Oliver Ames captains Hector Bucio (left) and Jake Williams (right) with head coach John Barata. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
WALPOLE, Mass. — Oliver Ames senior captains Jake Williams and Hector Bucio have been the heart and soul of the team all season long.
The senior center back duo anchored the best defensive unit in the Hockomock League and one of the best in the entire state.
And when their team needed them the most, they delivered in the clutch.
Bucio nodded in the game-tying goal for the Tigers in the 77th minute and Williams assisted on the game-winner just two minutes later to propel Oliver Ames to a stunning 3-2 win over Hopkinton and the Division 2 state championship.
“This team always fights through,” Williams said. “These are some of the strongest kids I know, some of the most talented kids I’ve met. They just don’t give up, and that’s what we did today.
“We knew what we had to do and we knew we were capable of doing it.”
It was fitting that Williams and Bucio, the only two seniors in Oliver Ames’ starting lineup, played such a big role in the win, albeit in a different fashion than anticipated.
Bucio is no stranger to scoring goals. He spent the majority of his career with the Tigers as an attacking player, scoring seven goals a season ago. But this season, head coach John Barata converted him to a center back and paired him with Williams to form one of the best duos in the region.
“I get some criticism about changing players, fitting my system but I’ve converted forwards to defense, defenders to forward,” Barata said. “Hector was an incredible move. He anchored this team in the back. Him and Jake Williams together made an incredible duo. We conceded less than 15 goals all year, and a few weren’t with our starters out there. They were so solid in the back. I can’t say enough about Hector. Jake was phenomenal as well. But Hector converted from a forward to a center back because we needed it and he didn’t complain once. For him to do what we did was amazing.”
Oliver Ames erased Hopkinton’s lead when sophomore Casey Milliken hit a one-timer from inside the area in the 62nd minute to make it 1-1. But it didn’t stay level long as the Hillers cashed in just six minutes later. Sean Golembiewski, who had the opening goal for Hopkinton, kept possession along the end line before sliding a low cross into the area that was smashed home by Peter DiMichele to make it 2-1.
Hector Bucio
With about five minutes to go, and OA’s chances of claiming a state title dwindling, Barata called a timeout. In order to create more chances in the attacking third, he moved Bucio back up to where he played in prior seasons.
Hector Bucio
The move paid dividends almost immediately. Sophomore Craig Churchill lofted a service to the back post and Bucio tracked it perfectly, rising up and connecting with a header that deflected off a defender and into the back of the net to make it 2-2 with just minutes left.
“With having the experience of playing up top, I know what coach wants me to do when he sends me up there,” Bucio said. “At the end of the day, it’s who wants it more. We just wanted it more.”
“Me and Jake know each other really well, we know each other’s style of play. We work well together and are able to get it done.”
Bucio’s selfless switch to center back didn’t go unnoticed by his teammates.
“[The seniors] all deserve it, Hector especially,” Milliken said. “That kid, he’s super talented and really sacrificed so much to play in the back for us to benefit the team. That says a lot about our team and him as a person.”
“It’s awesome, I’m proud of him,” Williams said of Bucio’s tying goal. “He lost a lot of goal-scoring chances by switching to center back this year but he did it for the team. So it’s great to see him pull this off in the state final.”
“He wanted that really bad because he felt like he conceded their second goal by not kicking it out,” Barata said. “I’m really happy for him, he’s been amazing for us all four years, like he’s been a phenomenal player.
Hector Bucio
Before the dust could settle from the equalizer, Williams set up the state championship game-winning goal. He stepped into the attack and dropped in a perfect ball in behind the defense where Milliken was. He used a deft touch to loop one just over the reach of the keeper to make it 3-2 with just seconds to play.
Jake Williams
“I just knew if I hit the ball the right way that [Casey] would get onto it,” Williams said. “He’s a special player, he’s one of the best I’ve ever played if not the best. He got it done.”
Williams and Bucio and the rest of the Tigers didn’t allow the Hillers a chance in the attacking third in the final seconds. The final whistle sent OA into a wild celebration.
“This is all I’ve ever dreamed of in high school soccer,” Williams said. “Ever since I joined as a freshman, this was all I ever wanted.”
Bucio and Williams certainly cemented their legacy in emphatic fashion with the state championship.
Oliver Ames boys soccer poses for a team picture after capturing the Division 2 state championship. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
WALPOLE, Mass. — It was a scenario that Oliver Ames hadn’t been in this season, and one they didn’t want to be in either.
But yet, the Tigers were still prepared, and even more important, not panicked.
Trailing 2-1 with just minutes left in the game, Oliver Ames scored a pair of goals to earn a stunning 3-2 victory and clinched the Division 2 state championship.
Head coach John Barata called a timeout with about five minutes to play and OA’s chances of a state title dwindling. Barata made the decision to move senior center back Hector Bucio into an attacking role. The change paid off almost immediately as Bucio got on the end of a service from sophomore Craig Churchill and headed it off a defender and into the back of the net for a 77th minute equalizer.
“We’ve trained it all year, if we ever go down we’re going to put Hector up,” Barata said. “And then we wanted to keep pressing, pressing, pressing. Because once the momentum shifts, they’ll be nervous. We found a great ball over the top, Casey flips it over the goalie, and the rest is history.”
With just seconds to play, it looked like Bucio’s goal was enough to send the Tigers and the Hillers into overtime. But OA kept its foot on the gas and pushed forward again.
This time it was senior center back Jake Williams on the service as he lifted a ball over the defense and into a pocket of space occupied by sophomore Casey Milliken. Milliken used a class touch to lift it over the keeper and just under the bar to make it 3-2 in the 79th minute.
“There were so many emotions,” Milliken said. “I was scared, happy, thrilled, disappointed, confused…every word you could imagine. We really just fought through it and I think we deserve it. I can’t process it all right now, but I’m just proud of the boys because we deserve it.”
A scoreless half tilted in OA’s favor in terms of possession and chances as Hopkinton only threatened with a couple of long throw-ins. So it was a little bit of a shock when the Tigers — who had only allowed two goals in its first four playoff games, and only 12 goals through its first 22 contests — surrendered the first goal.
Just under two minutes into the second half, Sean Golembiewski was able to sneak into space behind the defense, and latched onto a ball over the top, taking a touch before depositing a low shot in for a 1-0 lead.
Oliver Ames battled back into the contest, finally getting on the board in the 62nd minute. After a handful of good chances throughout the first hour of play, the Tigers pulled level. It started with another strong defensive challenge from sophomore Luke Churchill, and transitioned into offense.
Junior Ryan Linhares took possession and played a ball wide for Joey Carney, who was able to shield off a defender and carry to the end line before firing in a low cross. Milliken found space in the defense and one-timed a shot into the back of the net to make it 1-1.
It looked like the Tigers were on track to take the lead when Hopkinton created one of their few attacking chances. This time, Golembiewski kept the ball in along the end line and his low service was smashed home in front by Peter DeMichele, giving keeper Drew HAll no chance at a save.
“There’s always that little bit of doubt because I thought we should have scored many chances before then,” Barata said. “We were worried on the sidelines, is this not our luck? In the tournament, you need a lot of things to go your way. But the guys weren’t really worried, even with four minutes left.
“For this group with the sophomores and juniors, and our two seniors that start, to be mature enough to come back was amazing. In the last five minutes, we just said give it your all. We worked so hard all season to get to this point. They wanted this. We couldn’t give it away, try to the end so you know you gave it your all.”
