Foxboro players celebrate with Jordan Carman after she jumped in goal and held onto a clean sheet against Canton, moving Foxboro into first by a point. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – Just five minutes after going in front in Monday afternoon’s top of the table clash at a windswept Sam Berns Community Field, Foxboro’s advantage seemed tenuous at best.
The Warriors had starting goalie Morgan Sylvestre sent off for a foul on the edge of the box that the officials deemed a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity. Junior Jordan Carman grabbed the goalie shirt and gloves for the first time in her career, which meant Foxboro was losing not only its keeper but also one of its best defenders.
Going up against the league leaders, a team with the second most goals in the league (behind only Foxboro), and an attacking unit boasting three of the top five scorers in the Hockomock for 50 minutes, it was improbable that the Warriors could come away with a victory.
But that’s exactly what happened. Foxboro dropped back into a solid defensive shell, largely holding Canton to long distance chances, and Carman dealt comfortably with everything she faced, helping the Warriors hold on for a 1-0 win that moved them into first place in the Davenport with one game remaining.
“I’m smiling very big under this mask right now,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “It was just about containing, keeping them outside of the box as much as possible, not diving in, not letting them get any near shots off, and not letting them just pass the ball around. We did a good job of cutting off the angles for them to get it out wide.”
Despite the unseasonably cold weather, the teams looked ready to go from the start and settled into a tough, midfield battle.
The first quarter saw only a couple of half-chances for either side. Jordyn Collins settled a cross from the left but tried to play the ball out wide to Katelyn Mollica rather than shoot on the turn. Three minutes later, Olivia Rodman sent a left-footed cross into Gabriella Herivaux but the side-footed effort was easily held by Sylvestre.
Things livened up over a 12-minute span in the second quarter that saw the hosts go ahead and then quickly drop down to 10 players.
In the 24th minute, Collins blocked a clearance that forced Canton back into its own box and then Alyssa Vandenboom blocked the second attempt to get through on goal only to hit her shot right at Bulldogs keeper Marissa Staffiere. A minute later, the same duo combined for the opener.
Vandenboom played a perfectly weighted through ball between the center back and left back that Collins ran onto and the senior striker made no mistake, firing her shot in off the far post to put Foxboro ahead.
Just five minutes later, Elisa Diletizia got free for the first time in the match and was storming in on the Foxboro penalty area. Sylvestre was off her line quickly but her tackle caught the Canton forward. The officials conferred and agreed that if not for the foul Diletizia had a clear sight at goal and gave a straight red to the keeper and a free kick on the edge of the box.
With no backup keeper, Stalcup was forced to give Carman her debut in goal, which meant taking her from the stopper position where she has been so effective all season.
“Not even in practice, but she’s always told us that if need be that she would be the one that would step up,” Stalcup said about Carman’s goalkeeping experience.
Mia Gilmore wasn’t able to test the new keeper with her free kick, as it went narrowly over the bar. Six minutes later Gilmore had another chance from the edge of the box, after good interplay between Emily McCabe and Sarai Costello, but again it went just over.
The expectation was that Canton would create chance after chance in the second half, laying siege to the Foxboro goal in search of the equalizer, and the Bulldogs had plenty of possession, but the Foxboro defense continued to hold out. Lindsey Resnick in the middle, flanked by Meghan Burke and Peyton Feldman with Emma Dahl taking Carman’s spot at stopper alongside Kailee McCabe playing deeper than usual proved difficult for Canton to break down.
“I think we started forcing it a little bit too much,” Canton coach Idris Senyonjo admitted. “I think the idea of we need to score started getting in our heads more than actually we’re going to score if we keep doing what we’re supposed to be doing. But they did a good job defensively. They’re a good team.”
In fact, Foxboro had one of the best chances of the third quarter. Collins got free on the break and laid a pass off to Mollica on the right but the shot went just wide.
“That was what was so brilliant about it, when we did get the counters we were able to keep possession of the ball and at least get a few runners on the side,” Stalcup said. “They thought they were going to pound it on us and when we got the counter it put them on their heels.”
Canton’s best chance came nine minutes into the fourth. Anne Hoban broke free down the right wing and the defender hit a low cross into the box that Herivaux met first time. It was a well-struck shot but it skimmed the crossbar on its way past. Two minutes later, Rodman had a chance on the left but tried a cross rather than a shot and Carman got a touch and Burke was able to block the rebound attempt.
“It forced them to go much further deep to defend and it meant that we had to break up two blocks of four, which made it much harder,” Senyonjo explained. “You still have to make sure you do your job. We had probably, what 80 percent of the possession after the red card happened? But that doesn’t do you any good if you don’t get score a goal.”
Although the Warriors haven’t won a third straight title yet, it leaves them needing just a point on the road in Wednesday’s rematch to clinch the division.
“They came in [today] and the pressure was on them to get a win and now that pressure is on us,” said Senyonjo. “It’s kind of switched around.”
Foxboro (7-0-2) will travel to Canton (7-1-1) on Wednesday night in the regular season finale.
Boys Soccer
King Philip, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – King Philip scored twice in the fourth quarter to secure two points on the road, grabbing a victory at Attleboro. Evan McEvoy opened the scoring after a short corner, taking three touches towards goal before blasting a shot into the side netting. With two minutes left, McEvoy set up a key insurance goal with a long ball over the top. Caleb Casetta-Waxman raced onto the ball and beat the oncoming keeper, lobbing a volley that found the back of the net.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames clinched the Davenport division title outright with a 2-0 decision on the road over the Bulldogs. Colin Milliken gave the visitors the lead, converting a chance from Anthony DaCosta in the first half. Milliken then set up Matt Nikiciuk for a goal in the second half. Drew Nickla had the shutout in net, getting help from Ben Cohen, Hector Bucio, Jimmy Keane, Brady deVos and Mathias Taylor.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – North Attleboro broke the deadlock midway through the third quarter to earn two points on the road. With the score tied 1-1, North Attleboro senior Eddy Mendoza took a pair of touches before dishing off to Matt Conley, who one-touched Mendoza through on a textbook give-and-go and Mendoza finished in alone on the keeper to make it 2-1. The Rocketeers took the lead in the opening quarter when Connor Ward smashed a 30-yard bomb off the crossbar that bounced down and deflected off the keeper and in. Foxboro drew level in the second quarter when freshman John Hollis played Max Beigel into space and he cut his shot past a defender from just inside the 18-yard line. Big Red keeper David Floyd had a strong day in net, making two big saves in the fourth to preserve the win.
Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – A well-played, competitive match ended up with both Mansfield and Franklin earning a point on Wednesday night. Both coaches praised the work ethic from both sides and agreed it was a hard-fought match from both squads. Eric Sullivan earned the shutout in net behind a strong defensive performance from the Hornets. Franklin’s Luc Boudreau picked up his first shutout, earning the praise of head coach Fran Bositis for his continued improvement throughout the season.
