Boys Basketball
Milford, 55 @ Attleboro, 63 – Final – Attleboro sank four of their nine threes in the fourth quarter to pull away from visiting Milford for their first win in their new gym. Jaiden Outland, who had a game-high 15 points, had one of those threes and scored seven points in the fourth while Hayden Crowley (nine points), Michael Beverly (14 points), and Neo Franco (10 points) also hit from downtown in the frame. Franco had a steal and a layup with just under two minutes to go to push Attleboro’s lead to 59-51 but a jumper from Andrew Rivera (at 1:26) and a layup from Luca Testa (with 45 seconds) brought the Hawks within four, at 59-55. Justin Hanrahan, Beverly, and Outland hit free throws down the stretch, and Spencer Sherck drew a charge to help the Bombardiers close out the win in the final minute. Attleboro head coach Mark Houle praised Sherck’s defensive effort against Milford, who were without two rotation players. Freshman CJ Farrell led Milford with 15 points, Ryan Franklin added 12 points, and Testa finished with 11 points.
Mansfield, 59 @ Foxboro, 50 – Final – Mansfield built a 12-point lead at halftime and opened the second half with a 12-0 run to surge past Foxboro in their first showdown as division rivals. After a back-and-forth first quarter that ended with a halfcourt buzzer beater from Trevor Foley (nine points, seven rebounds), Mansfield locked in defensively and limited the Warriors to just two field goals, outscoring the hosts 14-6 to build a 33-21 lead at halftime. Caden Colby (career-high 14 points) hit one of his four threes, Davon Sanders drove to the bucket for two, and Eddie McCoy (nine points) had back-to-back baskets, including a three, and Chris Hill (17 points, eight rebounds) finished a tough layup in transition as the Hornets pushed their lead to 45-21 with 4:30 to go in the third. Foxboro closed on a 13-0 run over the final three minutes to get to the final score. Alex Penders led Foxboro with 16 points while both Ryan Kelley and Sam Golub had eight points apiece.
Franklin, 58 @ King Philip, 50 – Final – Franklin finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, shaking an upset-minded King Philip squad, to grab a 58-50 win on the road. The Panthers led by two at the end of the first quarter (13-11) and halftime (24-22), and carried a three-point lead into the fourth quarter (40-37). Justin Allen hit a pair of key three-pointers in the fourth, Hansy Jacques had six of his 10 points in the frame, and the Panthers got a bucket each from Bradley Herndon, Ben Harvey (13 points), and Sean O’Leary (14 points) to close out the win. After a quiet first half, King Philip senior Will Laplante scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half while Tommy Kilroy added a career-high 12 points.
North Attleboro, 51 @ Taunton, 69 – Final – Buoyed by a 20-point second quarter and a 26-point third quarter, Taunton ran away with a big win at home over visiting North Attleboro. Chris Volcy exploded in the second half, netting 18 of his career-high 20 points to help the Tigers pull away. Senior Chris Perault added a career-high 19 points, knocking down all three of Taunton’s three-pointers. The Rocketeers and Tigers were locked in at 11-11 after eight minutes but Taunton established a 31-20 lead by the break as Troy Santos scored seven of his 11 points in the second quarter. Jonnie Obuchowski and Derek Maceda each scored nine points for the Rocketeers.
Stoughton, 45 @ Oliver Ames, 50 – Final – A see-saw back and forth battle ended with Oliver Ames holding on for a 50-45 win over neighboring Stoughton. With under two minutes to play and locked in a one-possession game at 43-40, Oliver Ames got a pair of big baskets from a pair of underclassmen. Sophomore Cole Craffey drove to the basket for a layup and freshman Soren Lolonga drained a three just before the minute mark to push the Tigers’ lead to 48-40. Stoughton freshman Aiden Wideout answered with a bucket down low off a feed from Liam Pearl, but Craffey was able to work his way through the defense with 20 seconds left to make it 50-42. Matt Greenspoon knocked down a three with 5.7 seconds left to close the gap to 50-45 but OA held on for the win. Chris Elias scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second quarter while Lolonga had all 15 of his points in the second half. Stoughton’s Jayden Costa-Haywood finished with a team-high 19 points while Greenspoon added 16 points for the Black Knights, who led 19-18 at halftime.
Girls Basketball
Attleboro, 56 @ Milford, 35 – Final – Attleboro had three players score in double figures and jumped out to a 20-point lead by halftime to secure its second straight win. Kayla Goldrick and Lily Routhier led the Bombardiers with 13 points apiece. Goldrick helped the visitors get off to a good start with six in the first and Routhier helped build a 36-16 lead at the break with a pair of threes and nine points in the second. Vanessa Ellis scored nine of her 11 points to help break the game open early. Merry Bosh added seven in the win. Milford was led by Erin Michelson’s nine points, all coming in the second half. Aliza Syed scored eight and Olivia Baglione chipped in with six for the Hawks.
Foxboro, 67 @ Mansfield, 31 – Final – Foxboro made it two straight wins to start the season with a dominant road win over fellow division title contender Mansfield. Camryn Collins powered the Warriors on offense with 24 points. Addie Ruter had 13 to continue her strong start to the season with another double-digit scoring night. Erin Foley chipped in with 10.
King Philip, 43 @ Franklin, 54 – Final – Thanks to a strong first half, Franklin picked up a second straight home win to start the season and kept alive its league win streak to 44 games. The Panthers jumped out to a 19-6 lead after one quarter and extended it to 31-15 going into the locker room. Sophomore Chloe Fales (career-high 16 points) and Katie Peterson (14 points) combined for 15 in the opening half and Caelyn Leonard buried a pair of threes and scored all eight of her points in the first. KP picked up its offense in the second half, and cut the lead to as little as seven points, but Franklin held on to secure the victory. Emily Sawyer scored 16 points, including eight in the third. Jackie Bonner had 13 points and Maddie Paschke added 11 in the loss.
Taunton, 46 @ North Attleboro, 32 – Final – Taunton put in a strong defensive performance to make it two wins from two games under first-year coach Gretchen Rodrigues. The Tigers held North to just 10 points in the first half (building a 13-point lead at the break) and then just six in the third quarter to pull away. Jillian Doherty led the way with 14 for the Tigers, including eight of the team’s 12 points in the first. Cali Melo added nine points, while sophomore Chelsea Bousquet had eight and freshman Taryn Campbell added seven. On a tough shooting night as a team, North was led by Ava McKeon’s 15 points. She scored 12 of North’s 16 in the fourth as the hosts tried to mount a late comeback. Freshman Ella McLaughlin added eight points in the loss.
Oliver Ames, 79 @ Stoughton, 42 – Final – OA carried over momentum from the second half of its opener against Franklin and exploded for 79 points on Friday to even its record after two games. The Tigers jumped out to a 21-5 lead after one quarter, extended it to 45-17 at halftime, and added another 22 points in the third. Freshman Kamryn Derba knocked down five three-pointers and finished with a game- (and career-) high 20 points. Classmate Avery Gamble added 14 points (on 9-of-11 from the line) and the duo combined for 25 points before the break. Freshman Maeve Horsman had 12 points, Kaydance Derba scored 11, and Annie Reilly had nine for OA. Stoughton also got an impressive performance from a freshman, as Kirsten McKay scored eight of her career-high 15 points in the third. She added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Raina Tat chipped in with 10 points and Alyssa Edwards added eight. Katrina Varnum pulled down 14 rebounds for the Black Knights.
Wrestling
Silver Lake Quad (Franklin), 4:00
Boys Swimming
Foxboro, 40 @ Milford, 69 – Final
Oliver Ames @ Mansfield, 7:00
Stoughton, 58 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 85 – Final
Girls Swimming
Foxboro, 71 @ Milford, 87 – Final
Oliver Ames @ Mansfield, 7:00
Stoughton, 32 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 84 – Final
North Attleboro, 51 @ Canton, 60 – Final – Canton took the lead early and played from ahead, doing just enough to shake a resilient North Attleboro squad for a win in the season opener. The Bulldogs had different players step up throughout the game with juniors Zaza Francoeur (career-high 18 points) and Jamaal McConnell (17 points in his Bulldog debut) leading the way. Francoeur and McConnell each scored seven points in the second to help the Bulldogs establish a 29-24 lead at halftime. In the third, Caden Mirliani hit a pair of threes while sophomore Anthony Diletizia also scored to keep Canton ahead by five, 40-35, going into the fourth. Senior Matt Chafin and Diletizia each had a three in the fourth, McConnell added four more, and Francoeur (5/6 from the free throw line) helped the Bulldogs close it out with seven more points in the fourth. Ayden Delaney led a balanced scoring effort from North Attleboro with 11 points while Givany Carney and Derek Maceda each had nine points.
Milford, 53 @ Foxboro, 60 – Final – Milford rallied to shrink a 23-point second half deficit down to three with under two minutes to go by Foxboro senior Alex Penders came up with a big bucket and Ryan LeClair forced a key turnover two plays later as the Warriors escaped with a win over the Hawks. Penders finished with a game-high 24 points to lead the charge while LeClair chipped in with 10 points. Sophomore Ryan Kelley scored all of his career-high 10 points in the third quarter, helping the Warriors build a big lead. The Warriors led 15-12 after a quarter and thanks to a pair of threes from LeClair and seven points from Penders, Foxboro increased its lead to 31-20 at halftime. Kelley’s big third, plus two threes from Penders, saw the lead balloon to as much as 49-26 midway through the third. Milford sophomore Andrew Rivera scored half of his 16 points in the fourth to help rally the Scarlet Hawks, who went 13-for-18 from the free throw line, including seven of those makes in the fourth. Freshman CJ Farrell added a career-high 14 points for the Hawks.
