Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/23/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Foxboro, 58 vs. Melrose, 48 – FinalFoxboro senior Alex Penders poured in 30 points to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for his career, leading the Warriors to a win over Melrose in an MIAA endowment game. Penders got off to a great start with 15 points in the opening quarter, helping Foxboro to a 19-17 lead. The Warriors outscored Melrose by two in three of the four quarters, and by four in the third quarter. Penders drained a three with 1:33 left in the third quarter to hit the 1,000-point milestone. He also hauled in 16 rebounds while senior Sam Golub chipped in with 14 points.

Franklin, 51 vs. Xaverian, 37 – FinalFranklin hit five of its nine three-pointers in the second quarter to create a big lead that it held the rest of the way against Xaverian. The Panthers hit a trio of threes against Xaverian’s zone defense in the first quarter for a 15-8 lead and then really got going in the final minutes of the first half. Andrew O’Neill (15 points) hit three of his five three-pointers in the final four minutes of the second quarter and Justin Allen (12 points, six rebounds) hit two of his four triples in that same stretch as Franklin used a 16-2 run to build a 33-17 lead at halftime. The Panthers struggled offensively during the third but their defense was strong all game long and prevented the Hawks from making a run to get back into it. Ben Harvey added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers.

Boys Hockey
Stoughton/Brockton, 8 @ Bellingham, 3 – FinalThe Black Knights used a balanced scoring attack to secure a big win on the road in their final game of the regular season. Jake McSweeney scored a pair of goals from Stoughton/Brockton while Sean Farley, Charlie Caputo, Ryan Summers, Owen Dupont, Anthony DeSousa, and Garrett Sager each had one goal in the win.

Girls Hockey
Canton, 5 vs. Natick, 1 – FinalFreshman Izzy Cusack scored three times to lead Canton to a win in the regular season finale. The Bulldogs extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games, as they look to secure a top four spot in Div. 2. Cusack got the scoring started with the lone goal of the first period. Ellie Bohane doubled the Canton lead, following up a shot from Cusack in the second period. Freshman Kayleigh Koen made it 3-0 with a shot from the point and then Cusack wrapped up the win by adding two more against another D2 playoff contender.

King Philip, 5 vs. Bishop Stang, 2 – FinalAfter beating the host team Milton in a shootout, KP’s offense exploded for five goals against Stang to secure the title at the Milton February Break Tournament. Kelly Holmes was named the player of the tournament after scoring four goals in the final. Freshman Katie McGann also found the back of the net for the Warriors. Nicole McDonald, who scored both goals against Milton, teed up three goals on Thursday. Mara Boldy, Katarina Precobb, and Lydia Maxwell also had assists. Mallory Johnston made 36 saves to send KP into the state tournament on a high note.

Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/21/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Foxboro, 91 vs. Medfield, 57 – FinalFoxboro’s 22-point first quarter was a sign of things to come as the Warriors’ offense had its best performance of the season in a 91-57 victory over Medfield in the championship game of the Warrior Classic. Senior Sam Golub and sophomore Ryan Kelley buoyed the big start from the hosts as Golub drained a trio of threes for 11 of his 24 points while Kelley hit a pair of triples for nine of his career-high 17 points to set the tone early. Foxboro was even better in the second as Alex Penders erupted for 12 of his game-high 28 points, Golub added 10 more points, and Ian Foley came off the bench to sink a pair of threes for a total of 32 points in the second, and a commanding 54-24 lead at halftime. Foxboro will close out the season on Thursday against Melrose in an endowment game.

King Philip, 64 vs. Falmouth, 51 – FinalKing Philip senior Will Laplante shined in his final regular season high school game as his 25-point performance anchored a 64-51 win over Falmouth in the consolation game of the Crosby-Couto Tournament at Somerset-Berkley. The Warriors had a modest three-point lead after eight minutes thanks to three from Tommy Martorano, Brandon Nicsatro, and Laplante but extended its advantage to double-digits (29-19) by halftime with a strong second. Laplante had 10 points in the second lone while Martorano (14 points) added five more. Laplante tacked on two threes in the third quarter and one more in the fourth, and senior Grant Kinney (11 points) splashed in three more three-pointers in the fourth to keep KP ahead.

Stoughton, 79 vs. Milton, 53 – FinalStoughton used six first-half three pointers to build a 15-point halftime lead and never looked back, knocking off Milton in the championship game of the Moscardelli Tournament at Quincy High. Jayden Costa-Haywood, Jarred Daughtry, and Anthony Alessi connected from downtown in the first and sophomore Matt Greenspoon splashed in three three-pointers in the second quarter alone as the Knights staked a 37-22 lead at halftime. Costa-Haywood continued on in the second half, recording 16 of his game-high 27 points after the break. Greenspoon added two more triples in the fourth to finish with 15 points while Alessi and Daughtry both chipped in with eight points.

Girls Basketball
Foxboro, 61 vs. Brookline, 53 – FinalFoxboro closed out the regular season with an impressive win against a team ranked in the top five in Div. 1 in the final of the Warrior Classic. The Warriors had a big lead at halftime, but Brookline stormed back and eventually tied the game at 47-47 in the fourth quarter. Foxboro went on a 14-4 run to regain a double digit lead and close out the win. Camryn Collins, despite battling foul trouble in the second half, finished with a team-high 23 points and was named the tournament MVP. Kailey Sullivan added 17 points and was named to the all-tournament team, and Addie Ruter scored 10 points. Isabelle Chamberlin provided 10 rebounds, including a couple clutch ones in the final minutes, and Erin Foley played strong defense against Brookline’s talented perimeter players.