OA’s chances started early, just five minutes in Carney laced a volley that looked good but was blocked by a defender. Sophomore Andrew Martins had a good look in the eighth minute on a feed from classmate Jackson Mercieri but his low shot at the near post was saved.
Linhares found Carney in the 24th minute, and after cutting back across the middle, Carney’s blast forced a diving stop. four minutes later, Milliken set up Churchill for a blast that skipped just wide.
And just before halftime, outside back Diego Rivera sent a big switch to Mercieri, who found Carney on a through ball. His low shot clanked off the post and stayed out to send the teams into the break level.
“All of the seniors, both on and off the field, they all led us this year and we can’t thank them enough,” Milliken said. “This was the least we could do for them, they all deserve it.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer finishes the season at 20-1-2 and with its second Division 2 crown since 2015.
Oliver Ames sophomore Luke Churchill (6) celebrates his goal in the 19th minute, which proved to be the game winner. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MARSHFIELD, Mass. — Oliver Ames sophomore Luke Churchill almost always has a pass-first mentality.
But with Plymouth North defenders refusing to leave their marks, Churchill had nothing but space to work with.
His run started in his own half after working with twin brother Craig to dispossess an attacking member of the Eagles. And it ended with a left-footed shot from just inside the area that eluded the keeper in the 19th minute for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Churchill’s strike, along with an insurance tally from Andrew Martins late in the second half and another strong defensive effort from OA’s back line led the top-seeded Tigers to a 2-0 decision over #12 Plymouth North and earned a spot in the Division 2 state championship on Saturday against Hopkinton.
“I was originally trying to pass to Jason [Zalis] out wide but his guy slid and I saw a bunch of space behind,” Luke Churchill said. “I decided to go for it, it was a lucky goal but I’ll take it. My first thought is usually to find someone, I’m not the best shooter so I feel like if I can find them, they can take a better shot.
“This has been a fun ride through the playoffs hopefully we can get the ‘chip.’”
Oliver Ames typically strings together multiple passes as they build up in the attack but a physical Plymouth North defense stunted the Tigers’ offense. Although they were whistled for fouls, the Eagles prevented the Tigers from finding a fluid offensive rhythm.
Reduced to mostly set pieces in the attack, OA couldn’t quite connect. Chances from distances saw services go without an answer on the other end while shots from free kicks couldn’t find the frame to test the keeper.
Just before the midway point of the first half, Luke and Craig Churchill combined on a tackle to take over possession. Luke carried into the attacking half, getting past a sliding attempt from a defender. With space in the middle, Churchill carried into the heart of the pitch, and just a step into the area, he unleashed a left-footed shot into the back of the net.
It marked Churchill’s second goal of the season, and first since a brilliant first half strike against Stoughton in the first week of play in early September, another left-footed goal for the right-footed player.
“They were so worried about the other attackers so he had the space to go in, if they give you that space, we want him to go,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “They were worried about the other guys and stuck with them which gave him space. And he’s only a sophomore, first year with us so he’s done phenomenal for us.”
While OA carried the play, the Eagles’ main source of offense came with long balls over the top. Senior captains Jake Williams and Hector Bucio continued to anchor the back line and were quick to handle anything in the air. Outside backs Diego Rivera and Jackson Mercieri also played well in thwarting any chances going forward from Plymouth North.
The Tigers continued to use restarts to try and ignite the offense, and nearly double their advantage five minutes after Churchill’s opener. Sophomore Casey Milliken drew a foul — about one of the dozen he was able to draw — and had a free kick from a step outside the area, but his right-footed blast dipped a little late and went just over the bar.
“Today wasn’t the most crisp for us, it wasn’t our best game but we’ll take it,” Barata said. “Their disruption of play, they were stopping us from getting into a rhythm, that was their strategy. We were able to adjust and I’m proud of the guys for that. Hey, it’s the playoffs and you have to find a way to win — that’s it.
It was more of the same in the second half and OA came close in the opening moments to getting their second. A free kick from junior Ryan Linhares from the left flank bounced in the area before Bucio latched on but his blast was knocked down by the Plymouth North keeper.
A minute later, another service from Linhares was flicked on Milliken, but it skipped just wide at the far post.
“We knew that’s how they’d play, we expected them to slow everything down with fouls,” Barata said. “We were prepared for it, so we knew we’d have to be creative on our opportunities to score. Kudos to coach John [Tocci], they were prepared. To be fair, we weren’t threatened much, just the corner kicks and one shot on goal, however, it’s the danger of the one-goal game and how that changes the dynamics.
“They had a great game plan, and they were prepared but at this point, we were also prepared so we were able to survive.”
The Eagles had their best push into the attack in the 67th minute, drawing a foul just outside the box. Ben Young’s blast was knocked down by the wall, and his rebound bid was also blocked by a defender. Two minutes later, Malachi Val used a nice flick to get the ball in behind but sophomore goalie Drew Hall was alert off his line and handled it before Young could get there.
Oliver Ames finally grabbed a second with less than 10 minutes to go. Linhares was able to poke a ball free and Martins was able to get a quick touch forward past the defender, who lounged at it and clipped the sophomore just outside the box. Martins took it himself and ripped a blast over the wall and under the bar to make it 2-0 in the 72nd minute.
It marked Martins’ fourth goal in the last three playoff games.
“Andrew’s really been a go-to guy,” Barata said. “There was a lot of talk in the season about being a one-man show but we have a plethora of players that can play and we can move the ball around. They were working hard on their strategy, that’s a good team so we’re happy to get this one.”
Oliver Ames now turns its attention to Saturday for their fourth Division 2 final since 2014. The Tigers also made it in 2014 and 2017 and won in 2015. Hopkinton, who is the #2 seed, has had a dramatic run to the finals. They picked up overtime wins over Fitchburg and Sharon, won in penalties over Wayland, and knocked off Bedford, 4-3, in the state semis.
“It’s a nice feeling to dictate our play, our season ends on Saturday no matter what, I’ve been blessed to get to this point four times in my 14 seasons,” Barara said. “We’re going to enjoy this moment and this opportunity and then prepare for a very, very good Hopkinton team.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer (19-1-2) will play in the second game of a doubleheader at Walpole High School with the OA girls team, who are playing Silver Lake in the Division 2 championship game at 3:15. The boys are scheduled to start against Hopkinton at 5:30.
NORTH EASTON, Mass. — Throughout a dominant regular season, the Oliver Ames boys soccer team didn’t have to play from behind very often.
So it was a bit of an unfamiliar scenario when visiting Longmeadow took the lead less than five minutes into the Division 2 state quarterfinal matchup at Muscato Stadium on Sunday night.
But there was no panic in the young Tigers, who equalized less than five minutes late, took the lead before halftime, added a key insurance goal early in the second half, and then held off a last-ditch push from the Lancers for a 3-2 win.
The win moves top-seeded Oliver Ames into the D2 state semifinals against #12 Plymouth North.
“We were prepared, we don’t talk about it a lot but we talked about if we go down early to just bounce back and keep playing,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “The bounce back was superb. We could have had one or two more in the first half and the game would have been over but this is the playoffs, and nothing is going to be easy.
“I think playing the games against Concord-Carlisle and Needham, we went down and had to come back in those. It’s hard to judge the value of those games but I feel those games helped us in this situation against a dynamite team. I give [Longmeadow] credit, they were a fantastic team.”