Franklin, 55 @ Oliver Ames, 42 – Final – Franklin overcame a slow start to erase a double-digit deficit and pick up a win on the road in Easton. Oliver Ames came to play, racing out to an 18-5 lead after eight minutes with senior Chris Elias (11 points) and sophomore Cole Craffey (14 points) each hitting a three. But the Panthers flipped the switch and dominated the second quarter, holding the hosts to five points while its offense got going with 24 points. Justin Allen, who finished with 14 points, hit a pair of threes in the quarter, junior Andrew O’Neill (13 points) added one, and junior Sean O’Leary went off for 13 of his game-high 24 points in the second. Allen, O’Neill, and O’Leary each connected from downtown in the third to keep the Panthers ahead (44-30) going into the fourth.
Taunton, 67 @ Sharon, 63 – Final – Taunton junior Troy Santos exploded for a career-high 44 points to lead the Tigers to a win on the road at Sharon to open the season. The Eagles led after each of the first three quarters but the Tigers continued to rally, especially in the second half, to get the win. Seniors Jack Bates and Dante James each hit a three in the second quarter, Jacob McLoughlin had eight of his 18 points in the first half, and junior Nate Katznelson scored 10 of his 14 points in the first two quarters as the Eagles carried a 30-23 lead into the second half. Santos carried the Tigers in the first half, scoring all but four of their 23 points. Santos got some help in the third as Chris Volcy had five points and Chris Perault added eight points but a three-pointer from Bates at the buzzer put Sharon ahead, 44-42, going into the fourth. With just one three-point field goal and two free throws, Santos connected on seven two-pointers to shoulder the load in the fourth as Taunton went up by as much as 10 in the final minutes. Taunton had a 65-55 lead with a minute to go before the Eagles made it interesting as McLoughlin converted a traditional three-point play, James scored off of a steal and then hit a three off another Taunton turnover, this time with under 5 seconds to play. An errant whistle stopped the clock but Taunton used a full court heave to Santos, who finished at the buzzer, to survive.
Canton, 39 @ North Attleboro, 47 – Final – Ava McKeon scored a game-high 18 points, powering North Attleboro to a season-opening win. McKeon scored 10 points in the first quarter and 15 before halftime to help the Rocketeers jump out to a seven-point lead at the break. Canton cut it to one in the closing minute but North was able to pull out the win. North was 19-of-26 from the line as a team, which helped the Rocketeers hold on, despite having McKeon foul out late in the fourth. North coach Nikki Correia said, “I am so proud of the girls. They played as a team executed the offense and played hard D for four quarters.” Samya DaSilva nearly matched McKeon in the first half, knocking down three from beyond the arc and scoring nine of her team-high 13 in the first quarter. Sam Sweeney helped North hold off the Bulldogs in the second half, scoring seven of her 15 points in the fourth. Sam Faria chipped in with nine points for the hosts, including 6-of-6 from the line. Jess Wright also reached double digits for Canton, adding 11 points.
Foxboro, 67 @ Milford, 29 – Final – Sophomore center Addie Ruter scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Warriors to a big road win in the season opener. Kailey Sullivan added 17 points and Camryn Collins scored 14 for the Warriors. Foxboro scored 19 in the opening quarter but then broke the game wide open with an 18-5 second that increased the lead to 22 at the break. Brooke Ferreira led the way for the Hawks, scoring 12 points and freshman Ava Baglione scored eight on her varsity basketball debut.
Oliver Ames, 45 @ Franklin, 54 – Final – Franklin was able to hold off a fourth quarter charge by OA to pull out a foul-filled season opener and continue its long win streak in league play. The Panthers jumped out to a 17-7 lead after the first and extended the advantage to 14 heading into the final eight minutes. OA rallied, scoring 18 points in the fourth and twice cutting the lead down to as little as seven, but Franklin made enough plays to seal the victory. Katie Peterson battled foul trouble in the second half, but finished as the game’s top scorer with 13 points. Chloe Fales, Caelyn Leonard, and Lizzie Newman each scored 10 points for the Panthers and Bridget Leo added eight. Freshman Kamryn Derba scored a team-high 11 points on her varsity debut for OA. Maeve Horsman added nine points, including seven in the fourth, Annie Reilly had eight points and eight rebounds, and Maddie Homer had seven points and five boards in the loss.
Stoughton, 41 @ King Philip, 64 – Final – KP came alive offensively in the third quarter, outscoring Stoughton 24-7 to break the game wide open. Emily Sawyer scored 12 of her game-high 16 in the third to help the Warriors pull away and seal the season-opening win. Maddie Paschke added 13 points for KP, including seven in the first half. Kylie Watson chipped in with nine and Jordan Bennett and Jackie Bonner each scored seven points for the hosts. Stoughton was able to hang around in the first half with help from Katrina Varnum, who score 10 of her 13 points before the break and added 11 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, and three blocks. Freshman Kirsten McKay had a big debut for the Black Knights, scoring 10 points, seven of them in the fourth quarter, and adding eight rebounds, four assists, and five steals. Alyssa Edwards added 10 points, eight boards, a block, and four steals, while Raina Tat finished with seven in the loss.
Sharon, 37 @ Taunton, 46 – Final – Cali Melo scored a team-high 17 points, nine in the first half, helping Taunton pick up a win in the season opener and give new coach Gretchen Rodrigues a win on her debut. Taunton held the Eagles to just 11 points in the first half and then held on as Sharon tried to mount a late comeback attempt. Freshman Taryn Campbell added 10 points in her first varsity game (eight in the opening half) and Jillian Doherty chipped in eight points (four in each half). Sharon picked things up offensively after the break, led by Jasmine Davis, who scored 16 of her game-high 19 points in the second half. Davis added 24 rebounds and three blocks. Rachael Hager (seven rebounds and four steals) added eight of her 11 points after halftime and Eva Poulton contributed seven points and five boards for Sharon.
Oliver Ames is coming off a Div. 2 state title, but the Tigers will face a tough challenge to repeat as league champ this winter. Read our full team-by-team previews below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021-2022 Record: 16-7 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Brianna Bracken
Former Attleboro standout Bri Bracken took over the coaching duties late in the preseason a year ago, but she stepped right into her first varsity job and led the Bombardiers to a 16-win season and a return to the state tournament. The graduation of top scorer Meg Gordon will be tough to replace, but the Bombardiers have a versatile lineup and a focus on the defensive side of the ball that still makes them a tough challenge even for the top teams in the league.
Attleboro returns only two starters from last season. Junior Kayla Goldrick impressed in her first two years on varsity, playing on the wing or as the primary ball-handler. Her control on both sides of the ball will be critical this season. Senior Lily Routhier, who transferred from Wheelock last year, is a strong rebounder and can score in multiple ways around the paint. Sophomore Vanessa Ellis wasn’t a starter for most of last year, but she came through with some big games down the stretch, scoring in bunches around the rim and being a force on the glass.
An injury to junior Rylie Camacho will deprive the Bombardiers of one of their best perimeter shooters, but Bracken will be hoping that juniors Merry Bosh and Molly Moore and sophomore Avery James can step into bigger roles in the backcourt and add scoring punch. Senior Sarah Maher is going to have a bigger role on both ends this season, bringing the energy and intensity every game. This will be a different look from last year, as the Bombardiers will have different go-to players every night.
“We have a great mix of experience and youth,” Bracken said. “We are excited about what lies ahead. Practices have been intense and the girls have been working really hard.”
2021-2022 Record: 16-7 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Quarterfinal Coach: Jim Choquette
How do you move on from graduating not just one but three of the best players in program history? That will be the challenge for Canton coach Jim Choquette this season, as the Bulldogs are coming off a winter that included a rare home playoff game and a trip to the Div. 2 quarterfinals and return a group of players that have experience but will need to step into bigger roles this year.
There is a veteran core that the Bulldogs will be relying on. Senior forward Samya DaSilva can score in the paint and knock down shots from the perimeter, while classmate Erin Beatty has been a force on the boards and brings a lot of energy on both ends of the floor. Senior guards Emily McCabe, Marissa Staffiere, and Han Hong all can run the point and are strong defensive players who will be tasked with keeping the ball moving for Canton on offense to find the best shot.
In addition to those familiar faces, juniors Fatima Sidibay and Jess Wright will provide additional athleticism in the frontcourt. Junior Mercia Kolokithas can stretch defenses with her perimeter shooting and sophomore Sally Hoban will provide depth on the wing along with Ava McCoole. Deanna Kolokithas is another newcomer to watch this season, as she can give Canton a boost at point guard, allowing the veteran guards to move off the ball.
“Every season is different, even if you have similar players,” Choquette explained. “We have spoken about that this year and I’ve encouraged our team to write their own narrative, what they want, how they want to get it, and the sacrifices they’re willing to make to accomplish it. I’m so excited to see how we respond as coaches to help them and as players to achieve.”
2021-2022 Record: 14-8 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen Coach: Lisa Downs
While head coach Lisa Downs knew there would be some growing pains for a roster loaded with underclassmen, Foxboro was not only building for the future in 2021-22 but showing that it could already compete with the league’s top teams. This season, adding a year of experience to their talented core, the Warriors will be aiming to get back to the top of the Davenport division and make a run in the state tournament.
The backcourt was the key for Foxboro last winter. Sophomore Kailey Sullivan burst onto the scene and was the rare freshman that could lead a team in scoring and also look right at home running the point against the tough defenses in the Hock. Junior Camryn Collins finished just behind Sullivan in the scoring charts, but her handle, her athleticism, and her ability to read the game made her an impact player on both ends of the court. Add in junior Erin Foley’s tenacity on the defensive end and it is a backcourt that can cause any team problems from baseline to baseline.
