Tag: Joe Cusack
Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 12/13/19
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Basketball
Attleboro, 63 @ Canton, 55 – Final – After trailing at the end of the first and second quarters, Attleboro limited the host Bulldogs to just seven points in the third to jump ahead and went on to pick up its first win of the season. Canton led 15-6 after eight minutes and took a 28-27 advantage into halftime as senior Robbie Gallery scored 13 of his career-high 22 points in the opening half. Senior Bryant Ciccio scored 13 of his team-best 22 points after the break while Justin Daniels dropped eight points in the second quarter to help the Bombardiers get back in the game. Qualeem Charles scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half for the Bombardiers.
Franklin, 56 @ Milford, 34 – Final – Franklin raced out to a 35-11 lead by halftime and never looked back in a win on the road over Milford. The Panthers’ held the Scarlet Hawks to eight points in the opening quarter and just one field goal in the second quarter to take a commanding lead. Senior Chris Edgehill scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half to lead the way. Edgehill, Steve Karayan (two), and Brayden Sullivan each hit hit from downtown in the second to help Franklin pull away.
King Philip, 86 @ Sharon, 84 – Final – After letting a 21-point lead slip away in the fourth quarter, King Philip saved the win when senior Alex Fritz nailed a baseline jumper at the buzzer, capping an incredible 36-point effort. The Warriors held a 66-45 advantage after three quarters but the Eagles mounted a comeback, pouring in 39 points in the fourth quarter, even taking the lead inside the final minute. Sharon senior Andrew Burton scored 11 of his career-high 26 points in the final frame, connecting on a shot in the lane to put Sharon up 84-83 with under a minute to play. Fritz answered with a free throw to tie the game and the Warriors forced a turnover to get the ball back. With 5.2 seconds left, Fritz took the ball the length of the court and pulled up for the baseline shot, sinking it as time expired to give KP the win. Fritz scored 10 points in each of the first three quarters, finishing with 11 two-point field goals made. Senior Andrew McKinney added a career-high 22 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter while Sharon senior Aidan Kane scored a career-high 24 points.
Taunton, 55 @ North Attleboro, 57 – Final – North Attleboro junior Edan Kelley drained the go-ahead three with less than 30 seconds to play and the Rocketeers got a final defensive stop to complete a comeback win over visiting Taunton. After trailing for three quarters, North Attleboro battled back to take a fourth quarter lead but Taunton junior Tyler Stewart (career-high 20 points) scored with just under two minutes to play to go ahead 55-54. After the teams traded empty possessions, North junior George Ladd (team-high 14 points) hauled in a big defensive rebound with 27 seconds left to give the hosts possession. Sophomore Brady Rosenberg, who scored half of his career-best 10 points in the final quarter, found Kelley (13 points) open for a three with just under 10 seconds left to put North ahead 57-54. North’s strategic fouling in the final seconds helped prevent Taunton from getting a good look at the end to secure the win. Taunton junior Josh Lopes had a career-high 18 points.
Oliver Ames, 64 @ Stoughton, 41 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
Girls Basketball
Canton, 48 @ Attleboro, 44 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
Foxboro, 65 @ Mansfield, 34 – Final – Katelyn Mollica scored 25 points to lead the Warriors to a season-opening road win. Shakirah Ketant added 12 for Foxboro, which jumped out to an 18-point lead by halftime and led by 26 going into the fourth. Ashley Santos was the top scorer for the Hornets with eight and freshman Ally Wager scored six on her varsity debut.
Milford, 25 @ Franklin, 81 – Final – All 12 Panthers scored, as they started their title defense with a convincing win. Ali Brigham led the way with 25 points and Olivia Quinn added 17. Emma Lawrence paced the Hawks with eight.
Sharon, 33 @ King Philip, 62 – Final – KP hit 13 threes as a team, including eight from junior Courtney Keswick to earn a big win in head coach Dan Nagle’s debut. The Warriors were also tough on defense, forcing a number of turnovers to get the break started. Faye Veilleux added 15 points for KP. Telishya Herbert scored a dozen points in the loss and Leah Fandel added nine for the Eagles.
North Attleboro, 36 @ Taunton, 42 – Final – Freshman Kameron St. Pierre scored a team-high 12 points in her first varsity game to help Amy Siggens earn a win on her Taunton coaching debut. Kelsey White added 10 points, while Jaelyn Fernandez chipped in with eight and Sonya Fernandez added seven for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 23 @ Oliver Ames, 71 – Final – Oliver Ames scored 40 points in the opening half to build a big lead and never looked back to pick up a win at home. Sophomore Carline Peper poured in a game-high 24 points to lead the way for the Tigers. Tate Hadges and Caroline Flynn (15 rebounds) each added 11 points in the win. Stoughton’s Shyanne Trinh had a team-high nine points.