Boys Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Boston Latin, 0 – Final

Girls Hockey
King Philip, 2 @ Milton, 2 – FinalKatarina Precobb and Kelly Holmes both found the back of the net and Mallory Johnston made a pair of saves to lift KP in the shootout after the game stayed tied through regulation and overtime. KP trailed 2-1 late in the third period but Nicole McDonald got a tip on a shot from the point, wrong-footing the goalie and tying the game with just 34 seconds to go. In the OT period, KP had several chances to win it, with McDonald, Precobb, and Holmes all denied by the Milton goalie on good scoring opportunities. Precobb started the shootout by going top shelf and Holmes beat the goalie five-hole. On the other end, Johnston stayed with the shooters, twice keeping her pads down to make the saves and send KP to the final of the Milton February Break Tournament, on Thursday afternoon against Bishop Stang at the Ulin Rink.

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 02/06/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 1 @ Diman, 3 – FinalAttleboro scored midway through the second period to get within a goal but Diman tacked on an insurance goal in the third for the win. Colin Flynn scored at the eight minute mark of the second off an assist from Mike Lachance. Jake Westwater made 24 saves in net for the Bombardiers.

Foxboro, 0 @ Stoughton/Brockton, 2 – FinalSean Farley and Owen Dupont each scored once for the Black Knights and Sean McGowan notched his first career shutout as Stoughton/Brockton avenged a loss to the Warriors from earlier in the season. McGowan recorded 25 saves to blank the Warriors and earn the win.

King Philip, 3 vs. Norwood, 3 – Final

North Attleboro, 6 @ Medway, 1 – Final

Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Archbishop Williams, 1 – FinalAudrey Koen scored with six minutes left in the third period to break the 1-1 tie and secure Canton a win over a fellow Div. 2 state title contender. The Bulldogs took the lead in the first period when Tori Carr’s initial shot was saved and Ellie Bohane pounced on the rebound to knock it in. After Archies, which was the top-ranked team in D2 before this weekend’s loss to No. 2-ranked Duxbury, tied the game in the second, but then Koen collected the puck in the neutral zone, drove at the goal, and fired a wrister that proved to be the winner.

King Philip, 6 vs. Arlington Catholic, 1 – FinalKelly Holmes, who over the weekend hit the 100-point mark for her career, scored four goals to lead the Warriors to a big win. Mara Boldy added a goal and an assist and Katie McGann found the back of the net once. Nicole McDonald, Grace Lehan-Allen, and Katarina Precobb each recorded an assist. Mallory Johnston and Haley Bright combined for 22 saves in the win.

Canton Beats KP to Secure Fourth Straight Hock Title

Canton girls hockey
Canton senior Audrey Koen (17) celebrates her third goal of the night, on the power in the third period, leading the Bulldogs to a 5-2 win over KP. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Josh PerryFollowJoshPerry


FOXBORO, Mass. – Since the Hockomock League introduced girls hockey six years ago, the games have always been competitive but Canton has stood above the others as the team to beat each winter. King Philip went into Wednesday night’s showdown at the Foxboro Sports Center looking to knock Canton off its perch and bring home its first league title in the process.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Canton’s title-winning experience proved to be too much to overcome. Behind an Audrey Koen hat trick, the Bulldogs pulled out a 5-2 victory, winning their fourth straight Hock championship and fifth in the past six years.

“Experience is everything and unfortunately the only way to get it is to get it and to go through it, so I couldn’t have asked for a better balance,” first-year Canton coach Nikki Petrich said about her roster’s blend of youth and experience.

She continued, “Having a more tenured player maybe working with some of the younger girls and walking them through, you’re going to feel this way, you’re going to feel that way, but remember what we do in practice, remember to listen for our voices. It’s been great to have their leadership and experience because big players step up in big games.”

The Bulldogs outshot KP 11-5 in the opening period (and 36-15 for the game), but each Warriors shot was a quality scoring chance.

Nicole McDonald had the first look when she reacted to a loose puck after a face-off and was stopped from close range by Canton goalie Carolyn Durand. McDonald also forced a turnover in the attacking zone and played a pass across the crease to Katarina Precobb, but Durand somehow got across to the far post to make the point-blank pad stop and keep the game scoreless.

“I was like okay it’s 1-0,” Petrich said, thinking about that moment. “Carolyn makes the save and we go down, and to me it’s always transition hockey, but a huge save like that really lifted our team and the momentum to fight some more. Every single game she makes a save like that and we’re able to get energy from it.”

Kelly Holmes would have another good chance for KP after keeping the puck in at the blue line, but Durand got her blocker to it. On the other end, Tori Carr had one of Canton’s best early chances with a steal in the neutral zone and hard shot that KP goalie Mallory Johnston knocked aside. Abby Stock also had a chance from the high slot that forced a glove save.

Things felt even in the early going, but Canton got the game’s first power play and made sure to take advantage of the opportunity. Maya Battista collected the puck just outside the right wing circle and played a diagonal pass across the zone to the back post. Koen was pinching in from the boards and collected the puck, despite a slight deflection, before roofing a shot over Johnston’s glove side from a tight angle.