Foxboro also got solid contributions in the front court from sophomore Ava Hill, who looked increasingly comfortable as the season wore on, and junior Isabelle Chamberlin. Sophomore Adie Ruter will be a new piece to the puzzle this season. The 6-foot-2 center gives a new dimension to the Warriors’ offense and her development in the off-season has her poised for a breakout year. Freshmen Kylie Sampson and Adrianna Porazzo continue the tradition of underclassmen jumping right onto varsity with an opportunity to contribute.
“I’m anxious to get started working with this team,” Downs said. “I really envision a pretty high ceiling once we get established. We will continue the Foxboro team culture of hard work on defense and team play on offense, so it will be pretty exciting to see what they are able to accomplish.”
2021-2022 Record: 22-2 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Quarterfinal Coach: John Leighton
Franklin has dominated the Kelley-Rex division for the past four years, which included a state title run as well, but with a lot of new faces jumping into the lineup this season, the league title race could be a lot closer this winter. The Panthers may not be able to overwhelm teams with size like they have in past few years, but an athletic core of players returns to play typically tough defense and get out and run on the break.
The focal point this season will be senior forward Katie Peterson. After a breakout junior year in which she led the team in scoring, the UMass girls lacrosse commit comes back as one of the top wings in the league. Her athleticism will be critical on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Bridget Leo is also back to run the offense and will be one of the team’s top perimeter defenders. Senior Lizzie Newman emerged last season as a solid rebounder and post defender and her outside shooting could be a major factor.
There are also several players who stepped in at times last year that will need to take on bigger roles for the Panthers this season. Junior Sasha Tracey gives Franklin good length on the wing and adds another athlete that can get out on the break and finish. Her improved outside shot will also help stretch defenses. Sophomore Chloe Fales is a newcomer to watch with her athleticism and ability to score at multiple levels.
“This team is working to find its identity and play unselfish basketball,” said Franklin coach John Leighton. “I have been very impressed with the leadership of our seniors who have stepped up and provided mentorship to our younger players to speed their integration into the team.”
2021-2022 Record: 11-11 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Jeff Miszkiewicz
Only the two division winners allowed fewer points per game than King Philip last season, as the Warriors focused on strong half court defense under first-year coach Jeff Miszkiewicz. Defense will remain key for KP this season, but there is also an effort to bring more balance to an offense that struggled to keep up with some of the top teams in the Hock. With a year of experience in the new system, the Warriors will be looking to provide a challenge to Franklin and Oliver Ames in the Kelley-Rex.
Senior center Emily Sawyer has developed into a force on both ends of the floor and her presence in the paint will be a major piece of KP’s play this year. An almost automatic double-double every night, Sawyer has improved her offense every year and remains an imposing shot blocker and disruptor on defense. Fellow senior Jackie Bonner will give KP much-needed balance on offense with her ability to shoot from distance and take defenders off the dribble. KP looked like a different team when she went down with an injury last season.
While Bonner and Sawyer get a lot of the attention, KP has solid depth in both the front and backcourt. Senior guard Leah Santoro gives the Warriors a tenacious perimeter defender and junior Jordan Bennett runs the offense well at the point and showed flashes of being a threat from three-point range. Junior forward Maddie Paschke provides energy, rebounding, and finishing in the paint, and classmate Kylie Watson continues to improve on shot-making both in the paint and from the outside.
Miszkiewicz is also counting on several new faces to add to his squad this season. “They all bring something different to the court and have a chance to really impact games this year,” he said. “We can score on all three levels consistently, so we look to attack any advantages that we can get. Last year, we prided ourselves on playing tough, gritty defense. We try to make every shot difficult and hold teams to one shot.”
2021-2022 Record: 12-11 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Heather McPherson
Mansfield will play in the Davenport division for the first time this winter and, with only three players graduating from last year’s playoff team and both of its leading scorers back, there are hopes that this could be a title-winning debut for the Hornets.
Senior Abby Wager is the team’s top scorer from a year ago and the athletic wing will be the focal point for most teams defensively this year. The Southern New Hampshire-commit causes problems on both ends of the floor with her length and speed and her addition of different facets to her offensive game. If teams want to extend out to the perimeter, Mansfield can also hurt them in the paint with junior forward Kara Santos, who emerged as a consistent scorer on the block.
Experience should be no problem for the Hornets, who have a host of players that gained valuable experience last season. In the backcourt, seniors Olivia Salisbury and Bridget Hanley can run the point and step up with big scoring nights when needed. Senior Natalya Gill was instant offense off the bench for the Hornets, while classmate Rose Maher can knock down big shots from the outside. Senior Brooke Butler gives the Hornets another strong rebounder and paint presence.
“Extremely excited for the season,” said McPherson. “The level of focus and pace that we have committed to this preseason makes me extremely excited for the season with these girls!”
2021-2022 Record: 5-14 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: TJ Dolliver
Milford brings back five seniors from last year’s team, including a pair of four-year varsity players at captain, which the Hawks hope can provide the leadership for a move up the Kelley-Rex standings. After winning five games a year ago, Milford continues to set its sights on getting back into the playoff picture.
Senior forward Emily Croteau is an all-energy player at forward and will be one of the players that Milford counts on at both ends of the floor. She crashes the boards, defends, and her hustle is infectious. Classmate Brooke Ferreira is more of a calming presence in the backcourt, getting the Hawks into their sets and knocking down shots on the perimeter. Fellow seniors Molly Hartman and Aliza Syed will add experience and strength in the paint.
Junior forward Khatrina Leger could be ready for a breakout year after impressing in flashes as a sophomore. Leger used her athleticism to keep possessions alive and was able to get creative with her finishing around the rim. Classmate Erin Michelson uses her length on the wing to cause problems on the defensive side and junior Maeve Driscoll can come into the game and make some big shots on the perimeter.
“We have a lot of versatile players with different skills so our offense and defense is going to rely on execution during the games,” said Milford coach TJ Dolliver. “I have a great group of girls who are ready to compete on a daily basis. We have a lot of room to grow and I am looking forward to seeing where it takes us.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Nikki Correia
North Attleboro incorporated plenty of youth into last year’s rotation and those young players will need to be ready from the start this winter because the Rocketeers are only returning four varsity players from 2021-22 and have as many underclassmen (four) as seniors on this year’s team. It is a guard-heavy rotation, which fits into head coach Nikki Correia’s preferred up-tempo style, but there will be a learning curve for a relatively inexperienced group.
Senior Ava McKeon will be the leader on the court for North this season. A four-year varsity player, McKeon gives the Rocketeers an edge with her tenacity, toughness, and athleticism. The rest of the team can feed off the energy that she provides on both ends of the court. Sophomore guards Sam Faria and Sam Sweeney both showed as rookies that they can knock down shots from the outside, but need to be more consistent to take the North offense to the next level. Classmate Maryellen Charette also impressed at times as a freshman and could be ready for a breakout year at forward. Confidence will be important for the younger players to meet the expectations that come from being regular starters.
North has added some new faces to the roster this year to contribute off the bench and give teams different looks. Senior guard Emma Hanwell and forwards Kylie James and Kayla Dominique, as well as junior forward Katie Corsetti will make the jump up from the JV team this season. Freshman guard Ella McLaughlin is another player with the potential to make instant contributions.
“I think our strengths on offense will be our quick guard play,” Correia said. “Our offense seems to be a little more organized and the guards are able to control the tempo. I am really looking forward to the season with this group of players. We are young and have so much potential to really surprise some opponents this year.”
2021-2022 Record: 22-3 (Davenport champions) 2021-2022 Finish: Won Div. 2 state title Coach: Brittany Engle
The defending Div. 2 state champions are going to have a very different look this season. Not only did Oliver Ames lose its top two scorers (Caroline Peper to graduation and Jasmyn Cooper to transfer) but also saw the retirement of legendary coach Laney Clement-Holbrook after more than four decades in charge. OA has turned to former assistant coach Brittany Engle, who is also a 1,000-point scorer and former state champ for the Tigers, who inherits a roster with only four returning players from last season.
Junior guard Kaydance Derba is the team’s top returning scorer and is one of the best long-range shooters in the league. Her length, her passing, and her ball-handling will all be critical for a team that is going to rely on a lot of relatively inexperienced players. Classmate Sarah Hilliard might be ready for a breakout season. The junior forward showed flashes of being a dominant post player last year, coming up with huge games on both ends of the floor during OA’s tournament run and her athleticism is a tough matchup for most teams.
A pair of seniors round out the returning players. Maddie Homer, who was voted volleyball MVP this fall, missed time last year due to injury but she came back to play a role in the state title game win against Norwood. She brings a lot of intensity on the defensive end and is another solid ball-handler that can get the Tigers into their sets. Classmate Grace Dupill will bring more athleticism to the forward position and leadership for a young squad that wants to challenge Franklin for the Kelley-Rex title.
“I’m excited for the season,” Engle said. “We’ve got a lot of good athletes who work hard, and are coachable and competitive. Coming off of a state title, expectations are high, but measured. This is a different team, but one with a lot of potential.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Matt DellaBarba
Coming off a four-win season, Sharon returns four starters and nine players from last year’s roster, intent on making a move up the standings in the Davenport division. There is a change on the sidelines, with former Plymouth South coach Matt DellaBarba taking over this season and he will be hoping to utilize the experience that the Eagles have to make a run at a potential playoff spot.