Sharon, 2 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game – Sharon scored a pair of second half goals to earn a pair of points on the road with a win over the Black Knights. Playing under the lights on the new turf at Stoughton, the Eagles peppered the Black Knights with a handful of good chances in the third quarter but Stoughton goalie Nolan Gerome stood on his head to keep Sharon off the board. Finally in the 56th minute, senior Bryce Nathan rifled a shot from distance that went just under the bar for a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, junior James Zhang took advantage of time and space atop the area and placed a perfectly weighted shot into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Attleboro scored midway through the first quarter and put in a solid defensive performance to get the road win and split the series with KP. Meghan Panzer got credit for the game’s only goal, when her cross deflected off a KP defender and into the back of the net. KP coach Gary Pichel said of Attleboro, “They played great defense all game long.”
Canton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames took an early lead but Canton responded with three unanswered goals to earn the win on the road. Lauren Sellmayer (from Emma Pereira) scored in the first quarter to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Elisa Diletizia scored a pair of goals and Mia Gilmore had a goal and an assist to bring the Bulldogs back on the road and keep Canton atop the Davenport division. Marissa Staffiere saved a penalty kick late in the second half to keep Canton ahead by two. Sarai Costello added an assist in the win.
Foxboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Jordyn Collins scored twice and assisted on another, as Foxboro swept the season series with North and kept the pressure on league-leading Canton. Collins had a hand in all four goals that Foxboro scored against North this week. She opened the scoring in the third quarter, assisted by Jordan Carman, and doubled the lead in the fourth, assisted by Kailee McCabe. In between the first two goals, North nearly equalized. Steph McKenna struck the crossbar and the ball went straight down but not over the line. Collins also set up McCabe for the third goal that sealed the points and keeps Foxboro within a point of Canton heading into two games against the Bulldogs next week. North coach Bill Wallace said that Summer Doherty, Charlotte Moynihan, and Jordyn Sullivan played well defensively.
Stoughton, 0 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Stoughton went on the road and earned its first point under first-year coach Hermes Lima. Shayla Ford moved from striker into defense for most of the game to try and slow down the Sharon attack. Lima said, “Shayla was by far my best player on the field today and played a heck of a game. We had our chances but could not capitalize but I am proud of the way the girls played today!” He also highlighted Isabella Rodrigues for her play moving from center mid to forward.
Field Hockey
Stoughton, 6 @ Sharon, 2 – Final
Golf
Franklin, 154 @ Mansfield, 145 – Final – Mansfield set a new home course record and finished undefeated against division opponents, clinching the Kelley-Rex division title outright with a win over Franklin. Mansfield senior Ryan Dow fired a two-under par round of 33 to pace the Hornets to the division title clinching win while Cian Goulet added a 36, and both Nate Morreale and Jason See shot 38. Franklin’s Nolan Norton shot an even par round of 35 while Pat Dolan added a 38 and Jack Paterson shot a 39.
Sharon, 181 @ Stoughton, 179 – Final – Stoughton earned its first win of the season with a two-stroke decision over Sharon at Easton Country Club. Max Huminik led the way for the Black Knights with a team-low round of 44. Anthony Hern, Jake Curtis, and Patrick Smith all chipped in with a 45. Eric Carter was the match medalist, leading Sharon with a low round of 42. Nathan Daley added a round of 45 for the Eagles.
King Philip, 149 @ Attleboro, 163 – Final
Oliver Ames, 166 @ Canton, 145 – Final – Canton completed an undefeated regular season with its second straight win over Oliver Ames. Nate MacDonald was the match medalist, shooting a low round of 35 to pace the Bulldogs. Thomas Singleton added a 36 while Will Gefteas and Ryan Doucette each shot a 37. Noah Isleib and David Rodgers led the way for OA, each carding a round of 41.
Foxboro, 154 @ North Attleboro 150 – Final – North Attleboro senior Aidan Weir and sophomore Dillon Harding both a great day on the links at Heather Hill Country Club, leading the Rocketeers to a win over visiting Foxboro. Weir and Harding split match medalist honors, shooting a one-over round of 36. Sam Gallagher and Tyler DeMattio each shot 39 in the win. Foxboro’s Dylan Quinn, Jack Watts, and Dylan Pothier each shot 38 while Mat Sullivan and Matt Fossella finished at 40.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip 2 – Final – King Philip senior Cole Breen completed his brace by scoring the game-winning goal in the 76th minute as the Warriors earned two points on Senior Night. Breen opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he tucked away a rebound chance after Evan McEvoy saw his shot smack off the crossbar. Attleboro sophomore Esvin Morales brought the visitors level in the 64th minute, scoring on a free kick from the top of the box. But Breen grabbed his second with under five minutes to play, finishing off a cross from Ajae Olsen. Aidan Lindmark made seven saves in net for KP.
Foxboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Foxboro senior Matt Angelini scored midway through the first quarter and that ended up holding up the rest of the way to give the Warriors a win on the road. Derek Axon had the shutout for Foxboro, making a pair of great saves in the second half to keep North off the board and preserve the win.
Franklin, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Mansfield scored just minutes into the second quarter and added an insurance tally with less than five minutes to play to earn a win over visiting Franklin. Tommy Lanzillo (from Ethan Scholes) scored on an indirect set piece on a shot from 25 yards out to put the hosts ahead in the 23rd minute. With just under five minutes to go, junior Matt Hyland sealed the win finishing off a flick from Colin True after the original service from Dan Rowe. Eric Sullivan and Jack Lansbury-Casey combined for the shutout, each making an outstanding save to preserve the shutout. Mansfield defender Evan Eames had a big stop to deny a goal in the second half as well.
Stoughton, 2 @ Sharon, 4 – Final
Girls Soccer
King Philip, 2 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Jordyn Collins got the slightest touch on an Aislinn Servaes cross from a corner and it was just enough to slip past the onrushing keeper for the game’s only goal. With the win, unbeaten Foxboro moved within one point of league-leading Canton.
Mansfield, 1 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Carly Devine scored the game’s only goal to power Mansfield to a rivalry win, handing Franklin its first loss of the season. The goal came off a fourth quarter counter attack. Tarynn Smith’s first shot was saved by Rachel Welch but Devine followed up and knocked in the rebound for the game-winner, giving the Hornets the edge in an evenly-played match.
Sharon, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Wendy Wooden had a hat trick and Sofia Goclowski added a brace to lead the Eagles to their first win of the season. Cass Barbera recorded the clean sheet.
Golf
Mansfield, 233 @ Franklin, 235 – Final (6 cards) – The battle between the top two teams in the Kelley-Rex certainly lived up to the hype, tied through both four and five cards before the Hornets prevailed on the sixth card to clinch at least a share of the division title. Mansfield’s Brian See and Nate Morreale each shot a team-low round of 36 to pace the visitors while Ryan Dow and Jason See each shot 39 in the win. Joe Gormley added a 41 to force it to a sixth card where Ryan Doherty and Cian Goulet helped earn the win, each shooting a 42. For Franklin, Nolan Norton was the match medalist with an even par round of 35. Jack paterson and Pat Dolan each shot 38 for the Panthers, Brian Sandham chipped in with a 39 and Jack Hagerty shot a 41 for the hosts.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Two days after suffering a 4-0 loss, Attleboro battled to a scoreless draw with the Hornets to earn a point. Mansfield goalie Jack Lansbury-Casey had a strong outing in net with eight saves.