With the lead, Canton came out of the intermission full of energy. Koen almost doubled the lead after two minutes when she won the puck on the left wing boards, cut hard towards the net, and forced Johnston into a good save.

About 30 seconds later and the Bulldogs did make it 2-0. Freshman Izzy Cusack had her shot from the slot saved. The rebound kicked out in front of Johnston, who attempted to dive out and cover the loose puck, but Cusack stayed with it and was able to slide it past the goalie. KP argued that the whistle had gone to blow the play dead, but the goal stood.

KP continued to create chances. Mara Boldy slipped a pass between a pair of defenders and Holmes was able to slam the puck towards goal, but Durand got the pads down to make sure of the save.

With 9:10 left in the period, KP was back in the game. Holmes intercepted an outlet pass at the blue line and skated in alone on Durand before flicking a shot into the top corner. About a minute later, Canton was back in control. Koen flew down the right wing and rifled a shot just under the bar to make it 3-1 and steal back all the momentum from the hosts.

“I always tell them hockey ebbs and flows like life,” Petrich explained. “I don’t like to say we need another goal, it’s always one shot. To me, when you say a goal, it’s so much pressure. Never get too low, never get too high, so when you come out next shift clear your mind, clear your head, and go after it. For her to score that fast, I couldn’t have written it better.”

The goal sparked the Bulldogs back into life and they dominated the rest of the period, creating a 14-5 edge in shots on goal. Ellie Bohane had a good two tries to extend the lead when she drove towards goal and forced Johnston into a stop and then fired the rebound on net only for the KP goalie to flash a pad out and make the save.

Canton opened up a three-goal cushion with 3:46 left in the second. Anna Lehan came from the right wing and attempted a wrap around that was saved, but the loose puck came right out into the middle where Stock was charging towards goal and the freshman buried the chance.

KP’s hopes of a comeback in the third period were blunted by starting on the penalty kill and Canton wasted no time putting the game away. Koen completed her hat trick just 13 seconds in, whipping a wrister into the bottom left corner and making it 5-1.

The next several minutes were played almost exclusively in the KP zone. The Warriors finally got some chances down the other end of the ice with less than five minutes to play. While falling down, Holmes was able to slide a pass across the crease to McDonald, but Durand made the save. About 30 seconds later, Holmes again drove towards goal and got the puck in front and this time McDonald was able to squeeze it home.

Canton finished with a flourish, getting scoring chances from Cusack and Kayleigh Koen, but the work had already been done. The Bulldogs swarmed Durand at the final horn, having retained their Hock title once again.

“That was more pressure on me, I couldn’t let them down,” Petrich joked when asked about how it felt to bring home a fourth title in a row. “It feels amazing to accomplish that with them in our first year. As I’ve said all year, we’re continually learning from each other. The girls that have been here on the team who know the players and the teams and (assistant coach) Kevin [Cleary] and I and our knowledge of hockey and the teams we’ve played. It’s coming together.”

Canton (11-2-2) will be off until Monday when it faces Archbishop Williams, currently the top-ranked team in Div. 2, and then follows that with a trip to Duxbury, the No. 2-ranked team in the division. King Philip (7-9) will host Arlington Catholic on Monday night.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Saturday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/21/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Milford, 37 vs. Winchester, 31 – Final

Boys Hockey
Canton, 11 @ Attleboro, 1 – FinalSophomore Travis Thomas recorded a hat trick while juniors Pat Drury and Brian Middleton each scored twice to lead Canton to a league win on the road. Attleboro’s Colin Flynn had one goal with an assist from Michael LaChance.

Foxboro, 0 @ Northbridge, 3 – Final

King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – FinalClick here for a Photo Gallery from this game.Franklin lit the lamp twice in the second period and tacked on an empty net goal with 20 seconds to play to secure a league win over rival King Philip. The Panthers picked up a big win over the Warriors last month but this one played out much closer. After a scoreless first period, Ben Paterson put the Panthers ahead off a pass from Zach Langevin to make it 1-0. Franklin doubled the lead at 5:22 in the second when Dylan McEvoy buried a feed from Ryan Sicchio. KP junior Tim Mullen slammed in a pass from classmate Nate Garstka with 9:39 to go but the Panthers held on. Ben Jarosz scored the empty-net goal for Franklin.

Mansfield, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – FinalOliver Ames built its lead with one goal in each the first and the second periods and used a late empty net goal to cap off a win over Mansfield. Freshman Brendan Teehan gave the Tigers the lead at 7:22 of the first period and Jack Corey doubled the lead at 8:15 of the second period. Mansfield sophomore Brendan Vokey cut the deficit in half with a goal at 7:28 of the third period but the Hornets had some penalties down the stretch, and an empty-net power play goal from Sean McCarthy with 4.1 seconds left iced the game.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Taunton, 1 – Final (OT)Taunton senior Dylan McCaughey buried the game-winner less than two minutes into the overtime period to hand the Tigers a 1-0 league win over North Attleboro. Taunton sophomore Cam Tomaszycki (29 saves) and North Attleboro junior Kyle Gruber (31 saves) kept the game scoreless for three periods. In overtime, Taunton senior Connor McGrath used a self pass off the boards to create some separation, skated towards the goal and slid a pass across the middle that McCaughey slammed home for the win.

Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Medfield, 0 – Final

King Philip, 3 @ Westwood, 1 – FinalKelly Holmes had a hand in all three goals as King Philip picked up a solid non-league road win. Holmes finished with a goal and two helpers. Nicole McDonald (assist) and Katarina Precobb both scored and Mallory Johnston made 40 saves for the Hockomock League leaders.

Hockomock Stars, 3 vs. Medway, 10 – Final

Stoughton/Sharon, 1 vs. Boston Latin Academy, 7 – Final

Wrestling
Weymouth Super Quad (Foxboro, Sharon), 9:00AM
Tewksbury Quad (Franklin), 10:00AM
King Philip Quad (King Philip, Mansfield), 10:00AM
Milford Quad, 10:00AM
Brockton Quad (North Attleboro), 10:00AM
Cape Cod Invitational (Taunton), 10:00AM

Saturday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/14/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Hockey
King Philip, 0 @ Canton, 4 – Final

Mansfield, 2 @ Franklin, 8 – Final – Ben Paterson, Anthony Lampasona, and Dan Daley each had three points apiece in a big win against Mansfield. The Panthers built a 3-0 lead in the first period and then scored twice in the final minute to extend the lead to 5-0. Paterson had two goals and one assists while both Lamapsona and Daley scored once with two assists. Ryan Sicchio, Aidan Kuykendall, Logan Marchand, and Dylan McEvoy each scored once for Franklin.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Plymouth South, 2 – Final

Girls Hockey
Franklin, 1 vs. Medway, 3 – Final

King Philip, 2 @ Norwood, 6 – Final Mallory Johnston made 49 saves, including the 1,000th of her career in the loss. Katarina Precobb had both KP goals, one assisted by Mara Boldy and the other by Lydia Maxwell.

Hockomock Stars, 5 @ Dedham, 9 – Final

Wrestling
Cohasset Quad (Canton), 9:00AM

Foxboro Quad, 9:00AM

Algonquin Quad (Franklin), 9:00AM

Midland Duals (King Philip), 10:00AM (@ Quabbin)

Woburn Tournament (Mansfield) – Mansfield senior Colton Johnson dominated in the 220-bracket, going 4-0 to win the individual title as the Hornets took 14th place in the Woburn Invitational. Johnson, the top seed in the 220 bracket, opened the day with a first round, and won his second round match with a pin in 62 seconds. Johnson won in the semifinals with another first round pin and defeated the three seed in the finals with his fourth pinfall of the day. Dylan Detch (132) and Odin Miller (170) each finished sixth in their bracket.

Springfield Central Duals (Milford), 9:00AM

Cumberland Tournament (North Attleboro), 10:00AM

Oliver Ames Super Quad/Kieron Smith Tournament – Oliver Ames competed in two locations on Saturday, including a super quad meet at home and the Kieron Smith Memorial Tournament at Monty Tech. In the quad meet, Oliver Ames went 3-1 with wins over Durfee (66-22), Boston Latin Academy (72-12), and Norwood (45-33) along with a close loss to Milton (42-39). Senior captain heavyweight Jaden Hinton made his return to the line and went 4-0, including a pair of pins, and sophomore 145 Danny Dwyer went 4-0 in his varsity debut. Junior Ryan Smith (120, 3-1 overall) and freshman Taharka Parry (132, 2-1 overall) each recorded their first varsity wins. The other half of the squad placed fifth at the Kieron Smith Tournament, highlighted by a first place finish from senior Victor Romeiro (126). Seniors Jake Manthous (182) and Nathan Lipski (145) each took second, and freshman Jonah Bornstein (106) earned third.

St. John’s Shrewsbury Quad (Sharon) – It was another impressive day on the mats for the Eagles, who won all three of that matches. Sharon secured wins over Masconomet (66-12), Marlboro (60-24), and host St. John’s Shrewsbury (46-30). Robby Hutton, Cam Birnbaum, Nick Varvak, Cyrus Jones, Aaron Stafford, Mason Lelling, and Cormac Horlbogen all went undefeated on the day.

Marshfield Quad (Taunton) – Taunton suffered its first loss of the season in a competitive match with Methuen but the Tigers did register three other wins on the day. The Rangers earned a 54-26 win to hand Taunton it’s first loss but the Tigers did pin down victories over South Shore Voke (78-6), Silver Lake (58-240, and host Marshfield (69-12). Xavier Sandoval, Ben Mandeville, Ethan Harris, and Logan Frank all went 4-0 for the Tigers.

Gymnastics
Mansfield @ Canton, 4:30

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 01/04/23

Today’s games are listed below.

Girls Basketball
Franklin, 37 vs. Wachusett, 54 – FinalThe Panthers were held to single digits in three of the four quarters and the Mountaineers outscored Franklin 25-8 in the third to pull out a win in this battle of Div. 1 contenders. Katie Peterson was the lone Panther to reach double digits, finishing with a team-high 13 points. Chloe Fales added eight points (all in the first half) and Bridget Leo and Norah MacCallum each scored six.

