Tag: Lauren Berman

The Campus Report: Looking Back At Fall 2017

Campus Report
The HockomockSports.com Campus Report is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail info@HockomockSports.com.

Former Foxboro standout Austin Ryan had a very memorable and impressive first year suiting up for the Bentley Falcons. After spending time at Williston Northampton School after graduating from Foxboro High. Ryan was named Northeast 10 Conference Rookie of the Week four times throughout the season, and was named NE10 Offensive Player of the Week in the final week of the season. He was second on the Falcons with 49 receptions but had almost more than triple the yardage of the next highest receiver on the team with 1,237 yards. He also hauled in a team-high and conference-best 16 touchdowns. His 123.7 receiving yards per game also led the NE10.

Franklin’s Quintin McDermott also had a strong season for the Falcons. He recorded 34 tackles, forced a team-high three fumbles and came away with three pass breakups. He had two interceptions on the season, coming in the same game. He picked off Merrimack quarterback CJ Scarpa twice to help Bentley pick up a 17-7 win on the road against the Warriors. Attleboro’s Luke Morrison played in five games, Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski (six tackles) played in six games and Bobby Mylod, a freshman, played in all 10 games and made five tackles.

Ryan wasn’t the only former Hockomock star to have a standout first year in the NE10. Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year and Canton star Jake Ragusa was a monster on the defensive side of the ball for Merrimack. Ragusa led the Warriors with 70 total tackles, and was tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks (for a total of 40 yards). He also had two interceptions from his linebacker spot, three quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Lasy year’s girls’ soccer HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Hannah Reiter made an immediate impact for the Quinnipiac team this fall. Reiter was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Rookie team. She earned a spot as the Bobcats’ primary defensive midfielder and racked up four assists in 17 regular season games (11 starts). Reiter increased her minutes played in all six games prior to earning a starting spot she has since not relinquished at Harvard on Sept. 13. Since Reiter joined the starting lineup, Quinnipiac finished the regular season with a mark of 5-3-3 while she played every minute in seven out of the 11 games she started in 2017. In addition, Quinnipiac allowed more than one goal in just three of the 11 regular season games in which Reiter was in the starting lineup.

Joe Wilder, a former Stoughton standout on the gridiron, was named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year after a great senior year at Framingham State. Wilder, who was also selected to the MASCAC First Team All Offense, helped lead a Rams offensive line that first in the conference in rushing yards (2,044), rushing yards per game (204.4), rushing touchdowns (22) and rushing first downs (104). Wilder started at tackle for the Rams.

Also at Framingham State, Attleboro’s Tom Burns earned Second Team All Defense honors after another solid campaign with the Rams. Burns, a senior, was third on the team with 54 tackles (most among defensive backs). He also recorded two tackles for loss while coming away with three interceptions (totaling 65 return yards) and three pass breakups. King Philip’s Brian Donahue had 14 tackles, including two for loss, while fellow former Warrior Cory Lombardo had five tackles and an interception.

Taunton’s Trevor Wysong continued to pace Bridgewater State’s men’s cross country team again this season. Now a sophomore, Wysong helped the Bears finish second at the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Cross Country Championships held at Stanley Park in Westfield. Wysong garnered All-MASCAC honors as he placed second overall at the meet, covering the eight-kilometer course in a time of 26:07.60. Taunton’s Dylan Lynch, a freshman, finished 41st overall and Attleboro’s Will McKenzie, a sophomore, was 80th. In the women’s race, Milford’s Jenise Madden, a sophomore for BSU, crossed the finish line fourth overall in a time of 19:39.50, earning All-MASCAC honors. She helped the Bears finish fourth overall.

2016 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection Colby Koch made an immediate impact on the pitch at Becker College. Koch was second on the team with four goals and had a team-high four assists, resulting in 12 points during his rooking campaign. He had a team-high 26 shots on goal, and three of his four goals were game-winners.

At Bridgewater State, former Oliver Ames football star Cam Williamson wrapped up his collegiate career with 34 tackles from his defensive back spot. Williamson, who played in eight of 10 tames, averaged 4.3 tackles and a game, had a fumble recovery in a win over Westfield state, had an interception on the road at Fitchburg State and totaled five pass breakups.

Down at Mass. Maritime, a handful of former Hockomock League standouts are factoring to the Buccaneers’ defensive unit. Mansfield’s Alex Ruddy was second on the team with 47 tackles, including two for a loss. He also came up with one interception, two pass breakups and three passes defended. KP alum Leo Munafo had 22 tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups, Mansfield’s Connor Finerty had nine tackles in six games played, KP grad Chris Winbourne had four tackles, former Sharon standout Peter Banks had three tackles, and James Cooke (an offensive lineman) had one tackle.

Kim McNally had her best offensive season during her senior campaign with the Sacred Heart women’s soccer team. McNally, a defender, was one of just four players on the team to start in all 18 games. And even has a defender, she finished third on the team with three goals scored. The former Canton Bulldog scored on the road at Yale, scored the game-winning goal at home against Mount St. Mary’s and added a third tally on the road at Wagner. She finishes her career with six goals and one assist, playing in all 73 games that happened during her four-year career – starting all but four of them.

Mansfield’s Alyssa Kelly finished second in both assists and digs for the Bridgewater State volleyball team. Kelly had 116 sets, averaging 1.15 assist per set. She added 187 digs (1.85 per set) as well as 27 kills and 24 aces (third on the team). Against Lasell, Kelly had a season-high 15 digs while notching a season-best four aces just a week earlier against Worcester State.

Brandies men’s soccer is in the midst of another successful postseason run, with two former Hock players leading the way. Josh Ocel has a team-high 10 assists along with four goals, leading the Judges with 18 points. Ocel, along with King Philip grad Andrew Allen, are just two of nine players to see action in all 19 games this year. Allen has been a weapon off of the bench, making 12 appearances as a substitute. He’s second on the team with five goals and also had three assists during his junior season.

Attleboro’s Michelle Sheehan set the offense in motion for Mass. Maritime’s volleyball team this fall. Sheehan, a sophomore, posted a team-high 307 assists (3.30 per set) and was also a top defensive option for the Bucs, notching 129 digs. Along with 41 kills, she had 24 aces. She had a season-high 24 assists on the road at Pine Manor and a season-best 12 digs on the road at Fitchburg State.

Former Foxboro Warrior Katie Notarangelo finished her collegiate career with her best offensive season in four years with MIT’s field hockey team. During her senior season, she scored a career-high seven goals along with a career-high five assists for 19 points, which was top five for the Engineers. She finished her career with 11 goals and six assists for 28 points while starting in 66 of the 69 games she appeared in over four years.

Franklin’s Alexis Stowell earned Northeast-10 All-Conference Third Team honors after another successful year with the Assumption women’s soccer team. Stowell helped anchor a defensive line that posted five shutouts on the season, including a huge effort against Saint Rose in the NE10 Quarterfinals. She also recorded three assists playing right back for Assumption, including producing the game-winning assist in the Hounds 2-1 win over Le Moyne on October 11th. Twin sister and former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Victoria Stowell scored once and had two assists with 18 games started for the Greyhounds.

Former King Philip standout Melissa Daigle finished her collegiate career with an even 800 kills for the WPI volleyball team. She had a career-best 266 kills her freshman year, and finished with 167 during her senior campaign. She also had 565 career digs, 48 aces and 79 career blocks.

Two of Bridgewater State’s three field hockey all-conference honorees hailed from the Hockomock League. Mansfield’s Janet Maher was named to the All-Little East Second Team and Foxboro’s Emma Daly, a freshman, earned honorable mention honors. Maher, who hails from Mansfield, Massachusetts, started all 17 games on the Bears’ back line this season. She tallied four goals and one assist for nine points to go along with a defensive save. In 70 games over four seasons with the Bears, Maher recorded six goals and three assists for 15 points in addition to six defensive saves. Daly put together a solid rookie campaign as she notched eight goals and three assists for 19 points.

Another former Hockomock field hockey player that Little East honorable mention honors was Franklin’s Allison Burke. Burke was the stingiest goalkeeper in the conference, sporting an .824 save percentage that slotted her atop all LEC netminders. The junior shattered her previous season-high for saves, stopping 168 shots in 2017, logging four shutouts with a 2.57 goals against average. UMass Dartmouth’s season-opener against MIT on Sept. 2 was a sure preview of Burke’s outstanding season; she set NCAA Division III’s highest single-game save total of the season with 37, holding the Engineers to just four goals and breaking Seana Golden’s previous school-record of 29 saves.

Anthony Barreira worked his way into the starting lineup by the midway point of the season for Bryant University’s men’s soccer team. Barreira started in six straight games, including both of the Bulldogs’ wins this season. He scored his first collegiate goal at home on October 22nd, netting the opening strike in a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart.

Brett McEvoy became Nichols all-time leading tackler (385) this season and earned his fourth Commonwealth Coast Conference all-conference nod and second First Team selection. He led the Bison and finished second in the conference in tackles with 115 (41 solo) and recorded 10-or-more tackles in seven contests, including a season-high 15 against Westfield State and Endicott. He also led the CCC in fumble recoveries (four) and collected seven tackles for loss. He also owns several punting records at Nichols, including punts (207) and yards (7,237).

Mansfield’s Kerra Anastasia concluded her four-year career with Fitchburg State field hockey with her highest point total during her senior season. Anastasia scored a pair of goals for the Falcons, scoring her first of the season in a rout on the road at Becker, and netting her second in a comeback win against Southern Maine. She finishes her career with three goals and six assists, for a total of 12 points.

At Regis College, Stoughton’s Ashley Chipman was the leading scorer for the Pride’s field hockey team while Oliver Ames’s Yvonne Abate was in the top five in scoring from her midfield position. Chipman, who played forward, notched a team-high five goals to tie for a team-best 10 points this season. Abate, who started in 14 games this season, scored twice and had two assists to finish with six points.

Former Attleboro Bombardier Owen McKenna handled punting duties for the Norwich University team this season, along with getting reps on the defensive side of the ball. In 10 games played, McKenna booted 60 punts, averaging over 35 yards on each kick with six kicks inside the 20-yard line and only one attempt blocked. On defense, the sophomore had 22 tackles.