Canton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Canton scored two minutes into the third quarter and that was enough for the Bulldogs in a win on the road. Sophomore Jake McCabe converted a feed from junior Jacob Crugnale for the lone tally of the match. David Floyd had a solid outing in net for the Rocketeers with eight saves.
Stoughton, 1 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Foxboro sandwiched a pair of third quarter goals around a tally from Stoughton to earn two points and a season sweep of the Black Knights. After a scoreless first half, Foxboro’s Max Beigel opened the scoring in the 44th minute, tucking his show low to the left into the back corner for a 1-0 advantage. Rhuan Carvalho helped bring the Black Knights level, sending a perfectly paced through ball to Joao Marotti, who was fouled in the box for a pen. Carvalho blasted a left-footed shot that Foxboro keeper Nick Penders got his fingertips to but the ball kissed off the post and in to bring Stoughton level at 1-1. The deadlock lasted less than 10 minutes as Matt Angelini raced onto a loose ball behind the defense and hit a left-footed shot on the run just inside of the far post. Stoughton keeper Nolan Gerome had a strong outing with eight saves.
Taunton, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of first quarter goals a minute apart and held on the rest of the way to earn two points at home over visiting Taunton. Ben Moccia opened the scoring for the Panthers, finishing off a feed from Charlie Amante for a 1-0 advantage. Just a minute later, Ryan Witt set up Ethan Cain, who scored for the third straight game, for a 2-0 lead. Taunton sophomore Riley Rebello cut the deficit in half with an unassisted goal in the second quarter.
Milford, 2 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – King Philip battled back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring right before the halftime whistle and then just seconds before the final whistle to grab a point over visiting Milford. Junior Avi Seri put the Hawks ahead in the eighth minute on an assist from Leo Coelho, who scored in the 31st minute on an assist from Arthur Tome to make it 2-0. King Philip cut the lead in half with less than a minute to go in the first half when junior Stephen Griffin converted a free kick. And then with just 12 seconds left, Conor O’Neill buried a service from Evan McCoy to bring the Warriors level at the death.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames exploded for six second half goals to earn a big win at home over visiting Sharon. The Tigers built a 2-0 lead at halftime on goals from Mathias Taylor (from Ben Cohen) and Anthony DaCosta (from Colin Milliken). Senior Brady deVos added a second half brace for the Tigers while Milliken, Kevin Louhis, Dillon Cupples, and Jared Goldman also scored. Senior Ryan Ventura and freshman Joey Carney added assists.
Girls Soccer
Mansfield, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Cathryn Cooney scored twice in the second quarter to lift Mansfield to a win on the road. Olivia Salisbury and Kelsey Hubler combined to keep a clean sheet for the Hornets.
Foxboro, 9 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Alyssa Vandenboom scored three times and Jordyn Collins and Erin Foley each scored twice, as Foxboro’s offense clicked into gear with a big road win. Kailee McCabe recorded five points on the day, finishing with one goal and four assists, and Katelyn Mollica added three, scoring one and assisting on two. Meghan Burke, Jordan Carman, and Collins all had one assist in the win. Stoughton coach Hermes Lima credited the leadership of seniors Mackenzie Manning, Nikki Anderson, and Rebecca DeSousa for keeping the Black Knights going. He said the team had several good attacks for forward Shayla Ford but just couldn’t find the finish.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Clare Bowen’s hat trick keeps the Panthers rolling along, having won all six of their games so far this season and extending their lead to six points in division standings (second-place KP plays on Thursday). Jamie Tanner and Riley Fitzpatrick also scored for Franklin. Izzy Arnold had a pair of assists, while Norah Anderson, Erin Quaile, and Tanner each had one helper apiece.
Oliver Ames, 4 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Sharon’s goal came on a first half penalty kick by Sofia Goclowski that put the Eagles ahead 1-0 but the Tigers scored four straight to get the win on the road. Katie Gibson (assist), Camryn O’Connor (two assists), Emma Pereira, and Carly Gibson scored for OA. Lucinda Cotter notched an assist for the Tigers.
Golf
Canton, 147 @ North Attleboro, 156 – Final – Another day, another new golfer steps up to lead the Bulldogs as Conor Hunter fired a match-medalist even par round of 35 as Canton notched a win on the road at Heather Hill Country Club over North Attleboro. Will Gefteas and Owen Donovan each chipped in with a 37 while Aiden French carded a 38 for Canton. Sophomore Jake Gaskin led the Rocketeers with a team-low round of 37, Sam Gallagher added a 38, Jordan Paradis shot a 40, and Tyler DeMattio finished with a 41.
Taunton, 194 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin earned its eighth straight win to start the season behind an impressive two-under par round of 33 from senior Jack Paterson. Sean Connelly added a 38 in the win while both Nolan Norton and Pat Dolan carded rounds of 39. Spencer Andrews was Taunton’s top performer, coming in with a team-low round of 44.
King Philip, 158 @ Milford, 173 – Final – King Philip went on the road and earned a win over Milford at the Hopedale Country Club. Jared Curran was the match medalist, shooting a team-low round of 36 to pace the Warriors. Mike Matheson added a 37 and Gavin Croke chipped in with a 42 for KP.
Franklin, 1 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Franklin’s Ethan Cain scored for the second straight game as the Panthers earned a draw on the road at Taunton. Will Fox had the assist on Cain’s goal.
King Philip, 0 @ Milford, 1 – Final – After three quarters of scoreless action, Milford finally broke through with the lone goal of the match just before the midway point of the fourth quarter. On an indirect kick from just outside the box, senior Leo Coelho touched the ball to set up Lucas Da Silva for a shot that found the back of the net in the 67th minute.
Canton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Elisa Diletizia scored with four minutes remaining to keep Canton’s perfect start to the season alive and handed North its first loss of the season. Annie Hoban had the assist on the game-winning goal. North nearly grabbed the lead for itself earlier in the fourth quarter but Steph McKenna’s shot was cleared off the line. North coach Bill Wallace said that Jordyn Sullivan, Summer Doherty, Katie Manning, and Clara Giuliano all played well defensively for the Rocketeers.
Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Jordyn Collins scored the 50th goal of her career, as Foxboro got back in the win column. Jordan Carman and Caroline Rongione had put the Warriors two goals ahead before Collins, who also had an assist, recorded her milestone goal. Kailee McCabe wrapped up the win with a pair of goals, the second goal assisted by Carman. Despite the loss, Stoughton coach Hermes Lima was happy with his team’s effort and how they played against Foxboro’s pressure. He said, “We kept everything in front of us and played well. Our center mids kept up good press and facilitating the ball as they should.”
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 7 – Final – Stella Regan and Tori Carmignani both scored twice, as Franklin rolled to its fifth win in five games this season. The Kelley-Rex leaders also got goals from Anya Zub, Sydney St. Marie, and Clare Bowen, while Zub, Riley Fitzpatrick, Bridgette Ginley, and Anna Grasson (two) had assists.