Boys Hockey
Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final
Foxboro, 0 @ Canton, 7 – Final
Franklin, 6 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final
Taunton, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final
Stoughton/Brockton, 1 @ Middleboro, 4 – Final

Girls Hockey
King Philip, 3 @ Canton, 0 – FinalKelly Holmes scored a hat trick to power the Warriors to a win over Canton and to a one-game lead in the league standings. Mallory Johnston made 35 saves to earn the shutout. Nicole McDonald and Katarina Precobb recorded assists for the Warriors.

Hockomock Stars @ Franklin, 6:00

Wrestling
Canton, 21 @ Foxboro, 60 – Final

Taunton, 48 @ Franklin, 32 – FinalTaunton remained unbeaten in the league and tied for first in the Kelley-Rex with a solid win at Franklin. The Tigers got wins from Johnnie Mainer-Smith, Michael Leskoski, Xavier Sandoval, Ben Mandeville, John Mandeville, Elijah Prophete, Logan Frank, and Bobby Tran.

Stoughton, 36 @ Mansfield, 39 – Final

North Attleboro @ Milford, 7:00

Oliver Ames, 18 @ Sharon, 54 – Final

Boys Swimming
Franklin, 72 @ Canton, 98 – Final

Girls Swimming
Franklin, 91 @ Canton, 79 – Final

Gymnastics
Canton @ King Philip, 8:30
Oliver Ames, 130.85 @ Franklin, 134.75 – Final

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 12/30/22

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Basketball
Foxboro, 60 @ Barnstable, 50 – FinalFoxboro jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and pulled away with a strong second half to earn a win on the road at Barnstable. Senior Alex Penders anchored the big start, scoring 11 of his game-high 26 points in the opening eight minutes and Sam Golub (11 points) hit one of his three three-pointers to help the Warriors establish a 19-9 lead. After Barnstable closed the deficit to six at halftime (30-24), Penders got it going again in the third with eight more points, Ryan Cotter and Ryan LeClair each added buckets, and Golub sank another three as the Warriors established a 47-33 lead going into the fourth.

Franklin, 62 @ Xaverian, 56 – FinalFranklin cashed in from downtown against Xaverian’s zone defense, sinking 12 three-pointers on its way to a non-league win on the road. Senior Justin Allen was responsible for over half of the Panthers’ threes, hitting a total of seven for a team-high 21 points. Allen hit one in each the first, second, and fourth quarters but erupted for four of them in the third to help the Panthers build a 53-40 lead going into the fourth. Andrew O’Neill hit two more threes while Geino Scaringello, Bradley Herndon, and Sean O’Leary each connected for one. O’Leary added 20 points in the win.

Oliver Ames, 55 vs. Classical, 54 – Final (OT)Oliver Ames forced overtime with just seconds to go and then hit the game-winning shot inside the final 10 seconds of overtime to knock off Classical. Sophomore Cole Craffey hit a free throw with three seconds to go to tie the game and force the extra period. With five seconds to go, and Oliver Ames trailing by two, freshman Soren Lolonga drilled a corner three to give the Tigers the win.

Sharon, 63 @ Holliston, 47 – FinalSharon raced out to an early lead, pushed it to double-digits by halftime, and never looked back in a win on the road. Senior Dante James scored nine of his 16 points in the third quarter to help the Eagles stay in front in the second half despite 19 points from the hosts in the third. Jacob McLoughlin added 13 points and Tyler Goodman scored nine of his 11 points in the first half. Senior Matt Baur scored seven points in his season debut.

Stoughton, 68 vs. Bedford, 77 – Final (2OT) – Stoughton rallied to erase a 12-point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to force overtime and had a big defensive stop to force double overtime, but the Black Knights came up short against visiting Bedford. Jayden Costa-Haywood erupted for a career-high 39 points, including some key buckets late in the game and in overtime, to pace Stoughton. The comeback in regulation, which was punctuated with a 5-0 surge over the final 22 seconds, came down to the wire. Costa-Haywood sank a pair of free throws to make it a two-point game with 22 seconds to go, and then senior Tagh Swierzewski stole the inbounds pass near midcourt. That led to a layup from Costa-Haywood with four seconds to go to tie the game. Costa-Haywood came in clutch again in overtime with two free throws to tie the game with 20 seconds left and Jarred Daughtry came up with a steal at the top of the key to prevent the visitors from attempting a game-winning shot. Stoughton scored first in overtime but couldn’t get another bucket, falling 77-68.








Girls Basketball
Stoughton, 48 vs. Bedford, 52 – Final

North Attleboro, 44 @ Taunton 50 – Final (OT)Taunton rallied from six points down in the fourth quarter (38-32 after three), using its full-court press to hold North to just five points in the final eight minutes and force overtime. In the OT period, the Tigers outscored North 7-1 to earn their second win against the Rocketeers this season. Cali Melo was the top scorer for the Tigers with 15, including nine in the first half to keep Taunton within one (24-23) at the break. Transfer Skylar McCrohan added 10 points (eight in the first half) and Jillian Doherty chipped in with seven. Katie Corsetti, who started both of the holiday tournament games due to an injury to Ava McKeon, had another big game for North, scoring a game-high 17 points. Sam Faria added 14 and Maryellen Charette had six for the Rocketeers. North coach Nikki Correia was proud of her team’s effort over the past two days and saw a lot of things for the Rocketeers to build on.