At Bard College, Franklin alum Nicole Ellin appeared in all 17 games as a junior, starting 16 of them. She totaled 1,316 minutes played, which was fourth on the team, finished with a shot on goal, and was a rock in the middle of Bard’s defense at center back. Another Franklin grad, Meghan Dieterle, became a mainstay on Saint Michael College’s backline. She started in 16 games, and even scored a pair of goals (including the game-winner on a free kick in overtime against Post).

Sharon’s Tim Peng notched his first collegiate goal during his senior season at Trinity College. Peng, who patrolled the midfield for the Eagles four years ago, concluded his college career with his best season. He appeared in a career-high 14 games, along with seven starts. He scored his first goal – the game-winner – in a 1-0 win on the road at Western Conn. State.

Danny McDermott made the most of his senior year, starting under center for Salve Regina. He finished the season with 1,892 yards, 22 touchdowns through the air and an average of 210.2 passing yards a game. He completed 55.8% of his 258 attempts. Attleboro’s Tyler McGovern, a freshman, was McDermott’s backup and completed two of his four attempts for 32 yards. One of those completions went for former Bombardier teammate Brendan Nunes, who was second on the team with 34 receptions, totaling 432 yards and hauling in seven touchdowns. Nunes also had six kick returns for 142 yards and was third on the team in all-purpose yards. Foxboro grad Ronnie Martin, in his first year with the Seahawks, was third on the team with 96 rushing yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Two former Mansfield Hornets earned All-MASCAC honors after solid seasons with the Bridgewater State women’s soccer team. Molly Sheild was named to the All-MASCAC First Team and Katie Bongarzone earned All-MASCAC Second Team honors. Shield and Bongarzone anchored an outstanding BSU defensive unit which limited opponents to just 6.7 shots on goal per game and helped produce seven shutouts and a team goals against average of 0.98. As a team, the Bears ranked second in the MASCAC in shutouts and third in goals against average. Bongarzone started all 19 games this season and finished with a goal and six assists, while Shields appeared in 17 games with 16 starts and recorded an assist. Taunton’s Alana Vincent finished with four goals and four assists in just eight games played for the Bears.

Merrimack junior Mary McNeil was named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference Second Team for another solid season with the Warriors. McNeil, a former Canton standout added to her well-decorated career with another all-league selection. The two-time All-American posted totals of three goals, a team-best 10 assists and 16 points over 18 appearances. She ended the season in a tie for fourth in the conference in helpers, one of six players in the league with double-digit assists. She posted three multi-assist efforts in 2017, and a pair of four-point performances. Also at Merrimack, Canton’s Lindsey Nolte scored five goals and had two assists while Milford’s Jess Palmer scored once. All three started in all 18 games this season.

There was another familiar face on the NE10 All-Conference Second Team, as former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Hannah Friend, who now plays forward for Saint Anselm, was also selected to the team. Friend earned Second Team recognition by leading her team with 21 points of offense (9-3=21) against NE10 foes, scoring nine goals and three assists. Overall on the season, she notched a team-best 12 goals and seven assists for 31 points (12-7=31) and currently ranks 13th nationally in points per game (1.72). Another former OA standout, Kendall Clifford, was named to the NE10 All Rookie team. She led all Saint Anselm freshmen in 2017 by scoring three goals and as many assists for nine points. Making 16 appearances in a reserve role, Clifford has boosted a midfield that has scored more than four goals per game on eight occasions and has blanked its opponents in eight games as well. Franklin’s Maddie Bressler scored five goals and added two assists and Canton’s Mary Nee had three goals and five goals for the Hawks.

Former Stoughton standout Malachi Baugh concluded an injury-riddled career at Stonehill with his best season. After being limited to 27 carries through his first three years, Baugh was second on the Skyhawks with 96 carries this season and totaled 472 yards (52.4 per game and five touchdowns. He scored a touchdown in five of his last six games, helping Stonehill go 4-2 in those contests.

Luke Albertini concluded a four-year career at Central Connecticut State. The former Red Rocketeers started in 56 games over his four years, including 17 in each of the past two seasons. He made 63 appearances in total for the Blue Devils, patrolling the midfield. He scored a pair of goals, one as a freshman, and one as a junior.

Taunton High grad Adam McLaughlin hauled in a pair of touchdowns in his rookie year at UMass Dartmouth, finishing fifth on the team in receptions with 14. He scored his first touchdown of the season in the second game of the year, hauling in a 10-yard touchdown. He had a season-high four catches for 66 yards in a win on the road at Mass. Maritime and then scored his second touchdown of the season in the finale at Fitchburg State, a 29-yard reception in the third quarter. Also at UMass Dartmouth, Attleboro’s Andrew Gingras started all 10 games at left tackle during his freshman season.

Lauren Berman capped a rollercoaster ride of a collegiate career with a great final season with the Boston College women’s soccer team. Berman finished second on the squad in points this season, scoring a team-high seven goals while adding three assists for 17 points. She started in all 20 games this season and was fourth on the team in minutes played. She was named New England Soccer Journal Midfielder of the Year. She finishes her BC career with 14 goals and 15 assists.

Former two-time HocomockSports.com Player of the Year Taylor Cogliano finished the season fourth in scoring for the Merrimack Warriors. Cogliano made 12 starts, and a total of 19 appearances as the Warriors reached the NE10 semifinal game. The former Frankin star scored a pair of goals – one against Molloy and one against Le Moyne – and finished with two assists (against Dominican and Stonehill). Milford’s Nicole Dahlgren made six appearances off the bench for the Warriors this season.

King Philip grad Joe Kellett continues to be a mainstay in the midfield for the talented UMass Lowell men’s soccer program. After starting in all 16 games as a freshman, Kellett was just one of three River Hawks to start in all 18 contests in 2017. He was second on the team in minutes (1,670), and had one assist on the season. He set up a goal in UMass Lowell’s 3-2 win at home over Monmouth.

Elias Camacho, a former Canton gridiron standout, concluded his career at Wesleyan fourth on the team in tackles. He had 26 solo tackles, and 35 total tackles, including two for a loss. He also had an interception in the final game of the season – his third career pick – and had five pass breakups. For his career, Camacho finished with 67 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.

After just one appearance during her freshman campaign, former Franklin standout Dani Lonati lead the Colby women’s soccer team with eight starts in net and nine total appearances. She posted 48 saves with an impressive 1.42 goals against average, earning a shutout win on the road against Thomas. Lonati made a career-high 13 saves in a scoreless tie to open the season against Tufts.

Franklin’s Sammy Rondeau was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Field Hockey All-Conference Second Team after a strong season with Simmons – her second straight year on the second team. The senior enjoyed the best season of her career, racking up 40 points to rank sixth among GNAC players, while scoring 16 goals to stand fifth and recording eight assists for the fourth-most in the league. The forward’s four game-winners place her fifth among GNAC leaders. The former Panther’s season was one of the best in school history with the fourth-highest point total in school history, the fifth-highest assist count and the sixth-most goals in a season at Simmons. She started all 19 matches for the Sharks and was named the GNAC Player of the Week as well.

Milford’s Eric Nunez had a strong senior season for the Worcester State football team. From his linebacker spot, he finished fifth on the team with 44 tackles and had a team-high four sacks, and six tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble as well. Mansfield grad Aurian Dawkins had 12 tackles during his senior year, as well as a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Former Red Rocketeer and New England Revolution academy standout Justin Freitas wasted little time making an impact at the University of Vermont. After spending time at Dean College, Freitas scored eight goals and had three assists while starting 13 games for the Catamounts. Freitas had a pair of goals in a 3-1 win at home against UMBC and again notched two goals two games later in a 2-3 setback at home against Northeastern.

For the third time in four years, Franklin graduate Joe Kalil was honored by the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Now anchoring Wentworth’s defense, Kalil was named to the all-conference second team for his strong 2017 campaign. Kalil earned honorable mention during his freshman year, and was named to the first team a year ago. In 2017, Kalil started 20 games and picked up a pair of goals. He finishes inside the top 10 all-time in program history in starts.

The Campus Report: A Recap of Fall 2016

Hockomock Campus Report

The HockomockSports.com Campus Report is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail info@HockomockSports.com.

Alex Jette had his collegiate career come to an end this Fall but wrapped things up in memorable fashion. A four-time First Team All-Ivy selection, Jette was named a First Team All-Ivy wide receiver and return specialist in 2016. Jette will go down as one of the top receivers in Brown football history, finishing his Brown career ranked ninth in both career receiving yards (1,860) and receptions (150). He was also a playmaker on special teams; Jette had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown against Cornell and ranks fourth all-time in career punt return yards (493) at Brown. He had h 54 catches for 518 yards and three touchdowns during his senior year and was also named to the 2016 All-New England Football Team.

A pair of Framingham State Rams and former Hockomock football players were named to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Second Team. Attleboro’s Tom Burns and Stoughton’s Joe Wilder both earned the honor after leading the Rams to a 7-3 regular season. Burns, a defensive back, was second on the team in tackles with 67 (40 solo), had two tackles four loss and four pass breakups. Wilder has been a starter on the offensive line for two years now and helped pave the way for the offense. At left tackle, Wilder was a big reason the Rams rushed for over 2,000 yards.

A handful of former Hockomock players saw playing time for Mass. Maritime this season. Manfield’s Alex Ruddy was the most productive defensive player, registering 27 tackles, including two for loss, and had a pass breakup. Milford’s John Niro had five tackles, one for loss, Mansfield’s Connor Finerty also had five tackles and Canton’s Joe Bires made three tackles. Sharon’s Adam Banks, an offensive lineman, played in five games, even hauling in a pass. King Philip’s James Cooke (guard) and Chris Winbourne (tackle) started on the offensive line for the Buccaneers.

Former Milford three sport athlete Jarrod Casey capped an impressive career at Assumption with a stellar senior season. Casey, who was selected NE-10 First Team Defense for the second straight year, led the Hounds with 90 tackles and was the only player in the NE-10 with at least two sacks and two interceptions. He finished with 2.5 sacks and three interceptions while breaking up three passes. Stoughton’s Brandon Swain-Price finished his sophomore year with 18 catches for 349 yards and three touchdowns.