Boys Swimming
Canton, 75 @ Sharon, 92 – Final
Girls Swimming
Canton, 101 @ Sharon, 69 – Final
Boys Indoor Track
King Philip vs. Attleboro, 7:30
Canton, 47 vs. Sharon, 52 – Final – Sharon took first place in seven of the 12 events, and earned key points by taking first and second in the 55M hurdles to earn a close win over Canton. Senior Isaiah Stessman won the 55M hurdles in 8.31 and junior Patrick McManus took second for the Eagles in 8.40. The Eagles also picked up wins from Mark Starovoytov (600M, 1:30.64), Jordan Saks (1 Mile, 4:53.18), Ike Ogbonnanze (shot put, 41-00.50), McManus (high jump, 5-08.00) and its two relay teams. Canton’s Jonathan Chery won the 55M dash, setting a new school record in 6.68. Other winners for the Bulldogs included Zachary Goldstein (300M, 37.74), Elias Jabbour (1000M, 2:59.75 – a 15-second PR), Kyle Downing (2 Mile , 10:56.02), and Junior Sainvil (long jump, 20-07.00).
Milford, 55 vs. Foxboro, 44 – Final – Milford swept both relay races and won five more individual events to earn a win over Foxboro. The Hawks earned big points by taking first and second in the 55M dash, the 600M, and the 1 Mile race. Junior Keithley Sutton (6.93) and senior Anthony Ghalbouni (6.99) took the top two spots in the 55M dash, Ghalbouni (1:32.30) and senior Samuel Vilt (1:35.10) had the top two spots in the 600M, and senior Max Manor (4:59.30) and sophomore James Comisky (5:11.14) finished first and second in the 1 Mile. Milford senior Lucas Rosa added on a pair of wins, taking first in the shot put (36-10.00) and the long jump (18-07.50). Foxboro picked up first place finishes from junior Adam Connolly (300M, 39.12), senior Joe Cusack (1000M, 2:58.57), senior Ryan Proulx (2 Mile, 10:12.91), senior Ali Nasri (55M hurdles, 8.82), and senior Tyler Hagan (5-02.00).
Franklin vs. Taunton, 7:30
North Attleboro vs. Stoughton, 7:30
Mansfield, 63 vs. Oliver Ames, 37 – Final – Mansfield earned a sweep in the 600M race and took first and second in the high jump to pick up key points in a win over Oliver Ames. Junior Caden Riley crossed first in the 600M in 1:32.20 with classmate Jack Taylor (1:32.68) right behind for second. Senior Cam Eddy was third in 1:33.61. Senior Andrew Williams had a meet-best jump of 6-04.00 (PR) to take first in the high jump and Ethan Thevenot was second at 5-08.00. Williams also set a PR in the long jump (21’1) while Owen Mullahy added a meet-best time of 10:10.68 in the 2 Mile. Oliver Ames junior Kyle Sarney was the top runner in the entire meet in the 1 Mile at 4:37.22 while senior Rory McLaughlin was second overall in 4:37.27.
Girls Indoor Track
King Philip, 64.5 vs. Attleboro, 35.5 – Final – King Philip swept both the high jump and the 600M to earn a win over Attleboro in the season opener. Paige Berdos won the high jump at 4-10.00 while Grace Mattaliano (4-06.00) and Isabelle Watson (4-04.00) took second and third, respectively. Senior Brianna Quirke was the first to cross in the 600M at 1:52:00, junior Charlotte Majer was right behind at 1:52.08, and senior Liliana Rolfe took third overall in 1:53.53. In her first season doing winter track, Attleboro junior Cassondra Stuger won the 300M (44.73) and the long jump (13-10.25), and took second in the 55M dash (7.90). Other winners for the Bombardiers included junior Kelly Neuendorf (1 Mile, 5:45.22), junior Kimberly Esteban (2 Mile, 12:59.42), and junior Kamsi Igbobi (shot put, 31-04.00).
Canton, 35 vs. Sharon, 64 – Final – The Eagles opened the season in style, taking first place in 10 of the 12 events to knock off Canton. Senior Jada Johnson won a pair of individual events, taking first in the 55M hurdles in 8.89 and earning the top spot in the high jump in 5-04.00. Sharon sophomore Simone Dunbar also had a pair of wins, recording a first-place jump of 15-05.75 in the long jump and taking first in the 55M dash in 7.94. Canton’s Bronwyn Mahoney took first in the shot put, with a personal-best and a meet-best throw of 33-03.25. The Bulldogs’ 4×200 relay team of Rosana Cho, Leah Murphy, Gabby Herivaux, and Kiley Hanlon won in 2:01.63.
Milford, 66 vs. Foxboro, 33 – Final – Milford senior Sara Comisky and junior Kerry O’Connor each won a pair of individual events to lead the Scarlet Hawks to a big win. Comisky won both the 1 Mile (6:03.47) and the 2 Mile (13:31.51) while O’Connor took first in the 300M in 42.58 (meet-best) and recorded a jump of 15-08.00 in the long jump. The Hawks also swept the 55M hurdles with junior Catherine Madden (9.82), senior Bella Gonzalez (10.22), and junior Emma Kingkade (10.24) went 1-2-3 in the event. Foxboro junior Meaghan Christie won the shot put (25-03.25) and junior Emma Dahl crossed first in the 1000M (3:31.92).