Milford, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – Jenny Montville scored three times and assisted on the fourth goal to help the Warriors get back on track with a win against Milford. KP opened the scored five minutes into the second quarter when Montville teed up Ella Pisani for a finish inside the box. Dani Atherton brought Milford level just 30 seconds later, with her fifth goal in two games, beating a pair of defenders and knocking her shot in off the far post. The game was tied for five minutes before Montville restored the KP advantage off a Kiera Lindmark pass. Six minutes before the half, Pisani set up Montville to make it 3-1. Montville sealed her hat trick and the win when she finished off a left wing cross from Lindmark five minutes from full time. Emma Glaser made eight saves in the win. KP coach Gary Pichel said Ava Tormey, Jillian Anderson, Paige Varvarigos, and Brooke Mullins played well in the win.
Sharon, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – OA scored one early and one late in the game to earn its first win of the season and remain unbeaten. Alexa Lane scored off a cross from Madeleine Taylor to put the hosts ahead in the 5th minute. Camryn O’Connor doubled the lead with a goal in the 75th minute. Cass Barbera played well in goal, according to Sharon coach Catherine Sullivan, and midfielders Sofia Goclowski and Kate McLaughlin stood out for the Eagles.
Golf
Attleboro, 168 @ North Attleboro, 158 – Final – North Attleboro avenged a loss to its rival Attleboro from earlier in the season with a victory at home at Heather Hill Country Club. Sophomore Jake Gaskin shot a team-low round of 38, Dillon Harding came in with a 39, Sam Gallagher shot a 40, and Aidan Weir carded a 41 in the Rocketeers’ win. For Attleboro, Brendan Raymond was the match medalist with a low-round of 37. Leo Lombardo added a 43 for the Bombardiers while both Parker Sackett and Owen Dryjowicz each shot a 44.
Sharon, 166 @ Oliver Ames, 157 – Final – Oliver Ames defended its home turf, picking up a 157-166 win at Pine Oaks over visiting Sharon. Senior Kosta Spiliakos birdied each the first and second hole en route to a career-low match score of 38 to lead the Tigers to a win. Jake Kaplan added a 39 in the win while both senior Logan Domenico and freshman David Rogers shot 40. Nathan Daley was the match medalist, shooting a low-round of 36 with a birdie on the fifth hole for Sharon.
Foxboro, 160 @ Stoughton, 169 – Final – Jack Rounds and Jack Watts were medalists for Foxboro with a pair of 39’s. Anthony Hern led Stoughton with a 41 and Jonah Hochberg added a 42 for the Black Knights.
OA keeper Emily Meyers (left) makes a big fourth quarter save to deny Foxboro’s Jordyn Collins and preserve a 1-1 draw. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – When Foxboro and Oliver Ames meet there is a distinct clash in styles, with one team trying to keep the ball on the ground and trying to pass its way up the field and the other looking to be more direct and hit longer passes for quick transitions. Regardless of the approach, both teams are very effective with what they do best.
On a rainy Friday night at Sam Berns Community Field, Foxboro and OA showcased their different approaches but neither was able to get the upper hand in an entertaining 1-1 draw. For the second time in two days, the teams went home with a point apiece.
“We just struggled with our finishing,” Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said. “I was playing a flat back three and had the midfield and offense packed, and we created plenty of chances, we just couldn’t put the ball in the net.”
After storming back with two late goals to earn the tie on Wednesday, Foxboro carried that momentum into Friday’s game and took a lead in the opening minutes. Aislinn Servaes’ cross from the wing found Kailee McCabe in the middle and the junior midfielder showed off her skills with the ball at her feet to work a shooting opportunity and continue her torrid start to the season.
Foxboro also hit the side netting in the early going, as the Warriors got off to a great start, but OA worked itself back into the game and used set piece opportunities to cause problems. Allison Evin had a corner kick routine deflected right in front of Foxboro keeper Morgan Sylvestre and then cleared and Lauren Sellmayer had a free kick chance that went just over.
In the 17th minute, the Tigers found the equalizer. It came on another corner routine, as Camryn O’Connor took the short pass from Evin and then laid it back into her path on the left corner of the box. Evin took a touch and then curled a shot over the keeper’s outstretched hand and into the top far corner.
Another OA corner caused a scramble in front and a chance for Ali Byron but her shot went over the bar and then McCabe teed up Katelyn Mollica for a shot from the edge of the box that also went high.
The Tigers nearly grabbed the lead five minutes into the second, but Sellmayer’s free kick from 20 yards out struck the post. Emma Pereira hit a long free kick into the path of Reese Pereira, whose cross from the right pinballed to Jenna Gilman at the back post but the touch was heavy and Sylvestre saved. Mccabe tried to put Foxboro ahead in the final minute of the half but her 35-yard free kick was wide of the goal.
Foxboro came storming out of halftime and put together its best quarter of the match.
Jordyn Collins finally started to get a little room against an almost constant double team from Emma Pereira and Evin. Just two minutes into the third, Collins got loose in the right channel but her shot was saved by OA keeper Emily Meyers. A minute later, Meyers came up with an even better stop down low to her right to deny Alyssa Vandenboom’s effort from the edge of the box and then did well to palm a dipping McCabe free kick over the bar.
“Our keepers really stood up today, both Emma )O’Donnell) and Emily, and Emma Pereira two games in a row has shut out Jordyn, which doesn’t happen a lot. Jordyn’s a great player,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “Our keepers and backs played great today, but our mids and our forwards have to improve. We’ve got to get more chances up front.”
All the pressure seemed to be on the OA defense, but O’Connor nearly snuck a goal against the run of play. She picked off an attempted outlet pass on the right side of the box. Seeing Sylvestre off her line, O’Connor went for the shot and sent it inches over the bar. It was a scare for the Foxboro back line, marshaled by Emma Dahl, which had otherwise been dealing with OA’s attacks.
Stalcup said, “I was really happy with the way the defenders played. I told them, I know it can be frustrating when a team plays kick and run. It breaks up the flow of our passing, but they did a good job stopping the dangerous plays.”
In the final minute of the third, Collins showed the physical side to her game, holding off Pereira and Evin to get behind the OA defense but Meyers was equal to the shot. Then rebound was cleared to Servaes who let fly from distance but the keeper was ready for it and made a comfortable stop.
Seven minutes into the fourth quarter, Collins would have her best chance to try and snag two points for the Warriors. A through ball by Vandenboom split the OA defense and left Collins free on goal, but Meyers reacted quickly to slide out and close the space, flashing her left arm to rob the Foxboro striker of a potential winner.
“We were moving the ball around so well and keeping possession,” Stalcup said. “It was exactly what I wanted. I told the midfielders to not be afraid to attack the goal and for Jordyn to lay it back and play off of them. We just couldn’t find a goal.”
As the clock stopped with two minutes remaining, OA had a break down the right wing. Gilman carried the ball from just inside her own half all the way to the Foxboro penalty area, but seemed to run out of steam there and her shot was right at Sylvestre.
“We’re very athletic,” Sellmayer explained. “Taking away the corner kicks and being able to head the ball and being able to play really takes away from us but we’re adjusting and doing our best. Foxboro is a great team. They move it really well but we hung in there.”