North Attleboro’s Eric Beckwith also received NE-10 honors, being tabbed First Team Offense for the second straight year. Beckwith has been making an impact for the Falcons since his freshman year. The former Rocketeer played in 41 of a possible 44 career games, with 35 starts. King Philip’s Sam MacDonald has also beeing a cornerstone for the Falcones for four years, playing in 43 of 44 possible games. The KP alum finished his career with 17 interceptions, one shy of the Bentley record and one of the top five totals in Northeast-10 Conference history and was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Football Team.

Oliver Ames graduate Cameron Williamson was a big piece of Bridgewater State’s football team this Fall. In 11 games played, Williamson was tied for fifth on the team with 42 tackles and was among the best on the team with 36 solo tackles. He had one interception, six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for the Bears.

Franklin’s Brandon Eccher was named to the Liberty League Football All-Conference Second Team while Stoughton’s Dan Eckler received honorable mention honors. Eccher was second in the Liberty League with 72 points (12 touchdowns). He posted 777 yards on 45 catches with 11 scores. As a punt returner, Eccher picked up 160 more yards on 17 tries with a 78-yard TD against Union. He ends his career third in the WPI record book with 132 career receptions and fifth in career receiving yards with 1,949. Eckler was one of the top four quarterbacks in the league this season. He amassed 1,900 passing yards on 118 completions with 18 touchdowns and the best efficiency rating of 166.8 in eight contests. Eckler also rushed 76 times for 235 yards and four scores to rank in the top 20. In 29 games, he piled up 5,571 yards on 404 completions with 44 touchdowns in the air and 783 yards on 266 rushes and nine touchdowns on the ground. His name is currently first in the WPI record book with 6,534 career yards of total offense (passing and rushing) and career passing yards, as well as third in career attempts (704) and completions.

King Philip’s Christian Vellante finished with 37 tackles, good for seventh most for Curry this season. Of his 37 tackles, 24 were solo takedowns, he had two tackles for loss, registered one fumble recovery and had one reception on offense. Over two years, Vellante had 78 tackles for the Colonels and seven tackles for a loss.

Former Franklin standout Craig Anderson became the first ever Endicott player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America Honors twice. After being rewarded last season with the same honor, Anderson was back again this season with a 3.89 cumulative grade point average in the classroom and 28 tackles (15 solo), four sacks, two quarterback hurries and a blocked kick on the football field. Anderson, who earned All-New England Football Conference first team honors for the second straight year, finished his career with 21.5 sacks, second-best in school history, while recording 204 tackles (95 solo) and 40.5 tackles for loss.

Former Mansfield Hornet James Comer received Eastern Collegiate Football All-Conference honors after a strong senior season. Comer was named to the All-Conference First Team for the first time in his career, after posting 36 tackles – 4.5 of them for a loss – recovered a fumble and had 1.5 sacks.

Former King Philip linebacker and current Nichols standout Brett McEvoy was named to the New England Football Conference ALl-Conference Second Team. McEvoy was second in the conference in tackles (94) and notched five games with at least 10 tackles, including a 16 tackle game against MIT. The junior also recorded 9.5 tackles for a loss and had two interceptions. Attleboro’s Brenden Massey was second leading receiver for the Bison, hauling in 41 catches for 759 yards and six touchdowns.

Attleboro grad Brendan Nunes enjoyed a successful rookie campaign at Salve Regina. The former Bombardier playmaker was all over the field for the Gull. He caught 10 passes for 183 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. He had two carries for 12 yards and was a primary return man – taking 11 kick offs for 276 yards and a touchdown and pulling down seven punts for 58 yards. Franklin’s Danny McDermott was a versatile option for the Gulls, completing 9 of 11 passes for 113 yards, rushing for 26 yards and even catching a 20 yard pass.

Trinity senior defensive back Paul McCarthy earned All-New England Small Colleges Athletic Conference First Team honors for the second straight season. McCarthy, a former North Attleboro Rocketeer, was a key piece for the Bantams with 27 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups. For his career, McCarthy had 84 tackles and an impressive nine interceptions.

A pair of former Taunton players and current UMass Dartmouth teammates were honored by the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference for their strong seasons. Austin Peters, a starting guard, helped anchor the Corsairs to a record breaking year and was named to the MASCAC First Team. UMass Dartmouth recorded 4,641 yards on offense – a school record. Marcel Flynn was named to the MASCAC Second Team after posting a career-high 40 tackles in his fourth year as a starter. Flynn was also a force on special teams as he registered a career-high and MASCAC-best four blocked kicks in 2016. Mansfield’s David Collins finished second on the team with 80 tackles with eight tackles going for a loss.

Men’s Soccer

Former Attleboro goalie Spenser Powell was named to the 2016 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Second Team following a strong year for Adelphi. Powell was among the best in the nation in both goals against average (0.498) and save percentage, stopping 86.8% off all shots on goal. Read more about Spenser here.

Taunton’s Dan Belair finished his career at American International College, registering his first career point in his senior season. Belair started in 33 games over his four year career, including four in his final season. He picked up his first assist in a 5-0 win over Bentley in October.

Not many players have seen more minutes over the past four years for Assumption men’s soccer than Franklin grad Zach Scafati. The inaugural HockomockSports.com Co-Player of the Year, Scafati started in 63 games (of 64 games played) for the Greyhounds. He scored a goal in each of his sophomore and junior season and was a two-year captain.

North Attleboro’s Josh Ocel was named an All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association for the second straight year. Ocel, who earned third team honors this season, was the team’s leading scorer with six goals and 15 assists – the fifth most assists in all of Division III. His 15 assists were also just one shy of Brandies’ single season record. Read more about Ocel’s season and Brandies’ Final Four run here.

Foxboro’s Sawyer Fleck was earned All-Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference honors for the second straight season playing for Bridgewater State. Fleck was named to the All-MASCAC Second Team after scoring a goal and notching a team-best four assists. He is tied for sixth in the conference with his four assists. In 77 career games, Fleck has two goals and 13 assists for 17 points for the Bears. Foxboro’s Brian Bortolotti scored two goals and had an assist this season and Milford’s Justin Borges scored his first career goal.

Former Oliver Ames standout Adam Borberly ranked near the top for minutes played for Colby-Sawyer this season. Borberly started 15 matches this season, playing over 1,000 minutes while registering three goals and three assists. In four years, Borberly started in 59 matches for the Chargers.

North Attleboro’s Justin Freitas was named an All-American by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association following another outstanding year for Dean College. Freitas was named to the second team following a season in which he scored 16 goals – three of which were game-winning tallies – and had six assists. Attleboro’s Kyle Lameiras scored three goals and had three assists in 18 games played while Matt Rodrigues, another former Bombardier, had an assist from his outside back spot in 10 games played.

Despite playing in just two games because of injury during his senior season, OA grad David MacKinnon had a memorable career at Hartford. The inaugural HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Co-Player of the Year was named to the America East All Conference Second Team his sophomore year and was named to the All-Rookie team in 2013. He set the program record for shutouts in a single season during his freshman year with nine. He ranks second in Hartford history in career shutouts (19) and fourth in career victories (25).

2015 HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Player of the Year Devante Teixeira saw plenty of time in his rookie season at Southern Connecticut. Playing in 15 of 17 games, Teixeira notched his first career goal and added one assist. He had a clear attacking mindset, uncorking 25 shots – second on the team. Attleboro’s Alain Laurent finished the year with a goal in 17 games played.

Oliver Ames alum Keegan Nutt was just one of four players – and the only freshman – to start every single game for the Stonehill Skyhawks in 2016. Patrolling the center of the pitch, Nutt scored his first career goal in September against Franklin Pierce and had two assists – one against Saint Anselm and one against Assumption.

2015 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection Joe Kellett played a major role in UMass Lowell’s historic season. Kellett was named to the America East All-Rookie Team. Kellett started all 16 games and was only off the field for a total of 12 minutes during his freshman campaign. The midfielder tallied the game-winning goal against Vermont in October and had an assist on the game-winning goal against Boston College later the same month.

Franklin product Joe Kalil was selected to the Commonwealth Coast Conference First Team after another great season for Wentworth. Kalil has helped Wentworth post five shutouts and on the offensive end, has scored four goals and an assist for nine points. For his career, he has started 53 of the 55 games in which he has played in. Kalil has 10 goals and a pair of assists for 22 points in three years. Canton’s Connor Erickson led Wentworth to a 13-4-4 record in his fourth year – the team has 28 wins in past two years alone.

Women’s Soccer

Three former Hockomock players saw a lot of action for the Assumption women’s soccer team this Fall. Taunton’s Tayla Morais and Franklin’s Alexis Stowell each appeared in all 18 games for the Hounds, with Morais getting the starting nod twice and Stowell on ten occassions. 2016 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Victoria Stowell appeared in 16 games for the eight-win Greyhounds. Alexis Stowell was third on the team in points with two goals and one assist while Morais added one goal.

Franklin’s Nicole Ellin is becoming a mainstay on Bard’s backline. As a sophomore, Ellin started in all 17 games and played 1,277 minutes on the season. On nine occasions, Ellin went the full 90 for the Raptors. In two years, Ellin has started in all 34 games possible for Bard.

Former Canton standout and Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman started all 19 games for Boston College this Fall. She was fourth on the team in points with 16, behind only All-ACC selections McKenzie Meehan and Hayley Dowd. Berman led the Eagles in assists with eight, while scoring four goals. She was third on the team in minutes player (1,572).

Jamie Grinavic finished her collegiate career by helping Bentley earn its most wins in a season since the 2003 season. Grinavic has been making an impact on the offensive end for the Falcons since her freshman year – she’s scored at least one in every season. The former North Attleboro Rocketeer finished with five career goals and four assists for 14 points.

Taunton graduate Alana Vincent had a terrific rookie season for Bridgewater State and was named to the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team. She led the team with six goals and 13 points in 17 games; two of her six goals were game-winners. Vincent finished third in the MASCAC in goals and sixth in points. Mansfield’s Molly Shield (one goal) started in 18 games and Katie Bongarzone started in all 19 of the team’s games – just one of five players to do so.