Barata and the Tigers were wary of the Lancers’ long throws and for good reason. Longmeadow cashed in in the fourth minute of action, using a long throw into the area. It was initially headed down, and the follow-up bid was blocked but it went to the foot of Ronald Lin and his low shot found its way through traffic and in to make it 1-0 early.
Even though the Tigers only start two seniors, and had just one more come off the bench, the hosts stayed composed and came right back at the Lancers.
Three minutes later, a service from outside back junior Diego Rivera was partially cleared by Longmeadow but only as far as junior Ryan Linhares, who quickly put a shot/cross back into the area. The ball deflected off a defender at the back post and right to sophomore Andrew Martins. Martins latched onto the bounce with the outside of his right foot and his low shot found the back of the net to make it 1-1.
“We reacted really well after they scored, we just kept pushing,” Martins said. We knew [the long throw] was coming but we just had to bounce back…the underclassmen, we’ve all been playing together for a long time so we have a lot of chemistry.”
OA had a good chance at taking the lead in the 28th minute when Mirray Dasilva earned a penalty kick after being taken down by a defender. A long ball from Luke Churchill was tapped on by Linhares, and Dasilva used his speed to get to the ball first, getting a touch before the goalie’s slide.
A yellow forced the keeper to the sideline but OA’s penalty kick bid was denied by Joseph Tranghese as the Lancers seized the momentum.
But it didn’t last long. The Tigers kept the pressure on and took their first lead three minutes later. A header from center back Hector Bucio found Linhares, who carried up the left flank. He left it for sophomore Casey Milliken and he dropped a perfectly weighted ball over the top of the defense. Martin sprinted onto it and hit a shot on the slide that clanked off the crossbar. He quickly got back to his feet and headed in the rebound into the open net to make it 2-1 in the 31st minute.
“He’s been great for us all year but everyone focuses on Casey, and Casey is great but Andrew was our second-leading scorer and one of the top scorers in the league,” Barata said. “Casey’s movement opens a lot of opportunity for others but Martins is a baller, a great finisher.”
Oliver Ames had a bright start to the second half to extend their lead. Rivera looped a ball forward down the right flank that was tracked down by junior Joey Carney. Carney used a nice touch to cut past the defender and set himself up on his left, and his low blast skipped past the keeper and just inside the far post for a 3-1 lead in the 44th minute.
Sophomore Drew Hall made a key save just minutes later. Longmeadow had a dangerous free kick just outside the box from Frederic Koran but it was knocked down by Craig Churchill in the wall. The rebound fell to Lin but his bouncing shot was parried away by a diving stop by Hall.
The Lancers didn’t have too many ventures into the attacking third but cashed in on one of their few corner kick chances. Christopher Koran curled in a corner that Braden Costas rose up and nodded in to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Hall came up with a big save in the 74th minute on a shot from Chris Koran, and then OA survived a long throw in chance in the 77th minute after a big clearance from Rivera.
In the final seconds, Christopher Koran flicked in a ball behind the defense with Frederic Koran racing onto it but Hall came off his line and scooped it up and OA held on for the win.
“It took a lot [defensively],” Barata said. “The challenge of getting the wind in the second half was a disaster in this game against a team of that quality to send the ball like they can. What a save by Drew at the end, coming out to hold his ground.
“This is a young group so this is great to get to this point in the tournament.”
Oliver Ames (18-1-2) will square off with #12 Plymouth North (15-3-3) on Wednesday at 6:00 at Marshfield High School.
Oliver Ames junior Braeden Blass takes a shot in the second half against Walpole. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. — No MVP, no problem.
With sophomore sensation and league MVP Casey Milliken restricted to just a handful of first half minutes, the Oliver Ames boys soccer team didn’t miss a beat in a dominant win over Walpole.
Junior Joey Carney scored a pair of goals while sophomore Andrew Martins and senior Mirray Dasilva each found the back of the net once as the top-seeded Tigers advanced to the state quarterfinals with a win over the 17th-seeded Timberwolves, the sixth postseason meeting between the two sides since 2012.
“I think the guys were eager to show we aren’t a one-man team,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “The good thing is, they appreciate all of [Casey’s] accolades and they all look at it like a team achievement. We had other guys step up and do things well. We’ve created a family culture and I think that was really prominent today.”
Milliken set a single-season program record with 23 goals and 21 assists to earn All-American honors but missed the final half hour of OA’s playoff opener after suffering an injury.
It didn’t take very long for the Davenport division champions to answer the question of how they’d perform down a starter.
Carney found the back of the net in the 10th minute and Martins doubled the hosts’ advantage with a super strike just two minutes later. Dasilva tacked on a key insurance tally just past the midway point of the second half and Carney capped the scoring with 10 minutes to go.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ back line of Diego Rivera, Jake Williams, Hector Bucio, and Jackson Mercieri, plus center midfielders Luke Churchill and Craig Churchill, made it an easy night for sophomore goalie Drew Hall, who had to deal with one corner and mostly came off his line to keep possession for the Tigers. He did not record a save, the lone shot from the Timberwolves coming in the final minutes with OA’s second unit in.
“That was a great effort overall,” Barata said. “The team defense was outstanding and that’s what we have to continue to do because the challenge in the playoffs is being able to defend. I thought the guys really came out to play today. We moved the ball, we created chances, and we conceded zero shots until the last couple of minutes with the second unit in.
“Playing Walpole is always tough. Lee [Delaney] has them well-prepared and disciplined, they are hungry, and they just want to go through you. We knew that’d be their game so we had to try and counter that.”
Junior Ryan Linhares whipped in a corner that was cleared but only as far as Rivera, who put in a low service that was one-timed in front by Bucio. The keeper made a quick reaction save but the rebound fell to Carney and he looped a volley into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
OA quickly doubled its lead just two minutes later. Martins put in a low service on a free kick from 35 yards out but it was quickly cleared by the Walpole defense. The ball came right back to Martins, who settled and took a touch with his right foot to set up a blast from 30 yards out that hit the crossbar and went in to make it 2-0.
“That was a collegiate-level goal,” Barata said. “He’s a Hockomock League All Star for a reason, he can play. He took that on a dime and buried it. We’ll take those, we didn’t get those against Reading. And hopefully, we have a couple more because our next opponent [Longmeadow] is a beast.”
OA kept the pressure up throughout the opening half. Milliken did make a brief appearance following Martins’ strike, and nearly found the back of the net in the 19th minute but his first shot was blocked on a slide tackle from the defender, and his rebound bid was parried away by the keeper.
Dasilva had another chance in the 31st minute but his shot from in close went high and just before halftime, Craig Churchill linked up with Mike MacAdam for a shot from 25 yards out that was gobbled up.
After a bit of back-and-forth long balls for the opening 15 minutes of the second half, the visitors thought they had cut the deficit in half on a header off a free kick but it was ruled offside.
OA regained control of the game and the Tigers were able to play their style again. In the 62nd minute, Craig Churchill intercepted a clearance attempt from the Timberwolves and it fell right to junior Braeden Blass, and his blast forced a one-handed save from the keeper that resulted in a corner.
On the ensuing corner, Linhares whipped in a cross that was headed down by Bucio, and after hitting off a Walpole player, Dasilva was first to pounce on it and buried his chance to make it 3-0 in the 63rd minute.