Most of the focus this winter will be on junior center Jasmine Davis. After a stellar first varsity season in which she introduced herself with a 30-point, 20-rebound debut against Milford, Davis was one of the most prolific post players in the league as a sophomore. Sharon can take advantage of the attention Davis will draw to create shooting space for classmate Rachael Hager, who can force defenses to stay home with her ability to knock down shots from distance. Senior Tess Letendre and junior Eva Poulton round out the returning starters and both are solid ball-handlers and defenders in the backcourt and give the Eagles balance on both ends of the floor.
There is going to be plenty of experience coming off the bench for Sharon as well. In the backcourt, senior Clara Armon and juniors Carmen Leonardi and Natalie David will give the Eagles good energy and aggressiveness. Seniors Samantha Dunham and Emily Freeman add depth, rebounding, and solid defense in the front court. DellaBarba wants to make sure all of his players are threats to score on offense and communicate well in his team defense scheme.
“Being completely new to the Hockomock League I’m not entirely sure what to expect in my first season in the league,” DellaBarba said. “I know year in and year out the Hockomock League is one of the most competitive leagues in the state, so our focus right now is making sure we’re approaching every practice and game with energy and giving maximum effort in every opportunity that we receive.”
2021-2022 Record: 1-19 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Eric Adams
Stoughton had its struggles in 2021-22, winning just one game, but the Black Knights are in the process of rebuilding through youth. With former assistant Eric Adams taking over for Charmaine Steele Jordan this winter, Stoughton will have continuity on the sidelines despite the coaching change and that should be a boost for a lineup that features only two seniors.
While young, Stoughton does have some varsity experience to call on. Senior guards Andrea Khouzami and Anna Hobbs will provide much-needed leadership in the backcourt. Junior Maiya Merritt is a quick guard who can get into the lane and sophomore Raina Tat showed that she has the ability to stretch defenses with her range, and the confidence to not pass up an open look.
In the front court, junior Alyssa Edwards is a three-sport athlete and she uses her strength and quickness to good effect on both ends of the court. Junior Katrina Varnum gives Stoughton a rim protector and a solid rebounder to protect the paint, while she also showed increasing confidence as a finisher around the rim. Sophomore Leah McCarty returns to give more depth on the block. Stoughton also has four freshmen on the roster, guards Kristen McKay, Molly Fox, Isabel Belmonte, and Cecelia Squires, who could be stepping in and getting minutes right away.
“This team is a young team; two seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and four freshmen,” Adams explained. “This year is going to be a building year and we are eager to grow as a program.”
2021-2022 Record: 4-16 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Gretchen Rodrigues
The transfer of the league’s leading scorer from last year, Kameron St. Pierre, will be a big challenge for Taunton this season. Losing more than 20 points per game, nearly half of the team’s nightly output, will obviously require more than just one or two players to step up. First-year coach Gretchen Rodrigues is counting on her team’s athleticism and focusing on the defensive end of the floor first to get the Tigers out and running this season.
Junior point guard Cali Melo will be a key player for the Tigers in this system, not only setting the pace for the team but also providing the energy on the defensive side of the floor. Melo is a tenacious defender and rebounder and will be like a coach on the floor. Junior guard Lexi Haywood provides long-distance shooting for the Tigers and is one of the players that could benefit from a few more touches on the offensive end. Sophomore Jillian Doherty gives Taunton more speed and finishing on the break and senior McMina Clermont adds more vocal leadership, defense, and rebounding.
While a lot of the focus is on the outgoing players, Taunton also got a transfer in who could be a major factor in the paint this season. Sophomore Skylar McCrohan has come from Somerset Berkley and Rodrigues will be counting on her crashing the boards and getting buckets in the post. Freshman Taryn Campbell is a quick guard and solid shooter, who will come in and contribute right away.
“We are going to push the ball, play hard all the time, play unselfish, and be in great shape,” Rodrigues said. “My style is up and down, pressure a lot, and utilize all 94 feet.“
OA senior Jenna Gilman celebrates after scoring the second goal in a 3-0 win over Stoughton in the D2 Sweet Sixteen. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – When you’re the underdog, the team that is new to the playoff experience, the team on the road facing the top seed and league champion, you want to make sure to stay close early in the game. You want to keep within touching distance to build confidence and let the favorite start to fell the pressure.
Stoughton went into Wednesday afternoon’s visit to Muscato Stadium with that game plan, but it last all of 40 seconds before Oliver Ames opened the scoring. The Tigers would add two more within a minute and then kept the Black Knights at arm’s length for the final 70 minutes to secure a 3-0 victory and a place in the Div. 2 quarterfinal.
“They came out gunning for us,” said Stoughton coach Jon Grant. “They came out very fast. They came out very clean and they capitalized on every moment. I tip my hat to them, they’re a phenomenal team. They basically punched us in the mouth the first 10 minutes and then we battled and battled and battled. It’s hard to comeback from a three-goal deficit.
Before the crowd had even gotten settled into the bleachers on a chilly night, OA was on top. Emma Gavin picked up the ball in space in the midfield and slid a pass out to the right wing for freshman Jolie Diaz to run onto. Diaz carried the ball to the end line and then cut the ball back to Gavin, who was making a late run into the box and smacked it past Stoughton keeper Katrina Varnum (seven saves) with a first-time shot.
Eight minutes later, OA doubled its lead on a very similar goal. This time it was Lucinda Li Cotter on the right wing and she dribbled her way to the end line and fired a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Jenna Gilman was waiting to power her shot inside the post.
Less than a minute was off the clock before OA had put daylight between itself and the visitors. Diaz again provided the assist with a hard-hit cross into a mass of bodies in the box. Varnum made a diving parry on the pass, but only managed to knock it to the feet of Carly Gibson, who made no mistake with another unerring finish.
“We had senior night here and it was 0-0 and we spent the whole night in their half, but they’re so hard to break down,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “You have to get to the end line and get the ball across because you’re not going to beat [Katrina] high. The first two goals were low and Carly’s was just a bullet through a crowd.”
Holding onto a 3-0 lead took some of the impetus away from the Tigers, who were content to hold the ball and continue looking for its dangerous front three of Cotter, Gilman, and Diaz.
The rest of OA’s chances in the first half came from set pieces. Taylor deVos forced Varnum into a save with a 35-yard free kick. Another deVos delivery, this time from a better angle, went straight across the box to Gavin at the far post, but the sophomore midfielder could only find the side-netting.
Stoughton was struggling to create anything going forward, which wasn’t helped by an injury to sophomore Emma Tran midway through the half. OA keeper Janiya Matier was forced into only one save, on a ball that ricocheted off the knee of Makenzie O’Connor. The Black Knights almost forced an opening in the final minute when Morgan Cook slid a pass into Shayla Ford, but Matier was off her line quickly to collect on the slide.
Coming out of the break, OA nearly added to its lead. A ball in behind the Stoughton defense let Gavin have a chance from close-range, but Varnum was able to smother it. Seconds later, the ball was recycled out to Gibson, who forced the Stoughton keeper into a nice diving stop to her right.
Stoughton had more possession and more of the territorial advantage than it did in the first half, but the Black Knights still struggled to create any chances of note. The OA back line of deVos, Sophia Byron, Catie Wilson, and Molly Capece was impenetrable.
“First half we had to basically stop the bleeding, we had to stop them from scoring,” Grant explained. “In the second half, it was okay lets see if we can get some offense going. We were able to get a little more forward in the second half, but their counterattack, they dump and they’re fast and they’re good. They capitalize on any mistake.”
In the end, OA managed the second half well, making sure to keep the game from getting dramatic in the closing minutes. After a loss at this stage last year, the Tigers were determined to get to the next round.
“We talked about that,” Sellmayer admitted. “Having Jenna gives us an edge and having Jolie gives us pace up front.” When asked about managing the lead late in the game, he added, “It wasn’t as efficient in terms of containing the ball, but we didn’t give them any corners kicks, they had a couple scary chances. They’re a real physical team and we wanted to match it but didn’t want to foul.”
For Stoughton (8-8-4), this season marked the first playoff appearance in 14 years and has the potential to be a jumping off point for a talented sophomore class that makes up a good chunk of the team’s starting lineup.
“Phenomenal,” said Grant. “Absolutely night and day from last year. The work ethic has been phenomenal, the leadership from the seniors has been phenomenal, they’re going to be missed. We do have a young crew coming up and hopefully they can match the leadership that’s been there, but this has been a good building block for the next two years.”
Oliver Ames (14-3-1) will host the winner of Canton and Duxbury, who meet on Thursday, in the quarterfinal on Saturday at a time to be determined.
Stoughton players celebrate after Bianca Casna’s last-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win over Marblehead in the D2 tournament opener. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
STOUGHTON, Mass. – It had been 14 years since the Stoughton girls soccer team had gotten a taste of state tournament play. To put that into perspective, none of the current Black Knights were in school when Stoughton last made the postseason. A huge crowd turned out on Monday at Memorial Field to cheer on the Black Knights, making it a memorable occasion for the players.
In the final minute of a tie game, sophomore left back Caitlin Driscoll curled a cross into the box. Driscoll’s classmate Bianca Casna read the flight of the ball, making a late run from midfield. Casna snuck inside her defender and managed to get a foot on the cross, knocking it past the onrushing Marblehead keeper and into the net.
Casna’s goal ensured the game wouldn’t just be remembered as the night Stoughton returned to the playoffs, but for the 2-1 win that sends the Black Knights to the Sweet Sixteen and a rematch with league champion and top seed Oliver Ames.
“We were trying to keep it similar to a league battle and I was hoping that was the intensity we were going to come out with,” said first-year Stoughton coach Jon Grant. “I was a little concerned where we’ve never been here before, but the senior leadership has been tremendous. They’ve kept the energy high, the excitement high, and you can’t beat this crowd here right now.”