Franklin vs. Taunton, 7:30
North Attleboro vs. Stoughton, 7:30
Mansfield vs. Oliver Ames, 7:30
2019 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars
Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Leo Coelho, Milford
Hockomock League All Stars
Michael Russo, Attleboro
Joshua Smith, Attleboro
William Keefe, Canton
Joseph Cusack, Foxboro
Dylan Barreira, Foxboro
William Morrison, Foxboro
Samuel Stowell, Franklin
Donald Tappin, Franklin
Jacob Cummings, Franklin
Matthew Clarke, King Philip
Evan McEvoy, King Philip
Evan Eames, Mansfield
Leo Coelho, Milford
Pedro Araujo, Milford
Jordan Borges, Milford
Daniel Santos, Milford
Anthony Salisbury, Mansfield
Kyle Briere, North Attleboro
James Sales, North Attleboro
Matthew Mordini, North Attleboro
Colin Milliken, Oliver Ames
Matthew Nikiciuk, Oliver Ames
Kevin Louhis, Oliver Ames
Isaiah Stessman, Sharon
Nolan Gerome, Stoughton
Nolan Melo, Taunton
North Attleboro Denies Foxboro Postseason Berth
NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The state tournament doesn’t start until next week, but the North Attleboro boys soccer team got a head start in its final week of the regular season.
The Rocketeers’ final two opponents — Foxboro and Mansfield — head into their season finale’s needing points to qualify for the state tournament. The Warriors, who visited Beaupre Field on Tuesday afternoon, needed one point (a draw or win) while Mansfield needs a win on Thursday afternoon.
North Attleboro passed its first test, scoring a goal in each half to secure a 2-0 win over Foxboro and deny the Warriors a postseason berth.
“You go down against them, how many goals have they’ve given up all year? Not many,” said Foxboro head coach Joe Franchino. “They stay compact and keep it tight. To be fair, they were the better team. Our passing was just a little bit off, I think our intensity from the start wasn’t there. So give credit to them, they came out and beat us today.”
The hosts, who entered the contest with a playoff berth secured via a second-place finish in the Davenport, learned a valuable lesson from their first matchup with Foxboro. Despite taking an early lead, North Attleboro saw the Warriors score back-to-back goals to earn a comeback win.
“We’ve had moments where we scored first, like we did against them last time, and fell asleep,” Burgess said. “So we’ve been really conscious about that. But when we [get a lead] and decide to park the bus, we’re pretty confident. We knew they were going to push because they had to, and as soon as we scored that just kind of fed right into the game plan.
“We saw on film where there were moments that [Foxboro] defended with two guys. I know [Matt] Mordini is faster than half of the defenders in the league, and I know [Matt] Conley is faster than all the defenders in the league. So that gives us a great chance to surprise people.”
This time around, the Warriors need to score played right into the game plan of the hosts. With a defense-first mentally, the Rocketeers’ counter-attack style led to a handful of breakout chances, mostly in the second half after taking a 2-0 lead.
Despite missing out on a golden chance three minutes into the game, the Rocketeers did jump in front on their second chance which came in the 24th minute. Goalie Kyle Briere launched a deep ball over the top of the Foxboro defense that Joey Coscarella made a run onto. The bounce eluded Coscarella, but the run drew a defender free of Matt Mordini, who was able to just get his shot off before the oncoming keeper, placing it into the top corner for a 1-0 lead.
Foxboro’s best chances of the opening half came off free kicks. Junior Dylan Barreira put a shot on goal from 20 yards out but Briere (eight saves) was in position for the stop. Joe Cusack set up the other chance in the 34th minute, putting a free kick into the area but Tim Behn’s bid was over the bar.
“It seemed like we were building out of the back in the first half and we just couldn’t find that final pass,” Franchino said. “They were putting a lot of pressure on our back four. I think we were off in completing passes, breaking lines in the middle third. We didn’t try to play direct, there was some space behind but we didn’t have the intensity. But give credit to North, they came and played well today.”
The game really opened up after North Attleboro doubled its lead just under four minutes into the second half. Mordini played a ball wide to Matt Conley, who got a touch to center the ball and Coscarella latched onto a half volley, finding the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.
From that point on, the Rocketeers had a handful of chances to add to its lead but couldn’t solve Foxboro keeper Dylan Tierney (10 saves). Foxboro had its share of chances but only came up with a pair of serious threats against Briere.
Just minutes after the second goal, another long ball from Briere found Mordini but Tierney made a big one-on-one stop and the rebound fell back into the keepers’ arms. Six minutes later, North senior Alex Pfeffer got a hold of a clearance that forced Tierney into a terrific diving save.
Foxboro junior Jeremy Neale kept the game at a two-goal deficit in the 55th minute by clearing a chance off the line. After Tierney made the initial stop on Coscarella, Mordini’s follow up chance was inches away from crossing the line until Neale intervened.
A change in formation led to more chances for Foxboro over the final 20 minutes. Cusack found Barreira at the back post on a free kick, but Barreira’s high touch was corralled by Briere. Two minutes later, Barreira had back-to-back free kick chances but the first was saved by Briere and the second just skipped wide at the post.