Former Milford Scarlet Hawk Kaley Pratt made a big impact off the bench for Eastern Connecticut State for this season. Despite starting just one of 18 games played, Pratt was third on the team in scoring – netting five goals with three assists for 13 points. Stoughton’s Rachel Berkowsky was in a similar situation, coming off the bench in 14 games to net four goals and one assist. Berkowsky set the school record for fastest hat trick recorded. She scored three goals in a matter of 4:46 in a win over the University Southern Maine in October.

Former Oliver Ames product Nicole Taylor was selected to play in the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Senior Bowl following another great year at Endicott. Taylor started all 15 matches that she played in, missing time briefly for an injury. The co-captain finished her career with 28 starts in 48 matches played, making 27 of those starts over the last two seasons.

Stoughton’s Shelby Sprague was named to the NJCAA All-Region 21 First Team following another explosive season with Massasoit. Sprague scored 30 goals, topping Region 21 and ranking third in the nation. She also added six assists to give her 66 points, also ranking third in the country. She finished her illustrious career with 55 goals, 10 assists for 120 points. This marks Sprague’s second All-Region 21 First Team selection.

Stonehill’s Brianna Duserick was named to the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Division II All-New England First Team. The Canton product was part of the back line this year that held opponents to 19 goals against, while also being part of the Skyhawks’ offense that has scored 39 goals in the 22 games this season. She scored one goal this year, making her career total to two with one game-winning goal. Duserick led the team with five assists this year, ranking eighth in the conference, totally six in her career.

It seems like just yesterday that Franklin’s Kristi Kirshe was scoring in the MIAA D1 State Final to help the Panthers claim their first title in program history. Now, Kirshe has finished her collegiate career with a NCAA DIII National Championship (2015) and her name attached to a couple of school records at Williams. For a terrific senior season, Kirshe was named to the NSCAA All-American First Team. She had 26 points during her senior year, including a team-best 12 assists. She finished her career with a school record 114 points (43 goals, 28 assists in 86 games).

Volleyball

Canton’s Elizabeth Hamilton had a successful freshman year for Johnson & Wales volleyball and was named to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Third Team. The former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year was fourth in kills on the team with 202 and had the most assists for an attacking player with 40. She added 34 blocks (fifth on the team), was second on the team with 302 digs and had 37 aces.

Attleboro’s Michelle Sheehan made an impact during his freshman year with Mass. Maritime. The former Bombardier was second on the team with 240 assists. The freshman also had 194 digs and 51 kills for the Buccaneers.

In her sophomore season at Salve Regina, Canton grad Erin Proctor was second on the team with 339 assists in just 38 sets played – an impressive 8.92 assists per set. She added 99 digs and even chipped in with 14 kills. The sophomore had a season-high 57 assists in September against WPI.

Another former Canton standout, Chidera Nwankwo was second in kills for a young Suffolk squad. The sophomore had 138 kills with a team-high .238 attacking percentage. The middle hitter was second on the team with 43 blocks. Taunton’s Alyssa Gibson added 18 kills and eight blocks in her freshman season.

UMass Boston’s Julia Murphy was named an All-American by the Volleyball Coaches Association – one of three players from UMass Boston. After being named an honorable mention for the honor the last two years, Murphy was selected to the Second Team. Murphy was also named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year for the fourth straight time – the first time in history a player has accomplished that. Murphy’s senior campaign has seen the Canton native set new program marks in solo blocks, block assist, total blocks, while also hitting a career-high .409. In 32 matches played, Murphy sits with a career-high 339 kill. She also boasts 42 solo blocks and 65 block assists for an impressive 107 total blocks.

King Philip alum Brigid Murray posted an impressive 712 assists this season while serving as Westfield State’s primary setter. She helped set up an offense that had 903 kills and 13 wins. Younger sister Micaela Murray made a splash in her first season by leading the Owls with 69 aces.

During her sophomore season, former Taunton standout Lauren Murphy had 55 kills for Worcester State. Former Mansfield standout Lauren Beecher recorded 95 kills during her junior season for Dickinson. Canton star Avery Devoe made a big impact with DI Ball State, notching 115 kills in 2016.

At WPI, the Engineers had three former Hockomock players help lead the way to a 22-win season. KP grad Melissa Daigle had 117 kills, 56 digs and 14 blocks. Franklin’s Shay Feeley was the primary setter, finishing her senior season with 491 assists and 173 digs.

Field Hockey

It was only fitting that the NCAA Division II National Championship and semifinals were hosted at Stonehill College in Easton. After all, there were plenty of familiar faces in the Hockomock town. In a semifinal matchup between LIU Post and Saint Anselm, there was a combined six former Hockomock players on the field. OA’s Molly Cunha played in 17 games for LIU Post, who lost in the finals.

Saint Anselm has plenty of Hockomock players. Former Franklin standout Elizabeth Alie was named NE-10 Defender of the Year and also earned Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American First Team Honors. Alie helped anchor a defensive back line that finished sixth in the country and second in the NE-10 in goals against average (1.02). Alie leaves the program having started all 75 games she has played in while helping the team improve from giving up 2.60 goals per game her freshman year, to the program-best 1.02 GAA the Hawks posted this season.

Oliver Ames’ Hannah Friend, a former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year, was tied for first in goals scored for the Hawks with seven. North Attleboro’s Rose Mooney was next on the team with six goals and three assists and Franklin’s Maddie Bressler followed her with four goals and five assists. Canton’s Mary Nee saw action in 19 games as well and recorded one assist.

For the second straight year, Canton’s Mary McNeil earned Longstreth/National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American honors. As a star player for Merrimack, McNeil earned First Team All-American honors following a season in which she led the Warriors in assists with seven and ranked third on the team with seven goals and 21 points. Her assist total was also tied for second in the NE-10 this season. Franklin’s Hannah Magerman added three goals and two assists for the Warriors, while Canton’s Lindsey Nolte and Milford’s Jess Palmer – both freshmen – saw action this season.

Former Foxboro star Katie Notarangelo continues to rack up recognition at the next level. Playing for MIT, Notarangelo was selected to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference First Team for the second straight year. Patrolling the midfield, Notarangelo helped generate a 341-171 margin in shots, a 224-106 advantage in shots on goal, and a 200-97 difference in penalty corners. She contributed to a defense that produced a 1.32 goals against average, which ranked second in the NEWMAC. Offensively, Notarangelo found the back of the net twice.

Regis College claimed the New England Collegiate Conference championship back in November with Oliver Ames product Yvonne Abate playing a big role. After Elms College took a lead in the first half, Abate stepped up to take a penalty stroke and beat the keeper to level the score. Abate was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Stoughton’s Ashley Chipman also started for Regis in the win, her 11th start of the season. Chipman finished tied for second on the team with six goals.

Former Franklin Panther Sammy Rondeau earned conference honors after a strong Fall season for Simmons. Rondeau was selected to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Second Team after ranking among the GNAC’s top top in points (23, 9th), goals (nine, 8th) and assists (five, 7th). The junior was one of two Simmons players to start all 19 matches and scored three game-winning goals for the sixth-most among league leaders. The forward registered at least one point in eight contests, including a career-high of six on two goals and two assists against Nichols.

A trio of former Hockomock players helped Springfield College pick up nine wins this Fall. Mansfield’s Allie Skinner started in 18 of her 19 games played, even registering an assist from her position on defense. Hannah Boylan, another former Hornet, started in 15 games, scoring a goal against Mount Holyoke. North Attleboro’s Emily Knobel saw action in 16 games, scoring two goals and adding three assists.

At UMass Dartmouth, a pair of former Hockomock players helped the Corsairs win seven games this season. Offensively, Taunton’s Katelin Morrissey was second on the team with 20 points – scoring eight goals and adding four assists. In goal, Franklin’s Allison Burke started five games and made a team-high 48 saves for a team-best .774 save percentage.

Oliver Ames’ Carly Cidado had a successful first year at WPI, finishing the season as one of the top scorers for the Engineers. The former Tiger had four goals – tied for fourth best on the team – and three assists, totaling 11 points, best among any freshmen or sophomores on the team.

Cross Country

Bridgewater State University might have been the biggest beneficiary from the Hockomock League across all sports. Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams received a big boost from a Hockomock grad. Taunton’s Trevor Wysong had a fantastic rookie campaign for the Bears and was named MASCAC Rookie of the Year. At the MASCAC Championships, Wysong finished the 8k with a time of 26:33, good enough for fourth. For the girls, Milford’s Jenise Madden was also named MASCAC Rookie of the Year. She finished the MASCAC Championships (5k) in 19:40.

The Campus Report: Fall 2016 Midseason Update

Hockomock Campus Report
Former Oliver Ames teammates David Stapleton (left, Curry) and Gaston Cetrangolo went head to head earlier this season. (Submitted photo)

The Hockomock Campus Report is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail info@HockomockSports.com.

Football

Milford’s Jarrod Casey currently leads Assumption in tackles through six games this season. Casey has a team-best 50 tackles (8.3 per game), including two tackles for loss and two interceptions as the team’s starting strong safety. Stoughton grad Brandon Swain-Price is third in receptions for the Greyhounds with 11 for a total of 250 yards and two touchdowns. The former Black Knight is averaging 19.1 yards per catch for Assumption (5-1). Another Milford alum – Patrick Corcoran – has played in five of six of Assumption’s games.

King Philip graduate Sam McDonald has started in all six of Bentley’s games this season and is second in tackles with 32 – best among defensive backs. McDonald has two interceptions, four pass breakups and three tackles for loss on the season for the Falcons. Taunton’s Shane Wellman has played in six games this year with five tackles, Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski (four tackles, one interception), Attleboro’s Luke Morrison (two tackles) and Franklin’s Quintin McDermott (one tackle) have all appeared in four games for the Falcons.

Former Franklin Panther Colton Cardinal has made four appearances on the gridiron for Boston College this season. Cardinal, who made two tackles for the Eagles last season, switched to the offensive side of the ball for 2016. From his fullback position, the sophomore has three receptions for 52 yards on the year.