Foxboro (2-0-2) will be back home on Monday to host Stoughton. Oliver Ames (0-0-4) will return home to take on Sharon.
Boys Soccer
Canton, 1 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Foxboro, 2 @ Sharon, 2 – Final
Franklin, 0 @ Milford, 6 – Final
King Philip, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final
Oliver Ames @ North Attleboro – Postponed to TBD.
Girls Soccer
Stoughton @ Canton, 6:00 – Postponed to Friday, 10/9 at 6:00.
Sharon, 1 @ Foxboro, 7 – Final – Kailee McCabe had a hat trick and Katelyn Mollica added a brace, as the Warriors got their second win of the week. Wendy Wooden got the first goal of the season for the Eagles, on an assist by Olivia Soby, to put the visitors in front, but Mollica equalized with a long-range shot. McCabe scored the next two, both assisted by Jordyn Collins, who started the second half with her third goal of the season (assisted by Alyssa Vandenboom). McCabe added an unassisted goal and Mollica scored on a free kick before Caroline Rongione wrapped up the scoring off an assist by Olivia Nicholson.
Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – The Panthers made it two wins from two to start the season as five different players found the back of the net. Riley Fitzpatrick, Anya Zub (first career goal), Erin Quaile, Stella Regan, and Rachel Hogan each tallied once in the win, while Zub, Clare Bowen, Izzy Arnold, and Jamie Tanner (two) had assists. Julia Bertone and Rachel Welch each made one save in goal for Franklin.
Mansfield, 1 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – King Philip rallied from a goal down to pull out a win in the season opener for both teams. All three goals were scored in the final seven minutes of the first half. Sarah Sacco gave the Hornets the lead with a shot from 10 yards out, but five minutes later KP equalized when Ella Pisani found the range from 12 yards, assisted by Ava Tormey. Just a minute later Jenny Montville took a pass from Pisani and hit a 25-yard shot off the crossbar and in for wat turned out to be the game-winner. Charlotte Majer, Kylie Menendez, and Paulina Baczkowski all played well for the Warriors to secure the two points.
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBD.
Golf
Canton @ Stoughton, – Postponed to Thursday 10/8 at 3:30.
Franklin, 144 @ Milford, 175 – Final
The Hockomock League kicked off its girls soccer season and we have the team-by-team rundown of how everyone stacks up this year. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2019 Record: 7-9-2 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Steve Santos
Last year, Attleboro was just one win away from ending its playoff drought and while the Bombardiers aren’t going to have a tournament to look forward to this season they have plenty of experience and talent coming back to be in the mix in what should be a wide open Kelley-Rex division. The Bombardiers will also have an extra week to prepare after the first two games against Taunton were postponed.
Attleboro should be potent in front of goal this season. Senior forwards Isabella Salviati and Briley Harnois have been dynamic scoring threats for the past three years and have proved to be a tough combination for teams to handle. Senior Jessica Gates also returns to play provider and pull the strings from midfield.
Sophomore Emily Dunlea will pair up with Gates in the center of the midfield, while senior Cassondra Stuger and Meghan Panzer were on the outside. Panzer can also step in and give Attleboro minutes up top when Harnois or Salviati need a breather.
At the back, senior Eleanor Graber and junior Olivia Calderon have been teaming up in the center, while seniors Gabby Bosh and Riley Sullivan have been the outside backs. Sophomore Alexis Campbell will be back in goal after seeing time as a freshman last year. Experience won’t be an issue for the Bombardiers, which should help them cope with the challenges of a unique season.
“The rule modifications cater to our style of play maybe more than it does for other,” said Attleboro coach Steve Santos. “There are a lot of returning players, so I think we’ll be okay. We just have to be able to adjust.”
2019 Record: 12-9-0 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinal Coach: Idris Senyonjo
Canton made a run to the Div. 2 South semifinal a year ago and the perpetually young Bulldogs will be hoping to build on that experience and challenge Foxboro for the division title this fall. Former coach Kate Howarth is plying her trade with the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, so Idris Senyonjo takes over this season and picked up an impressive win on his debut with the team scoring eight goals in the process.
The attack has been a strength for Canton for the past several years and with senior forwards Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia back to lead the line the Bulldogs have a pair of potential match winners up front. Junior Gabriella Herivaux adds a different dynamic to the forward line and senior Mia Gilmore emerged last year as one of the league’s top playmaking midfielders.
In the heart of the pitch, Canton has plenty of players who can contribute both on offense and defense. Sophomore Emily McCabe is coming off a strong rookie season and combines well with Gilmore in the middle. Senior Sarai Costello is another player that the coaches expect big things from this year.
Consistency on defense will be a big point of emphasis this year and junior defender Allie McCabe and junior goalie Elyse Broderick should give the Bulldogs a foundation to build on. Freshmen Mekhala Costello and Ava Gilmore have impressed coached during the preseason and both are expected to step in and add strength to the back line.
“I am coming into a program that has a great group of girls who love the game and play for each other,” said Senyonjo. “This made it easy for me to start implementing my philosophy and approach of the game. No matter how short the season might be, I believe we have a good group of girls who will be hungry for a great season.”
2019 Record: 16-2-2 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal Coach: Katie Stalcup
Foxboro has won back-to-back Davenport division titles and comes into this season with eyes on a three-peat and a roster loaded with talent and experience. The Warriors had one of the best attacks in the Hock in 2019, scoring 80 goals as a team, while only allowing 12. Expectations are very high for Foxboro to win a third title in a row, something it hasn’t done since winning the league from 1985-90.
Attack continues to be one of the strengths for the Warriors led by senior forward Jordyn Collins. The Bryant University-commit scored 23 goals last year and already has two to her name after one game this fall. Junior Kailee McCabe is the lynchpin of the midfield, dominating with and without the ball and adding to the team’s scoring punch. Senior Katelyn Mollica can get up and down the wing and her crossing ability gives the strikers more opportunities to get on the board.
It isn’t all about the offense. The Warriors are also stingy on the other end of the field. Senior defender Emma Dahl will lead the back line this season and senior Grace Ferguson will be a key player in the heart of the midfield, helping Foxboro play the possession style of soccer that it prefers. Senior Morgan Sylvestre gives the Warriors an experienced, talented shot-stopper in goal.
“We are all just so excited to be playing soccer and I am so excited about this team and our talent,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “We know that this season will look a little different, but we are going to make the most of it and enjoy ourselves and enjoy winning soccer games.”
2019 Record: 12-5-1 2019 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Tom Geysen
Franklin had one of the league’s top defenses in 2019, holding teams scoreless in 11 of the final 12 games of the 2019 regular season. The Panthers will hope to be just as stingy this year and, with the rule changes in place, try to add more scoring punch, as they look to get back on top of the Kelley-Rex division standings for the first time since 2015.
Sophomore Norah Anderson will be back in the heart of the Franklin defense after an impressive rookie campaign and her physicality will be important after the graduation of Sabrina Addi. Senior Carissa Alers will partner Anderson in the middle and junior Izzy Arnold will be on the outside. Senior Julia Bertone and freshman Rachel Welch will both see time in goal, replacing Brenna Atwood.
