m so excited to see what she does in the next few years.”
Right before halftime, Leo had one more good look from distance. She picked the pocket of a Mansfield player and ran to the edge of the box before forcing Salisbury into another good save down low to her right.
The Panthers were good value for the two-goal advantage. Mansfield had created little of note in the attack, as the center back pairing of Norah Anderson and Maddie Horton were repelling everything that came their way.
Olivia Homsi had the first shot on target for Mansfield in the second half, cutting in from the left and putting a shot into the hands of Rachel Welch. A long pass from Anderson sent O’Connor off on a run. She split a pair of defenders but the shot was comfortably saved by Salisbury.
Ten minutes after the break, Franklin added a contentious third. O’Connor was bundled over on the far edge of the box and, much to the frustration of the Mansfield defenders, the official on the opposite side pointed to the spot. Regan stepped up and fired a shot over Salisbury, who had guessed right.
The third goal seemed to spark Mansfield into life. Tarynn Smith set up Carly Devine for a shot from the edge of the box that Welch got down well to hold. Smith had a shot from 18 yards that again forced a save out of the keeper. Homsi and Devine both thought they had gotten behind the defense only to have the official rule them offsides. Gabby Smith had a long free kick that she put on target but Welch made a good catch.
Klein explained, “We haven’t really needed to manage a lead in such a high-intensity game. We’re just really starting to be confident and trust each other and know that we can do that against a team with that kind of speed. You can do it against teams that aren’t putting any pressure on you but when you’ve got Mansfield girls running down your back it’s different.”
Franklin wasn’t finished. A corner from Arnold went all the way across the box and out to her fellow fullback Jackie O’Neil, who played it back in. Salisbury bravely got down at the far post to smother with O’Connor waiting to pounce. In the 71st minute, Salisbury denied Fitzpatrick a brace after Zub’s steal and cross.
With five minutes to play, Mansfield got on the board from the spot after another contentious call. Miller made no mistake from the spot, firing into the bottom corner past the dive of Welch.
“It was a great build up and experience of what tournament is going to be like, playing every other day against a top-level team,” Smith said about the challenge of facing OA, KP, and Franklin in the past week. “It was great for us. What else can you ask for than playing top teams to get you ready?”
Franklin (11-1-2) can clinch at least a share of its second straight league title if it beats Milford on Monday. Mansfield (10-4) will look to bolster its tournament positioning when it hosts Taunton.
Boys Soccer
Sharon, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin made it two wins in a row, this time taking down visiting Sharon. Hansy Jacques opened his account on the season in the 27th minute, finishing off a pass from Rex Cinelli to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Senior Terry O’Neill doubled Franklin’s advantage off of an assist from Tim O’Keefe.
Foxboro, 1 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Foxboro broke the deadlock with the lone goal of the game with just over 10 minutes to play to grab a win on the road at Taunton. After an hour of scoreless play, Foxboro senior Matt Angelini put the visitors ahead in the 68th minute, finishing off a corner kick from John Hollis.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Canton, 4 – Final
Franklin, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Sophomore Anya Zub scored twice and had one assist as the Panthers picked up two points on the road. Zub scored one goal off a pass from Norah Anderson and her second came off a pass from Izzy Arnold. Zub set up Stella Regan for a goal for the Panthers, who had a 2-0 lead at halftime. Amber Marcus-Blank had the Sharon goal, burying her chance from the spot. Sofia Goclowski and Carly Pinnix played well for the Eagles in the midfield and Samantha Connors had strong games in defense and in goal.
Taunton, 0 @ Foxboro, 6 – Final – Foxboro made sure there was no slip up at home against Taunton, extending its unbeaten streak to 11 games and remaining in a first-place tie with OA. Kailee McCabe continued her torrid scoring run with four goals. Erin Foley and Jordan Carman each found the back of the net once. Grace Riley had a pair of assists, while Lauren Miley and Kylie O’Keefe each had one.
Volleyball
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Canton, 1 – Final – For the second straight day, Oliver Ames overcame a one-set deficit to pick up a 3-1 win, this time on the road against division foe Canton (19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-18). Sophomore Claire O’Rourke had a standout performance at the net for the Tigers with 14 kills and three aces. Head coach Chelsea Cunningham said that Hadley Rhodes dished out 46 assists, Maddie Homer recorded a season-high 54 digs, and Sarah Hillard had 26 kills. For Canton, Jess Wright led the offense with 17 kills while Anna Verille and Zoe Scibelli combined for 30 digs.
Boys Soccer
Milford, 1 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Milford scored 10 minutes into the second half and that was enough to earn two points on the road against Attleboro. Arthur Tome netted the long goal of the game, finishing off a pass from David Desa to put the Hawks ahead. Lucas Fernandes earned his first career shutout in net in his first start, forced into action due to injury.
Canton, 8 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Canton junior Jake McCabe scored twice and had two assists as the Bulldogs snapped a short two-game skid in emphatic fashion. Jacob Crugnale added a pair of goals and an assist in the win while Charlie McKinney, Caden Mirliani, Zack Dowling, and Drew Garrett each scored once.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro scored just minutes into the first half and Derek Axon notched the shutout in net for the Warriors. A blocked shot fell to the feet of sophomore John Hollis, who took a touch and ripped a blast on the bounce from 25-yards out that went just under the bar to put the Warriors on the board.
Franklin, 0 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Taunton junior Riley Rebello set up the game-winning goal in the first half and scored the insurance tally in the second as the Tigers improved to 4-0 on the season, matching their best start since joining the Hockomock League. Rebello set up freshman Ian Robicheau to put the Tigers ahead in the 33rd minute. Rebello put the game away with a nice shot from outside the area in the 63rd minute.
Mansfield, 1 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Mansfield defender Ian Leeds made the play of the game, coming up with a clearance to preserve the win for the Hornets. The Warriors nearly got on the board but Leeds was there to keep it out and help the Hornets get their fourth shutout of the season. Liam Anastasia took a pass from Danny Rowe and went in alone on goal and finished for the lone goal of the game.
Sharon, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – After being shutout by Franklin last week in their first loss of the season, Oliver Ames bounced back in big way with a 6-1 win over visiting Sharon. The Eagles cut the deficit in half early in the second half to make it 2-1 but Clide Neau scored three straight for a hat trick as the Tigers pulled away. Mathias Taylor and Michael Haikal scored goals in the first half as OA staked a 2-0 lead at the break. Senior John Dobbin tacked on a sixth goal for OA off an assist from Christian Haikal.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Kacey Parker scored a pair of goals to help Attleboro pick up a second straight win in what head coach Steve Santos called a “solid team performance.” Jamie Davies opened the scoring in the first half, finishing an assist from Bethany Alves. Parker got her first of the day, from an Emily Dunlea assist, to make it 2-0 heading into halftime. The Bombardiers added three goals after the break to pull away. Zoe Johnson-Kiff scored off an Allison Rebelo assist, Parker doubled her tally this time from an Emily Khang helper, and then Kahlan Gray wrapped up the scoring from an Aly Santoro assist.