Oliver Ames alum Cameron Williamson has been a steady contributed for the Bridgewater State Bears so far this season. A junior, Williamson has played in all six games so far this season with 19 solo tackles and 21 total. He came away with his lone interception of the season so far in a close win over Western Connecticut and has three pass breakups.

Although Brown is off to a 1-3 start, North Attleboro’s Alex Jette continues to be a bright spot. He leads the team with 25 receptions and has a team-best 271 yards through the air through four games, including one touchdown. He is fourth on the team in rushing as well with 48 yards on six carries (12 yards per carry), giving him a team-high 319 all-purpose yards. Jette is also the team’s punter, averaging 37 yards per punt with a long of 61 and six of his 24 punts landing inside the 20-yard-line.

Franklin’s Craig Anderson has been a key piece as Endicott has bounced back from a slow start to the season. After an 0-3 start, the Gulls have picked up two straight conference wins heading into a trip to Maine Maritime this weekend. Anderson is fifth on the team with 17 tackles and has appeared in all five games so far. Anderson has one sack and six tackles for loss, and blocked a field goal against Nichols. Oliver Ames grad Joe Tepper has two tackles this season and returned a kick for 13 yards.

Canton alum Sterlin Garvin is making an impact during his sophomore season at Fitchburg State. The former Bulldog is second in rushing for the Falcons with 133 yards on 43 carries (3.1 yards per carry). He found the end zone in Fitchburg’s win over Castleton in early September, scoring on a five-yard pass.

A handful of former Hockomock players continue to contribute to Framingham State’s success. On the defensive side of the ball, Attleboro alum Tom Burns is fourth on the team in tackles with 28 with just four of the team’s six games played. Burns has also recorded three pass breakups for the Rams. King Philip graduate Brian Donahue has appeared in all six games as a linebacker for Framingham with 18 tackles, including one sack and a pass breakup. Foxboro’s Derek Gilreath has a pair of tackles in five games played. Offensively, Stoughton’s Joe Wilder, a captain, has started all six games on the left side of the offensive line for the Rams.

A pair of former Kelley-Rex division rivals are now teammates at Nichols College, helping the Bison to two wins so far this season. Attleboro’s Brenden Massey has hauled in a team-high 20 catches this season for 323 yards (16.2 yards per catch). Masssey has also scored two touchdowns this season. King Philip’s Brett McEvoy is second on the team with 44 total tackles, including three tackles for a loss. McEvoy has also forced a fumble for the Bison through five games.

Attleboro’s Brendan Nunes and Franklin’s Danny McDermott are both making plays all over the field for the undefeated Salve Regina Seahawks. McDermott, a junior, has completed a pass, run the ball three times and even hauled in a 20-yard reception for Salve (4-0). Nunes, a freshman, is third on the team in all-purpose yards with 210 after emerging as the team’s primary return man. Nunes (one catch) has returned five kickoffs for a total of 171 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown against Worcester State. Nunes has also made a tackle on defense for the Seahawks.

UMass Dartmouth has three wins so far this reason with four former Hockomock athletes making plays on the defensive side of the ball. Mansfield’s David Collins in second on the team in tackles with 44, including 5.5 that went for a loss. Taunton’s Marcel Flynn has recorded 22 tackles, six of which have been for loss and has two blocked kicks on the season. Mansfield’s Louis Petrella had 18 tackles on the season, including a fumble recovery while Canton’s Anthony LaRose has 17 tackles and a team-high 2.5 sacks for the Corsairs.

Worcester State picked up its first win of the season this past week with a close 17-14 decision over Fitchburg. On the season, Milford’s Eric Nunez is fifth on the team with 28 tackles, including one sack. Mansfield’s Aurian Dawkins has recorded 22 tackles so far in four games played with three tackles for a loss and one interception. Offensively, Milford’s Jay Rodriguez has 37 yards on nine rushing attempts this season.

Men’s Soccer

Attleboro graduate Spenser Powell is having an impressive senior year at Adelphi. Powell has been honored as the NE-10 Conference Goalkeeper of the Week three times already this season while the Panthers are now ranked #14 by the NSCAA. Powell has started in all 10 games with a 0.41 goals against average and 34 saves. He has an 8-1-1 record with six shutouts.

Franklin’s Zach Scafati has started on defense in all 11 of Assumption’s games so far this season. The Greyhounds are allowing fewer than two goals per game. Scafati, a captain for the squad, also has four shots this year. Oliver Ames’ Chris Romero has appeared in seven games so far, including the last six straight. Romero recorded his first career point, scoring his first collegiate goal off a rebound.

Over at Brandeis, two former Hockomock players are making an impact for the Judges’ offense. North Attleboro’s Josh Ocel leads Brandeis in points with 11, tying for a team-high in goals (4) and assists (3). King Philip’s Andrew Allen is third in points (7), having netted a pair of goals this season while tying Ocel for the team-high with three assists.

The defending MASCAC champion Bridgewater State Bears have five former Hockomock athletes on the roster this season. The Bears (5-5-1) have Foxboro’s Sawyer Fleck, Riley Fleck and Brian Bortolotti along with Milford’s Justin Borges and Mike Da Silva. Sawyer Fleck is currently tied for third on the time with three points on three assists this season while Bortolotti has scored one goal. Riley Fleck has started in eight games this year while Borges had made three appearances off the bench.

Oliver Ames alum Adam Borbely has been a key player in Colby Sawyer’s 6-4-1 start this season. Borbely has notched one assist by has started in all 11 of the Chargers’ games so far this year. His 722 minutes played ranks sixth most on the team and he has registered two shots on goal.

Wentworth has recorded an 8-2-4 record so far this season with a pair of Hockomock grads contributing. Franklin’s Joe Kalil has started 13 of the team’s 14 games and registered five points – two goals and one assist. Kalil scored in a win at MIT and then again at home against Western New England. OA graduate Gaston Cetrangolo has made six appearances for Wentworth this season.

Keegan Nutt continues to make an impact in Easton, this time for the Stonehill Skyhawks. The former Oliver Ames standout and 2015 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection has played in and started all 12 games for Stonehill (5-7), just one of four players to do so. Nutt netted his first collegiate goal against Franklin Pierce back in September and has two assists this season.

King Philip graduate Joe Kellett has played nearly every minute of his rookie season so far for the 8-0-2 River Hawks of UMass Lowell. Kellett has started in all 10 of the team’s games (10) – just one of seven players to do so. His 930 minutes played rank fourth on the team and he’s registered four shots on goal.

Women’s Soccer

A trio of Hockomock alum have played in all 13 of Assumption’s games so far this year, helping the Greyhounds to a 6-6-1 record. Taunton’s Tayla Morais, a senior forward, has scored once and started a pair of games. Franklin’s Alexis Stowell has made five starts with a goal and assist while 2015 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Victoria Stowell has come off the bench in each game so far.

A pair of former teammates and MIAA State Champions found themselves on the same pitch again, this time as opponents when Kristi Kirshe and Williams College hosted Nicole Ellin and Bard College. Kirshe and Ellin were both part of Franklin’s title winning team in 2012. Kirshe notched two assists in the game and the Ephs emerged with a 5-0 win. Earlier this month, Kirshe became Williams’ (defending 2015 NCAA DIII National Champions) all-time leader in points with 102 and was named NESCAC Player of the Week two days later. For Bard, Ellin has started on defense in all 12 of the Raptors’ games this season. Bard is 7-5 overall this season.

North Attleboro’s Jamie Grinavic has been a key piece for Bentley this year as the Falcons are off to a 6-3-2 start this season. Grinavic, a senior midfielder, is fourth on the team in points after registering three assists and scoring one goal for five points. She’s just one of seven players to start in all 11 games so far this season.

Goals have been hard to come by in Bridgewater State’s games this year – both for and against – but a trio of Hockomock alums have helped the Bears in getting points in eight of their 11 matches. Taunton’s Alana Vincent leads BSU in scoring, netting four goals so far this year. The Bears have only allowed seven goals this season with Mansfield’s Katie Bongarzone (11 starts) and Molly Shield (10 starts) being big reasons why.

The Boston College Eagles are off to a 10-4-1 start this year with former Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman playing a big role. Berman has started all 15 games and played 1,205 minutes, good for fourth on the team. She has netted four goals so far and six assists, good for 14 points, third most for BC this year.

Milford’s Kaley Pratt has been a spark off the bench for Eastern Connecticut State this season and netted the game-winner in overtime against Keene State this past weekend. Pratt has three goals and one assist on the year, which puts her second on the team in points. Stoughton’s Rachel Berkowsky has started eight games so far for the Warriors (8-2-2) with one assist.

Oliver Ames’ Nicole Taylor has helped Endicott to a strong 9-2-2 start this season. Taylor, a senior captain, has started in seven games so far with the Gulls recording a 7-1-1 record in that stretch. The Gulls have limited opponents to just nine goals in those nine games with Taylor being a key piece on defense.

Stoughton’s Shelby Sprague continues to be an offensive juggernaut for Massasoit. After scoring 25 goals last season, Sprague has already scored 22 goals this year for the Warriors.

Providence College women’s soccer is off to a 9-4-2 start and is allowing less than a goal per game so far with two Hockomock alums playing big roles in the Friars’ defense. OA’s Kendall Andrew has appeared in 14 of the 15 games so far for the Friars while Canton’s Hailee Duserick has appeared in 10 games with seven starts.

Canton’s Kim McNally has played a big part in Sacred Heart’s 5-4-3 start this year, playing her usual strong defense but also contributing on the offensive side of the ball. McNally scored her first goal of the season in a 1-0 win on the road at Saint Peter’s in early September and then netted her second goal of the year in a 3-0 win over Robert Morris in early October.

Brianna Duserick has helped Stonehill to an incredible start, one that included the Skyhawks being ranked as high as #4 in the NSCAA Poll. Duserick, a Canton alum, is third in points for Stonehill (10-2-1) with one goal, which came at Franklin Pierce, and five assists, the last two coming in consecutive games against Assumption and Saint Michael’s.

Sharon graduate Meg James is just one of seven players to start in all 13 of the University of Vermont’s games this season. A defender, James has been a vital piece for the Catamounts over the years. Check out our feature on James from earlier this year.