With Foxboro pushing, North’s counter-attack was on as Conley got in behind on a partial breakaway but Tierney came up with another big stop.
Barreira, who was almost always surrounded by a sea of red jerseys, had a shot blocked in the 67th and the loose ball fell to Will Morrison, but his blast went over the bar in the 67th minute. Max Beigel played a quick 1-2 with Barreira but his shot from atop the area was gobbled up in the 75th minute.
Briere put an exclamation point on the shutout with a terrific diving save in the 78th minute, robbing Barreira on a free kick from just outside the area.
“That was a big part coming in, we knew they’d come at us full boar cause they needed the game, they needed a point,” Burgess said. “Mansfield is in the same situation on Thursday so we have a chance to treat both of these games like playoff games. I think it’s great preparation going forward.
“We focused on taking Barreira out of the game, we moved [James] Sales to a different position, he was playing the six instead of the 10. Every set piece, he was always around Barreira, because he killed us last time as he probably he does a lot of teams.”
With Foxboro needing just a point entering the game, Franchino was asked if there was any thought about playing a similar defensive-first style that North plays, but the head coach noted the team was looking for a win to get in.
“That’s not the style we play, we could have had a draw to go through but for me, I was looking to not play the number one seed and get over [North Attleboro], that was my mentality, that’s always my mentality,” Franchino said. “We could have [sat back from the beginning], but I think we if set back, and with the intensity we didn’t have, we would have gotten bombarded. I want to win the game, want to be confident and try to instill that in my players.”
North Attleboro (8-5-3 Hockomock, 8-6-3 overall) will host Mansfield in both teams’ regular season finale on Thursday. The Hornets are unbeaten in seven straight with four straight wins and need a fifth straight in order to qualify for the state tournament. Foxboro finishes the season at 7-8-3.
Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/22/19
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – King Philip’s offense exploded for four goals in the first half and never looked back to earn two points in a win over visiting Attleboro. Alex Leon scored a pair of goals to pace the offense while Steven Griffin had a goal and two assists in the win. Leon opened the scoring in the 14th minute on an assist from Brian McCarthy, and Ajae Olson doubled the lead four minutes later with Cam Lawrence setting things up. Griffin scored in the 26th minute on a feed from Owen Teixeira, and then set up Leon for KP’s fourth goal in the 38th minute. Griffin returned the favor to Teixeira in the second half for a 47th minute goal.
Canton, 0 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – The Eagles scored twice in the final 10 minutes at Gillette Stadium to earn an important victory. The first goal came with less than 10 minutes remaining, as Brian Higgins had his shot from inside the box saved by Canton goalie Alejandro Correal but the rebound fell right to Viktor Schneider, who made no mistake from close range. With time running down, the Eagles sealed the win when Schneider flicked a header to Mason Benton for a cool finish into the corner. Sharon now needs four points from its final three games to qualify for the playoffs.
Foxboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game – Foxboro senior Dylan Barreira scored a first half hat trick and the Warriors kept their postseason hopes alive with a win at Stoughton. Barreira opened the scoring in the 30th minute, getting a deflected shot to find inside of the far post. He added a second on a nice shot from top of the area in the 32nd minute, and completed his hat trick by cleaning up a long throw from Tim Behn (two assists) in the 33rd minute. An own goal gave the Warriors a 4-0 lead, and in the 59th minute, Behn’s long throw found Barreira, who crossed for a one-timer from Joe Cusack to make it 5-0.
Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin picked up a win at home to qualify for the state tournament. Senior Donny Tappin orchestrated all three goals, setting up Ben Moccia for the first two goals of the net. Tappin then assisted on a goal from Charlie Amante to help Franklin secure the win.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Mansfield rallied for a pair of second half goals to earn an upset win over once-beaten Oliver Ames and keep its playoff hopes alive. The Tigers took the lead midway through the first half when Anthony DaCosta finished off a pass from Matthew Nikiciuk. Mansfield pulled level in the 58th minute as sophomore Sagar Koul finished a corner from Dan Rowe. Koul bagged his second of the game and the game-winner in the 78th minute off a service from Ethan Scholes.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford and North Attleboro traded first half goals to split the points. Leo Coelho put the hosts ahead shortly before the midway mark of the first half before James Sales pulled the visitors level, burying a second ball off a corner kick.
Girls Soccer
King Philip, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – King Philip found the back of the net three times in the second half to pull away and secure two points on the road at Attleboro. Kiera Lindmark (from Avery Snead) put the visitors on the board with a shot just under the crossbar in the 34th minute. Chloe Layne scored the next two for KP, finishing off a cross from Ava Tormey in the 53rd minute and getting a touch to Makayla Griffin’s free kick service in the 67th minute. Paulina Bazcowski capped KP’s scoring, going top shelf on a feed from Layne. Attleboro coach Steve Santos praised his team’s defensive effort to keep it close with the unbeaten Warriors. Briley Harnois scored the lone goal for the Bombardiers.