Carney put a cherry on top with just over 10 minutes to go. He latched onto a loose ball just over midfield and carried possession all the way to the box. He split a pair of defenders, touched to his left, and slotted a low shot between a third defender’s legs to the far post to make it 4-0.
“Joey’s been fantastic,” Barata said. “He missed seven or eight games with an injury but he’s been playing like this towards the end of the season. When we had a lot of our big goal games, he wasn’t out there. The last two games, he’s really come to life and really stepped up tremendously for us.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer (17-1-2) is set to play #9 Longmeadow (10-5-5) on Sunday. Longmeadow, which beat Mansfield in the opening round, reached the state semifinals last year and won the Division 1 state championship in 2019.
Milford senior Nick Ribeiro plays the ball under pressure from Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MILFORD, Mass. — Over the past three weeks, both the Milford and Oliver Ames boys soccer teams have rolled through the competition with a barrage of offense.
The Scarlet Hawks entered riding a six-game win streak with 25 goals scored in that span. In that same time frame, Oliver Ames had won seven in a row — apart of an 11-game unbeaten streak to start the season — and poured in 33 goals in that stretch.
So it seemed likely there would be some offensive fireworks when the two met on Wednesday in a clash between Hockomock League division leaders.
Both defenses were on point as the game played out mainly between the boxes, a midfield battle that went back and forth with chances at a premium because of strong defensive play.
In the end, it was Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken who continued his red-hot scoring streak, scoring the lone goal of the game in the 32nd minute off a service from senior Jake Williams to hand the Tigers a vital 1-0 win on the road.
“Like I tell these guys, we try to build throughout the season and defense is what’s going to win games at the end of the year,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “The more comfortable we get with team defense, the better off we are. Today, our number one goal — believe it or not — was not to win but to play great team defense to build to something. Getting the result and playing great team defense is a bonus.”
Williams anchored the OA back four alongside classmate Hector Bucio, with junior Diego Rivera playing outside on the left and sophomore Jackson Mercieri patrolling the right side. Sophomore Luke Churchill sat at the six atop the backline.
“They’ve grown a lot,” Barata said. “They play off of each other well, they support each other. One steps, one drops…they talk to each other a lot, and they’re yelling when it’s needed. And the glue to it all is Luke. He allows them to take some chances, allows them to go up for a head ball they might not normally because Luke is so massive at winning that second ball.”
After a tentative opening 20 minutes, Milford registered the first genuine scoring chance in the 23rd minute. A long throw from Arthur Tome was partially cleared by the Tigers but only as far as Milford senior Nick Ribeiro, who didn’t have time to put a lot on his shot but unleashed one that got through the defense only to hit the post and stay out.
Minutes later, sophomore Rodrigo Lorenzo carried possession into the attack and linked up with Ribeiro who quickly switched fields to John Borges. Borges uncorked a shot that was deflected high and nearly found its way to the top corner but was swatted away by OA keeper Drew Hall. On the ensuing corner, Ribeiro found Kaua Pereira but he flashed a header wide.
“We got a bit lucky that [Eduardo] Santana (12 goals, six assists) was out on a red card because he changes their dynamics in the middle however, I still feel like we didn’t give them many chances. Hector and Jake were both beasts in the back. Diego was amazing against Borges all game, and then Jackson, just a sophomore and a converted back, played well. And Luke — diligent, smart — they all played great.”
Oliver Ames finally cracked the Milford defense in the 32nd minute. A long throw in from sophomore Andrew Martins was parried away by Milford keeper Lucas Fernandes but was tracked down by Mercieri near the top of the box. He played it back to Williams and he lofted a service over the defense as they were pulling up. Milliken timed his run perfectly to get in behind and flicked a perfect header past the keeper to make it 1-0.
The goal came just a minute after Milliken was moved up top to the striker spot after spending the opening 30 minutes in his usual midfield spot.
“To be able to go from a false 10 to the nine and at the perfect moment, sneak in between the center backs at the perfect time when the ball is played for the header,” Barata said. “It makes it look like we know what we’re doing but the kid is gifted and it was a great ball in.”
Defense was the story in the second half as chances were limited by both sides. Milford’s back four of Kevin Barbosa, Lucas Nalon Ribero, Nate Dinis, and Pereira stifled the OA attack for the most part.
Meanwhile, OA’s defensive group continued to thwart any momentum that the Hawks tried to generate getting forward.
Hall handled a low shot from Borges in the 47th minute and Fernandes was in the right spot to take in a one-timer from Milliken in the 53rd minute. The next chance didn’t come for nearly 20 minutes.
“Defensively they were sound,” Milford head coach Antonio Pinto said of Oliver Ames. “They worked together — everywhere that ball went, all four shifted over together. I’ve watched OA play quite a few times this year and I don’t think I’ve seen Hector lose an aerial battle or a ground battle, he’s all over the place. Arthur was trying to give them problems but they’d bring two guys on him. They’ve only allowed seven goals this year…you can tell why.
“Usually we rely on our offense but our defense really kept us in the game today. This was the first time I was able to see our defense limit some skillful guys so it was good to see.”
Fernandes got low and to the near post to tip away a free kick bid from Milliken in the 70th minute, the last serious chance for either side.
“It was a big midfield battle for today,” Barata said. “We were looking for the through balls, they were looking for the through balls, both teams were trying to get it wide, Ribeiro was looking to get in, Casey was looking to get in. I knew it was going to be a ball over the top and someone breaking into negative space that would win the game. We got lucky it was us to be fair because they could have pulled it off.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer (10-0-2 overall, 10-0-1 Hockomock) moves within two points of clinching at least a share of the Davenport title. The Tigers travel to Stoughton on Friday to play the Black Knights, who are the only team to take a point from OA this season. Milford (8-4-1, 7-3-1), who is now two points back in the Kelley-Rex, will host Attleboro on the same day. The Bombardiers, who are tied with the Hawks in second place, won the first meeting, 4-0.
Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken takes a shot in the first half against Mansfield. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. — The Oliver Ames boys soccer team felt it should have taken two points in its last league game, a draw at home against Stoughton, especially after carrying a lead into the second half.
The Tigers found themselves in a similar situation on Monday, and this time out made sure to put the game away.
Senior Mike MacAdam gave the visitors the lead less than 10 minutes into the game and sophomore Casey Milliken, who had the assist on the opener, buried a penalty kick late in the second half for a key insurance goal as Oliver Ames earned a 2-0 win in a key matchup with division foe Mansfield.
“Every game in the Hockomock this year is going to be that, a tough, gritty battle,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “In fairness, I thought we played well at many times tonight and I thought their goalkeeper made a number of terrific saves. Overall it was a good bounce-back game after Stoughton because we should have put that game away and we didn’t. So it was good to come here and get a gutsy win against a good Mansfield team.”
A week ago, Oliver Ames didn’t open the scoring until just before halftime. Against Mansfield, MacAdam’s opener came in the eighth minute of play. But in both contests, the Tigers controlled play and had a handful of chances to score more.
Mansfield senior goalie Liam Doyle was strong all game long, turning away bids from OA’s Jackson Mercieri (5th minute) and Mirray Dasilva (6th) in the early moments.
OA broke through just moments later as outside back Diego Rivera connected with Milliken in the middle, who promptly dribbled forward to attack the defense. He laid off a perfectly weighted through pass and MacAdam sprinted onto it, reaching out to blast a shot past the keeper from inside the area for an early 1-0 lead.