Volleyball

Canton graduate Avery Devoe is seeing a lot of action for Ball State University this fall, the Cardinals registering eight wins through 20 matches so far. Devoe has 14 starts and played in 60 sets so far, notching 61 kills and serving over 90% so far. She leads Ball State with a total of 48 blocks so far.

At Bridgewater State, Mansfield’s Alyssa Kelley continues to contribute on defense for the Bears. Kelley has 115 digs and 193 serve receives thus far. Oliver Ames grad Megan Tamasanis has registered 23 kills in 33 sets played this season for the Bears.

Junior outside hitter Lauren Beecher is fourth in kills for the 9-9 Dickinson Red Devils. Beecher, a former Mansfield Hornet, has played in eight of Dickinson’s nine game, twice hitting double digits in kills. Beecher had 10 kills in a 3-1 win over Haverford and then 10 more kills on the road in a 3-2 win at Keystone.

Attleboro’s Michelle Sheehan is making an impact already for Mass Maritime as a freshman. Sheehan is second on the team with 170 assists and has 41 kills (fifth on the team) and has registered 150 digs so far for the Buccaneers.

Two former Hockomock rivals are now teaming up for the Suffolk Rams, who have played 18 matches this season. Canton’s Chidera Nwankwo is third in kills for the Rams with 82, hitting at a team-best .212 clip. Nwankwo also has a total of 28 blocks, which is second on the team. Taunton’s Alyssa Gibson, a freshman, has played in 14 matches so far and registered 18 kills and seven blocks.

Julia Murphy has hit a couple of milestones in her final year with the UMass Boston volleyball team. The Canton alum recorded her 1,000th career kill in a 3-0 win over Western Connecticut back on September 17th and was named Little East Offensive Player of the Week just two days later. In Murphy’s next game, she recorded her 121st career solo block, which set a new program record for the Beacons.

Westfield volleyball has 10 wins already this season with King Philip graduates Brigid Murray and Micaela Murray both factoring in. Bridget Murray leads the Owls with 499 assists this season, ranking fourth in the MASCAC with 6.61 assists per set. Bridget also has 21 aces on the season, tied for fourth on the Owls. Micaela Murray, in her first year, has three kills, four assists and a team high 53 aces, 0.76 per set – good for first in the MASCAC.

WPI volleyball has three Hockomock players to thank in part for its 17-4 start to the season. King Philip’s Melissa Daigle is third on the team in with 114 kills and also has 55 digs and 13 blocks. Franklin’s Shay Feeley is second on the team in assists with 319 and also has 101 digs and 24 aces, first on the team. Oliver Ames’ Caroline Meyer is third in assists with 35.

Field Hockey

Mansfield’s Janet Maher is just one of five players on Bridgewater State to start all 11 games so far, with the Bears posting a 7-4 record. Maher, a defender, has helped limit opponents to 26 goals against while also registering an assist herself. King Philip’s Kathryn Jacobson has appeared in nine games for the Bears and Foxboro’s Jill Delaney has played two games in goal with just one goal allowed.

Attleboro’s Kelsey Wagner has made two appearances for Duke Blue Devils, the #2 ranked team in the country with an 11-2 record. Wagner has played just under 40 minutes so far this season with three saves.

LIU Post is off to an 8-3 start this season and has been ranked as high as #1 in the NFHCA poll. Oliver Ames graduate Molly Cunha has appeared in nine games so far for the Pioneers.

Four former Hockomock players are making an impression for Merrimack (4-6) field hockey this season. Canton grad Mary McNeil is second on the team in points with four goals and four assists while Franklin’s Hannah Magerman is fourth, having scored three goals with two assists. Milford’s Jessica Palmer has appeared in nine games so far with four starts while Canton’s Lindsey Nolte made her first collegiate appearance earlier this year.

Katie Notarangelo is just one of five players to have started all 11 games of the season for MIT. The Engineers are off to a 9-2 start with Notarangelo playing a big role in midfield. The Foxboro alum has scored twice this season, once in a win over UMass Dartmouth and again in a win over WPI.

Regis College is off to a 6-5 start this season with a pair of former Hockomock players playing a big part. Oliver Ames’ Yvone Abate has started in every single game for the Pride so far. Stoughton’s Ashley Chipman has played in all 11 games with four starts and has netted a pair of goals. For her efforts, Chipman was named NECC Rookie of the Week earlier this month.

Former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Hannah Friend picked up her second NE-10 Rookie of the Week honor earlier this week, helping Saint Anselm’s to a 10-2 start. Friend leads the Hawks with seven goals and two assists for a team-high 16 points. Franklin’s Maddie Bressler and North Attleboro’s Rose Mooney each have a pair of goals and assists for six points. Franklin’s Elizabeth Alie, a senior defender, has started in all 12 games for the Hawks this season while Canton’s Mary Nee, a freshman, has appeared in 11 games and registered one assist.

Former Franklin Panther Sammy Rondeau is second in points for the 7-5 Simmons field hockey squad. Rondeau has potted six goals and notched four assists for the Sharks. Rondeau has scored twice in two games this season, in home wins over Nichlos and Wheelock in September.

Springfield College’s field hockey team has picked up five wins in its first 12 games this season with a pair of Hock alums factoring in. North Attleboro’s Emily Knobel is tied for fifth on the team with five points, scoring once with three assists. Knobel scored against Husson and had assists against Keene St., Husson and Saint Joseph’s. Mansfield’s Allie Skinner has started in all 12 of the Pride’s games so far with one assist.

Taunton’s Katelin Morrissey is tied for second in points for the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth (4-10). Morrissey has scored six goals and added one assist for a total of 13 points. Franklin’s Allison Burke has started five games in net and played more than 400 minutes so far. She has a team-high 48 saves with a 2.33 goals against average.

Oliver Ames graduate Carly Cidado is making an impact in her first year at WPI. The freshman has started all 12 games this season for the Engineers, registering two goals and three assists for seven points – tied for fourth best on the team. Cidado scored in her first ever game and then netted another in a win over Clark last week. She had assists against Bridgewater State, Elms and Smith.

Cross-Country

Former Milford standout Jenise Madden has had an incredible start to her collegiate career, being named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Women’s Cross-Country Rookie of the Week an astounding four times already. Madden was the Bears’ top runner at the James Earley Invitational at Westfield State, finishing in 23:14.83 (22nd out of 459).

Also at Bridgewater State, another first year runner is turning heads. Taunton’s Trevor Wysong was named the MASCAC Men’s Cross-Country Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. Wysong was 50th out of 432, finishing in 27:00.24 at the James Earley Invitational.

Golf

Oliver Ames’ Nick Carter has played in three matches for Saint Anselm’s this season. In the season opening Bowdoin Invitational, Carter shot a 153 to finish ninth overall. At the NE-10 Championships, Carter was 56th with a 169 and then finished 36th at the St. Rose Shootout with a 161.

North Attleboro’s Eric Marchetti has played in three tournaments so far this season for the University of Rhode Island, finishing in the top 65 in each of them. At the Doc Gimmler at Bethpage State Park, Marchetti tied for 35th with a 216, just six strokes over par. At the Hartford Hawks Invitational and the Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge, Marchetti finished 61st overall both times.

Former Sharon Star Has UVM Poised for Big Season

Meg James
Senior co-captain Meg James, a former standout at Sharon High, has UVM women’s soccer poised for a run at the America East crown. (Courtesy of UVM Athletics)

Josh PerryFollowJoshPerry


The Catamounts were so close to history in 2015. The University of Vermont women’s soccer team was an inch away from its first trip to the America East tournament final, but the shot in overtime came back off the crossbar and the University of Albany found a double overtime winner to end UVM’s season.

It was a difficult way to end an otherwise successful season for a program that was only one year removed from going 3-12-2. The Catamounts finished 8-8-2 in 2015, which was their most wins in a season since 2005. Expectations are even higher for 2016 and UVM has mostly lived up them in the non-conference schedule, currently sitting at 5-3-1 after Tuesday’s overtime loss to Dartmouth. Tuesday’s defeat ended a three-game win streak and a four-game unbeaten run.

America East play gets underway on Sunday and senior defender Meg James, a former Hockomock all-star at Sharon, believes that this year’s squad of Catamounts is ready for the challenge.

“I think coming into preseason this year, the team as a whole had a completely different mentality,” James explained, “and we really wanted to come out strong and definitely going into conference play next week we’re really anticipating doing well because we know we can. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

James, who was selected as a co-captain this year, said that the program has been building for the past three years and that the current crop of seniors wants to finish their careers with a title.

“It’s really important to us,” she continued, “and I think everybody who’s coming in after us has felt the same way. Everyone hates losing. Just the chemistry we have this year and everybody’s attitude this year is different and a lot more driven towards winning and that’s great to see.”

There is a lot of talk about attitude as James describes UVM’s chances this year. She describes the conference as being balanced “soccer-wise”, adding that it will come down to which team “wants it more” every game. As the captain and one of the leaders in the middle of the back four, James wants to set the tone for her teammates.

“There’s been days where we should’ve won,” James said, “but we didn’t show up to the game the way we needed to, especially in conference, so I think the majority of the team has a lot of experience with that kind of situation. We’re really looking forward to being there physically and mentally every single conference game.”

If anyone would know how much the team has changed in the past three years, it would be James. After three all-star seasons with Sharon and three Region I Championships with her club team, Scorpions, James became a starter for UVM from the first moment she stepped on the pitch in Burlington. James has started all 53 games that UVM has played the past three years and the first eight of this fall. She has logged more than 1,500 minutes for the Catamounts.

“As a freshman,” James recalled, “I was playing with three senior defenders, so it was definitely an experience and I was really lucky to have that happen. I think they gave me a ton of advice and were good role models for me, so then as sophomore I had a ton of experience under my belt and that’s really helped me the past couple of years.”

She credits her time in high school, as captain of the Eagles, for molding her as a leader today as captain of the Catamounts. “That definitely gave me the foundation to what being a leader is and while it’s very, very different in college soccer I do think some of the groundwork is the same,” James explained.