Foxboro, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – The Warriors made it four straight wins with a win at North. Brooke Berreira had the eventual game-winner with three minutes left in the first half, scoring off a pass from Erin Foley. Grace Riley added a second in the closing minute, finishing a Kailee McCabe corner to seal the win. Summer Doherty had a strong game in the North defense trying to mark McCabe and keep the league’s leading scorer quiet. Haley Sinacola also had a good game in a reworked North defense. Brayden Rice, Lily Adams, Brooke Sullivan, and Casey Butanowicz played well in the North midfield.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 7 – Final – After being held scoreless in the first half, Franklin exploded for seven goals after the break. Anya Zub scored four times, including one from the penalty spot, Stella Regan added a brace, and Selene Hammad scored once for the Panthers, who remain just one point back of KP in the division standings. Izzy Arnold, Lily Deforge, Anna Grasso, Avery Greco, and Tori Carmignani each had an assist for the Panthers.
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final – Canton couldn’t find a breakthrough in the first half, heading into the break scoreless, but the Bulldogs scored seven times in the final 40 minutes, including a hat trick for Gabriella Herivaux, to pick up their first win of the season. Stoughton coach Hermes Lima was thrilled with his young team’s fight in the first half on both ends of the field. Lauren Mitchell and Emma Tran had string games in the heart of the Stoughton defense and Mia Rivera was excellent in goal. Sofia Issa played well in midfield, with Shayla Ford creating a few scoring chances along with Sivannah Marcy.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – OA scored twice in the final five minutes to finally break the game open and secure the two points. Senior Lauren Sellmayer headed in a pair of corner kicks from Katie Gibson while Camryn O’Connor found the back of the net once. Halle Kander and Allison Evin had strong games for OA while Emily Meyers notched her first shutout of the season. Autumn Simon had a big game in the Sharon goal to keep the Tigers at bay for most of the afternoon. Amber Marcus-Blank, Jordanna Morris, and Samantha Connors also played well for the Eagles.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 3 – Final – Sarah McMahon scored the lone goal for the Bombardiers in a loss against visiting Bishop Feehan. Livie Hillman and Jordan Croteau had the assists to set up the goal.
Volleyball
Canton, 3 @ Brockton, 0 – Final – Canton’s Taylor Reynolds set the offense in motion as the Bulldogs landed a knockout of the visiting Boxers with a 3-0 sweep. Reynolds had 25 assists to go along with a pair of aces, Liz Beal added four kills in her first start, Amaiah Christian also added four kills, and both Katie Dever and Ella Lewis provided a spark off the bench.
Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Reese Blass had a strong all-around game to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-18, 25-13) over visiting Bridgewater-Raynham. Blass had a total of 15 service points to go alone with five kills and a pair or blocks in the win. Hadley Rhodes added 15 assists and seven kills, Shannon Willard added 10 assists, and sophomore Claire O’Rourke chipped in with seven kills.
Golf
Sharon, 162 @ North Attleboro, 149 – Final – Jake Gaskin fired a two-under par round and North Attleboro carded its lowest score of the season to knock off visiting Sharon. Gaskin, who birdied three, four, and five, came into the clubhouse with a round of 33 on the south course at Heather Hill. Dylan Harding added a round of 37, Tyson Laviano finished with a 38, and Rohan Kohli chipped in with a 41. Sharon’s Nathan Daley was the match medalist with an three-under round of 32, after sinking birdies on two, three, and four.
Mansfield, 160 @ King Philip,160 – Final – In a battle of two of the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division, King Philip emerged with a close win over Mansfield. King Philip’s Mike Matheson shared medalist honors with Mansfield’s Cian Goulet, each coming in with a round of 36. Pat Reardon shot a 39 for the Warriors while both Jared Curran and Ethan Sullivan shot a 40. Hunter Tang added a 39 for the Hornets.
Franklin, 164 @ Milford, 173 – Final – CJ Steel continued his strong start to the season, earning match medalist honors with a low-round of 38 to lead the Panthers on the road at Hopedale Country Club. Ben Paterson added a round of 41 for Franklin. Anthony LaPierre carded a 40 for the hosts while Jacob Hipolito added a 42 for the Hawks.
Stoughton, 182 @ Oliver Ames, 155 – Final – Senior Carter Allbritton shot a match medalist round of 35 to lead Oliver Ames to a win at Pine Oaks over visiting Stoughton. Sophomore David Rodgers carded a 38 in the win, senior Jake Kaplan added a 39, and senior Brendan Connelly chipped in with. 40 for OA.
Oliver Ames senior Camryn O’Connor shields off a defender in the second half against Franklin. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – The Oliver Ames girls soccer team controlled possession, applied a lot of pressure, and had nearly a dozen corners in the first half of its matchup with Franklin on Friday afternoon.
And at halftime, all they had to show for it was a 2-0 deficit on the scoreboard.
Oliver Ames continued to carry the play in the second half and found the back of the net twice to earn a 2-2 draw against the visiting Panthers.
“We were lucky to come away with a 2-2 tie,” admitted Franklin interim head coach Jodi Klein. “OA outplayed us for most of the game. We capitalized on some scoring opportunities which is wonderful but we were playing too slowly, not contesting for 50-50 balls enough. The last half of the second half, after it got level, we did a much better job. But I think we needed to increase our intensity.”
The Tigers picked up where they left off to start the second half, quickly moving up field to pressure the Panthers’ defense. There was a near chance less than a minute into the second half but Franklin junior Norah Anderson recovered well and timed her slide perfectly to deny an open look in the area.
OA continued its pressure and it finally paid off in the 47th minute after a superb effort from senior Camryn O’Connor. After gaining possession just over half near the middle of the pitch, O’Connor used her speed to race down the right wing, getting around the defender before inserting a low cross right to the six-yard line. Sophomore Lucinda Li Cotter made the run to the middle and used a deft touch to redirect the cross on a one-timer into the back of the net.
After failing to convert on 11 corners in the first 40 minutes, totaling eight shots on target, the Tigers were finally on the board early in the second half.
“Cam pretty much had to make a superhuman play just to get that cross off to Lu but that got us going,” said OA head coach Britt Sellmayer. “The girls showed a lot of character to fight and get back into the game.”
While the Tigers didn’t have as many chances in the second half, they still controlled the play. Just under 20 minutes after getting on the board, the hosts found the equalizer.
Lauren Sellmayer sent a free kick from just over half into the area at the far post. The ball bounced off a Franklin defender and fell in front to freshman Taylor deVos, who was all alone in front and buried the loose ball to knot the score 2-2 in the 66th minute.
“It’s a good tie, it’s early in the year, we’re still figuring it out,” Sellmayer said. “We played a little tense, made a mistake, and gave up a goal early and that’s going to happen. I don’t think they had as many chances as we did in the first half but had the lead. And they were tougher than us, more physical, and won those 50-50 balls. You have to credit them for that, they won those battles all game. Their back four is solid, it’s hard to get chances.