“Mike’s going to see a lot of minutes for us if he plays like he did today,” Barata said. “Mikey is kind of like that unsung senior that can really help us out.”
Milliken nearly had another assist in the 16th minute, connecting with classmate Andrew Martins atop the area, and Martins used a quick touch before ripping a shot that was gobbled up by Doyle off the bounce. A minute later, Milliken’s hard cross was knocked around before Hector Bucio got his right boot on it but Doyle was once again in position for the stop.
OA continued to press, this time it was sophomore Luke Churchill playing Dasilva in behind but Doyle came out and made a huge stop, pushing the bid over the bar in the 26th minute. Four minutes later, Doyle was at it again as MacAdam nearly returned the favor to Milliken, who cut it back onto his left foot inside the area only for his shot from in close to be denied and cleared by Mansfield defender Derek McGrath.
“We didn’t get into our style, [OA] runs around and cover each other all over, unlike we did,” said Mansfield head coach Steve Sheridan. “We’re young, we’re inexperienced, and we’re learning, which is good. This is what happened against Wayland, we let them dictate everything and got away from the way we should be playing. We played great for three games, got better each game, but reverted back tonight.”
Mansfield was able to get a forward a bit more in the second half and had their first two real chances just minutes apart. In the 52nd minute, senior Aiden Steele won a battle after a service from Grady Sullivan and unleashed a left-footed blast from distance but OA keeper Drew Hall handled it on the bounce.
OA finally added its insurance tally in the 70th minute. Milliken was taken down in the area to earn the pen. He stepped up and converted with a clinical finish just out of the reach of an outstretched Doyle.
“We definitely learned from Stoughton…today, we gave up very little shots from anywhere on the field, we were converging very quickly,” Barata said. “In the second half, we tried to bring them out a little bit because we wanted to play the game a little bit more. So it was a little bit of a tactical shift on our end that allowed for a lot more open play. We’re trying different things because it’s early in the season, we’ll see what works and what doesn’t.”
Oliver Ames’ back four of Mercieri, Rivera, Bucio, and Jake Williams played well in the back while Luke Churchill and twin brother Craig Churchill were vital in the midfield. Anytime the Hornets tried to build out of the back, it seemed one of the Churchills was there to thwart it. And then when it came to OA’s heavy edge in possession, it was Luke and Craig that seemed to facilitate the majority of it.
“Luke is kind of the glue that keeps us together, he’s the lynchpin for us right now,” Barata said. “It’s a lot of pressure in that position but now we have two Churchill’s doing it together, which is great because they both were fantastic today. They won’t get much press — except for maybe this — that’s just the way it works sometimes but they’re so steady, very good players.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer (2-0-1 Hockomock, 2-0-2 overall) has another huge showdown on Wednesday as the Tigers welcome league-leading Attleboro to Muscato Stadium. Mansfield (2-1-1, 2-2-1) will look to bounce back on Wednesday evening when it hosts Taunton.
Taunton and Attleboro will be looking to challenge Milford atop the Kelley-Rex division. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-8-3 Coach: Peter Pereira
While last year’s record doesn’t jump off the page, it was a good season for the Bombardiers and a step in the right direction for the program.
There were a lot of varsity debuts a year ago, and a lot of new faces in the lineup for longtime head coach Peter Pereira. This year is the opposite as many of those players are back and looking to make a serious challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title. Highlighting a deep and talented group of returners is a trio of HockomockSports Second XI selections from a year ago: senior forward Esvin Morales, junior goalie Tyler Rocchio, and junior midfielder and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Alex Vecchioli.
That trio gives the Bombardiers a top player in most key spots on the pitch. Vecchioli will be flanked by some familiar faces as senior Lucas Marques, junior Billy Badger, and junior Luke Hagopian are all back in the mix after starting last season. Juniors Kyle Neuendorf and Richard Ferreira provide key depth off the bench for the midfield unit. Up front, senior Steve Etienne will complement Morales at striker with juniors Nick Ticas and Clay Tyler able to provide energy off the bench.
Attleboro did graduate one of the best center backs in the league in Cash Stuger so there will be a hole to fill there but Pereira has a solid trio of experienced seniors in Jake Stomfors, Toby Smith, and Ian Miller to rely on defensively. Juniors Zack Diffenderfer and Joshua Codella are also in the mix for minutes in the back four.
“It is a hard-working group and I believe we have the potential to win some big games,” Pereira said.
2021 Record: 14-5-4 (D2 State Finalist) Coach: Danny Erickson
The Canton boys soccer team made history last year with its run to the Division 2 state final and while it will be a big ask to replicate such a special run, the Bulldogs have plenty of key pieces to at least challenge for a division title and have a go at another big run.
Canton lost the majority of its lineup from a year ago after graduating seven of the 11, but with a large, talented senior class, Hall of Fame coach Danny Erickson always has his squads ready to compete. The biggest piece back to the puzzle is senior striker Jake McCabe, a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection that tied for the league-lead in goals during the regular season a year ago with 13 goals.
Having 13 seniors on the squad will give the Bulldogs a boost, including veteran players like Caden Mirliani, Ashton Cetoute, Carson Eagles, and Brian Shea. Junior Zaza Francoeur picked up some valuable minutes a year ago and will be a key piece in the attack this year.
“We will certainly need to reinvent how we play after losing so many weapons but we have a great group,” said Erickson. “Lots of guys competing hard for the opportunity to contribute. That should help us compete in the always-tough league.”
2021 Record: 9-9-1 Coach: Dan Ambrosio
Foxboro has a strong core of returners back from last year’s squad that qualified for the postseason and will be looking to incorporate some young players to challenge for the Davenport division crown.
The Warriors will need to get the new players up to speed quickly because the injury bug has already hit, taking seniors Jorge Sanchez-Garcia (All Hock honorable mention last year) and starting defender Ian Foley for the season. Head coach Dan Ambrosio will lean heavily on his senior captains, striker Alex Penders and defender Marco Pacini. Penders, a standout on the hardwood for Foxboro’s basketball team, isn’t your typical striker but standing at 6’5, he’s a nightmare for opposing defenders and a dream for teammates serving the ball into the area.
Pacini is a seasoned veteran as a four-year member of the varsity team and will be the anchor of the back line. Sophomore Ryan Cotter will take over in net behind Pacini and the back line. The strength of the squad could be in the middle with a trio of juniors: John Hollis, Ryan Flaherty, and Pradyu Gubbala. All three are returners from a year ago and will be key pieces in not only helping the back line but orchestrating and organizing the attack.
“The strength of the attack lies in the ability to counter quickly, while defensive organization is a strength when without the ball,” Ambrosio said.
2021 Record: 11-5-4 Head Coach: Fran Bositis
Franklin will be looking to replicate its success from last year after the Panthers came just three points shy of the division title and earned a win in the state tournament.
The Panthers didn’t graduate a huge senior class but they did lose some key pieces like HockomockSports Best XI selection Terry O’Neill in midfield and Second XI selection Aidan Griffith on defense. But there is plenty of talent back all over the pitch for the Franklin, who will certainly be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex crown this year. Franklin’s four captains are spread throughout the field with Best XI selection Rex Cinelli back at center back, Will Kryzak up front, Trey Lovell in the middle of the pitch, and Griffin Tolonen in net.