It is no surprise that James considers herself “a completely different player” than she was at 18 when she first arrived at UVM, but there has also been a significant shift in her style as a center back over the past year. Head coach Kristi Lefebvre, now in her sixth year, moved the Catamounts to a more possession-based formula in 2015 and that has made James one of the first outlets for goal kicks.

James laughed and added, “That’s a huge change for me because I did a hundred times more dribbling than I’ve done in my life and I’ve gotten to touch the ball way more in that style of play. It’s kind of an adjustment for me, but it’s definitely exciting. I feel like I’m way more involved in the offense.

“When I have space to dribble from my 18 to midfield and I know I’m not as offensively-talented as everybody else, it’s a little nerve-wracking but my coach has done a really good job of making me feel secure and confident.”

Regardless of how she feels on the pitch, James knows that she sets the mood for the team and is more aware than ever of her impact on her teammates.

“Being on the field is emotional and now, as a captain, I really have to not focus on my emotions but how I affect the team as a whole,” she reflected. “As a captain, I have to keep focusing on my energy and my body language and making sure it’s all positive.”

It has been a positive start to the season for James, who was named to two early season all-tournament teams. That was all a prelude to the conference schedule, which begins this weekend. James and the rest of the seniors want to ensure that their final season ends “with a bang.”

“I want to win an America East championship more than anything,” James said. “I think that for us to win that would be my entire college career goal.”

She has also spoken to some of her former club teammates, including former Canton star and current Boston College midfielder Lauren Berman, about the experience of playing in the NCAA tournament and it only adds more motivation to extend this final season as long as possible. But, James is content with where she is and the growth the team has made in the past three years and she is enjoying the final weeks and months of her college career.

“I’ve been playing soccer since I was three years old and it’s insane that as a 21-year-old, my college career is almost over,” James remarked. “Soccer has been such a huge part of my life that I look back on every single high school game, every single Sharon Rec game, every single club game and see how far soccer has taken on me and how much of an impact it’s had on my life.

“I’ve been thinking about that a lot as a senior and it’s sad that it’s almost over but it also makes me want to win even more because I’ve worked my whole life for this that I might as well end it with a win.”

Meg James and the Catamounts will start their quest for an America East title on Sunday when they take on the University of Maine.

The Campus Report: Recap of Fall 2015

North Attleboro's Alex Jette (7) had a career year for Brown. (Photo: Brown Athletics)
North Attleboro’s Alex Jette (7) had a career year for Brown. (Photo: Brown Athletics)

Below is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail RyanLanigan@HockomockSports.com.
By Josh Schafer, HockomockSports.com Student Reporter

Football

The New England Football Conference First Team Defense had a Hockomock flavor this year. Craig Anderson of Franklin led Endicott’s defensive line this year and earned all NEFC First Team honors. Anderson found the quarterback nine times this year along with 44 total tackles. He was also named to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America Division III football first team with a 3.86 GPA as a criminal justice major.
Oliver Ames alum Dean Soucie led Western New England’s defense in his final season with the Golden Bears, totaling 83 tackles en route to a NEFC Conference Championship and was named to the NEFC First Team Defense. In just his second season with the Bison, Brett McEvoy of King Philip led the Nichols college defense with 96 tackles and two interceptions en route to an NEFC First Team selection.
Several former Hockomock athletes contributed to Bridgewater State’s success this season. The Williamson brothers of Oliver Ames were a dynamic duo once again as Carlton Williamson rushed for over 800 yards averaging 5.2 yards per carry while brother Cameron Williamson shined at the safety position with 37 tackles and 2 interceptions. Senior wideout Michael Viola of King Philip played a major role in the passing game, totaling 35 receptions for 550 yards and six touchdowns this season for the Bears.
Alex Jette of North Attleboro had a standout year for Brown University this season as a wideout and return specialist. Earning All-Ivy League honors, Jette was tops in the league with 136.60 yards per game. Jette led the Bears in receptions with 68 grabs for 928 yards and four touchdowns.
The Castleton State Spartans were led this year by senior Quarterback George Busharis who totaled 2,183 passing yards along with 14 TDs while boasting a 62.6% completion percentage.
The MASCAC also had a lot of Hockomock influence on its conference awards. Stoughton’s Joe Wilder, an offensive lineman for Framingham State, was named to the MASCAC First Team along with Taunton’s Asante Easter. Easter, a standout for Fitchburg Stated, finished off his football career for the Falcons contributing 44 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Senior defensive lineman Anthony LaRose of Canton led the UMass Dartmouth defensive line this season with 45 tackles, including seven sacks. He was named to the MASCAC Second Team Defense.
Fitchburg State’s Ty Spencer (Foxboro) shined in his senior season with the Falcons and was named to the MASCAC Second Team Offense. . Spencer caught 55 balls for 688 yards and six TDs. For his career, Spencer finished with the program’s all time marks in receptions (163), receiving yards (2,270) and touchdown catches (21) and was named the  70th annual Nils V. “Swede” Nelson Award winner for Division III for his athletic and academic (3.89 GPA) accomplishments.
Brandon Alves of Stoughton finished up a strong career in Springfield this season with 14 tackles including a sack and a forced fumble.
A pair of former Hockomock standouts were honored with All-Northeast 10 honors for the 2015 season. North Attleboro’s Eric Beckwith and King Philip grad Sam McDonald, both members of the Bentley football team, were named to the All-NE-10 second team. Beckwith, who was also on the second team last season, was an anchor on the offensive line for the Falcons. He started in eight games and had 10 appearances at guard. McDonald had a conference-high seven takeaways with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. It’s the third straight year that the junior led the Falcons in takeaways. North Attleboro’s Paul Norris was selected to the CoSIDA Division II Academic All-America team. Norris is the sixth Academic All-America in Bentley football and just the third first-team selection after earning a 3.60 grade point average as a finance major with minors in both Spanish and natural and applied sciences.
Paul McCarthy of North Attleboro finished his last season at Trinity College with 30 tackles to go along with five interceptions. The former Rocketeer was named to the NESCAC All-Conference First Team Defense.
Mansfield graduates Dylan Finerty and Aurian Dawkins both had strong seasons for Worcester State this fall. Finerty notched 27 tackles while Dawkins had 35 tackles to go along with one interception.
A Hockomock trio dominated the passing game this season at WPI. Quarterback Dan Eckler of Stoughton threw for 2045 yards and 15 TDs with help from his top two targets, Franklin’s Brandon Eccher and Stoughton’s Marcus Middleton. Eccher led the charge with 41 receptions for 644 yards and seven touchdowns including a 96 yard catch and run against Worcester State. Middleton also contributed heavily as Eckler’s other go to target compiling 27 catches for 305 yards and two touchdowns.

Men’s Soccer

Scott Levy of Canton finished up a successful career with the Bentley Falcons this Fall as he earned NE-10 All-League honors and earned a spot on the first team for the second time in his four year career. Levy tied for the team lead in assists with six and also added added goals this season. In his four years Levy started 52 games for the Falcons contributing 46 points with 19 goals and eight assists.
North Attleboro junior midfielder Josh Ocel led the Brandeis Judges into the third round of the NCAA tournament after being named to the UAA Conference First Team. Ocel was selected as a second team All-American leading his squad with four goals and 10 assists, combining for 18 points on the season. Josh Ocel follows his brother Sam Ocel (2013) who was selected as a third team All American. Josh and Sam Ocel are just the second sibling pair in all of Brandies athletics to both get All American recognition.
David MacKinnon of Oliver Ames started 16 games in net for the Hartford Hawks this season. MacKinnon earned a spot on the America East All Academic Team for the third time in his career. MacKinnon had a 1.19 goals against average, including three shutouts and has a 3.93 GPA as an accounting major.
Foxboro alum Sawyer Fleck concluded with Bridgewater State by helping the Bears win the MASCAC Championship game. The Bears qualified for the NCAA tournament but were knocked out by MIT. Fleck played in 20 games and had six assists.
Senior captain Taylor Sjoberg of Mansfield finished up a successful career at Mass Maritime this season. Sjoberg was a rock in the backline for the Bucs over his four years, starting every game this season, and also attributed two goals and an assist in his time as a Buccaneer.
Chris Murray of Canton shined in his final season with WPI this fall. Murray tallied seven goals and 18 points which were both tops on the squad. Murray earned a spot on the NEWMAC All Second Team through his efforts this season.
Former North Attleboro player Justin Freitas broke the Dean College record for goals (24) in a season and for points in a season (58) and was named to an NJCAA DI Third Team All American.

Women’s Soccer

Kristi Kirshe of Franklin led Williams College in scoring this season as the team won the Division III National Title. Kirshe finished the year with 33 points (12 goals and 9 assists) earning second team All-Region.
After transferring to Boston College, Lauren Berman of Canton had an impressive first campaign with the Eagles. Berman finished fourth on the team in scoring with three goals and four assists.
Mikayla Williams of Stoughton played her last games on the back line for Coastal Carolina this Fall..Williams has been a consistent player for the Chanticleers logging over a 1000 minutes a season for the past three seasons and also contributing two goals and four assists.
Another former Black Knight had a standout year at Massasoit. Shelby Sprague was named an NJCAA Second Team All American after scoring 25 goals and picking up 54 total points. Sprague was the first Warrior to get All American since 1991.
Junior forward Victoria Floeck of Taunton led the charge up front this year for the Fitchburg State Falcons. Floeck had two goals and three assists totaling to seven points on the season putting atop the Falcons scoring sheet.
With 27 points (11 goals and five assists) senior Alicia Macomber of Stoughton was electrifying for Worcester State in her final season. Macomber was named the MASCAC Player of the Year for the second straight year after another strong season.