“It was a great game. Two good teams going at it and I think we had the edge just about everywhere except the scoreboard.”
Franklin’s best scoring chance for the go-ahead goal came in the 74th minute on a free kick in the attacking third. Senior Izzy Arnold put her shot from the left wing on target but OA keeper Emily Meyers handled it soundly.
While OA controlled the run of play over the first 40 minutes, it was Franklin that put the ball in the back of the net twice in the opening half.
Less than 10 minutes into the contest, a failed clearance from the OA defense went right to the feet of Stella Regan at the top of the area. Regan took a touch and then deposited her shot over the keeper and into the back of the net at the far post for a 1-0m advantage in the 9th minute.
Oliver Ames girls soccer
OA had its chances to pull level. The Tigers had two good looks in the 17th minute, the best of the two when freshman Emma Gavin saw her half volley tipped over the bar by Franklin keeper Rachel Welch. Senior Katie Gibson and junior Jenna Gilman also put in strong shifts for the Tigers.
Franklin almost doubled its lead moments later as sophomore striker Anya Zub forced a turnover and carried into the area but her low shot was denied. On the other end of the pitch, O’Connor saw her free kick to the far corner stopped by Welch, who parried the bid over the crossbar.
Five minutes later, the momentum swung back in favor of the visitors as they doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Anderson dropped a free kick in between the defense and the keeper, and Regan was the first to react to the loose ball, nodding it home off the bounce past the oncoming keeper.
“I’ll take a point on the road against a team like OA, especially given the fact that we did not play to our potential,” Klein said. “We didn’t have our best game but we played a good team and walk away with a point so I’ll take it.”
Oliver Ames girls soccer (2-0-1 Hock, 2-0-1 overall) returns to action on Monday with a road trip to division foe Sharon while Franklin (2-0-1, 2-0-1) returns home for a clash with Taunton on the same day.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Attleboro found the back of the net early and that was enough to pick up two points on the road at Franklin. Senior Connor Adema tracked down a long punt from sophomore keeper Tyler Rocchio and buried it in the fourth minute to put the visitors ahead. Rocchio recorded his first shutout of the season in the win.
Stoughton, 2 @ Foxboro, 6 – Final – Stoughton scored less than a minute into the game but Foxboro responded with three first half goals and never looked back. Freshman Alex Kozak gave the visitors a 1-0 lead on an assist from senior Val Pierre but Foxboro’s Matt Angelini leveled the score before the 10-minute mark and Jorge Sanchez scored twice before the break for a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore John Hollis extended the lead to 4-1 before Angelini scored twice in three minutes to complete his hat trick. Stoughton junior Miguel Millis tacked on a late goal on an assist from Joao Marotti. Hollis also had three assists in the win and Jacob Tessier had two helpers.
King Philip, 1 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Taunton scored once in each half to pick up its second win of the season. Sete Deletoile gave the Tigers the lead in the 28th minute, a lead that the hosts took into the halftime break. Early in the second half, Deletoile sent a corner kick in that was headed home by Quincy Jones-Sylvia. Riley Rebello and Delano Costa-Hanlon both played well in the win for Taunton. KP cut the deficit in half with a goal in the 70th minute.
Mansfield, 2 @ Milford, 0 – Final – After a scoreless half, Mansfield found the back of the net twice inside a 10-minute span to knock off Milford. Senior Matt Hyland blasted a shot from just under 40 yards out to put the Hornets ahead in the 48th minute. Grady Sullivan doubled the lead in the 57th minute, converted a feed from Liam Anastasia. Jack Lasbury-Casey made seven saves in net to earn his second straight shutout to start the season.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Sharon, 3 – Final
Girls Soccer
Franklin, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – The Panthers scored twice in the first half and it was enough to make it two straight wins to start the season. Freshman Kelly O’Connor added her first career goal to put the Panthers in front, assisted by Riley Fitzpatrick. Anya Zub then scored for the third time in two games, finishing a feed from Chloe Barca. Rachel Welch made eight saves for her second clean sheet of the season. Franklin’s midfield of Selene Hammad, Bridget Leo, Chloe Stavely, and Barca did well to control the game, and Norah Anderson, Katie Ewald, and Izzy Arnold had strong performances in the back line. Attleboro coach Steve Santos praised his team for battling through the second half and the Franklin defense for keeping the Bombardiers at bay. Emily Dunlea, Bethany Alves, and Kahlan Gray all played well for Attleboro.
Canton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – Camryn O’Connor and Alexa Lane each scored twice to lead the Tigers to a big win against a Davenport title rival. Lauren Sellmayer opened the scoring with a long free kick and Lucinda Li Cotter had a pair of assists. Emily McCabe got Canton’s only goal with 10 minutes remaining.
Foxboro, 9 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – For the second straight game, Kailee McCabe scored three times and assisted on another to lead the Warriors to a win. Jordan Carman and Neve Taylor each had braces for Foxboro and Lauren Miley and Sophia Auclair (first varsity goal) both added one score as well. The Warriors have now scored 14 goals in the last two games since being shut out in the season opener. Makenzie O’Connor scored her second goal of the season, finishing off an Isabella Rodrigues corner. Olivia Tran got on the end of another Rodrigues cross for Stoughton’s second. Lauren Mitchell played well for the Black Knights in both defense and the center of the pitch.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – KP scored four times in a 12-minute span in the first half to put away the Tigers and make it back-to-back wins to start the season. Ella Pisani scored the first two goals, both of them assisted by Morgan Norrman. Pisani played provider for the third, setting up Paulina Baczkowski to make it 3-0. Rachel DeFlaminis added a fourth, assisted by Kylie Anderson, to put the Warriors in control heading to halftime. In the second half, Kylie Menendez made it 5-0, assisted by DeFlaminis.
Milford, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield scored twice in two minutes to turn around a one-goal deficit and pull out a second straight win. Dani Atherton had given the Hawks the lead in the opening minute of the game. It took the Hornets 18 minutes to tie the game on an Avery Hawthorne goal. Lyla Nappa scored what turned out to be the game-winner two minutes later. Both Mansfield goals were assisted by Katie Miller. Nine minutes into the second half, Gabby Smith teed up Tarynn Smith for an important insurance goal. Bridget Hanley helped Mansfield control the game in the center of the pitch.
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North scored twice in the second half to seal its first win of the season. Steph McKenna and Emma Pratt each scored once and assisted on another for the Rocketeers. Pratt opened the scoring midway through the first half, running onto a ball over the top from McKenna and then finding the corner. Haley Sinacola doubled the lead 14 minutes into the second half with a 35-yard free kick. It was her first varsity goal. McKenna capped the scoring when she got on the end of a Pratt cross with nine minutes to play. Maddie Ferrin earned the clean sheet for North with Summer Doherty and Meaghan Dowd playing well defensively. North coach Bill Wallace also praised midfielders Sophia Bostock, Autumn Hewitt, and Brooke Sullivan.