Cinelli is coming off a very strong sophomore campaign and will join forces with Will Klawson to anchor the back line, which has impressed so far this preseason. Lovell will partner with Noah Cain at center mid to help the Panthers transition from the back, and orchestrate the offense. Juniors Hansy Jacques and Andrew O’Neill will provide depth alongside Kryzak up front. Michael Fernandez Martin, Garrett Scagliarini, and Matt Honekamp are new names to keep an eye on.
“It’s still early but our athletes are working hard and I know that we are all excited for the upcoming season,” said Hall of Fame head coach Fran Bositis. “We are looking forward to the challenge of competing in the Hockomock League.”
2021 Record: 3-13-2 Coach: Mike O’Neill
After battling through an injury-plagued 2021 season, the King Philip boys soccer team is aiming to be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex division title this year.
The Warriors boast a strong group of seniors that will be the heart and soul of the squad but will be looking to integrate some young and new faces in order to challenge in a very talented Kelley-Rex division. After scoring just 20 goals last year, the Warriors are hoping offense will be a strength this year behind a deep mix of creative and quick wing players. Senior Matt Crago returns after a terrific junior season (four goals, two assists) and will be a go-to option in the midfield and out wide. He’ll be joined by junior wing Will Bowen and junior wing Dermott Amorim.
Up top, KP will look to junior Tommy Lomuscio to find the back of the net. As a sophomore, he scored five goals and had nine assists – factoring in on just under half of the Warriors’ offense production. Senior goalie Connor O’Reilly made some huge saves a year ago and is back in net this year. Senior Tom Meader will anchor the back line at center back while senior Oliver Blackburn and sophomore Sayan Panda will lend some help to the defense from the center mid spot.
“I think the Hock is wide open this year, which is just another way of saying that there is a tremendous amount of parity,” said KP head coach Mike O’Neill. “Any win is a good win in the Hockomock League. We have strengths in our captains and our senior leadership. In order to be really competitive, we will need our younger players to contribute right away.”
2021 Record: 8-5-4 Coach: Steve Sheridan
Mansfield is looking to make a big splash in its first season competing in the Davenport division and enter the season as an instant contender.
The Hornets join the Davenport in a challenging year with Oliver Ames looking to make it three straight Davenport titles (four overall), a Canton squad fresh off of a state finals appearance, a revitalized Stoughton squad, a very skillful Sharon team, and a competitive Foxboro group. Despite losing 14 seniors from last year’s squad that went 8-5-4, Mansfield has a solid core intact for a big year.
It starts with captains Aidan Steele, Grady Sullivan, and Dan Checkoway – all three are seasoned veterans and know what it takes to compete in the Hock. Steele plays up top as a target forward while Sullivan and Checkoway patrol the midfield, along with the talented Connor Palinski. Junior Lucas DeSousa and sophomore Tyler Znoj have impressed early on in the midfield while sophomore Cooper Austin is in the mix up front.
Head coach Steve Sheridan is turning to senior Liam Doyle, who missed all of last year with an injury, to take over in net. Senior Derek McGrath will anchor the back line in front of Doyle while sophomore Matthew Sullivan has had a strong camp in the back as well.
“We don’t have as much varsity experience as I’d like, but we have a good bunch of kids that hopefully click sooner rather than later,” Sheridan said.
2021 Record: 12-4-3 Coach: Antonio Pinto
The defending Kelley-Rex champions might have some inexperience and youth in some spots in the lineup, but the Scarlet Hawks return a strong core of players ready to defend their title.
Milford has won four straight division titles, two in the Davenport and now two straight in the Kelley-Rex, and will be looking to make it five straight with another banner this year. Returning HockomockSports Best XI selection Nick Ribero is such a steady presence in the midfield and does a great job spreading the ball and finding open teammates. He will have a lot of options with Arthur Tome (seven goals, nine assists), Eduardo Santana (nine goals, five assists), and John Borges (two goals, eight assists), all back this season.
After losing Best XI selection Chris Tocci (center back) and Kevin Gomes (goalie), the Hawks will have some inexperience in their own final third. The Scarlet Hawks will turn to junior Nate Dinis to anchor the back line after he played some key minutes a season ago.
“We have a very young squad going into the season, but a tight group of kids who are together 24/7, a very family-like team here at Milford this season,” said Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “Offensively we will have to figure out ways to score goals. Defensively we are very young and inexperienced but have a tight group of kids that will help each other out.”
2021 Record: 8-8-2 Coach: Mike Lacasse
An untimely departure from the girls’ program at North forced a bit of a shakeup in the coaching ranks as Geoff Burgess moves over to the girls and Mike Lacasse, who has coached the JV team for a number of years, moves up to take over varsity.
Lacasse and the Rocketeers will look to make some noise in a very talented Kelley-Rex division, and look to get back to the state tournament. The strength of the squad will be in the midfield as the Big Red has some familiar faces back in key spots. Senior Carson Dameron is back for his third year as a starter and will be joined by classmates Zach Smahi and Griffin Rodden. Juniors Kaden Burns and Quinn Conley will patrol the flanks while sophomore Patrick Etienvre could be poised for a breakout campaign after some impressive minutes as a freshman.
Defensively, North Attleboro has the challenge of replacing one of the better keepers in the league in David Floyd as well as HockomockSports Second XI selection Brody Rosenberg at center back. Seniors Jack Regan (outside back) and Sam Bush will try to solidify the backline with junior Owen Goeller in position to start in net. Up front, the Rocketeers will turn to senior Givany Carney, a powerful striker, and junior Bryce Newth, to produce some goals.
“We have a good mix of young talent and experience in some key positions,” Lacasse said. “I am excited to see what this team can accomplish this season, as they look to continue the progress they had toward the end of last year.”
2021 Record: 13-4-2 Coach: John Barata
For most programs, losing the league MVP plus the league’s top goal scorer would be a massive hurdle to get over. But this isn’t something new for Oliver Ames, who has won three straight division titles and eight overall since the 2011 season. While graduation will certainly hurt, the returners and new arrivals have OA right back in the mix for another title.
Despite the loss of Mathias Taylor (MVP) and Clide Neau (tied for a league-high 13 goals), the Tigers have plenty to be excited about, starting with sophomore Casey Milliken, who finished atop the points leaderboard during the regular season a year ago and earned HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year honorable mention.
On top of that, Joey Carney is back in the mix in the midfield looking to capitalize on a solid sophomore campaign (four goals, two assists), and sophomore Andrew Martins will see an increased role after impressing as a freshman. And like always for OA, they will lean heavily on the captains: senior Hector Bucio, who had a breakout year with seven goals and three assists, and senior Jake Williams. Sophomores Luke Churchill has also impressed so far this preseason.
“OA is excited to compete in the Hockomock League,” said OA head coach John Barata. “We are working to get into the tournament this season. We want to grow as a team and have a lot of fun.”
2021 Record: 6-9-3 Coach: Scott Nathan
Sharon battled its way through injury after injury last season, showing glimpses at times (wins over league champs Milford and Oliver Ames, finishing on a four-game unbeaten streak) but missed out on a spot in the state tournament.