“It means everything,” added senior forward Shayla Ford about the experience of playing in the tournament. “We put our heart and soul into this whole entire season. We haven’t been here for 14 years, it’s a new feeling and I’m just really happy that we got here and showed up today.”
She continued, “We were excited. We couldn’t give this opportunity up. With everyone supporting us, we didn’t want to let anyone down.”
Despite not having been on this stage before, the Black Knights came out of the gates ready to meet the physical demands of tournament soccer. The game was filled with robust challenges on both sides, as neither team was willing to give an inch or back down from a tackle.
The Black Knights had a good early chance when Emma Tran crossed from the left sideline to Casna arriving at the back post, but the header went just wide. Marblehead’s first scoring opportunity came off a set piece on the edge of the box, but Samantha Dormer’s shot was well over.
In the 15th minute, Tran gave the crowd reason to get even louder. A foul right in front of the Stoughton bench gave the Black Knights a free kick from about 35 yards out. With the wind at her back, Tran curled a ball into the box. Whether it was intended as a shot or as a cross, only Tran will know, but the ball arrowed towards goal, over the keeper, and just under the bar.
“As she kicked it, I was like oh no, keep it away from the goalie, keep it away from the goalie, that’s going in!” Grant joked. “Whether she was shooting or crossing, it doesn’t matter because it was in the back of the net.”
Marblehead’s most dangerous player was Sydney Ball and she showed off her skills to work shooting space a few minutes later but her effort was right at Stoughton keeper Katrina Varnum. Freshman Julia Vasconcelos had a try from distance for the Black Knights, taking a big hit in the process, but it was also right at the goalie.
Stoughton would have one more chance with the wind at its back. Morgan Cook played a high ball towards the Marblehead back line. Ford watched the bounce of the ball elude the last defender and was on it like a flash, but so was Magicians keeper Kate Ford, who was off her line quickly to collect.
It was a game in which the fouls, and the delays for injuries, outnumbered the clear-cut scoring chances, so it was always likely that set pieces would play a big role. Just three minutes after the break, the Magicians had a chance to line one up. A handball on the edge of the box gave Dormer another opportunity and this time she made it count by belting a shot into the top corner.
Rather than letting the equalizer get the down, the Black Knights went right back on the attack. Less than a minute after the goal, Makenzie O’Connor made a run down the left wing, angling into the box and forcing a diving save with her left-footed shot. The keeper spilled the initial try and Ford was the first to the rebound, but Burns redeemed herself by leaping up and smothering the second shot.
Stoughton’s back line of Sabrina Rodrigues, Lauren Mitchell, Emma Tremblay, and Driscoll (two sophomores and two seniors) were excellent all night, keeping everything to the perimeter and not allowing a chance inside the 18.
“When he called a timeout, I knew there’s only about a minute left and I said, girls they’re going to throw it in the box, we have to counter,” Grant explained. “They’re going to push forward because they have the wind right now, weather the storm and lets hit them on the counter attack.”
Chances remained at a premium. Tran played in a nice free kick from the left to Casna but her downward header bounced wide. Dormer would get two more free kicks in the span of a minute. The first from 35 yards she blazed over and the second one from 10 yards closer was smashed into the wall.
The game looked destined for overtime. Then Driscoll delivered the perfect ball and Casna delivered the finishing touch to create celebration more than a decade in the making.
“They all play on a club team with each other, so they’re all close, connected and you can see that on the field,” Ford said about the play of the underclassmen, including six starters who are sophomores or freshmen. “We just love playing with each other and everyone’s proud of each other and how they performed today.
Stoughton (8-7-4) will take on top seed Oliver Ames on Wednesday afternoon. The teams had two close games in the regular season, with the Tigers winning by a goal in the first meeting and the second finishing in a draw.
“They’ve been the best team, so I wouldn’t want anything less,” Grant said about facing the Tigers again. “I trust these girls and I know they’re going to be excited for [Wednesday].”
Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 4 @ Foxboro, 3 – Final – Stoughton junior goalie Ben Shirey made a terrific one-handed stop on a point-blank header with just under five minutes to play as the Black Knights prevailed from a see-saw battle with a win on the road over Foxboro. Foxboro opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Pradyu Gubbala finished off a corner kick from John Hollis as the hosts staked an early lead. Stoughton equalized just before the half hour mark as Kyle Grant was fouled in the box and Matheus Groberio buried the pen to make it 1-1. Just minutes later, Groberio pierced the defense with a through ball that Grant was able to run onto and eventually tuck a shot into the corner. The Warriors equalized just before the halftime break when Alex Penders headed in a service from Jack Sullivan. The scoring continued in the second half as the Knights went back in front just a minute into the second half when a free kick from Alex Kozak was flicked on by Groberio in behind the defense and Anthony Damasio finished in alone on the keeper. Penders got his second, latching onto a pass from Timothy Kerzner-Greenwall and finishing at the near post to make it 3-3. Stoughton’s game-winner came in the 54th minute when Joao Marotti buried a header into the corner on a service from Kozak.
Taunton, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro scored a pair of goals in each half to earn a shutout win at home over visiting Taunton. The Bombardiers took the lead just minutes in after Steve Etienne found the back of the net. A long throw from Zachary Diffenderfer was partially cleared by only as far as Lucas Marques, who nodded it back into the mix. Etienne was able to control it off of his chest, turn, and finish from in close for a 1-0 lead. With 10 minutes to go in the first half, Esvin Morales’ free kick from just outside the area smacked the crossbar and bounced out, Marques’ follow up header was denied by the keeper but Billy Badger pounced on the loose ball and buried it to make it 2-0. Taunton had a strong start to the second half but Attleboro cashed in after another failed clearance on a service into the area. This time it was Badger’s corner that bounced in the area and junior Alex Vecchioli was the first to it, burying a half volley for a 3-0 lead. Marques capped the scoring, taking down a centering pass from Morales, driving pass the Tigers’ defense, and finishing past the keeper to make it 4-0.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Franklin saw its two-goal first half lead disappear but the Panthers pounced for two more in the second half to secure two points. It took less than five minutes for Franklin to find the back of the net. Senior Trey Lovell sent a through ball in for junior Hansy Jacques, who was met by the keeper off of his line, and the rebound fell right to sophomore Garrett Scagliarini and he one-timed a shot that just made it across the line for a 1-0 lead. An interception from right back Ben Costa started a counter for Franklin just minutes later; Costa found Scagliarini, who quickly linked up with Andrew O’Neill and he played Hansy in behind the defense. Jacques took one touch to settle and then slid a shot under the oncoming keeper to make it 2-0 in the eighth minute. After a timeout from the visitors, they cut the deficit in half in the 16th minute when Carson Dameron intercept a pass, carried possession forward with speed and found Givany Carney streaking in behind the defense and his one-touch finish beat the keeper. North used a creative set piece in the 60th minute to equalize as Patrick Etienvre played Ethan Almeida short on the ground and his one-timer from just inside the box found the back of the net. Franklin regained the lead with just under 10 minutes to play as Noah Cain played a corner on the ground and Lovell latched onto it with a one-timer that snuck in at the near post. Jacques grabbed his second, running onto a long ball from Matt Honekamp, won a one-on-one battle and finished on a tight angle with five minutes to play.
Milford, 1 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Milford finally unlocked a defensive-minded King Philip squad with just under 15 minutes to play to earn a key two points on the road with a 1-0 decision. Freshman Johnny Castro played in Eduardo Santana behind the defense and he smashed a shot off the crossbar and in for the lone goal of the game, and his third goal in the past two games.
Mansfield, 0 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Sharon’s goal just past the midway point of the second half was enough as the Eagles took two points in a win over the visiting Hornets. Diego Martinez set up Adam Eastman, who found the back of the net in the 26th minute for the winner.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Freshman Tatum O’Brien continued her rich vein of form, scoring twice and assisting on the third goal, to get Attleboro back on track. Alexis Campbell earned the clean sheet with a couple of key saves. Jamie Davies added an assist for the Bombardiers, while Emily Dunlea, Bethany Alves, Ayla Santoro, and Presley Biller did their best to limit the chances for Taunton on a tough, physical game from both teams. Taunton had one of its best performances of the season, celebrating seniors Emily Calderon, Christina Da Costa, and Hayleigh Porter. Porter finished with 12 saves for the Tigers.
Foxboro, 0 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Morgan Cook’s penalty kick was the lone goal to lift the Black Knights to the win. Katrina Varnum made eight saves to preserve the clean sheet for Stoughton. Allison Touhey and Lindsey Resnick had strong performances for the Foxboro defense and Erin Foley worked hard in the midfield to try and creat scoring opportunities for the Warriors.
Franklin, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin extended its lead back to three points at the top of the division with a win at North. Norah Anderson got the eventual game-winner, finishing off a pass from Bridget Leo. Leo would then get a goal of her own, assisted by Selene Hammad, to make it 2-0 before the break. Rachel Welch earned the clean sheet in the Franklin goal.
King Philip, 7 @ Milford, 0 – Final – A Heidi Lawrence hat trick led the way for the Warriors in a big road win. Lawrence opened the scoring 16 minutes into the game, finishing a through ball from Dani Lomuscio. Two minutes later, Lomuscio was on the end of a cross from Lawrence to make it 2-0. Lawrence added her second at the midway point of the half, this time assisted by Ally Smith. Ella Pisani wrapped up the scoring in the first half by getting on the end of a deft chip by Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn. Lawrence completed her hat trick eight minutes into the second half, Lomuscio again providing the killer through ball. Rachel DeFlaminis would add a brace, scoring twice in less than a minute. The first was assisted by Pisani and the second by Eilish McGowen.