Field Hockey
Franklin, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Franklin scored with no time left in the first half to level the scoring and pumped in three second half goals to run away with a win on the road at Attleboro. After a scoreless opening quarter, the Bombardiers took the lead in the 27th minute on a goal from Madison Ellis. Since Franklin earned a penalty corner, play continued after time expired in the second quarter. Kendall Jones converted a pass from Kiera Kotwicki to bring the Panthers even. Shaw Downing put the Panthers ahead on a pass from Kaitlyn Carney in the 43rd minute, and Kaeley Dubriske made it a 3-1 advantage after another assist from Carney. Sydney Rogan put the game away (assisted by Downing) in the 58th minute. Ava Haggerty was strong in net for Attleboro with 19 saves.
Canton @ Oliver Ames, 6:30
Foxboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – Sophomore Mara Boldy continued her strong start to the season, scoring a hat trick to pace the Warriors to a win over visiting Taunton. After scoring the first goal and assisting on the second in KP’s win over Foxboro last week, Boldy scored three times on Monday. Freshman Makenzie McDevitt scored for the second straight game for KP’s other tally. Haley Bright made four saves in the win while seniors Sydney O’Shea, Lily Brown, Haley Izydorczak, and Molly Piller.
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro put the ball into the back of the cage in each quarter, taking advantage of 17 penalty corners against visiting Sharon. Julia Puccio opened the scoring in the 10th minute on a feed from Ava Spencer, and then made it 2-0 in the 19th minute off a pass from Caroline Folan. Folan scored two goals of her own in the second half, first in the 33rd minute (assisted by Caitlin Vacher) and then again in the 48th minute (from Spencer). Gracie Leary posted the shutout in net for North. Sharon coach Paulina Kosmadakis said Kayleigh Connolly had incredible game defensively for the Eagles while Tanya Wadekar and Samantha Newbold both played well.
Volleyball
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin fended off a good push from Attleboro in the second set and went on to complete the sweep (25-9, 25-20, 25-14). Cailyn Mackintosh dished out 19 assists and had a huge day at the service line with 10 aces. Cate Roberge and Taylor Lacerda both notched three aces to go along with six kills apiece. For Attleboro, Lilly Boedeker recorded 17 digs while freshman Julia Leonardo had 15 digs and nine kills.
Foxboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Foxboro battled to win a close third set to avoid the sweep and keep the match going, but Stoughton but the game to rest with a win in the fourth set for a 3-1 decision (25-23, 25-11, 22-25, 25-12). For Foxboro, Mallorie Meyer had 17 digs, Sami Sloan added 12 digs, and Juliana Pettigrew finished with seven kills and eight digs.
Canton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – All three sets were tight but Oliver Ames came out victorious in all three, taking each one by five or fewer points. The Tigers battled to a 25-20 win in the first set, edged out the Bulldogs 25-22 in the second, and completed the sweep with a 25-21 decision in the third. For OA, Maddie Homer was everywhere defensively with 17 serve receptions and 25 digs. Hadley Rhodes added 18 assists and five kills while Sarah Hilliard added nine kills to go along with 15 serve receptions. Canton Talya DeGraw played well in the loss with five digs, four kills, and three aces while sophomore Fatima Sidibay was a spark off the bench, playing well at the net for the Bulldogs.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip took care of business at home, recording a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-12, 25-9) to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Junior Sami Shore put down nine kills to pace the Warriors’ offense while Emily Sawyer added six kills. KP had a strong game at the service line with Stella Bailey picking up four aces and 11 service points while Ahunna James added 15 service points.
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro went the distance to secure a win in the second set and went on to complete the sweep (25-19, 26-24, 25-14) in the third against visiting Sharon. Madelyn Corsetti paced the offense for the Rocketeers with 13 kills while Katherine McHoul dished out 15 assists. Ava Dunlevy and Julianne Chen anchored the defense with six digs apiece.
Golf
Milford, 169 @ Attleboro, 156 – Final – Attleboro’s Brendan Raymond and Leo Lombardo shared match medalist honors to help the Bombardiers sink Milford at Stone-E-Lea. Raymond and Lombardo each shot 38 on the day while Evan Houle chipped in with a 39 and Dane Holske recorded a 41. Nate Lawrence led the Hawks with a team-low round of 40, Jacob Hipolito added a 41, and Anthony LaPierre shot a 42.
Taunton, 101 @ New Bedford, 105 – Final (Stableford) – Taunton’s Jack Gobin shot a team-low round of 40 to score 23 points but the Tigers fell to New Bedford in a match determined by Stableford scoring. Logan Letourneau added a round of 41.
Franklin, 161 @ King Philip, 145 – Final – King Philip had all four of its scorers come in with a round under 40 to help the Warriors sweep the season series with rival Franklin. Mike Matheson was the match medalist, shooting a round of 35 that included a birdie. Gavin Croke, who had an eagle on the fifth hole, and Jared Curran each shot 37 while Pat Reardon finished at 38. Franklin’s CJ Steele had a team-low round of 38.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBD.
King Philip, 4 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro scored three goals in the opening 20 minutes but had to hold off a furious second half rally from the visitors to get the two points. Junior Alex Penders opened the scoring in the first minute off a cross from Matt Angelini, and Foxboro newcomer Jorge Sanchez made it 2-0 in the third minute. Angelini scored on his own in the 20th minute before sophomore John Hollis pushed the lead to 4-0 less than five minutes into the second half. KP scored back-to-back goals but Cam Barreira scored what turned out to be the game-winner int he 65th minute. KP scored twice in the final 10 minutes to make it a one-goal game.
Mansfield, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Junior Connor Palinski’s looping shot from just over 30 yards out was the difference as Mansfield secured a win on the road in the season opener. Palinski took a pass from Ian Leeds and launched one from distance that found the back post. Mansfield head coach Steve Sheridan praised his defensive unit of Leeds, Dylan Buchanan, Michael Caridi and Kevin McCarthy for their stellar play in front of Jack Lasbury-Casey (seven saves).
Taunton, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Itching to get on the field for the first time in nearly a year, Taunton exploded for five goals in a win on the road at Stoughton. The Tigers struck for a pair of first half goals before pumping in three more after the break, Devin Poe opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Conal Scully doubled the lead in the 31st minute. Riley Rebello made it 3-0 with a 49th minute strike, Scully bagged his second just two minutes later, and Quincy Jones-Sylvia capped the scoring in the 71st minute.
Girls Soccer
Oliver Ames @ Attleboro – Postponed to Friday, September 10 at 3:45.
Canton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Anya Zub scored a pair of goals to lift Franklin to a win in a battle of last year’s league champs and give interim coach Jodi Klein a debut win. Riley Fitzpatrick opened the scoring for the Panthers, finishing off a pass from freshman Kelly O’Connor. Zub then doubled the lead after combining with Fitzpatrick and sealed the two points with her second goal with just five minutes to play. Izzy Arnold had the assist on Franklin’s third. Rachel Welch made nine saves to preserve the clean sheet. Klein praised the effort of defender Norah Anderson and midfielders Stella Regan, Bridget Leo, and Selene Hammad.