Boys Hockey
Canton, 5 vs. Wakefield, 3 – Final
North Attleboro vs. Westboro, 6:00
Taunton, 5 vs. Apponoquet, 1 – Final

Girls Hockey
Canton, 3 vs. Pembroke, 1 – Final

Franklin, 3 vs. Dedham, 2 – FinalAfter Dedham battled back from two goals down to tie it, Julia Flynn popped up in the third period with her third goal of the afternoon to lift the Panthers to the non-league win. Flynn scored twice in the opening period to put Franklin in control, but Dedham rallied with a pair of tallies in the second. Lindsay Atkinson had a pair of assists for the Panthers.

King Philip, 3 vs. Natick, 0 – FinalKelly Holmes scored once and assisted on a second goal, as KP pulled out a win over Natick in the consolation round of the Medway New Year’s Classic. Katie McGann and Katarina Precobb each scored once for the Warriors, while Mara Boldy and Grace Lehan-Allen each recorded assists. Malory Johnston made 34 saves to earn the shutout.

Wrestling
Franklin, 24 @ Ashland, 51 – Final
Framingham Tournament (King Philip), 10:00AM

2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Canton

2021-2022 Record: 18-7-0
2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final
Coach: Nikki Petrich
Canton has won four of the five Hockomock titles since league play began, including three in a row, and last winter the Bulldogs went to their fourth state title game in the past six seasons. It was an incredible stretch of success under Dennis Aldrich, who stepped down in the off-season, and the Bulldogs don’t look ready to slow down anytime soon. First-year coach Nikki Petrich, a former Northeastern University standout, comes to Canton after being an associate head coach for Austin Prep, helping them win a pair of Div. 1 state titles, and she has an experienced roster aiming for another trip to the Garden in March.

The Bulldogs can count on plenty of senior leadership this winter, starting up front with forwards Audrey Koen and Ellie Bohane. Koen is the team’s top returning scorer with 12 goals and eight assists last year and will be a focal point in the attack. Juniors Maggie Dailey, Lilah Spinelli, and Anna Lehan also contributed important minutes and important goals during last year’s playoff run and could be ready to step into bigger roles this season. As always, Canton can reload with talented underclassmen and freshmen Christina Curran, Abby Stock, and Izzy Cusack could also feature in a deep forward group.

Defense has long been a strength for Canton and it starts in goal with senior Carolyn Durand. The four-year starter has been one of the best shot stoppers in the state since her freshman year and gives the team a strong foundation in its own zone. Senior Maya Battista is another four-year starter and has emerged as a force on the blue line, both with her work in the defensive zone as well as her goals on the other end of the ice. Juniors Tori Carr and Devan Spinale will be back on the blue line with freshmen Kayleigh Koen and Georgia Campbell part of a talented rookie class that could contribute right away.

“We are looking to build off of the success of last year and continue to make sure that every single girl in our program has an incredible experience representing their town, high school, and family,” Petrich said. With a senior captain in net, a senior captain on the blue line, and two senior captains leading the way for your forwards, our team is going to compete every single game. A strong freshman class rounds out what is truly a team with extensive experience playing in meaningful games come the end of February.”







2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Franklin

2021-2022 Record: 6-11-4
2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Mike Lubin
Franklin is the only team other than Canton to have won a Hockomock League title and the Panthers come into the season with a more experienced, and deeper, roster to try and get back on top. Former assistant Mike Lubin has taken over as head coach after the retirement of longtime coach Margie Burke and he has a balanced lineup to work with this winter.

The Panthers will be hoping to be more solid on the defensive end of the ice this season, building on the structure they have created in all three zones. Senior Shaw Downing is a four-year varsity player and a dynamic skater along the blue line, not only being sure on the puck in her own zone but also capable of carrying the play into the attack. Junior Lindsay Dennett continues to improve each season and sophomore goalie Izzy Brown is coming off an impressive rookie campaign between the pipes.

Sophomore Julia Flynn was the team’s leading scorer last year and she is back to power the Franklin offense. Senior Lindsay Atkinson is also back, after missing all of last winter with an injury. Atkinson had a big sophomore season and will be a huge addition to the top line. Senior forwards Dana Stott and Molly Hurley bring two-way strength to the forward line.

“We’re a close group with great leadership and a good mix of young talent,” Lubin said. “We’re all excited to get the season started and build on our strong team chemistry from last year.”

2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Hockomock Stars

2021-2022 Record: 3-16-1 (formerly Mansfield/Oliver Ames)
2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Jamie Mullin
The biggest co-op team in the Hockomock League is getting bigger. The Mansfield/Oliver Ames Warriors, which also featured skaters from Foxboro, now includes players from Attleboro, Milford, North Attleboro, and Taunton and will be going by the name of Hockomock Stars.

Jamie Mullen returns for her second year at the helm of the program and now has some more players to work into her lineup. The Stars lost some key players to graduation, including longtime goalie Jess Widdop and speedy forward Sam Ledin, and also have to replace the production of last year’s leading scorer Kylie O’Keefe (20 points). Leading the offense will be a pair of Mansfield juniors: Cammy Shenteler, fresh off a 7-goal, 9-assist season, and Maeve Anastasia, who totaled 11 points with six goals last year.