Sharon, 0 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Mansfield extended its unbeaten run to nine games by scoring four times within 15 minutes midway through the second half. Lyla Nappa, Kara Santos, Stella Moore, and Avery Hawthorne each found the back of the net for the Hornets. Santos, Nappa, Olivia Dunham, and Bridget Hanley had assists.
Field Hockey
Canton, 2 vs. Braintree, 1 – Final – Junior Maggie McCready gave Canton the early lead while freshman Carolyn Schiavo scored the game-winner with less than a minute to play as the Bulldogs took an exciting 2-1 decision over Braintree, a top 10 team in Division 1. McCready’s goal presented Canton with a 1-0 lead before the visiting Wamps leveled the game with a goal in the second quarter. After a nearly scoreless second half, Schiavo found the back of the net with just seconds left to earn the win.
King Philip, 1 @ Uxbridge, 3 – Final – King Philip put up a great right on the road but came up short to undefeated Uxbridge, who sits atop the Division 4 power rankings. Mara Boldy finished off a cross from Leah Santoro for KP’s lone goal while Haley Bright had a great game in net with seven saves.
North Attleboro, 6 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Holding just a one-goal lead at halftime, North Attleboro used a third quarter goal to extend its lead and three goals in the fourth quarter to pull away for good. Caroline Folan, who finished with a hat trick, opened the scoring for the visitors five minutes into the game, finishing off a pass from Emily Burnham off of a corner. Julia Puccio (from Kelsey Thompson) doubled North’s lead at 10:28 of the second quarter but Milford scored with under five minutes to go in the first half to make it 2-1 at the break. Burnham got her first varsity goal with 54 seconds left in the third off of an assist from Ava Spencer. In the fourth, Puccio got her second and Folan scored back-to-back goals in a two-minute span — both assisted by Puccio — to push the lead to 6-1.
Volleyball
Sharon @ Norwood, 5:00
North Attleboro @ Norton, 6:00
Boys Soccer
Foxboro, 1 @ Taunton, 6 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game. – Taunton senior Riley Rebello scored a pair of first half goals and the Tigers raced out to a big lead and never looked back. After trading goals in the opening 20 minutes, the Tigers finished the first half with four goals. Quincy Jones-Sylvia opened the scoring, Devin Poe scored his first of the game for Taunton’s second goal, and Rebello scored back-to-back goals: one on a terrific strike from distance and another off a free kick. Conal Scully and Poe each added a goal in the second half. Marco Pacini scored a first half goal for the Warriors.
Stoughton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of first half goals and tacked on a key insurance tally in the opening moments of the second half to secure a win over visiting Stoughton. Sophomore Garrett Scagliarini opened the scoring for the hosts, finishing off a feed from junior Rex Cinelli in the 13th minute to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Just past the half hour mark, sophomore Wyatt Herndon set up junior Hansy Jacques to double the hosts’ advantage. Just two minutes into the second half, Trey Lovell capped the scoring with an unassisted strike.
Mansfield, 3 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Mansfield got the odd goal in five to pull out a win at KP. All the goals were scored in the opening half. Dan Checkoway opened the scoring for the Hornets finishing off an assist from Grady Sullivan. Aiden Steele got the second with a pass from Lucas DeSousa. Sullivan got what turned out to be the game-winner after 27 minutes. Tyler Znoj had the assist. Matt Crago had a goal and assist for the Warriors and Oliver Blackburn got a goal from the penalty spot. Will Bowen also had an assist for KP. Mansfield coach Steve Sheridan praised his team’s effort in the second half to hold onto the one-goal lead.
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Carson Dameron scored seven minutes into the second half to give North a big win over Sharon. Bryce Newth got the assist on the goal. North’s back line of Jack Regan, Brody Carter, Sam Bush, and Kaden Burns put in a strong shift to limit Sharon’s scoring opportunities.
Canton, 0 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 3 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Jamie Davies recorded three points (two goals and an assist) and Alexis Campbell saved a penalty, as Attleboro picked up a critical road win that moves the Bombardiers back within a win of .500. Davies had a first-half brace, the first assisted by Tatum O’Brien after seven minutes and the second assisted by Tatum Leahy 15 minutes later. Campbell came up with a big stop on a penalty kick that kept the Bombardiers in front at the break. Attleboro kept up the energy to win the midfield battle in the second half and O’Brien sealed the win with a goal, assisted by Davies, three minutes from the final whistle.
Taunton, 0 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Lauren Miley had a goal and an assist and Foxboro ended a 10-game winless streak to pick up the home win on senior night. Freshman Shea Dorney opened the scoring off a Miley pass and then Miley double the lead in the second half, assisted by Erin Foley. Lindsey Resnick led a strong defensive effort for the Warriors along with goalie Allie Sougaris.
Franklin, 1 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Franklin got its second clean sheet in as many days, holding on for a win that moves the Panthers one point ahead of KP in the league title race ahead of Friday’s showdown. Lauren Mitchell and Emma Tremblay both played well in the Stoughton defense, helping keep Franklin to one goal. Katrina Varnum made 11 saves for the Black Knights.
King Philip, 1 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Avery Hawthorne scored a winner midway through the second half to lift Mansfield to the upset of Kelley-Rex leader King Philip. Bridget Hanley opened the scoring for the Hornets with a first-half penalty. Mikayla Thompson equalized with an unassisted goal for the Warriors 12 minutes after the break, but Hawthorne popped up five minutes later to finish off a pass from Meghan McCann.
Milford, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – OA scored six times in the first half and the Tigers made it 10 straight wins, opening up a five-point lead atop the Davenport division. Taylor deVos scored a brace, while Lucinda Li Cotter, Jolie Diaz, Jenna Gilman, and Carly Gibson each scored once to build a 6-0 lead. Cotter and Diaz also had assists. Dani Atherton scored a brace in the second half to bring Milford closer.
Golf
Attleboro, 184 @ Oliver Ames, 183 – Final (5 cards) – Tied through four cards, Oliver Ames pulled off a one-stroke victory on the fifth card to take a win over visiting Attleboro. Oliver Ames’ Sean Kearns and Attleboro’s Leo Lombardo shared medalist honors after each shot a 34 on the day. Michael McGinnis and Braden Shapiro each added a 37 for the Tigers, Daniel Paul came in with a 38, and Ryan Smith, Carter Hanson, and David Rodgers each shot a 39. For Attleboro, Carter Shelton fired a 35 and Ryan Hill finished with a 36.
North Attleboro, 176 @ Foxboro, 187 – Final – Jake Gaskin was the only player to shoot a sub-40 round, taking medalist honors with a 39, as North pulled out the non-league win. The Rocketeers also got rounds of 41 from Tyson Laviano, 47 from Caiden Albergio, and 49 from Ishan Kohli. Foxboro was led by Zac Georgantas, who had three pars and a round of 45. Louie Carangelo was one back with a 46 and Reese Curreri and Josh Connolly each shot a 48 for the Warriors.
Taunton, 177 @ Sharon, 174 – Final
Stoughton, 39 @ Weymouth, 100 – Final
Milford, 155 @ Canton, 161 – Final – Milford earned a close win over Canton, led by Jacob Hipolito’s medalist round of 36. Anthony LaPierre also broke 40 for the Hawks, finishing with a 37. Eric Farrell added a round of 40 and Zach Hippolito shot a 42. Canton’s low scorer was Brendan Tourgee with a 38, while Brian Middleton had a 39. Charlie Vaughan finished with a round of 41 and the Bulldogs had three golfers, Matt Yeaton, Danny Hall, and Joey Ryan, shoot rounds of 43.
Boys Soccer
Mansfield, 0 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Canton’s offense continued its strong week, scoring five goals for the second straight game in a key Davenport division win over visiting Mansfield. After netting his first goal of the season earlier in the week, sophomore Owen Morrissey scored twice in the Bulldogs’ win on Thursday. Morrissey opened the scoring in the first half, cleaning up a rebound, and then extended the hosts’ lead to 3-0 with the first goal of the second half. Seniors Ryan Kovner, Jack Lauro, and Carson Eagles each scored once for Canton.
Girls Soccer
Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Shayla Ford’s brace helped Stoughton pull out the home win. Ford scored once in each half, leading the Black Knights to a third win in the last four games and back to .500 on the season. Katrina Varnum picked up the assist on the opening goal and Emma Tran had the second assist. Varnum made six saves to earn the clean sheet. Stoughton’s five wins so far this fall are the most for the Black Knights in a single season since they won six times in 2006.
Attleboro, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro got off to a great start, scoring a couple of early goals to pull away for a big road win. Jamie Davies scored just 27 seconds into the game and then added a second on a Bethany Alves through ball after four minutes. After setting the tone with that quick start, Attleboro added a third when Tatum Leahy finished Zenda Gjoni’s free kick. Gjoni then found the back of the net herself to make it 4-0. Emma Pratt would get one back for the Rocketeers with a second-half goal. Attleboro coach Steve Santos praised his team for playing well in all phases and controlling most of the play.
Field Hockey
Canton, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – After trading goals in the first quarter, Canton took the lead with a goal in the second quarter and added key insurance with a pair of third quarter tallies to secure a win on the road at Mansfield. Canton’s Audrey Koen opened the scoring but Mansfield’s Liv Barry leveled the scoring. Koen gave the Bulldogs the lead back with her second goal of the game and then goals from freshman Carolyn Schiavo and sophomore Izzy Digirolamo in the third iced the win. Mansfield goalie Lily Danehy was spectacular in goal for the Hornets, recording 19 saves. Canton goalie Carolyn Durand made eight saves in the win.