Foxboro, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – KP scored once in each half to pick up two points in the season opener. Sophomore Heidi Lawrence notched her first career goal when she took a nice pass from classmate Alyssa Legere and managed to squeeze a shot through a scrum in the box. Ella Pisani sealed the victory by firing a second-half free kick into the top corner for her first of the season. Lauren Casper stopped eight Foxboro shots to earn the clean sheet. KP coach Gary Pichel also praised freshman Dani Lomuscio, who made her varsity debut by marking reigning MVP Kailee McCabe. He also credited Legere for a great game in the midfield and the back line for doing its best to frustrate the Warriors attack.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Carly Devine was first to a rebound three minutes before halftime and scored the only goal of the game to lift the Hornets to a season-opening win. Olivia Homsi had the first shot and Devine reacted first to knock in the loose ball. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith praised the play of his back line, Gabby Smith, Kara Santos, Anna Darlington, and Kayla Doherty, for limiting North’s chances. Olivia Salisbury made four saves to record the clean sheet. North nearly had the equalizer on a shot from Steph McKenna but a Hornet defender made the goal line clearance. Haley Sinacola, Lily Adams and Charlotte Moynihan all played well defensively for North.
Sharon @ Milford – Postponed to Friday, September 10 at 3:45.
Stoughton, 2 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Stoughton coach Hermes Lima picked up his first win with the Black Knights thanks to goals from freshmen Makenzie O’Connor and Lauren Mitchell. Lima praised O’Connor and Shayla Ford for their aggressive play up top that made it difficult for Taunton to get out of the defensive third easily. Mitchell and classmate Morgan Cook both played well in the midfield, while freshman Emma Tran had a great varsity debut in central defense. Abigail Durand earned the shutout in goal.
Field Hockey
Sharon vs. Norwell – Postponed to TBD.
Cross-Country
Canton @ Nauset – Postponed to Friday, September 10 at 4:30.
Golf
Foxboro @ Attleboro – Postponed to Thursday, September 16 at 2:30.
King Philip @ Taunton, 3:00
Sharon @ Stoughton – Postponed to TBD.
The Hockomock League kicked off its girls soccer season and we have the team-by-team rundown of how everyone stacks up this year. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2020 Record: 5-5-5 Coach: Steve Santos
Attleboro has been on the brink of tournament qualification for the past several seasons, but narrowly missed out. Last fall’s team had the potential to end head coach Steve Santos’ wait to get back into the playoffs only for the pandemic to force an abbreviated season. After graduating the team’s leading scorers and playmakers (Bella Salviati, Jessica Gates, and Briley Harnois), the Bombardiers will count on new faces stepping in and giving them a chance to taste the postseason.
The Bombardiers will be hoping to build on a strong defense. Senior Olivia Calderone and junior Ella Stromfors will be the anchors in the heart of the back line and their leadership will be critical. Attleboro will miss senior Olivia Cook, who had a strong preseason at outside back but suffered an injury that will keep her out for the season. Junior goalie Alexis Campbell also has an injury at the start of the season but will hopefully be back soon to take over in net.
In midfield, Attleboro has several returning players who will be looking at slightly different roles this year. Junior Emily Dunlea is a dynamic and versatile midfielder and could be the team’s playmaker this season. She will get help from senior Emily Khang, who missed the 2020 season. Another skillful midfielder, Khang will give Attleboro an attacking boost. Sophomore Bethany Alves can play as a holding or attacking midfielder, depending on the situation. Up top, junior Kacey Parker and sophomore Jamie Davies will be counted on to make up some of the goals that were lost to graduations.
“We graduated a solid core of players who brought a lot to the team, so we’re trying to figure out who’s going to embrace those roles,” said Santos. “We have some good talented players who can keep the ball on the ground and play some solid soccer. We have some more to grow on and learning how to play aggressive, Hockomock soccer.”
2020 Record: 8-3-1 Coach: Idris Senyonjo
Last season, Canton edged Foxboro by a single point to win its first league title since 2012. The Bulldogs graduated a strong class of seniors, particularly in the midfield and the attack, but there is plenty of returning talent on both ends of the pitch and second-year coach Idris Seyonjo to feel confident of another title challenge this fall.
The attack will look very different this season after graduating prolific forward Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia (17 goals combined in 2020), but senior Gabriella Herivaux returns after scoring five times last year and could be poised for a breakout season as the primary target up top. Seniors Fay Gallery and Anne Hoban (who played at outside back last season) will also join in the attack and freshman Emma Cahill is a newcomer that could provide creativity in the final third. Sophomore Emily McCabe will step into the attacking midfield role and try to provide the killer pass from the center of the pitch.
Defense should be a strength for the Bulldogs this season with a mix of veterans and several incoming freshmen who could step in right away and contribute. Senior Allie McCabe continues to be the lynchpin of the Canton defense, commanding the heart of the back line with her strong play and leadership. There is plenty of experience in goal as well with senior Elyse Broderick back and healthy and junior Marissa Staffiere ready to step in, after being the starter all of 2020.
Seyonjo said, “Most important thing about this season is that I believe all teams are looking forward to what will hopefully be a normal season. I am excited. I look forward to my first full season as head coach. Every game will be different and we hope to be able to match or even better our performances from last season.”
2020 Record: 7-2-2 Coach: Katie Stalcup
Foxboro was just a single point short of a three-peat last season, dropping to second in the Davenport behind Canton, and the Warriors will have a lot of new faces this fall as they try to get back on top in the division. The Warriors graduated 10 seniors, but still have a lot of varsity experience, especially in the midfield, that will make them a tough challenge for their title rivals.
Senior Kailee McCabe, the reigning league MVP, is back in the middle for the Warriors this season. The four-year starter tied for the team (and league) lead with 11 goals in 2020 but she may have to take on a bigger scoring role this fall with Jordyn Collins now at Bryant. She should have a lot of help in the middle of the pitch. Senior Brooke Barreira, junior Lauren Milley, and sophomore Erin Foley all played significant minutes last year and capable of the quick combination passing that has been a hallmark of Foxboro’s play. Senior Jordan Carman will bring her versatility to the forward line this season, after playing pretty much every position (including goalie) last year.
Defensively, senior Meghan Burke will be the leader in the back line. An aggressive, solid defender, Burke has regularly been tasked with marking the opponent’s best attacker. Sophomore Lindsey Resnick had a strong rookie season and will add some game experience to the defense. Senior Maddie Maher and sophomore Alexis Sougaris will be the goalies tasked with replacing Morgan Sylvestre between the posts.
Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said, “We had some major losses with our 10 graduating seniors last year, but I am very excited about this team and what I have seen from them so far and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do against the tough competition in this league.”