North Attleboro has four players in the mix with junior Ava O’Dwyer, sophomore Grace Cabeceiras, and freshmen Brittany Nordbeck and Alana Rice. Attleboro (Emily Davignon, Avery Drainville, McKenzie Sullivan) has three players, Taunton (Hannah Albert, Kendell Scheralis) has two, and Milford has one (Lindsay Casman).

Foxboro’s Mya Waras (five points) and Mansfield’s Ava Adams (five points) will also be key pieces in the attack. Foxboro junior Macy Quinn is back to anchor the blue line for the Stars while Davignon will be between the pipes.

2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

King Philip

2021-2022 Record: 18-5-0
2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Ken Assad

King Philip is coming off a really strong year. The Warriors won 18 games last winter but saw the season come to an end in the opening round of the state tournament. KP scored 93 goals in 23 games in 2021-22 but graduated the bulk of one of the state’s top scoring lines, so will need new players to step into bigger roles in search of the program’s first Hock title.

While the top scoring line may look a little different this winter, KP does return its top goal scorer. Junior Kelly Holmes is back to lead the offense and is one of the most dynamic players in the league. Senior Katarina Precobb and junior Nicole McDonald will add more punch to the top line this season. The Warriors will have decent depth in the attacking zone, with senior Sydney Cloutier, junior Rylie Ryan, and freshmen Cam O’Shea and Kate McGann each ready to provide an attacking punch. Eighth graders Tayla McDuff, Rylan McKillop, Ella Morgan, Erin Steck, and Molly Murphy should all get their chance to contribute.

In the defensive zone, KP will have plenty of experience to try and keep other teams out. Seniors Brielle Hearon, Mara Boldy, and Emma Sullivan will all be back on the blue line, providing leadership and physicality to slow down the opposition. Freshmen Lydia Maxwell and Grace Lehan-Allen both saw time as eighth graders and will build on that important year of varsity action. Eighth-grader Calleigh Brady should see time in defense this year. Goalie is another position of strength for the Warriors with senior Mallory Johnston in her third year as a starter and classmate Haley Bright backing her up.

“I never call it a rebuilding year,” said KP coach Ken Assad. “With the returning players and newcomers, I believe with hard work and not taking any nights off we can be in the hunt for the Hockomock title and get into the tournament.”




2022-2023 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Stoughton/Sharon

2021-2022 Record:
2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Chad Kelley
Stoughton/Sharon continues to be a young program that is building up its numbers. With only one senior and two juniors in the program, the Black Knights will be focusing on youth and trying to build a foundation for future seasons. After a close loss in the season opener, Stoughton/Sharon continues to find ways to stay competitive even with a smaller roster of just 14 players.

Eighth-grader Sarah Scappaticci from Sharon will be the starting goalie this season. She made 34 stops in the opener against Cambridge and is already showing that she is a skilled player between the pipes. Brockton junior Molly Corvino will be one of the leaders in the defensive zone, along with classmate Samantha Calapai. Both players are solid in their own zone but can push the team into the attack. Stoughton freshman Addison Strunk will also be one of the defenders in the top two pairings.

Stoughton’s Ava Buckley is the lone senior on the team. The Assumption-commit will be the focal point for the Black Knights on the offensive end of the ice. Sharon eighth grader Ella Cummings has a lot of skill on the puck and already opened her varsity account with a goal against Cambridge. Sharon sophomores Peri Rodman and Heather Kelly and Stoughton sophomore Leila Uchani return to the forward lines. Stoughton freshmen Julia Monaghan, Meghan McGowan, Amanda Reid, and Stoughton eighth graders Nya’Lia Lindsey and Julia Henein will give the Black Knights depth up front.

“We are a young team with only one senior and two juniors in our program,” said head coach Chad Kelley. “Ava Buckley and Molly Corvino are our captains for this season. Both Ava and Molly have been tremendous with our young group. They are great examples for others to model.”

2021-2022 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

2021-2022 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview
Canton’s Audrey Koen (17) takes a shot in a game against Franklin last year. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2021-2022 Hockomock Girls Hockey Preview

Canton

2020-2021 Record: 6-1-1
Coach: Dennis Aldrich
Canton will be back on the ice defending its league title and its Div. 2 state title (shared with Wellesley) from the 2019-20 season. The Bulldogs became the first team to repeat as Hockomock champion since the league introduced girls hockey and would love to add a third straight title to its trophy case this winter.

There will be a few changes in the lineup this year, as leading scorers Maria Femia and Lizzie Tassinari both graduated, but the Bulldogs remain a defense-focused team and will have preseason MVP favorite Allie McCabe leading things on that end of the ice. McCabe will have help on the blue line from junior Mya Battista, a three-year varsity player, and they both have plenty of experience to call on. Junior Carolyn Durand has been a standout in goal for the past two seasons and the Bulldogs will be hoping that a preseason foot injury won’t keep their netminder sidelined for too long.

On offense, Canton is going to be hoping for several forwards to step up and fill in the production lost to graduation. Seniors Payton McDonough and Tess Khoury will bring plenty of energy, leadership, and physicality to the forward line and junior Audrey Koen is poised for a breakout season after scoring six times as a sophomore. Junior Ellie Bohane and sophomore Devin Spinale could also play bigger roles this year.

“As always, the Bulldogs will be a defensively responsible and offensively opportunistic team,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “The hard work and toughness shown by the girls from day one of tryouts has been remarkable and should prove to benefit us this season.”