King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – King Philip junior Mara Boldy recorded four points to lead the Warriors to a win under the lights on Macktaz Field against visiting Taunton. Boldy scored a pair of goals and added two assists while Kelly Holmes scored once with a pair of helpers. Kari Calderone and Nikki McDonald each added one goal apiece in the win.
Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton notched its second straight win and second straight shutout, this time earning a 3-0 decision over visiting Sharon. Bella Iacobucci scored a pair of unassisted goals to lead the offensive charge for the Knights while Carly Sanda added a goal off of an assist from Kerry Driscoll.
Franklin, 4 vs. Concord-Carlisle, 1 – Final – In a battle of two teams ranked in the top 10 in Division 1 in the latest MIAA Rankings, Franklin emerged with an impressive 4-1 win over visiting Concord-Carlisle. Haley Wernig put the Panthers ahead just over two minutes into the game and Kaitlyn Carney doubled the lead at the midway point of the opening quarter. Franklin was held scoreless for the second and third quarters but Carney set Wernig up just 19 seconds into the fourth to make it 3-0. After C-C pulled one back a couple of minutes later, Carney iced the win with just over two minutes to play. Devon Barry made seven saves in net for the Panthers.
Foxboro, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Foxboro junior Mary Collins scored less than a minute into the game to set the tone and the Warriors picked up a key division win on the road over Oliver Ames. Collins took a pass from Mya Waryas and found the back of the net just 40 seconds into the game to give the Warriors an early 1-0 lead. Collins and Waryas linked up again before the end of the quarter with the former grabbing her second goal of the game to make it 2-0. After a scoreless second quarter, Foxboro’s Jenny Gallagher added a key insurance goal with five minutes to play in the third.
Volleyball
Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Foxboro hit the road and gave Oliver Ames it could handle, winning the second and fourth sets to push the match to five but the Tigers were able to finish it off and fend off the upset bid, 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-9). Junior Sarah Hilliard continued to pace the OA offense with 24 kills while sophomore Caroline Hansen had a big day, adding 13 kills. Senior Larissa Martins recorded 20 service points (five aces) and eight digs, Maddie Homer added 24 digs, and sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 35 assists.
Canton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – In a great back-and-forth battle, Canton outlasted Mansfield in the fifth set to grab a 3-2 (18-25, 25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 15-8). Sophomore Zoe Scibelli had an outstanding game defensively for the visitors, recording 20 digs, and also had a great serving night with seven aces. Sophomore Kaitlin Bigham was key to the defense with seven blocks and added six kills for Canton while Fatima Sidibay also had a strong game at the net with five kills and two blocks. Elyssa Buchanan put down 20 kills to pace the Mansfield offense, adding 13 digs while Lilly Verheggen had five kills and nine digs. Keira Fitzpatrick dished out 20 assists and Anna Goulet had eight blocks for the Hornets.
Franklin, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin grabbed its second straight sweep, this time going on the road and returning home with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) win at Milford. Makayla Kuykendall (five aces, 12 kills) had 14 digs and Taylor Lacerda (12 kills, one ace) had 20 digs to anchor the Panthers’ defensive effort.
King Philip, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – King Philip bounced back from dropping the first set to winning three in a row in convincing fashion to secure a 3-1 (19-25, 25-9, 25-9, 25-10) victory over an upset-minded Taunton squad. King Philip once again had a balanced attack with Emily Sawyer (10 kills, two blocks), Sami Shore (eight kills), Ahunna James (eight kills, three digs), and Olivia O’Neil (seven kills, four aces, three digs) all playing well for the Warriors.
Sharon, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton recorded its second straight win and made it four wins and the last five matches, outlasting Sharon, 3-2 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 25-16, 15-10) in a five-set thriller. Junior Annalia Eschleman had a strong showing at the net with nine kills while Reagan Lewis added four kills and Maya Ashu chipped in with three kills. Senior Patrik Oliveira shined at the service line with 10 aces while senior Kenna O’Donnell anchored the defense with nine digs.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro pushed its win streak to seven by defending home court in a 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-15) sweep of rival North Attleboro. Natalie Brojek (four kills) put the offense in motion with 18 assists, with Addie Shelton (11 aces, four kills) and Julia Leonardo (seven kills) leading the way.
Golf
Oliver Ames, 156 @ Sharon, 163 – Final – Oliver Ames avoided an upset bid from Sharon to pick up a close win and stay undefeated on the season, taking a 156-163 win home from the Cape Club of Sharon. Senior Michael McGinnis and sophomore Braden Shapiro shot matching 38’s to lead the way for the Tigers while juniors Lucas Riley and Sean Kearns each came in with a 40.
Mansfield, 169 @ Foxboro, 173 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and returned from Foxboro Country Club with a close win over their rivals. Cody Nieratko and Nate McClean earned co-medalist honors after both shot a 41 on the day. Brendan Vokey added a 43 in the win and Davon Sanders chipped in with a 44. For Foxboro, Zac Georgantas (two pars, one birdie) and Mat Sullivan (four pars) each shot 42 on the day, Louis Carangelo (three pars) added a 43, and Reese Curreri (two pars) rounded out the Warriors’ scoring with a 46.
King Philip, 161 @ Franklin, 163 – Final – King Philip freshman Jason Silva fired a co-medalist round and the Warriors picked up their biggest win of the season, knocking off Franklin on the road. With the win, the Warriors clinch at least a share of the Kelley-Rex division title; the Panthers can earn a share with a win in their final division match against Taunton. Silva shot a match-low round of 39, junior Ethan Sullivan shot a 40, and both Cam Hasenfus and Evan Regan shot 41 on the day. For Franklin, CJ Steel and Liam Lewandowski each shot 39 in the loss.
Canton, 169 @ Taunton, 173 – Final – Brendan Tourgee fired a team-low round of 41 to help the Bulldogs grab a win over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Huck McCready and Brian Middleton each shot 42 while both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman carded a 44. Taunton’s Logan Letourneau was the match medalist after carding a round of 40 for the Tigers. Alex Dias added a 43 and both Jesse Chaves and Brody Boucher finished at 45.
Milford, 153 @ North Attleboro, 158 – Final – North Attleboro senior Jake Gaskin had another strong outing this week, firing an even-par medalist round of 35 to lead the Rocketeers to a close win over a strong Milford squad on the south course at Heather Hill. Dillon Harding added a 37 for the Rocketeers while Ishan Kohli (40) and Tyson Laviano (41) rounded out the scoring in the win. Milford junior Anthony LaPierre shot a one-over round of 36, David Fleming added a 39, Jacob Hipolito chipped in with a 41, and Nate Lawrence shot a 42 for the Hawks.
Stoughton, 169 @ Attleboro, 149 – Final
Boys Cross Country
Attleboro @ King Philip, 3:45
Girls Cross Country
Attleboro, 34 @ King Philip, 21 – Final – King Philip took the top three spots and had four of the top five finishers to earn a win over visiting Attleboro. Kate Buban was the winner, clocking in at 20:10 for first place. Rachel Bailer (21:20) took second overall, Leah Burke (22:07) was third overall, and Keira Evans finished fifth overall, crossing in 23:10.
Emily McCabe (19) celebrates Mekhala Costello’s last second goal that secured a win for Canton, despite the Bulldogs trailing Stoughton by a goal with just three minutes remaining. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
CANTON, Mass. – For about 77 minutes, Stoughton had yet to put a foot wrong. The Black Knights were organized, compact, and keeping Canton’s dynamic attack at arm’s length. Unfortunately for Stoughton, all it took was three minutes for the Bulldogs to finally find a way through and pull out an unlikely victory.
Stoughton led Monday’s game at WWII Veterans Memorial Field for more than 50 minutes following Shayla Ford’s opener, but in the closing moments Emily McCabe finally found space in behind the defense to equalize. With nearly the last kick of the game, McCabe played a one-two with Mekhala Costello, who curled a shot inside the far post to break Stoughton’s hearts and snare a 2-1 victory.
“I think it was good that we fought all the way to the end and we were able to grind a result out,” Canton coach Idris Senyonjo said. “That’s the league, the games are coming thick and fast now and you have to respond to what’s in front of you and hope that you can get a good result out of it.”
The Black Knights have shown a lot of resiliency so far this season, having lost close games to Oliver Ames and King Philip, and came into Monday on the back of two straight wins. They were intent on making sure it wouldn’t be easy for Canton, which went with a rotated lineup as the Bulldogs were playing their fifth game in 10 days.
Canton still had some good early moments. Gisella Berardi played a nice cross from the wing that found Lauren Shatkin in the middle, but the shot went wide. A minute later, Caira McKinney cross clipped off the head of a Stoughton defender and fell to Shatkin, but the shot was blazed over the bar.
Stoughton grew into the game. Ford played a give-and-go with Morgan Cook on the edge of the box, but Cook hit her shot straight at Canton keeper Marissa Staffiere.
In the 21st minute, the visitors went in front. A clearance out of defense was played up the far sideline towards Ford. The senior speedster felt the defender on her back and was able to spin her, racing onto the ball and into space in the right channel. With a full head of steam and at an acute angle, Ford fired her shot just inside the near post.
“I’m waiting for a team to realize you can’t play high on her and you’ve got to drop somebody back,” said first-year Stoughton coach Jon Grant. “Canton did have somebody dropping back in the first 10-15 minutes but I think they got antsy, they wanted to push, push, push, and Shayla was able to turn that girl and get past her.”
The goal gave the Black Knight confidence with Emma Tran pulling the strings in midfield and Ford and Cook regularly combining. Sofia Issa had a go from distance, but Staffiere was right behind it for the save.