2020 Record: 6-4-2 Interim Coach: Jodi Klein
Long-time head coach Tom Geysen is dealing with a medical issue, so former JV coach Jodi Klein will take over this season and is emphasizing pressure high up the pitch and keeping possession in attack. Franklin returned to the top of the Kelley-Rex last season and Klein has an experienced squad to work with this fall, as they look to go back-to-back in what should be a wide-open title race.
The Panthers have built a lot of their recent success on a strong defense. This season should be no different. Junior Norah Anderson has been a mainstay in the heart of the back line for the past two seasons and she’ll be joined by junior Reilly Lorenzo and sophomore Maddie Horton. Senior Izzy Arnold and junior Katie Ewald give the Panthers speedy outside backs to provide width in attack and cover in the defensive third. Sophomore Rachel Welch will get the nod in goal after splitting time as a freshman and her reading of the game will help direct the defensive unit.
Franklin’s midfield has the potential to control games. Seniors Stella Regan and Chloe Barca and junior Bridget Leo bring plenty of experience to the middle of the pitch. Each are quick and solid in possession. Juniors Avery Greco and Chloe Stavely and sophomore Selene Hammad will step into the midfield to add depth. The Panthers will be looking to use the speed of the forward line to create chances. Senior Riley Fitzpatrick is the most experienced player up top and sophomore Anya Zub had three goals and four assists as a freshman. Freshman Kelly O’Connor is a new player to watch out for in the forward line.
“This is an exciting season for all of us,” said Klein. “I am a new coach to all of our returning varsity players and any of these girls who have played for me in the past have never played at the varsity level before. We are working through a brand-new system and style of play and we’re all very eager to see what we can accomplish together this season.”
2020 Record: 7-5-2 Coach: Gary Pichel
After graduating a large, talented group of seniors, including the top two scorers in program history, last year was bound to be transitional for King Philip, but it was also an opportunity for several players to step up into bigger roles. As it turned out, the Warriors had plenty of talent still on the squad and stayed in the hunt for a league title right to the final week.
The Warriors will be hoping last year’s game experience will pay off with a title challenge this season. The midfield should be a strength for KP. Junior Ella Pisani had a breakout 2020 season, showing off her skills as both a forward and midfielder and leading the team in scoring. She will be at the center of the KP attack again this year. Senior Paulina Baczkowski will give the Warriors width on the outside and delivers accurate crosses. Senior Morgan Norrman is an accurate passer who can push the Warriors into quick counterattacks.
Senior Brooke Mullins has improved every year in the KP defense, and she adds aggression and a willingness to get the ball forward quickly. After an impressive rookie year, junior Grace Lawler missed all of 2020 with an injury, but she is back and gives KP an instant upgrade in the back line with her ability to mark the opposing team’s best attacker. Freshmen Dani Lamuscio (midfield), Mikayla Thompson (defense), and Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn (defense) should make an instant impact and add extra energy for the Warriors this season.
“I see this team keeping up with our KP tradition of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication to the cause,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “Our team will be competitive in every game as we go through the gauntlet of the Hockomock League.”
2020 Record: 6-4-3 Coach: Kevin Smith
Mansfield entered the abbreviated 2020 season with a relatively inexperienced group, and it showed during the early parts of the fall, but the Hornets put things together quickly and finished only a point back of Franklin for the division title. With nine starters returning, including most of the defensive corps, the Hornets should be in the mix for the title again this year.
Although the Hornets will definitely miss the on-field leadership and versatility of senior Maria Sevastos, who was injured in the spring, Mansfield has plenty of experience in the back line. Senior Anna Darlington will be the leader in the defense alongside sophomore Kara Santos, who is coming off an impressive rookie season at centerback. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Salisbury brings two years of experience in net and classmate Caitlin Zajac is a capable backup.
Senior Katie Miller will control the middle of the field. A four-year starter, Miller provides an extra layer of protection for the back line and can get the Hornets into the attack as well. Up front, senior forward Tarynn Smith is a willing runner, who can give opposing defenses a physical challenge. Sophomore Carly Devine is a creative playmaker that will give the Hornets an offensive spark.
“We are still very young with only four returning seniors,” Mansfield coach Kevin Smith explained, “but it’s a good core of players who have multiple years of varsity experience already.”
2020 Record: 3-6-3 Coach: Lou Colabello
Milford closed the 2020 season on a strong run, going 2-1-1 over its final four games that included two hard-fought games with Mansfield. Only three seniors are returning from last year’s roster, so the Hawks will be young this fall, but not necessarily inexperienced since many of the underclassmen stepped into the lineup last year.
The key to the Milford attack is junior Dani Atherton. She was the team’s leading scorer with eight goals last season (more than half of the team’s total) and most of the offense will flow through her feet. The Hawks will hope for more creativity and goals from the rest of the team, including juniors Brooke Ferreira and Amy Oliveira, a pair of players who can start up top or in the midfield. Junior Brianna Guerreiro is also back in the center of the pitch.
At the back, seniors Aubrey Korpi and Aislinn Bennett will provide much-needed leadership for this young crew and senior Jill Araujo can jump into the back line or help supply cover from the midfield. Junior Catarina Mestre is another returning defender from last season’s squad.
2020 Record: 5-5-3 Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro battled to a .500 record in 2020 and did it thanks to a strong defensive foundation. The Rocketeers allowed only 11 goals in 13 games last year and had five clean sheets. After graduating 15 players from that squad, and losing a starter to an injury, North coach Bill Wallace is enthusiastic about the potential for this year’s team to make a playoff push.
The Rocketeers return both of last year’s leading scorers. Senior Steph McKenna and junior Emma Pratt each scored five times last season and they will be counted on to improve those numbers with a full season (and without the restrictions that were in place in 2020). Behind the strikers, North’s midfield got a lot of experience last year. Senior Brayden Rice and junior Caroline Ferrin will be in the middle, while senior Autumn Hewitt and juniors Brooke Sullivan and Lily Adams provide the width.
Defense was a strength last year and it should be again in 2021. Senior Summer Doherty returns after missing a lot of last season with an injury. Her leadership and athleticism will be important in the middle of the back line. Seniors Meaghan Dowd and Charlotte Moynihan and junior Haley Sinacola make up the rest of the starting back four with junior Maddie Ferrin in goal.
“Right now, we are organized and making opponents work hard to develop their offense,” Wallace said. “Our goal is to play faster and with more urgency. The work rate is high, and the girls are looking forward to competing in the always tough Hockomock League!”
2020 Record: 8-1-5 Coach: Britt Sellmayer
Oliver Ames lost only once in 2020 and avenged that defeat by beating Canton in the Hock Cup final. The Tigers did draw five matches last season, but with eight starters returning, and several younger players who got valuable experience, OA will hope to turn those single points into two and bring home its first league title since 2016.
The Tigers pride themselves on being a tough team to break down and the defense should be stout again this fall. Senior Emily Meyers is back in goal and will be a vocal leader at the back. Senior Allison Evin moved from up top to the heart of the defense last season and her speed and understanding of the game made her a tough marker for opposing forwards to get away from, while juniors Mary Cross and Sophia Byron are looking to build off strong sophomore seasons. Senior Kyla Melton has transferred in from Milton Academy and her versatility will be a boost to the back line or in midfield.