Canton, 4 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Elisa Diletizia scored a second half hat trick to power Canton to a big win at Gillette Stadium. The Eagles controlled play in the opening half, but failed to take the few chances that came their way. Canton took advantage to grab the lead against the run of play. Olivia Rodman created space for a cross from the left and it was turned in by a Sharon defender for a 1-0 lead at the break. Diletizia scored all three of her goals from outside the box, including the final shot that was curled in off the far post, moving the Bulldogs back to .500 and needing two points from the final two games to make the postseason.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 13 – Final
Franklin, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Bridgette Ginley scored twice in the first half to help secure Franklin’s spot in the state tournament. Ginley scored 10 minutes into the game off an assist by Sydney St. Marie and then added Franklin’s third with four minutes to go in the half, off an assist by Chloe Barca. Anna Grasso had the second, from Anna Balkus. In the second half, Sabrina Addi scored an unassisted goal and Rachel Hogan got the fifth, assisted by Bridget Leo. Taunton goalie Grace Pimenta made at least a dozen saves to keep the Tigers close.
Mansfield, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Mansfield took a first half lead but Oliver Ames found the back of the net twice in the second half to pick up its 13th win of the season. Erin Holmberg finished off a cross from Allison Evin to bring the hosts level. Leah Johnson scored the winner for OA, getting a touch on a corner kick from Abby Hodges. Olivia Carroll and Mary Cross had strong games for OA.
Milford, 0 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – A back and forth contest ended in a scoreless draw with each team earning a point. Regan Fein recorded her fifth shutout for North Attleboro while Alex Moulson, Collette Petit, Lydia Hershey and Taylor Ward had strong games for North Attleboro. North coach Bill Wallace noted Tess Collins had her best game since returning from injury.
Boys Soccer: Ten Players to Watch in 2019
Hockomock Boys Soccer Players to Watch
By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
Dylan Barreira, Senior – Foxboro
Foxboro senior striker Dylan Barreira had a breakout campaign a season ago, pouring in 22 goals in the regular season to tie for the league lead. Just one of three players to have over 20 points last season, Barreira is the lone returner of that group and is poised to have a big final season for the Warriors. Barreira is a pure striker and exactly the type of player you want in or around the ball inside the area. He’s creative with the ball on his feet but it’s his finishing ability that really sets him apart from others. If you give him any space around the 18, Barreira isn’t shy about having a go and can finish from distance. Opposing defenses will have to pay extra attention to him which will free up teammates.
Jordan Borges, Senior – Milford
Milford has a good amount of talent back to try and defend its Davenport division title, and three-year starter Jordan Borges will be a main piece in the heart of the Hawks’ lineup. A four-year varsity player, Borges will be looking to cap his high school career with a second consecutive division crown. He will be tasked with pulling the strings in center midfield. He showed last year the ability to link the defense with the offense as the Hawks dominated possession in most games. With Milford looking to rebuild its defense, the Hawks will look to Borges to help smooth the transition and solidify the middle. And we’ve seen it before, and it’s already happened this preseason: Borges is lethal from distance. If defenses decide to sit back and give him space, he has no problem putting one on target from distance.
Kyle Briere, Senior – North Attleboro
North Attleboro senior Kyle Briere took over the starting position last season and emerged as one of the best keepers in the region, earning a HockomockSports.com Best XI selection. He was the anchor of the best defensive group in the Hockomock League, allowing just nine goals all regular season. He posted 12 shutouts last year, a big reason why North Attleboro was one of the toughest teams to score against. If teams were able to break the North defense down, Briere would often come up with big save after big save. He’s very strong in the air and takes away crosses and services into the box that other league teams are often so good at. With a year of varsity experience under his belt, Briere is poised for another big season and should certainly help the Rocketeers contend for a league title.
Leo Coelho, Junior – Milford
Milford junior Leo Coelho is one of the most versatile players in the league and that affords head coach Brian Edwards a lot of flexibility in the lineup. One of the most talented players on the ball, Coelho played all over the field last season to help the Hawks win their first Davenport title. That will likely be the case again this year as Edwards can slot Coelho wherever he needs him most. He can really control the game from the center midfield spot and he’s shown the ability to play a defensive role. But maybe the best fit for Coelho is in an attacking role on the wing as he possesses terrific skill with the ball on his foot, the ability to set teammates up, and can finish with the best of them. With more size and a year under his belt, look for Coelho to really emerge as one of the most dynamic players in the Hock.
Joe Cusack, Senior – Foxboro
There are a lot of terms and phrases that can describe how Foxboro senior Joe Cusack plays, but the one that really fits best is field general. Cusack has been a crucial player for the Warriors in the center midfield and is usually the catalyst for when they get forward. His ability to read the play and set teammates up has helped Foxboro be one of the most dangerous offensive teams the past two seasons (57 goals last season). On top of his offensive abilities, Cusack is terrific defensively. He has no problem matching up with players bigger than he is, and more often than not, comes away with the ball. He’s very calm on the ball and doesn’t force a lot of passes, helping Foxboro keep possession. The Davenport division is very talented this year and if the Warriors are in the mix at the end, Cusack will likely be a big reason for that.