Senior Erin Quaile will be in the heart of the midfield for the Panthers, providing endless running and contributions in both boxes. Sophomore Bridget Leo saw a lot of time at the end of last season and she will be in the midfield again. Junior Stella Regan is also back after a long time out with broken leg and gives Franklin a different option with her skill on the ball as she continues to work back to 100 percent.
In the attack, senior Sydney St. Marie will be the primary goal scorer, and she is off to a good start after two goals in the season opening win against Milford. Junior Riley Fitzpatrick will join St. Marie up front and there are several younger players that could step in and help out the offense, including freshman Anya Zub, who had an assist on her debut.
“We’re moving along,” said Franklin coach Tom Geysen. “it’s just hard to assess progress because of the changes in rules and everything. The kids are hesitant. My advice is play as hard as you have to play to get the job done and if they call an indirect, then they call an indirect.”
2019 Record: 21-1-0 2019 Finish: Reached D1 South Final Coach: Gary Pichel
King Philip reached the Div. 1 South final last year, for the second time in three seasons, but enter the fall without not only the program’s top two all-time scorers but with a large group of seniors that helped the program win two of the last three league titles and nearly finish an undefeated season. Even without some of the big names from last year, KP brings back a number of players who saw action in that finals run and will be counted on for bigger roles this year.
With Chloe Layne and Avery Snead, goals were never an issue for the Warriors. This season, several players will look to pick up the scoring load. Sophomore Ella Pisani and senior Kiera Lindmark will both lead the attack but will get help from senior midfielder Jenny Montville, who had several big goals during the playoff run in 2019.
Seniors Ava Tormey and Maeve Lawlor will provide control in the midfield and will get a boost from the return of senior Charlotte Majer to the program. Majer spent last year with a development academy program and will be a big boost to the Warriors in the center of the pitch.
Defense could be a strength for KP, with several returning players. Sophomore Grace Lawler was impressive as a freshman, regularly marking the opposition’s top attacker. Senior Paige Varvarigos is also back after a strong season at outside back. Seniors Taryn Greenberg, Jillian Anderson, and Taylor Thompson will also help out at the back. Senior Emma Glaser will take over in goal.
“We will all do the best we can and hope for the best in a much abbreviated season,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “I hope the best for all of our teams and to have fun and to do it safely. The most important thing is to keep our girls healthy while returning to competition so they can do what they like to do best!”
2019 Record: 6-8-4 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Kevin Smith
Last season was a learning experience for a young group of Hornets, but even with only four returning varsity players Mansfield finished just one win shy of a playoff appearance. This year, Mansfield brings back 18 players from last season’s roster, including nine starters, so the Hornets will expect to quickly return to being one of the challengers for the Kelley-Rex title.
Even with all of the returning players, Mansfield remains a young team. There are three freshmen, five sophomores, and six juniors on the roster. Despite their youth, many saw plenty of time on the field last year and will be leaning on that experience for more success this fall.
Junior Katie Miller returns in the heart of the midfield and gives Mansfield a foundation to build its attacks and to stifle the opposition. Junior Maria Sevastos will return in the defense and the speedy converted forward gives the Hornets a threat on the outside. Junior Tarynn Smith will be back up top after a solid season leading the line and sophomore Olivia Salisbury returns in goal after a strong rookie year.
“After a year of experience under the young kids’ belts, I’m excited to see how much they’ve learned and how they can apply it this fall,” said Mansfield coach Kevin Smith.
2019 Record: 9-6-4 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round Coach: Lou Colabello
Milford made a run at a league title last fall and reached the state tournament, but now the Hawks are moving into the Kelley-Rex division and doing so without 32 goals and several key pieces from the spine of last year’s team. With experience at the back and in goal, the Hawks will be hoping to be tough to beat and let the young attack have a chance to win games.
Senior Carly Ferreira is back in goal this season and has already been busy, coming up with more than 20 saves in the season opener against Franklin. With seniors Catherine Madden and Alyssa Monahan in the back line, the Hawks won’t lack for leadership and experience in the defensive third. Senior Brianna Franzini will add more of that veteran presence in the midfield, which was hard-hit by graduation.
Up top will be sophomore Dani Atherton, who reached double digits in goals during her freshman season and can play as a forward or as a creative midfielder. Sophomores Brooke Ferreira, Serena Borges, and Brooke Guerreiro all saw limited action as freshmen, but will be expected to step into bigger roles this year to shore up the center of the pitch and push into the attack.
“I think the season will depend on how quickly we adjust once games begin,” said Milford coach Lou Colabello. “Replacing key players in the midfield will be a big part of how successful we are. Hopefully, we can get better from game to game. One thing is for sure, we will play hard and have fun doing it.”
2019 Record: 4-10-4 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro will have a lot of new faces in the lineup this season, coming off a tough, four-win campaign. Although many of the names will be new, the Rocketeers feel confident that the revamped defensive unit will make them tough to beat this year and allow them to compete against the top teams in the division, as they proved in a scoreless draw with Oliver Ames in the season opener.
Senior Jordyn Sullivan and junior Summer Doherty are the lone returning players that saw time in the back line last year, but they will be pushed by a host of other players ready to step in. Seniors Ari Newth and Katie Manning, juniors Charlotte Moynihan and Autumn Hewitt, and sophomores Brooke Sullivan and Haley Sinacola will all see time in the defense. Senior Kaylah Seavey and sophomore Maddie Ferrin will be in goal this season.
After missing last season with a knee injury, senior Lydia Santos will provide leadership in the midfield. Classmates Abby Noreck and Ari Rice will also see time in the middle, while a trio of sophomores – Clara Giuliano, Lily Adams, and Caroline Ferrin will add energy and speed in the center.
Up top, senior Tess Collins and junior Steph McKenna are back to lead the line with their speed and creativity. Senior Ally Scott and junior Brayden Rice will give North depth and different looks up top, while sophomore Emma Pratt is a newcomer that could contribute in the attack right away.
“We are working hard to figure this all out,” said North coach Bill Wallace. “Spirits are high and practices have been productive. Girls are possessing better and better and hopefully that will equate to more success on the scoreboard.”
2019 Record: 14-5-2 2019 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal Coach: Britt Sellmayer
Oliver Ames returns to the Davenport division this fall. The Tigers won three straight Davenport titles before moving to the Kelley-Rex (making it four straight titles in their first year in the new division) and with an experienced, if still relatively young, group they expect to challenge Foxboro’s place at the top of the standings this season.
The Tigers have only four seniors on the roster this year, but they have 17 players with varsity experience. While the attack will certainly miss the scoring Erin Holmberg’s scoring touch and the new rules will hinder OA’s typically prolific set piece scoring, there is plenty of strength throughout the roster to be both tough to break down and tough to keep away from goal.
Senior Emma Pereira is a dominant presence in the middle of the pitch and she will be joined by Reese Pereira and Lauren Sellmayer to try and take control of the midfield. Junior Allison Evin can play up top or in the midfield and classmate Camryn O’Connor is a dynamic playmaker and tough to stop when she starts running at defenses.
Kathryn Gibson will solidify the defensive unit, while Jenna Gilman provides speed on the wings. In goal, OA has two solid options with senior Emma O’Donnell and junior Emily Meyers sharing time between the pipes.
OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “The biggest issue for the new rules is the interpretation by referees, we have had them come to practice twice and one scrimmage. Let’s just say the games were different. Hopefully the kinks get worked out.”
2019 Record: 0-17-3 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Catherine Sullivan
Despite its record last season under first-year head coach Catherine Sullivan, Sharon demonstrated the ability to compete with the top teams and Sullivan is hoping that with an experienced corps and the addition of talented younger players the Eagles will be a tough team to beat in a very competitive Davenport division this year.
Experience will be a key at the back. Three-year starting goalie Cass Barbera has proven to be a solid shot-stopper and her leadership is a confidence boost for the entire defensive unit. Senior Molly McAlevey will be the anchor of the back line with her physicality and communication. Sophomore Sally Brouhard is coming off a strong freshman season, where she emerged as one of the team’s top defenders.
Senior Amelia Scappaticci adds steel to the midfield and gives cover to the back line and classmate Emily Griffin adds the speed from the center of the pitch to get forward as often as possible. Sophomore Sofia Goclowski and freshman Kate McLaughlin are a pair of newcomers that should step into the midfield and add a different dimension with their skill. With new faces helping out in the attack, Sharon will be looking to find the back of the net more consistently this year.
“We have excellent leadership this season with a great mix of strong returning players and new talent stepping in,” said Sullivan. “The Davenport division looks to be extremely competitive this year, but our kids are dedicated to improving our style and speed of play, and I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of growth in short time this season.”
2019 Record: 3-13-2 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Hermes Lima
Stoughton made strong strides last season, scoring 34 goals as a team, which was three times the total from the year before and the Black Knights will be hoping to keep that going this fall under new coach Hermes Lima. A tough loss to Canton on the opening day won’t deter Stoughton, which is hoping to continue building on the experience gained last season.
The attack should be potent again with the combination of sophomore forward Shayla Ford, coming off an impressive rookie campaign, and four-year starter and leading scorer Mackenzie Manning, who has developed into a dynamic playmaker either up top or in the midfield. Senior Rebecca Desousa and sophomore Isabella Rodrigues will both be expected to use their speed and aggressiveness to add to the offense, as the Black Knights promise to be a threat on the counterattack.
Senior Nikki Anderson is a versatile defender who can play in the center of the pitch or drop into the back line and she will be counted on to lead a young defensive group. Sophomore Sabrina Rodrigues is tenacious at the back and Liv Tran’s speed will help stymie the opposition. Speed and pressure will be two keys for the Black Knights at the back this season.
“I am here to continue the growth and culture of this program while also helping them become young successful individuals not only on, but off the field,” said Lima. “My goal is to ensure players learn a few things, create their own path, and reach for the moon!”
2019 Record: 2-14-2 2019 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Michael Couture
For the second time in two seasons, Taunton heads into a new season with a new coaching staff and with the goal of building a foundation for the program to compete against the top teams in the Kelley-Rex division. First-year head coach Michael Couture will be counting on a mix of experience and youth to improve on last year’s results.
The Tigers have players up front that can ask questions of the opposing defenses and on the other end of the field Taunton will try to soak up pressure and break quickly. They will also get an extra week of practice before games kick off after the games with Attleboro were postponed.
Experience will come from a group of seniors that have spent multiple years at the varsity level. Seniors Emily O’Gara and Madison Ribeiro can both play up top or in the midfield, while classmates Caitlin Smith, Kayla Botelho, and Morgan Zakrzewski provide leadership in the defensive third. Junior Isabella Anslow will be between the pipes this season. Sophomore midfielders Abigail Gamble and Christina DeCosta and sophomore forward Emily Calderon will provide energy and could step right in to contribute this season.
“Our main goal during the season is to get better every single day and play like it can be taken away from us at any time,” said Taunton coach Michael Couture. “We are on our way to building something special here at Taunton High and have the right group of dedicated girls.”
Sharon, 1 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final – The teams took turns on the score sheet with the visitors tying it up 1-1 in the third quarter but Foxboro scored the final two goals to earn the win. Max Beigel put the hosts ahead before Sharon found an equalizer in the third. Adam Connolly restored the lead for the Warriors and Matt Angelini added an insurance goal for Foxboro.
Milford, 4 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Milford opened the season in style as reigning HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Leo Coelho scored a pair of goals in a road win over Franklin. Coelho opened the scoring on an assist from Lucas Da Silva. Eduardo Castro doubled the lead, finishing off a service from Christian Dinis. Da Silva added two more assists, setting up sophomore Hulanger Pires to make it 3-0 and once again linking up Coelho for the final goal.
Girls Soccer
Canton, 8 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final
Foxboro, 4 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Jordyn Collins accounted for three points and Foxboro started its league title defense with a shutout on the road. Collins scored a pair of goals within a three-minute span in the second quarter to put the Warriors in front to stay. Kailee McCabe and Erin Foley also scored for Foxboro, while Aislinn Servaes and Alyssa Vandenboom added assists.
Franklin, 4 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Sydney St. Marie scored a pair of goals, as Franklin opened the season with a big win over neighboring Milford. Norah Anderson and Jamie Tanner also scored for the Panthers. Head coach Tom Geysen praised his team’s ability to sustain the attack saying, “We were able to keep pressure on Milford most of the afternoon and held a wide advantage of shots on goal. We were able to produce many scoring opportunities and create what we have been working on in practice throughout the game.” Bridgette Ginley, Anya Zub, Lizzy Durkey, and Izzy Arnold all had assists for Franklin. Milford goalie Carly Ferreira made 22 saves in the loss. Hawks coach Lou Colabello said, “They were very well skilled and adjusted very well to the new rules. We obviously did not.” He also noted that there is a lot of potential for growth from his young roster.
Golf
North Attleboro, 163 @ Attleboro, 158 – Final – Attleboro broke into the win column with a five-stroke victory over rival North Attleboro. Junior captain Brendan Raymond led the way for the Bombardiers with a team-low round of 36. Sophomore Leo Lombardo added a round of 40 while juniors Parker Sackett and Evan Houle both shot a 41.
Milford, 188 @ Franklin, 157 – Final – Franklin senior captain Jack Paterson earned match medalist honors as the Panthers defended home course against visiting Milford. Paterson added a one-under round of 34 to pace the Panthers while Pat Dolan added a 40 and Nolan Norton carded a 41. Dave Pacella and Anthony LaPierre led the way for Milford with a pair of 46s.
Foxboro senior Jordyn Collins (21) scored more than 20 goals last year and will be one of the players to watch when the season kicks off this week. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
Milford gave Foxboro a push for the Davenport title last season and, although the Hawks graduated several important players in the midfield, sophomore Dani Atherton’s stellar rookie campaign gives hope that there is enough talent coming back to be a threat in the Kelley-Rex this year. Atherton exploded onto the scene as a dynamic playmaker, scoring nine goals and recording six assists as a freshman. She is a skillful player, capable of making dangerous dribbles to get the defense off-balance, and is a willing runner to chase every pass into the channels and her markers always needed to be aware of where she is. Atherton can also drop into the midfield and give Milford more playmaking in the center of the pitch or on the wings. As she becomes more accustomed to the high pace of Hock play, Atherton has the potential to unlock defenses and be the key to Milford’s quick transitions into the attack.