Midfield will continue to provide cover for the back line with the likes of seniors Katie Gibson and Lauren Sellmayer not only giving the Tigers a physical, aerial presence, but also consistent delivery on set pieces. Senior Camryn O’Connor, a Boston University-commit, adds creativity to OA’s bite in the center of the pitch and will be a key to turning defense into attack. Junior Jenna Gilman will also provide playmaking and width and speedy sophomore forward Lucinda Cotter has been in good scoring form during the preseason.
“We have eight starters returning from last season, plus some younger players pushing for playing time,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “We are hoping our depth will be an advantage for our team this year.”
2020 Record: 2-8-2 Coach: Catherine Sullivan
Sharon won a pair of games in 2020, but was also competitive in several losses that showed there was potential for improvement heading into the new season. The Eagles will be young this year, particularly after a pair of preseason injuries cost them returning starters, including junior Sally Brouhard, but there is still reason for optimism about the athleticism in the squad.
The Eagles will lean on the midfield, as the most experienced group. Junior Sofia Goclowski stepped in last year and had an all-star-caliber season and will be the primary playmaker in the center of the pitch. Junior Amber Marcus-Blank is moving up from the back line and her aggression will be key to shielding the defense. Junior Olivia Soby combines physical presence with technical skills and will be an important piece to the attack.
Senior forward Wendy Wooden will be the team’s primary threat up top and her speed will stretch opposition defenses to open space for the midfielders. On the other end of the field, the Eagles will be very young. Senior Amanda Hu is the only returning player in the back line and she’ll be counted on to keep everything organized. Sophomore Jordanna Morris will add much needed speed and athleticism to the defense and already looks comfortable at the varsity level.
“We have a very young squad this year, but I am excited about our mix of talent and athleticism,” said Sharon coach Catherine Sullivan. “As always, the league looks to be extremely competitive, but we welcome the challenging matches that help us grow and continue to move our program in the right direction.
2020 Record: 0-11-1 Coach: Hermes Lima
Second-year Stoughton coach Hermes Lima is still looking for his first win, but he is confident that this year’s team has the right combination of skill and speed to give teams problems. The Black Knights are counting on increased depth and the pairing of experienced players and talented newcomers to get back in the win column.
One of the key players for Stoughton this season is junior Shayla Ford. Blessed with great speed, Ford can either stretch the opposition and attack the space behind the defense or drop into the Stoughton back line and give cover for her teammates. Freshman Makenzie O’Connor is going to step in up top and will add another dynamic element to the attack, while classmate Morgan Cook can slot in as a forward or in the back line to add aggression and a physical element. Junior Isabella Rodrigues gives the Black Knights speed on the wings and gives more speed for the forwards to run into.
The Black Knights will have experience in defense. Senior Abigail Durand is back in goal and provides vocal leadership for the back line. Senior Samantha Tran can play anywhere across the back line and her versatility is important. Junior Emma Tremblay and freshman Lauren Mitchell will both play in the center of midfield and can protect the back line or facilitate the Stoughton counter attack. Both can also slot in at central defense when needed. Junior Sabrina Rodrigues is another versatile player, jumping in at wingback or in the heart of the midfield.
“Every player bought into the culture last year and the new/returning players have bought in to every word/thing said and given to them this year!” said Lima. “The players are ready to fight for one another, represent their school and make this program proud of every achievement in their path. As a coach, I cannot ask anything else of them! This will be an intriguing but yet good step in the right direction for this program.”
2020 Record: 0-3-7 Coach: Mike Couture
Taunton coach Mike Couture only got four games to assess his team in 2020 before the season came to an abrupt end. Now in his second year, Couture is building around a young roster, composed mostly of sophomores, and is excited about the talent and the potential. The Tigers will be hoping to get off to a good start and end their wait for a nearly two-year wait for a league win.
Senior Isabella Anslow will be the leader of the defensive unit. She has been a busy goalkeeper in the past but has come up with several big games against big opponents. An example of that was being able to hold Mansfield to a scoreless draw in the first meeting between the teams last year. Junior Emily Calderon will lead the Tigers on the other end of the field. The forward is quick and experienced and she’ll be counted on to give Taunton a cutting edge in attack.
“This is a strong group and how quickly this good group of less experienced players develop, will determine the degree of our progress and we are off to a good start,” said Couture.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Two days after suffering a 4-0 loss, Attleboro battled to a scoreless draw with the Hornets to earn a point. Mansfield goalie Jack Lansbury-Casey had a strong outing in net with eight saves.
Canton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Canton scored two minutes into the third quarter and that was enough for the Bulldogs in a win on the road. Sophomore Jake McCabe converted a feed from junior Jacob Crugnale for the lone tally of the match. David Floyd had a solid outing in net for the Rocketeers with eight saves.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Foxboro sandwiched a pair of third quarter goals around a tally from Stoughton to earn two points and a season sweep of the Black Knights. After a scoreless first half, Foxboro’s Max Beigel opened the scoring in the 44th minute, tucking his show low to the left into the back corner for a 1-0 advantage. Rhuan Carvalho helped bring the Black Knights level, sending a perfectly paced through ball to Joao Marotti, who was fouled in the box for a pen. Carvalho blasted a left-footed shot that Foxboro keeper Nick Penders got his fingertips to but the ball kissed off the post and in to bring Stoughton level at 1-1. The deadlock lasted less than 10 minutes as Matt Angelini raced onto a loose ball behind the defense and hit a left-footed shot on the run just inside of the far post. Stoughton keeper Nolan Gerome had a strong outing with eight saves.
Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of first quarter goals a minute apart and held on the rest of the way to earn two points at home over visiting Taunton. Ben Moccia opened the scoring for the Panthers, finishing off a feed from Charlie Amante for a 1-0 advantage. Just a minute later, Ryan Witt set up Ethan Cain, who scored for the third straight game, for a 2-0 lead. Taunton sophomore Riley Rebello cut the deficit in half with an unassisted goal in the second quarter.
Milford, 2 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – King Philip battled back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring right before the halftime whistle and then just seconds before the final whistle to grab a point over visiting Milford. Junior Avi Seri put the Hawks ahead in the eighth minute on an assist from Leo Coelho, who scored in the 31st minute on an assist from Arthur Tome to make it 2-0. King Philip cut the lead in half with less than a minute to go in the first half when junior Stephen Griffin converted a free kick. And then with just 12 seconds left, Conor O’Neill buried a service from Evan McCoy to bring the Warriors level at the death.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames exploded for six second half goals to earn a big win at home over visiting Sharon. The Tigers built a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals from Mathias Taylor (from Ben Cohen) and Anthony DaCosta (from Colin Milliken). Senior Brady deVos added a second half brace for the Tigers while Milliken, Kevin Louhis, Dillon Cupples, and Jared Goldman also scored. Senior Ryan Ventura and freshman Joey Carney added assists.