With a host of talent returning this year, the Eagles are serious contenders to challenge for the division title in what is shaping up to be one of the deepest years in the Davenport. The Eagles look to have a strong defensive group this year anchored by HockomockSports Second XI selection Rhys Davis at center back. He’ll be joined by seniors Tyler Goodman, Brandon Mauricio, and Tony Yang to not only give the Eagles a veteran backline but one with skill and pace. Senior Matt Baur is back with the program and returns to his starting spot in net.
The Eagles also have some key pieces back in the midfield and up front. Senior captain Adam Eastman will be looking to build on his nine-goal season from last year, which was tied for fifth most in the Hock. Seniors Rishi Shetty, Malachi Diaz, and Miguel Vasconcelos provide depth up front. Cam Birnbaum and Kevin Lu are also returning players from last year’s squad that could see valuable minutes.
“The Hock is among the strongest leagues in the state,” said head coach Scott Nathan. “We look forward to getting the chance to play against so many quality teams. The boys can’t wait to get started!”
2021 Record: 0-17-1 Coach: Ruben Teixeira
Stoughton struggled through a difficult schedule last season but there is a bit of a buzz about the Black Knights entering this season.
First year head coach Ruben Teixeira, who has coached both at the high school and collegiate level, had a great turnout for tryouts and the Black Knights will be looking to bounce out of the bottom of the standings and make a serious run at the Davenport division title.
Stoughton has a good amount of returning players from a year ago, including a lot of young players that were getting their first varsity experience. Teixeira will look to his seniors to guide the way, especially early on. Senior Joao Marotti sets the tone with his hard work and will be a factor both defensively and offensively for Stoughton. His versatility will provide Teixeira with some flexibility in the midfield. Another senior to keep an eye on is Matheus Groberio, a new addition to the program that has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. He could be an instant impact player for Stoughton this season.
2021 Record: 5-10-3 Coach: Taylor Whitters
Taunton had an excellent start last year, winning four straight to open the season but the momentum came to a halt and the Tigers finished at 5-10-3 and on the outside looking in for the postseason.
With nearly its entire squad back in the mix this season, the Tigers will be looking to replicate that start and then carry it even further and challenge for the Kelley-Rex title. Taunton was young last season as the lineup featured mostly juniors and sophomores, but now the Tigers are one of the most experienced groups and will be looking to use their speed to challenge the rest of the Hock.
Riley Ribello was a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection on defense but he’s shown he can play at center mid or move up top and be a dangerous attack, and it’s likely that’s where we’ll see him this season. The Tigers also have Quincy Jones-Sylvia back at center back while Josh Letourneau, Ian Robicheau, and Jonathan Trinh all saw time at outside back and will provide key defensive depth this year.
Conal Scully proved to be a top attacking option last year with the ability to score from a variety of spots on the pitch. Aidden Fitting plays with a ton of pace on the outside and the Taunton midfield will get another speedy player in Javonte Fernandes, who is back on the field after playing goalie last season. Vinicius Lira Lima and Az-Anael St. Marc provide attack depth for the Tigers.
“We have a lot of individual talent, however, it is our unmatched team chemistry and synchronicity on the pitch that will undoubtedly make this our year in the Hock,” said Taunton head coach Taylor Whitters.
Franklin gymnastics coach Paula Lupien and Oliver Ames boys soccer coach John Barata were selected as Coach of the Year by the MIAA for last season. (Submitted photo/Ryan Lanigan (HockomockSports.com))
Below are a pair of press releases from Franklin High athletic director Tom Angelo and Oliver Ames athletic director Bill Matthews on the selection of Paula Lupien (gymnastics) and John Barata (soccer) as MIAA Coach of the Year.
Franklin, MA (December 08, 2021) – (Franklin Athletic Department) Franklin High School is proud to announce that Paula Lupien has been named the 2020-2021 MIAA Gymnastics Coach of the year.
“Earning this prestigious honor does not surprise me in the least. When it comes to coaching, Coach Lupien is the total package”, states Athletic Director, Tom Angelo. “I attribute the success of our Gymnastics program to Coach Lupien’s meticulous attention to detail, her love for her student-athletes, and overall dedication to the coaching profession.
The 2020-2021 winter season was Coach Lupien’s 5th year at the helm, culminating in an undefeated season, a Hockomock League title, and a 1st place finish in the Hockomock League Tournament. A professional member of USA Gymnastics, Coach Lupien’s primary goal is to build trust with her athletes and to bring out the best in themselves by setting a high bar and accomplishing their goals. “Paula is an incredible person who embodies everything that is right about the coaching profession. We are so fortunate to have her as part of our coaching staff”, states Tom Angelo.
Over the past 5 years, Coach Lupien has involved her team in various community service projects in and around Franklin, MA. Some of these projects include Blankets for Cancer, Toy/Pajamas/Blanket drive for children in foster care, a Franklin Food Pantry drive, distributing holiday wreaths, and hosting gymnastics clinics for Best Buddies, and area youth programs.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association selects their “Coaches of the Year” based upon excellence in character, impact upon students and community, and coaching credentials.
Coach Lupien will be honored by the MIAA at a celebratory awards banquet in January.
EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral and Athletic Director Bill Matthews are pleased to announce that soccer coach John Barata has been selected to receive the 2020-2021 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Coach of the Year Award for soccer.
Award recipients are selected based upon excellence of character, impact on students and community and coaching credentials. Coach Barata was notified of his selection in November, and will be recognized at an event that is expected to be held in January 2022.
Barata has coached the boys varsity soccer team at Oliver Ames High School for 13 seasons. In that time, he has led the program to a 169-44-40 record,12 MIAA state tournament appearances, three state championship appearances and one state championship title.
The team went 13-4-2 this fall and was the Hockomock League Davenport Division champions. The team qualified for the state tournament and ultimately made it to the round of 16.
Coach Barata has been recognized by the Boston Globe, Hockomock League and Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association a total of seven times, as well as the Mass Youth Soccer Association Girls Competitive Coach of the Year and with the United Soccer Coaches Coach of Significance Award.
His coaching philosophy revolves around guiding players along their soccer journey and helping them to reach their potential both on and off the field. He works to create a positive and player-focused environment and believes that his background as a youth minister has allowed him to use his relational ministry skills to guide players and build lifelong relationships that extend beyond the soccer field.
Under Coach Barata’s leadership, players have volunteered hundreds of hours with the Easton Youth Soccer League, Easton Lions Club and My Brother’s Keeper, a local non-profit that provides furniture donations and delivery to families throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and assistance for families in need during the holiday season.
He is also invested in players’ academic success and works to help find support for any player who would benefit from academic assistance. His teams have been recognized each year for the past seven years with the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award.
During the 2020-2021 school year, the team was also recognized by United Soccer Coaches with a Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award.
Coach Barata was nominated for the MIAA Coach of the Year Award by Athletic Director Matthews, who wrote in the nomination letter, “John has high expectations of his players on the field, in the classroom and in the community and provides them the tools and support they need to meet and exceed those expectations. Perhaps more important than the statistics and recognition above is John’s commitment to seeing his players develop into not only good players, but good citizens as well.”
He added, “It is hard to imagine anyone who loves soccer as much as John and is as invested in fostering that same love of the game in others. His enthusiasm for soccer is contagious and his ability to engage with kids of all ages is remarkable.”
As director of coach and player development for Easton Youth Soccer, Coach Barata also started a program to introduce preschoolers to soccer. Many of those children have grown up and been valuable contributors to Oliver Ames’ soccer programs and many have credited him with sparking their love for the game.