It is hard to keep this Foxboro team from finding the back of the net and one of the primary reasons for that is Jordyn Collins. The senior forward and Bryant University-commit is one of the league’s fastest players and has been leaving defenders in her wake for three seasons. Collins scored 23 goals and added three assists last year, helping Foxboro to the Davenport division crown and she has added a more consistent finishing touch to the physical gifts that has made her hard to contain for even the league’s stingiest defenses. Strong on the ball and with quick feet, Collins can keep defenders off-balance, knowing if she gets an inch then she could be behind them and on goal in a flash. Collins has also developed an awareness of where the spaces are to make runs in behind, taking advantage of the channels and a blossoming partnership with midfielder, and fellow Player to Watch, Kailee McCabe to create chances on the break or against packed defenses. With Collins leading the line, Foxboro will be the favorite to retain the league title this fall.
It will certainly help Canton’s new coaching staff to know that it has firepower up front to cause problems for opponents. One of the dynamic playmakers that the Bulldogs will count on this season is senior forward Elisa Diletizia, who scored 16 goals and had four assists to help Canton reach the Div. 2 South semifinal last year. Quick and with loads of skill on the ball and the capability of playing on the shoulder of the last defender or dropping deep to get involved in the attack, Diletizia pops up in different spaces and is hard to mark with one defender. She also needs to be kept track of no matter how far out because she can find the back of the net from distance and from tough angles, making her a constant threat. The combination of Diletizia and Providence College-bound classmate Olivia Rodman is going to keep defenses on their toes and could make Canton one of the top scoring teams in the league this fall.
Speed is an important characteristic for a forward, but there also needs to be a tenacity to chase down passes, put defenders under constant pressure, and keep your team pushing forward. Briley Harnois gives Attleboro the perfect player to defend from the front and set the tone from an attitude standpoint. The senior forward is a thorn in the side of opposing defenses. Her quickness means any ball over the top is a potential opportunity and her willingness to get into physical battles with bigger defenders means that there isn’t a moment to rest. Harnois scored 10 goals last season and she is the perfect forward for Attleboro’s counter-attacking style, finding the seams to run into and also dropping back to combine with classmate Isabella Salviati. With a senior-laden roster, Attleboro will be a tough test for every team in the Kelley-Rex this fall and Harnois is emblematic of their combination of skill and attitude of not backing down from a challenge.
Stoughton made significant improvements last year, especially in the attack, as the Black Knights scored 34 goals as a team, three times more than the previous season. One of the constants for Stoughton is Mackenzie Manning, who has been the team’s leading scorer for each of her three years on varsity. Last year, the playmaker scored 11 goals and added three assists switching between attacking midfield and forward roles. She has quick feet and great vision to find the right pass to unleash the Stoughton forwards and her work rate, whether up top or in the middle of the pitch, pushes her teammates to match that intensity. Manning can strike from distance or run in behind the opposing defense and with sophomore forward Shayla Ford emerging as another attacking threat, Stoughton’s new coaching staff has a good foundation to continue building on last year’s scoring output.
Four years ago, Lily Sykes became the first player in any sport to be named to the first team in this site’s end-of-season award for four years in a row. It seemed like her graduation would leave a big hole in the middle of the pitch that Foxboro would struggle to fill, but Kailee McCabe stepped right in and extended that streak to six years and running. The two-time HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year is an imposing presence in the Warriors midfield, covering a ton of the pitch to be a factor with and without the ball. McCabe is strong in possession, rarely being pushed off the ball, but also has a nice touch and the vision to pick out the defense-splitting pass. She also has an eye for goal, scoring 17 goals and recording five assists last season, pushing her total to 30 goals in two years. Capable of winning the ball back and instantly getting the Warriors out on the break, McCabe has been a perfect foil for forward Jordyn Collins (see above), making Foxboro a constant threat and not giving opposing defenses a moment to rest.
Stats aren’t always a good judge of the impact a player has on a team. Mansfield returned only one starter for last season and needed someone to step up and set the tone for a young team. Katie Miller played all but 10 minutes last fall and the sophomore was the leader in the center of the pitch that got the Hornets within one win of a tournament bid. Miller had one assist last season, but it was her ability to cover ground in the midfield, break up opposing attacks, and her accurate passing helped Mansfield quickly turn defense into attack. A strong, physical presence, Miller’s reading of the game allowed her to be in the right spots for interceptions or key tackles and she also has skill on the ball to drive at the opposition defense and beat opponents off the dribble. With a little more experience around her this year, Miller could be able to add more stats this season but it is clear she will be one of the keys to the Hornets moving back to the top of the Kelley-Rex this season.
An experienced King Philip side took an undefeated season into the South final last year. Although the Warriors graduated the program’s two all-time leading scorers, there are several key players returning to try and keep KP at the top of the Kelley-Rex. One of those players is senior Jenny Montville, who is going to move from the midfield into a forward role and spearhead the Warriors attack. Solid on the ball and with the speed to make dangerous runs, Montville showed last year that she is capable of stepping up in big moments, such as her opening goal in the playoffs against Oliver Ames and a series of chances in the second half of the final against Bishop Feehan. Her time in midfield showed her passing range and she could drop deep to offer KP versatility in attack, holding the ball up, and allowing teammates to get into the box. It will be hard to match the output that KP’s attack mustered last year, but Montville’s finishing and experience will keep a young Warriors team moving forward.
Oliver Ames is moving back to the Davenport division for the first time since winning three straight division titles from 2013-15 and the Tigers have a roster loaded with varsity experience to regain the Davenport crown. One of the players that will be looking to pick up the scoring slack after the graduation of Erin Holmberg is junior forward Camryn O’Connor. The three-year varsity player has already shown the potential to be one of the league’s toughest attacking players, combining her skill on the ball, strength in possession, and her willingness to get into the mix on set pieces (always an important component of OA’s offense). O’Connor scored seven goals and assisted on six others last year and was a constant menace to even the top defenses in the league. There will be higher expectations this season, as O’Connor will be the primary forward and she will be looking to provide more consistency this fall to help the Tigers make a push to win the league again.
Much of Franklin’s success last season came from its defense being one of the best in the Hock and that solidity at the back came from far more than just the back four. The Panthers were also a tenacious team in the midfield, putting pressure and forcing turnovers all over the field and that is where senior midfielder Erin Quaile dominates. Not surprising for a two-time HockomockSports.com Defensive Player of the Year in basketball, Quaile is quick, agile, and never backs down from a challenge. She covers a ton of ground in the center of the pitch and is not afraid of getting into physical battles. Quaile also showed off a good range of passing, keeping possession well when needed and quickly turning defense into attack with a long pass to the forwards. She may not be the biggest player, but Quaile was also strong on set pieces on both ends of the pitch and timed her late runs into the box to pop up with the occasional goal for the Panthers. Franklin will be in the mix for the league title this year and Quaile’s experience and nous in the middle of the park will be critical.