Colin Milliken, Senior – Oliver Ames
Oliver Ames graduated a lot of talent following the 2017 season so head coach John Barata was in need of new players to step up last year. Colin Milliken became one of the most reliable options for the Tigers, patrolling the center midfield. His strong sophomore season earned him HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year last year. He’s a very confident player and very strong with the ball at his feet. Not only can he find teammates with nice through passes or balls over the top, but he can also go at defenders one-on-one and beat them. He showed off a strong shot last year and will be a dangerous option on set pieces for the Tigers again this season. He scored a team-high eight goals last year and finished the regular season with seven assists and will be on of OA’s top threats again this year.
Alec Nunes, Senior – Taunton
Taunton is looking to take the next step this season and make a push for the state tournament, and one reason the Tigers could make it is senior Alec Nunes. Nunes is a creative player that is very confident with the ball at his feet. Whether it’s taking a defender one-on-one or looking to spring a teammate free with a pass, Nunes is one of the top players in the league. Last season, Nunes showed flashes of his finishing ability inside the area, scoring three goals. He was also very strong in setting teammates up, recording six assists. If a teammate is making a run in behind the defense, Nunes has the vision to either put a ball over the top or find a gap to play a through ball.
Anthony Salisbury, Senior – Mansfield
Mansfield has had one of the toughest defenses to score against over the past couple of seasons, and that was true again last year. One big reason for that was the stellar play of goalie Anthony Salisbury. With help from the defenders in front of him, Salisbury tied the program record for individual shutouts and combined with teammate Cam Bovey to tie the program for shutouts in a season with 11. Salisbury came up with some highlight-reel saves throughout the year and dominated the area. His ability to come off the line and take away corners, free kicks, and services in the run of play made it very difficult to create any real chances in the area. Bovey is also a strong keeper and the competition between the two helps bring out the best on the pitch for the Hornets’ goalies.
Isaiah Stessman, Senior – Sharon
When it comes to versatility, Sharon senior Isaiah Stessman is right at the top of the list for players in the Hockomock League. We saw last year that he can play basically anywhere on the pitch and make a big impact. He spent time at sweeper last season and anchored the Eagles’ back line. With him as the last line of defense, teams were unable to get in behind because of his speed. When he’s on the wing, he can get up and down the sidelines and cause problems for opponents. And when he’s up top, he can really cause havoc against defenses. He has a good touch and can go at defenders one-on-one. When he’s around the area, he can finish with the best of them and that makes him an incredible weapon for the Eagles. Depending on what they need, Stessman can provide Sharon with skill at any spot.
Sam Stowell, Senior – Franklin
Franklin was one of the best teams down the stretch last season, making a late push in the league title picture and securing a spot in the state tournament. The Panthers were 7-1-1 in their final nine regular season games and allowed just five goals in that span. One big reason for their success was the strong defense and Sam Stowell was the leader of that defensive unit. One of the most experienced players in the league (2019 HockomockSports Best XI selection), Stowell will once again be the anchor of the Panthers’ back line. Stowell has a terrific soccer IQ and that’s obvious with his play on the pitch. He reads the play very well and keeps the back group organized, making it difficult to break Franklin down, especially in the run of play. Set pieces and restarts are a big part of the high school game and Stowell is an option offensively and does a nice job defending them as well.
Boys Soccer: 2019 Davenport Division Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2019 Davenport Boys Soccer Preview
Canton
2018 Record: 10-5-4
2018 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Danny Erickson
There will be a lot of new faces on the pitch this season for the Canton Bulldogs. And because of that, the Bulldogs are going to rely heavily on the few returners they do have.
Longtime head coach Danny Erickson will lean on his three senior captains this year: Alejandro Correal, Cooper Ashcroft, and Colby Ciffolillo. Correal took over as the starting goalie last season and had a strong year for the Bulldogs, who came in second in the Davenport division. Beyond a strong season in net, Erickson also deployed Correal as a midfielder for portions of the game. Ashcroft and Ciffolillo provide a good amount of varsity experience and will be relied upon to be leaders both on and off the field.
“We will be a brand new looking team this fall after graduating so many impactful players,” Erickson said. “We are looking to be anchored by a veteran group of backs who will be tough to break down.”
Foxboro
2018 Record: 9-7-5
2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinal
Coach: Joe Franchino
Foxboro has been one of the most lethal offenses over the past couple of seasons, and while the offense looks to be an early strength for the Warriors, head coach Joe Franchino is hoping a well-balanced squad will be able to compete for a league title.
The Warriors have one of the most talented strikers in the league back in senior Dylan Barreira, who tied for the league lead in goals scored a year ago. He can score in a plethora of ways and will be a handful for opponents to deal with. Sophomore Matt Angelini, who picked up some valuable minutes a year ago, and junior Max Beigel will both see a lot of time alongside of Barreira in the attack. Senior Joe Cusack will pull the strings from the center of the pitch, Ronnie MacClellan returns to the six role, and PJ Frost is likely to factor into the midfield this season. Will Morrison and Tim Behn will be key pieces of the Warriors’ defense this season while there is a healthy competition for minutes in goal that involves senior Dylan Tierney, junior Nick Penders, and sophomore Derek Axon.