“Our Oliver Ames boys varsity soccer program has thrived under Coach Barata’s leadership and he has been a wonderful supporter of players’ successes as athletes, students and members of their community,” Superintendent Cabral said. “Coach Barata is very well-deserving of this award, and we are proud to see him recognized for his outstanding accomplishments.”
Coach Barata has also held several positions in professional and coaching associations including serving on the YMCA Board of Governors, Parish Youth Enrichment Board, Hanson Youth Soccer Board of Directors, P3 Foundation Board, Eastern MA Soccer Coaches Association Board, United Soccer Coaches Advocacy Board, United Soccer Coaches Advocacy Group (Chair), United Soccer Federation Instructor and Easton Youth Soccer Board.
In addition to his role at Oliver Ames, Barata is the director of soccer and owner at Beautiful Game Soccer Academy in Hanson, and chief executive officer at Legacy Soccer Club in Hanson. He previously served as director of operations in New England for the Club Champions League New England in Hanson and the general manager for the Real Boston Rams of the United Soccer League out of Quincy.
He also holds a Master Coach and Soccer Leaders diploma from the University of Delaware and a number of other certifications from various soccer and coaching-related organizations.
Barata has also held several positions in professional and associations including serving on the YMCA Board of Governors, Parish Youth Enrichment Board, Hanson Youth Soccer Board of Directors, P3 Foundation Board, Eastern MA Soccer Association Board, United Soccer Advocacy Board, United Soccer Advocacy Group (Chair), United Soccer Federation Instructor and Easton Youth Soccer Board.
In addition to his role at Oliver Ames, Barata is the director of soccer and owner at Beautiful Game Soccer Academy in Hanson, and chief executive officer at Legacy Soccer Club in Hanson. He previously served as director of operations in New England for the Club Champions League New England in Hanson and the general manager for the Real Boston Rams of the United Soccer League out of Quincy.
Over the past 5 years, Lupien has involved her team in various community service projects in and around Franklin, MA. Some of these projects include Blankets for Cancer, Toy/Pajamas/Blanket drive for children in foster care, a Franklin Food Pantry drive, distributing holiday wreaths, and hosting gymnastics clinics for Best Buddies, and area youth programs. Over the past 5 years, Lupien has involved her team in various community service projects in and around Franklin, MA. Some of these projects include Blankets for Cancer, Toy/Pajamas/Blanket drive for children in foster care, a Franklin Food Pantry drive, distributing holiday wreaths, and hosting gymnastics clinics for Best Buddies, and area youth programs. Over the past 5 years, Lupien has involved her team in various community service projects in and around Franklin, MA. Some of these projects include Blankets for Cancer, Toy/Pajamas/Blanket drive for children in foster care, a Franklin Food Pantry drive, distributing holiday wreaths, and hosting gymnastics clinics for Best Buddies, and area youth programs.
Oliver Ames senior Clide Neau heads in the opening goal in the 4th minute against Canton. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
CANTON, Mass. – Oliver Ames boys soccer has been the class of the Hockomock League for the past decade and last year’s large senior class added to that tradition with another division title.
After graduating over a dozen players and nearly the entire starting lineup, it looked like the Tigers’ grasp of division supremacy might be at risk.
But as Oliver Ames showed in its season opener on the road at Canton, the Tigers aren’t quite ready to give up their spot at the top.
The Tigers jumped all over the Bulldogs from the opening whistle, scoring less than five minutes in and adding two more in the second half to secure an impressive 3-0 result.
“I think the guys were really ready to play on Thursday and then we got canceled so there was definitely some anticipation, some build up going into tonight,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “It’s no longer about the previous teams, these are the guys are taking it pretty seriously. I thought we caught Canton early, maybe a little bit surprised at how we played. I don’t think we’ll surprise them next time but I’ll take any points this year anywhere we can get them.”
OA took the opening kickoff and dumped a long ball into the attacking third, getting bodies forward to pin Canton back. It worked as the Bulldogs were unable to build out of the back and OA took control of the possession and the game.
Sophomores Ryan Linhares and Joey Carney combined to get forward before the latter sent a low cross into the area but senior Clide Neau’s cheeky chip went just over the bar in the 2nd minute.
A minute later, Linhares drove a corner to the far post where freshman Casey Milliken was located but his header hit off the top of the crossbar and stayed out.
The Tigers finally broke through in the fourth minute when Linhares carried down the right sideline before sliding a low cross into the area. The ball was deflected up and Neau was in the right spot, looping a header over the keeper and into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
“We had that conversation about the butterflies and the nerves yesterday,” Barata said, noting the Tigers had five underclassmen in the starting lineup. “They were almost overexcited yesterday in training, our shots were off, our passes weren’t crisp. As you saw, we’re going to try and play a little bit whereas people probably thought we’d be a bit more direct and back it in with a new team. But we can’t hide it anymore.”
Canton worked its way into the attacking third in the 11th minute and a blocked shot fell to senior Jacob Crugnale at the far post but a difficult shot on the bounce was turned aside by OA keeper Sasha Priajinski.
Oliver Ames boys soccer
OA came back down the other way and had a pair of chances just off the mark. First, Milliken set up Linhares on the right side for a bid that was off, and four minutes later, Milliken combined with Neau before taking a shot from distance that went over the bar.
The Bulldogs had their best chance of the opening half came in the 30th minute as senior Erik Valdovinos used his speed to get down the right sideline before getting a cross into the middle where Jake McCabe nodded a header down but Priajinski was well-positioned to make the stop. Canton had another crack at it in the 36th minute of a free kick just outside the box but McCabe’s curling shot was over the bar.
Just before half, Canton utilized its timeout to save time on a dangerous set-piece. McCabe was the first to it at the near post, getting a piece before the rebound fell to junior Carson Eagles, who had his half volley bid go high.
After some early back-and-forth action to start the second half, OA won a corner and cashed in. Milliken played a ball right to the penalty spot where senior Mathias Taylor rose up to meet it, smashing a header into the corner for a 2-0 advantage.
Seven minutes later, OA earned a free kick just over midfield. It was played into the box but Milliken was taken down off the ball to give the Tigers a penalty. Taylor stepped up and used power to get his shot past the keeper for a 3-0 lead in the 60th minute.
“What I really liked, once we got a couple of minutes into the game it felt like we were back, we were comfortable, we were knocking the ball around,” Barata said. “The senior leadership has been great. I know it’s early but Mathias is obviously one of the premier players in the region, Michael Haikal is coming back from an injury, [Collin] Lozano has great senior leadership, Sasha jumping into goal…all the way down, the seniors helped us calm down. And then the underclassman looked comfortable out there too. But this job just got started, there’s a lot of soccer to play but hopefully we keep getting better. They’ve set a high bar for themselves.”
Canton’s best chance of the second half came just a minute later on a free kick from distance but McCabe’s bit on target was parried aside by Priajinski.
“We had to be very conscious about conceding to them in the second half,” Barata said. “At halftime, we talked quickly about how I thought they did well in the first half and I was impressed with the level of intensity but we had to keep it up, I told them we can’t let them in. Canton came out strong in the second but we settled again and once we got the second goal, we felt more comfortable.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer (1-0 Hockomock, 1-0 overall) is on the road again on Friday when they travel to take on Franklin. Canton (1-1-0, 1-1-1) will have its first road league game of the season when it heads to Milford.