Girls Soccer
Mansfield, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Cathryn Cooney scored twice in the second quarter to lift Mansfield to a win on the road. Olivia Salisbury and Kelsey Hubler combined to keep a clean sheet for the Hornets.
Foxboro, 9 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Alyssa Vandenboom scored three times and Jordyn Collins and Erin Foley each scored twice, as Foxboro’s offense clicked into gear with a big road win. Kailee McCabe recorded five points on the day, finishing with one goal and four assists, and Katelyn Mollica added three, scoring one and assisting on two. Meghan Burke, Jordan Carman, and Collins all had one assist in the win. Stoughton coach Hermes Lima credited the leadership of seniors Mackenzie Manning, Nikki Anderson, and Rebecca DeSousa for keeping the Black Knights going. He said the team had several good attacks for forward Shayla Ford but just couldn’t find the finish.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Clare Bowen’s hat trick keeps the Panthers rolling along, having won all six of their games so far this season and extending their lead to six points in division standings (second-place KP plays on Thursday). Jamie Tanner and Riley Fitzpatrick also scored for Franklin. Izzy Arnold had a pair of assists, while Norah Anderson, Erin Quaile, and Tanner each had one helper apiece.
Oliver Ames, 4 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Sharon’s goal came on a first half penalty kick by Sofia Goclowski that put the Eagles ahead 1-0 but the Tigers scored four straight to get the win on the road. Katie Gibson (assist), Camryn O’Connor (two assists), Emma Pereira, and Carly Gibson scored for OA. Lucinda Cotter notched an assist for the Tigers.
Golf
Canton, 147 @ North Attleboro, 156 – Final – Another day, another new golfer steps up to lead the Bulldogs as Conor Hunter fired a match-medalist even par round of 35 as Canton notched a win on the road at Heather Hill Country Club over North Attleboro. Will Gefteas and Owen Donovan each chipped in with a 37 while Aiden French carded a 38 for Canton. Sophomore Jake Gaskin led the Rocketeers with a team-low round of 37, Sam Gallagher added a 38, Jordan Paradis shot a 40, and Tyler DeMattio finished with a 41.
Taunton, 194 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin earned its eighth straight win to start the season behind an impressive two-under par round of 33 from senior Jack Paterson. Sean Connelly added a 38 in the win while both Nolan Norton and Pat Dolan carded rounds of 39. Spencer Andrews was Taunton’s top performer, coming in with a team-low round of 44.
King Philip, 158 @ Milford, 173 – Final – King Philip went on the road and earned a win over Milford at the Hopedale Country Club. Jared Curran was the match medalist, shooting a team-low round of 36 to pace the Warriors. Mike Matheson added a 37 and Gavin Croke chipped in with a 42 for KP.
Franklin freshman Anya Zub (5) scored the second goal for the Panthers in a win at King Philip. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
WRENTHAM, Mass. – In a shortened season, jumping out to an early lead in the division standings could be critical and Wednesday afternoon’s meeting of Franklin and King Philip at Macktaz Field was the chance for one to grab the lead in the Kelley-Rex after both went undefeated in the first week of play.
Behind goals from senior Erin Quaile and freshman Anya Zub and a typically strong defensive performance, Franklin beat KP 2-0 and took a one-game edge in the standings with the second game of a home-and-home coming up on Friday.
Over the past year, Franklin has become synonymous with defense. The Panthers recorded clean sheets in 11 of their final 12 games of the 2019 regular season, then held Oliver Ames scoreless through regulation of the playoff game before the Tigers scored the winner in extra time. This season, Franklin has tossed shutouts in all three games, remaining stout and hard to break down even with the modified rules that discourage physicality.
“We lack experience with a lot of these kids,” said Franklin coach Tom Geysen. “If you don’t have that kind of experience right now then you want to speed up the other team’s play faster than they want to get rid of the ball. So, if we can pressure them and make them make earlier decision than they want to, you’ve got a better chance to win the ball. It kind of worked.”
It was clear from the opening whistle that Franklin was the aggressor on Wednesday. A long ball over the top to Ava Tormey gave the Warriors an early chance but pressure from Izzy Arnold gave goalie Julia Bertone time to slide out and grab the loose ball. It would be the last chance of note for KP in the first half.
Franklin’s best chance of the opening quarter came in the final two minutes with Riley Fitzpatrick playing a nicely weighted pass into the right channel for Zub to run onto. The freshman hit a shot from a tough angle and saw it go right through the box and just wide of the far post.
The visitors carried momentum into the second quarter and had two golden chances in the span of two minutes, only to be denied both times on goal line clearances by Taylor Thompson. The first chance came when Jamie Tanner got behind the defense and managed to bundle the ball by KP keeper Emma Glaser, but Thompson intervened at the last second. Two minutes later Quaile crossed it from the left to Tanner and again the ball was redirected towards the line but Thompson got there in time to clear.
With three minutes remaining in the half, Franklin’s pressure finally turned into a goal and from an unlikely source. Quaile collected the ball in midfield and found space for a 20-yard strike that sailed over Glaser’s hand and just under the bar for what turned out to be the game-winner.
Geysen said, “Erin I thought played really well on both sides of the ball today. She just does a lot of good things.”
“At halftime, I was telling them you had three days out of four off and you come back and you look like you’ve been working out for 10 days straight,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “I told them, the team I put out on Friday will be very different than today because you didn’t work for it and you didn’t earn it.”
Ella Pisani had three goals in the first two games but the Franklin defense was able to keep her largely in check on Wednesday. She did manage to get a shot early in the third quarter but it sailed wide, as the Warriors reacted to Pichel’s halftime team talk with a spark of energy.
It didn’t take Franklin long to reassert control. Arnold’s long ball out of defense picked out Zub on the run, but Glaser was able to slide and make the stop. Almost immediately after, Bridgette Ginley had a chance from the right side and her shot was narrowly wide of the post.
Kiera Lindmark gave Franklin freshman keeper Rachel Welch a scare with a free kick late in the third, but it curled wide from 25 yards out. Lindmark nearly found the right pass to Jenny Montville at the start of the fourth but Montville couldn’t get a solid touch and Welch was able make the comfortable stop.
Eight minutes into the final quarter, Franklin doubled its lead and secured the two points. Zub and Fitzpatrick played a nice one-two on the edge of the box, springing Zub beyond the back line. She managed to hold off the defender on her back and fire a shot past Glaser to make it 2-0.
“Anya is a special player,” said Geysen. “She’s so freaking smart. She puts herself where she knows they’re going to play the ball and a lot of times I don’t have to tell her.”
The Panthers nearly added a third in the final minute with another piece of solid ball movement. Tanner started the play with a pass to Zub on the wing. Her low cross was just behind Tanner in the middle of the box and found Tory Carmignani at the back post, but her shot skimmed the bar on its way out of play.
Franklin (3-0-0) and King Philip (2-1-0) will do it all over again on Friday, with the Warriors looking to rebound and get back to even in the standings.