“The ultimate goal is to win a league title and compete for a state title, that’s how it is every year,” Franchino said. “We have a pretty solid team so it’s just a matter of who shows up on game day.”
Milford
2018 Record: 13-2-5 (Davenport Division Champions)
2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Brian Edwards
Milford lost a good amount of talent from the squad that won the Davenport division crown a year ago, but the Scarlet Hawks still have plenty of skilled players ready to defend their title.
While replacing league MVP and HockomockSports Player of the Year Walisson de Oliveira will be a tall task, the Hawks have a lot of options to replicate that production. Senior Jordan Borges is one of the more experienced players in the league and will do a lot of the dirty work in the center of the pitch. Leo Coelho, a junior, gives head coach Brian Edwards a lot of flexibility and can impact the game in a variety of ways. Joao Vitor Neiva is a strong target forward that is looking to build on a successful junior campaign. Senior captains Dan Santos and Nuno Mestre are tasked with anchoring the Milford defense. Mestre is a four-year varsity player and will likely join in on the attack while Santos’ distribution out of the back will be an important part of Milford’s possession game.
“As always the goal is to improve every day and be competitive within a very challenging league,” Edwards said.
North Attleboro
2018 Record: 7-4-8
2018 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Geoff Burgess
North Attleboro found a lot of success with a defense-first mentality in 2018. The Rocketeers are looking to replicate that same stingy defense while also improving their build-up play.
It didn’t take long for North Attleboro to establish its identity a year ago, defending first and then hitting on the counter-attack. Head coach Geoff Burgess will rely on some newcomers to fill holes on the defense and on experienced players when attacking. Senior goalie Kyle Briere had a breakout junior campaign and will be tasked with organizing the new faces on the defense. Senior captain James Sales controls the midfield for the Rocketeers and will look to distribute to the likes of Joey Coscarella, who will move up the field to a forward position, and senior Matt Mordini. Alex Pfeffer provides a lot of versatility and can be a dangerous weapon on the wings. Senior James Bush, one the most experienced players on defense for North Attleboro, will match up with some of the top strikers in the Hockomock League.
“Our hope is to continue to be dangerous on the counter-attack and improve our build-up play from the back to bolster our offense,” Burgess said. “This team has an opportunity to contend for a league title and possibly make a run in the tournament. We have a large senior class that has experience and great team morale. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch them play.”
Sharon
2018 Record: 2-9-7
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Bryan Kelly
Expectations are high at Sharon High this fall, and for good reason. The Eagles have talent returning all over the pitch and will certainly be in the mix for the Davenport division crown.
Sharon is looking to its offense to lead the way this season. After a season filled with bad breaks and unlucky bounces, the Eagles are ready to not only make a push for the state tournament but challenge for a league title. Head coach Bryan Kelly has a lot of choices when it comes to his attacking group including senior Brian Higgins, senior Ben Nathan, junior Mason Benton, senior Bohazo Li, and Victor Schneider. Opponents are most familiar with Higgins and his ability to score but Nathan, Benton, Li, and Schneider have all impressed this preseason and give the Eagles a plethora of options. Michael Baur returns as one of the top center midfielders in the league and can take on defenders himself, but is also an excellent distributor. Bryce Nathan will also be a key piece in the Eagles’ midfield alongside tennis sensation Alberto Olivei, who is joining the program for the first time. Defensively, Isaiah Stessman is one of the most dynamic players in the Hock and will be supported by Brendan Arnold, Daniel Zagoran, Brandon Mauricio, and Reese Davis. Freshman Matt Baur takes over in net for the Eagles.
“We’re going to be a different team this year, a lot more offensive-minded,” Kelly said. “We are going to look to attack a lot this season and we have some good pieces to do so.”
Stoughton
2018 Record: 0-16-2
2018 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jon Grant
Stoughton is looking to have a bounce-back year and new head coach Jon Grant is bringing a defense-first mentality to the Black Knights.
The Black Knights had the most goals allowed last season so the emphasize early on will be improving the defense. Senior captain Ted Lucas is a returning player and will be tasked with anchoring the back line for Stoughton. Lucas will get a lot of help from junior goalie Nolan Gerome. Gerome picked up some valuable minutes in net throughout the season. Grant will also rely on senior captains Jon Santos and Mason Eschleman to be important pieces on the defense. While both Santos and Eschleman will play in the midfield, the Black Knights are dedicated to getting numbers behind the ball to improve the defense. Santos and Eschleman will also help Stoughton transition into offense and start the attack.
“This team’s positive attitude and willingness to learn will be the keys to their success,” Grant said. “We have been focusing on the defensive side of the game for much of the preseason so far. Our goal is obvious…if we keep the ball out of the back of our net then we give ourselves a chance to win. Our ultimate goal is to get back to the tournament.”