Canton went to some of its regular starters following the goal, notably McCabe and Costello, to try and turn the tide. McCabe, who came into Monday with eight goals in her first four games, nearly equalized with her first touch. Shatkin’s ball into the box ricocheted off a pair of defenders before falling to McCabe, who poked a shot just wide.
Emma Cahill passed the ball from the left wing to Shatkin, whose nice first touch played the ball into the path of McCabe, but Stoughton keeper Katrina Varnum was off her line quickly and bravely got down at the forward’s feet to deny the shot.
“We stayed organized for I’d say 77 minutes and they kind of caught us with that last three minutes,” Grant explained. “They played great coming out of the gates, staying organized, shutting them down, not letting them through us. They got around us, a few dangerous crosses, but other than that we played a great first half.”
The game started to fall into a familiar pattern. Canton was able to have the lion’s share of the possession, while Stoughton worked hard to keep its shape and not allow any great chances. Costello nearly opened things up with a cross from the right to McCabe but Emma Tremblay got across to block.
Tran tried to double the lead with a long free kick, but it was right at Staffiere, who held onto it comfortably. Two minutes later, McCabe was given a chance with a 30-yard free kick, but Varnum used her long reach to safely tip it over the bar.
“They boxed all our forwards in in the right areas and they knew exactly what to do and when to do it,” Senyonjo said of the Stoughton defense. “The goalkeeper is also very commanding in the air, so nothing was going past her easily, which is credit to them.”
Costello played a ball into McKinney, who teed it up for Han Hong, whose second attempt was held by Varnum. It was hardly one-way traffic, as Stoughton showed its ability to counter quickly. Ella Derby played a give-and-go with Tran to find room to run in the right channel, but as she bore down on goal Kristina Keefe recovered to make the block.
McCabe had a shot closed down by Isabella Rodrigues on one end and on the other Tran’s free kick was glanced wide by Makenzie O’Connor. Stoughton had one golden chance to double the lead with four minutes to play. Ford broke free again, getting behind the Canton defense but Staffiere closed the angle and was able to make the kick save. The ball came out to O’Connor, who spun and fired but curled it just wide.
Grant said, “Shayla had that opportunity and then it bounced out and Kenzie was able to get a shot off as well that just went wide. Even after they scored, right off the kickoff, we went back down and I love that mentality they have, let’s just go.”
After being so close to sealing the win, it was shocking to see what happened next. Costello played an angled ball in behind the Stoughton back line. McCabe ran onto it, getting the slightest touch to take it past Varnum, and then slid in to get the ball across the line ahead of two Stoughton defenders.
“The middle was so clogged up,” Senyonjo said. “I just said let’s move Mekhala somewhere else because you know she’s going to be dangerous wherever you put her and as long as there’s half a chance in the box you know Emily will take it.”
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors. As time was just about out, Costello passed it into McCabe on the edge of the box and she slid a perfect pass inside the right back. Costello collected it, picked her spot, and coolly bent her shot around Varnum and into the bottom far corner to win it.
“The nature of the game, coming off the game we played Saturday (against Norwell), how well everyone played, the morale was up,” said Senyonjo. “This would’ve deflated us going into the next couple games, but the way they fought until the end could actually elevate us even a little bit more.”
Canton (4-0-1) will continue its busy start to the season on Wednesday with a trip to Milford. Stoughton (2-3-0) will try to bounce back when it visits North Attleboro.
Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – For the second straight game, Attleboro exploded offensively in the second half to run away with a big win. Alex Vecchioli took down a deflection off a throw from Luke Hagopian and somehow kept possession between a pair of defenders and ripped a shot to the far post to give the Bombardiers a lead right before halftime. In the second half. Vecchioli grabbed his second of the game early in the second half, tracking down a pass from Lucas Marques before cutting it back onto his left for a shot from just outside the box that was tipped by the keeper and in. Late in the second half, Vecchioli linked up with Kyle Neuendorf, who played a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the defense that was smashed home by Billy Badger to make it 3-0. In the final minutes, senior Steve Etienne tracked down a long punt from keeper Tyler Rocchio and hit a low shot into the back of the net from inside the area.
Foxboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin junior Hansy Jacques scored for the third straight game and the Panthers picked up two points in a 3-0 blanking of visiting Foxboro. Junior Michael Fernandez-Martin opened his varsity account, finishing off a pass from sophomore Matt Honekamp to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Jacques doubled the lead before halftime after an assist from Will Kryzak. In the second half, Trey Lovell buried a penalty kick to cap off the scoring for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Mansfield tallied twice inside a 15-minute span in the second half to pick up two key points on the road at North Attleboro. Aidan Lopes set up Tyler Znoj for a blast from 25 yards out to put the Hornets ahead, 1-0, in the 53rd minute. Mansfield doubled the lead in the 65th minute as Aiden Steele’s header off a corner from Dan Checkoway ended up at the feet of Sean Higgins, who dropped in a shot from just outside the box. Liam Doyle recorded his second straight shutout for Mansfield, making six saves. Derek McGrath anchored another strong Mansfield defensive effort with a great individual performance.
Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Each team converted off a set piece in a 1-1 draw at Milford. Visiting Sharon took the lead in the 18th minute as Adam Eastman buried a free kick from 25 yards out to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Milford pulled level in the 61st minute as Eduardo Santana buried a penalty kick, a call he earned himself, to bring the Scarlet Hawks level. Sharon goalie Matt Baur had a terrific performance in net.
Canton, 2 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – A late goal from Canton helped the Bulldogs pull even and earn a point in a 2-2 draw on the road at Taunton. Carson Eagles scored a late goal to help the Bulldogs erase a one-goal deficit and pull level at 2-2. Jake McCabe scored Canton’s first goal while Taunton’s Javonte Fernandes (first half) and Devin Poe (second half) scored for the Tigers.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Morgan Cook’s goal just before halftime proved to be the winner, as Stoughton picked up its first victory of the season and its first under new coach Jon Grant. Shayla Ford opened the scoring in the third minute, running onto a Sabrina Rodrigues through ball behind the Attleboro defense. Jamie Davies leveled the match for the Bombardiers from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. Stoughton regained the lead in the 40th. Emma Byrne played a ball forward to Cook, who was able to get a telling touch on it and find the back of the net. Stoughton was able to limit Attleboro’s chances for a tying goal in the second half with a strong defensive effort. Katrina Varnum finished with 10 saves to help the Black Knights come out on top.
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton scored late in each half to earn its third win in as many games and move alone into first in the Davenport division. Emily McCabe scored both goals for the Bulldogs, her sixth and seventh of the season, the first assisted by Caira McKinney and the second by Gisella Berardi. While Canton held a sizable (17-4) edge in shots on goal and hit three posts, Taunton continued to fight and remained in the game until the final 90 seconds. Taunton coach Dan Borges praised the play of midfielders Juliana Matos and Emily Calderon for helping the Tigers compete to the end.
Franklin, 2 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of second half goals to maintain its perfect start to the season and hand Foxboro its first loss. Olivia Costa opened the scoring off a Norah Anderson assist and Costa then provided the assist for Selene Hammad’s goal that wrapped up the points for the Panthers. Franklin keeper Rachel Welch finished with six saves, while Foxboro’s Allie Sougaris made nine stops.
King Philip, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Taylor deVos scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers to a win over visiting King Philip. deVos converted a free kick opportunity in the first half to give the Tigers the lead. King Philip’s goal was scored by Heidi Lawrence, finishing a Rihanna Mason corner five minutes into the second half to bring the game level. Shortly after that, deVos buried another shot, which proved to be the game-winner. Catie Wilson, Rhiya Fisher, and Lucinda Li Cotter all had strong games for OA. Janiya Matier made six saves in net for the Tigers.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield and North each scored in the opening 20 minutes of the game and split a point apiece. Meghan McCann scored her first varsity goal four minutes into the game, off an assist from freshman Alexandra Fernandes. Emma Pratt equalized for North 15 minutes later, finishing off a corner to make it 1-1.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sofia Goclowski and Autumn Simon each scored a brace to lift Sharon to its second win of the season, already matching its league win total from 2021. Taylor Standring and Jessica Li each recorded assists for the Eagles and Kate Goloboy earned the clean sheet in goal.
Golf
Milford, 151 @ Attleboro, 157 – Final – After back-to-back close losses, Milford got back into the win column with its second win over the Bombardiers this season. Junior Anthony LaPierre was the match medalist, firing a low-round of 35 at Stone-E-Lea. Nate Lawrence added a 36 and David Fleming came in with a 39 for the Scarlet Hawks. Carter Shelton paced the Bombardiers with a 38 while Leo Lombardo chipped in with a 39.
North Attleboro, 155 @ Stoughton, 190 – Final – Tyson Laviano and Dillon Harding shared medalist honors to pace North Attleboro to a win over Stoughton at Easton Country Club. Laviano and Harding each fired a 38 in the win. Paul Medeiros had a team-low round of 45 for the Black Knights.
Foxboro, 172 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin junior CJ Steel fired a 35 to lead the Panthers to a win in their home opener at Franklin Country Club over visiting Foxboro. Steel, who had one birdie on the day, earned match medalist honors while Jack Hagerty added a 37, Tyler O’Brien shot a 38, and Brendan Collins finished with a 39. Mat Sullivan had a team-low round of 40 for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 162 @ Canton, 165 – Final – Mansfield had a trio of golfers all come in with a 40 to help the Hornets land a rare win for the visiting team at Blue Hill Country Club. Brendan Vokey, Jason Friedman, and Nate McClean each shot 40 in the win while Drew Urban chipped in with a 42. For Canton, Huck McCready earned match medalist honors after carding a 37 on the day. Brian Middleton added a 41, Brendan Tourgee chipped in with a 43, and both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman finished with a 44.