Franklin

2020-2021 Record: 6-3-1
Coach: Margie Burke
Franklin has a true blend of veterans and rookies this season and will be hoping that combination can lead to a Hockomock League title.

The Panthers have just under a dozen players back from last year but got a big boost to the roster from the freshmen class, with six skaters and two goalies. While head coach Margie Burke is counting on the freshmen to make contributions throughout the year, she’ll be leaning heavily on her upperclassmen.

Having to replace the top two scorers from last season will be a challenge but the Panthers have plenty of capable options to step up. Senior forward Maggie McCaffrey is off to a good start with two goals in the opening game, and the same goes for junior Molly Hurley. Senior Samantha Wong and juniors Avery Greco and Dana Stott add a lot of skill to the offense. Shaw Downing will be a key piece along the blue line for Franklin.

“We will be young and competitive,” Burke said. “We will be looking to our defensive play to contribute to our success this season.”

King Philip

2020-2021 Record: 6-5-2
Coach: Ken Assad
King Philip will be trying to break through this winter and add a third team to the list of Hockomock League champions, ending the two-year run of Canton at the top. The Warriors will bring plenty of experience into the season and plenty of scoring punch, as their top four scorers from last year are all back to make a run at a league title and a deep run in the postseason.

Senior forwards Sydney O’Shea, Morgan Cunningham, and Jen Daniels will bring experience and leadership to the top two forward lines. O’Shea is the league’s top returning scorer after recording 21 points in just 13 games last year. Sophomore Kelly Holmes is also back after an impressive rookie season, scoring a team-high nine goals, and looking to build on that performance now that she has a year of varsity experience. Freshman Cate Hart will be a newcomer to watch in the attack with sophomores Nicole McDonald and Rylie Ryan and junior Sydney Cloutier all getting opportunities to contribute.

There is also a lot of leadership on the blue line with seniors Ally Donovan and Meg Sherwood back to guide the defensive unit. Junior Katarina Precobb and sophomores Mara Boldy and Emma Sullivan will also be key contributors on defense. Junior Mallory Johnston is back in goal for the Warriors, but she will get a push from junior Haley Bright.

“Overall, if we can maintain our tough forecheck and play hard in all three zones, I believe with the hard work we have just as good a chance as any other team make a run for the Hock title this year and then look at getting into the state tournament,” said KP coach Ken Assad.

Mansfield/Oliver Ames

2020-2021 Record: 5-4-2
Coach: Jamie Mullen
The Mansfield/Oliver Ames/Foxboro co-op team has been a competitive squad for a solid stretch now and a big reason has been their ability to reload instead of rebuild.

That will be the case again this year as the Warriors still have a real strong core group of players back after graduating an impressive senior class. And the goes for behind the bench too after Roy Bain retired, as former assistant Jamie Mullen takes over the reins of the program.

One big advantage have is in net with senior captain Jess Widdop back between the pipes. Widdop is one of the most experienced goaltenders in the league having played since her freshman year. Her aggressiveness and quickness in net really gives the Warriors a boost on the defensive end. On the other end of the ice, the Warriors have a strong group of forwards. Samantha Ledin is one of the quickest in the Hock, Kylie O’Keefe has great playmaking skills, and senior Cierra Doherty sets the tone with her energy.

The line of Cammy Shanteler, Mya Waryas, and Maeve Anastasia gained some valuable experience last year and will be one to watch as this season plays out. Look for newcomers Emma Rabinovich and Madison Guilfoyle to help returner Julia Muttart on the blueline.

“I think we have a group that is going to surprise some people,” Mullen said. “We have some strong returning players and some new players that will help round out the team. Our humble leader Jess is solid between the pipes providing essential confidence for our defense. This team has a lot to prove to themselves, but I have full confidence in their enthusiasm and passion for working hard. We have a group that is determined to work hard, push themselves and their teammates to continue to improve, and play together.”

Stoughton/Sharon

2020-2021 Record: 0-8-2
Coach: Chad Kelley
Stoughton/Sharon has struggled for numbers over the past few years and the still relatively young co-op program will be playing an independent, rather than a Hockomock League, schedule this winter under first-year coach Chad Kelly. Despite the small roster, Kelly is happy with the energy and effort from the team during the preseason.

With players from four towns, building rapport between the players on the ice will be a key. Kelly is turning to his experienced players to help provide leadership, including senior forward Zoe Bangs and junior Ava Buckley, both from Stoughton. Senior defender Mikayla Snyder and senior forward Nina Hatch, also from Stoughton, will add to the experience in the lineup and senior goalie Janelle Murphy from Brockton could be a standout for the team this season.

There are several new faces from all of the towns, some who are new to the sport. Sophomores Samantha Calapai and Molly Corvino are new additions from Brockton that can help out on the blue line. From Sharon are two freshman forwards, Peri Rodman and Heather Kelly, who bring a lot of energy to the ice. Sophomores Nicole Reid and Brianna Moreno and freshman Leila Uchani, each from Stoughton, are also new to hockey and have impressed with their efforts so far.

“We have a great group of kids from our four towns,” said Kelly. “Our success will come from the net on out. Janelle is an all-star-caliber goalie and our defensive corps is excellent. We will struggle a bit on the offensive side of the ice.”