2018 HockomockSports Boys Soccer Awards
2018 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars
Below are the official 2018 Hockomock League Boys Soccer All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Walisson de Oliveira, Milford
Hockomock League All Stars
Will Halben, Attleboro
Andre Menard, Attleboro
Griffin Roach, Canton
Paul Corcoran, Canton
Paolo Ruggeri, Canton
Nic Beigel, Foxboro
Dylan Barreira, Foxboro
Joe Cusack, Foxboro
Nitin Chaudhury, Franklin
Tim Duval, Franklin
Zac White, King Philip
Tony Bozza, King Philip
Luke Savoie, Mansfield
Ethan Brill-Cass, Mansfield
Sam Nugent, Mansfield
Walisson de Olivera, Milford
Joey Madden, Milford
Joao Boaventura, Milford
Joe Hilf, North Attleboro
Kyle Briere, North Attleboro
Colin Milliken, Oliver Ames
Haendel Louhis, Oliver Ames
Matthew Wang, Sharon
Ethan Kantor, Sharon
Carter Gerome, Stoughton
Brett Beaulieu, Taunton
Honorable Mentions:
Colin Levis, Attleboro
Simon Cruz, Canton
Shane VandenBoom, Foxboro
Sam Stowell, Franklin
Andrew Thompson, King Philip
Derek Meuth, Mansfield
James Sales, North Attleboro
Niko Byron, Oliver Ames
Michael Baur, Sharon
Fabio Ponce De Leon, Stoughton
Alec Nunes, Taunton
Nauset Pulls Away From Foxboro In Second Half
WHITMAN, Mass. – For the first 40 minutes, Foxboro boys soccer kept pace with top-seeded and undefeated Nauset.
The Warriors had the advantage in corner kicks, an even number of chances created, just one less shot than Nauset, and trailed just 1-0 at the break.
But in the second half, Nauset showed why its considered one of the top teams in the state, scoring three straight goals en route to a 4-1 win in the D2 South Semifinals.
“I just think we were second to every ball,” said Foxboro head coach Joe Franchino. “Our passing was off today, we weren’t playing to feet. Our Achilles heel has been giving up goals but [Nauset] is a good side.
“We were getting beat to every ball. Give credit to [Nauset].”
While Nauset got a shot on goal in the first minute, Foxboro created an opportunity just 60 seconds later. Will Regan delivered a free kick from midfield but the ball took a strong bounce and was just out of the reach of Dylan Barreira at the post in the 2nd minute.
After applying some pressure, Nauset broke through in the 13th minute. A failed clearance fell to the foot of senior Avery Santoro and he buried his low shot from a step inside the area inside the far post.
Despite going behind a goal, Foxboro still had its chances to pull level. In the 18th minute, junior Joe Cusack lofted a free kick in behind the defense where senior Matt Garcia connected with a driving header but his bid was just over the bar.
Senior Nic Beigel had a pair of shots in a ten minute span, both forcing saves. In the 21st minute, Beigel delivered a low shot from 25 yards out and in the 30th minute, the senior got off a hard shot but both were at the keeper.
Foxboro had two more chances in the final 10 minutes of the half. Arguably the best chance came off the foot of Garcia, who delivered a tempting ball through the area to the back post but no one made a run and the ball was touched out by the keeper. On the second ensuing corner kick, Barreira’s service was cleared to Cusack, who played the ball back into the area. Tim Behn had a look from just outside the six yard box but his shot was blocked and cleared away.
“We had some chances,” Franchino said. “Matty Garcia put one into the box and we had two guys standing in the box when they should be crashing the post. If we score one, maybe it changes things.”
Once the second half began, it was all Nauset. The top-seed showed their offensive prowess and needed just over six minutes to add to the lead. Ethan Boyle played a ball over the top of the defense and Romell Brown hit a volley off the bounce that went over the hands of Foxboro freshman keeper Derek Axon and under the bar for a 2-0 advantage.
In the 55th minute, Nauset center back and All-American selection Abdel Talabi played a ball into the area, sophomore Ben LaBranche flicked it on, and senior Curtis Moore was open for a header across the line. Two minutes later, Anthony Lavoti worked his way past a defender and fired a close range shot that Axon got a piece of but the rebound bounced over the line for a 4-0 lead.
Nauset scored all three of its second half goals in a 10-minute span.
“They finished,” Franchino said of the difference in halves. “They were getting a bunch of chances, just weren’t finishing. They play very direct, lump it into the box, and get bodies onto it. They close very hard too.
“But I always tell them, you have a wait problem. Not weight, but wait problem. You can’t sit around sit around and let the game happen, go make an impact in the game. I think that was the difference today, we were on our heels a little bit and not getting after like we can.”
Foxboro got on the board in the 75th minute. Beigel dispossessed a Nauset defender and went on a break down the right side. Beigel waited until Talabi committed before sliding a pass over to Barreira and the junior tucked his right-footed shot inside the near post to make it 4-1.
Foxboro boys soccer finishes the season at 9-7-5 with a league-high 57 goals, which is the most scored in the Hock since the Warriors scored 70 in 2015.