Field Hockey

Senior Abigail Tepper of Foxboro will be missed in a big way next fall. Tepper led the team with 68 points (30 goals, 8 assists). Her outstanding senior campaign landed her on the First Team All-Region squad and was named Player of the Year for the Commonwealth Coast Conference.
Franklin’s Allison Burke had a solid year between the posts for UMass Dartmouth this Fall. She finished the year with 1.62 GAA including two shutouts.
Mansfield’s Janet Maher helped lead the back line for Bridgewater State this year. In her only her second season as a Bear, she was named to the Little East Conference All-Second Team.
Earning a spot on the Coaches Association All New England East Region All-Star Team Katie Notarangelo of Foxboro led the midfield for MIT this past season. Notarangelo also contributed two goals and an assist this season.
Sammy Rondeau of Franklin proved consistent this season for Simmons College as she averaged just over a point a game for the Sharks. Rondeau finished the year with 23 points (nine goals, five assists).
Fellow Panther alumni Elizabeth Alie found her stride this fall at Saint Anselm College. Alie led the backline for the Hawks as the team boasted their boasted GAA in program history. Alie earned NE-10 All Conference First Team honors along with second team All-American honors.

Volleyball

It was a banner year for Babson volleyball and Franklin graduate Alicia Wilde played a vital role. Wilde had 273 kills, third on the team, for the Beavers who tied the program record for wins in a season. Playing for coach Eric Neely (brother of current Franklin boys basketball coach CJ Neely), Wilde finished her career with 944 kills and 569 digs.
Former North Attleboro star Kelsey Weymouth concluded a strong four-year career for Stonehill. The two-time Hockomock League MVP finished her career with 707 kills (224 coming her senior year) and 839 digs.
It was another year of Hockomock alums playing a big role for WPI volleyball. King Philip graduate Melissa Daigle was second on the team in kills with 250 (just one kill behind the team-leader) while also adding 148 digs. Franklin’s Shay Feeley was the team leader in assists with 441 and added 166 digs and 12 kills while Oliver Ames’ Caroline Meyer had 42 assists.

Berman Returns Home to Shine for Boston College

Lauren Berman
Former Canton star Lauren Berman (3) transfered from Maryland to BC to deal with concussions and has started all 17 games for the Eagles this fall. (Boston College Athletics)

By Josh Perry, Managing Editor

In the first game of her sophomore season at the University of Maryland, former HockomockSports.com co-Player of the Year Lauren Berman suffered a knee injury that kept her off the pitch for a few games. In her first game back, Berman suffered a “bad concussion,” but instead of telling the Terrapins coaching or training staff she hid the injury and played again a few days later.

She suffered a second concussion in the span of 48 hours and instead of being out for just a few games, Berman was forced to red-shirt and missed the entire season. More troubling, the concussions also forced her to drop a semester’s worth of coursework.

During a spring practice, back on the pitch and prepared to continue making an impact for the Terrapins, Berman, who played every game her freshman season, suffered another concussion.

“I came back in the spring,” she explained, “and was ready to go again and got another concussion. After that one, I just wanted to be closer to home because I kept getting them and I didn’t want to be sitting at Maryland bored, by myself.”

Berman approached Maryland coach Jonathan Morgan about the possibility of a transfer to a school closer to home. Morgan understood the situation and agreed to help her with process. Berman received her release papers and explored her options back home, eventually choosing Boston College.

Back home, just down the road from where she starred in high school and for the Scorpions club team, Berman has started all 17 games this season for the Eagles, scoring two goals and adding four assists as BC battles to try and reach the NCAA tournament.

“I love being home in Boston,” said Berman. “My parents love it too because they don’t have to drive eight hours to watch a soccer game.”

“I have had good friends on the team that I grew up playing club soccer with, so it’s been really fun playing with them all over again. The chemistry is still there.”

BC is currently 10-6-1 and plays Sunday afternoon against Miami needing points to make a stronger case for the tournament.

“There were a couple of games that we should’ve won that we didn’t,” Berman explained, “so it kind of put us in a crunch at the end of the season.”

The pressure of the tournament push is a blessing for the red-shirt sophomore, who was forced to contemplate the possibility that her soccer career was over before her junior year of college.

“It’s awesome and it’s something that I can’t take for granted at all,” she reflected.

“I thought for some time that maybe this is a bad idea – it’s your brain. And I thought maybe you’re not supposed to go back and my parents were worried all the time if I got another concussion and doctors were saying maybe I shouldn’t play.”

Berman thought for a moment and added, “It’s so great being out there every day and not taking it for granted and have so much appreciation for the sport and to be able to play it at such a high level.”

In high school, Berman said that she had dealt with a hip injury but never missed games for Canton. She had to sit for a couple of months from her club team, but nothing in the same category as what she has dealt with in the past year.

When asked what she would say to other players who are dealing with injuries, particularly concussions, and who, like her, chose to keep it from coaches, Berman responded, “I 100 percent understand because I did the exact same thing, but your future and your long-term  health is far more important than a couple of games that could potentially ruin the rest of your experience as an athlete.”

She still keeps in touch with the Maryland coaches who gave her the first taste of Div I college soccer and appreciates that Morgan “got it” when she told him that she wanted to be closer to home and to her family to deal with the concussions.

Once her release papers were official, Berman reached out to local coaches at the club level and her former Canton coach Paul Turner, for whom she scored more than 100 goals and led the Bulldogs to the 2011 state title game. She narrowed her choices to the three local teams that tried to recruit her in high school, UMass, BC, and Providence College.

After meeting with the coaching staffs back-to-back-to-back, Berman selected the Eagles.

“They were in the ACC, which was the best soccer league out of the three of them and I really wanted to play in the highest soccer league I could,” she explained.

“I just thought it would be more of a challenge. Before I was looking at BC and Maryland and it didn’t work out the first time, so I thought maybe this is the time to go.”

There were no guarantees that she would jump into the BC program and get right onto the pitch, but Berman has stepped into the starting 11 and has made an immediate impact. She had to “start all over again,” but her excitement overwhelmed any fears.

“I felt like Maryland was the school I really wanted to go to,” she said, “and when I go to visit friends and go on the campus I’m going to be all nostalgic. But, coming home and being here in the city…there’s something really rewarding about that too.”

Having her parents just minutes away from the Eagles’ home field in Newton and being able to go home for dinner once a week as she gets physical therapy (for a “stupid, lingering injury”) in Canton has reinforced that this was the right decision.

“It’s honestly the best thing in the world,” she said. “That’s why I wanted to come home in the first place. My parents are the most important people in the world to me.”

The home cooking has worked wonders, as Berman is playing at the same level that she reached during her promising freshman season for the Terrapins.

It has been a welcome return home – to Canton and to the pitch.

Josh Perry can be contacted at JoshPerry@hockomocksports.com and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.

The Campus Report: Franklin Alum Shine Bright

Below is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail RyanLanigan@HockomockSports.com.

Football

Bentley suffered a one point loss to New Haven over the weekend that saw a lot of former Hockomock players in action. King Philip grad Sam McDonald had seven tackles with a pass break up and an interception. North Attleboro’s Paul Norris had a tackle for the Falcons while Mansfield’s Kyle Wisnieski and Taunton’s Shane Wellman each fielded a kick return. Franklin alum Andrew Parent saw some time for New Haven in the win.
Former Franklin star Colton Cardinal notched his first two career tackles for Boston College over the weekend. In the Eagles’ drubbing of Howard, Cardinal had two tackles that were both for losses. His first was for a loss of three yards and the second for a loss of two yards. BC is now 2-0 on the season with just three points against.
Bridgewater State fell on the road on a trip to New Jersey but got some Hockomock alums made an impact. King Philip grad Michael Viola was the team’s leading receiver with four catches and 20 yards. Oliver Ames’ Carlton Williamson had a team-high 17 carries for 65 yards on the ground. OA’s Cameron Williamson was one of the top players for the Bears’ defense with five tackles.
It was a defensive battle between Mount Ida and Plymouth State over the weeknd and a pair of two Hockomock alums played their part. For Mount Idea, Mansfield alum James Comer recorded three tackles. For Plymouth State, Foxboro’s Alton George had four tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble.
A handful of former Hockomock athletes made their way onto the box score in Springfield’s win over UMass Dartmouth. For Springfield, Oliver Ames grad Colin Lozzi had three tackles and Stoughton alum Brandon Alves had one. For UMass Dartmouth, Mansfield’s Lou Petrella had seven tackles, Taunton’s Marcel Flynn had six tackles, Canton’s Anthony LaRose had five tackles, including one for a loss and Mansfield’s David Collins had one tackle.
Western New England picked up a huge win over Westfield State, 31-0. For WNE, Foxboro’s Balaz Busznyak got his first touch of his collegiate career with a four yard rush, OA’s Dean Soucie had six tackles, a forced fumble, two tackles for loss and a pass break up. For Westfield, Mansfield alum Nick Bosari had nine tackles, including a half a sack, King Philip’s Pat Lydon notched a tackle and Stoughton’s Pat Raeke had a tackle.
It was the connection between two former Hockomock stars that lead WPI to another victory over the weekend. Stoughton’s Dan Eckler tossed for 381 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown pass came in the first quarter on a 96 yard connection to Franklin’s Brandon Eccher, who finished with eight receptions for 168 yards. Stoughton grad Marcus Middleton caught a pair of passes from Eckler for 34 yards, including a 27 yard reception. Check out the video of Eckler’s pass to Eccher, courtesy of WPI athletics.

Boys Soccer

Canton’s Chris Murray noticed a pair of assists to help WPI continue its undefeated start of the season. Against Framingham State, Murray linked up with Pav Christidis in the first half and then set up Ryan Tropeano for the game winner just minutes before the final whistle. Through six games, Murray has a team-best six points with a pair of goals and two assists.
Former HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Kelley-Rex Player of the Year Zach Scafati netted her first goal of the season for Assumption, but the Greyhounds suffered a 2-1 loss to LIU Post. Scafati finished off a corner at the back post. It was Scafati’s second career goal for Assumption after he scored his first last year at Saint Rose.
North Attleboro’s Josh Ocel helped to deliver Brandeis head coach Michael Coven his 500th career victory against Babson – literally. Ocel’s free kick found the head of senior Jake Picard in double overtime to give the Judges the win. Ocel’s perfectly placed free kick into the area was headed home to the near post for the win. It was Ocel’s second assist of the season and second in the last three games.
There was a lot of Hockomock influence in Wentworth’s 2-1 double overtime win over Mass. Maritime last week. It was Franklin’s Joe Kalil who tied the game in the second half to open up his 2015 account. For Mass. Maritime, Mansfield’s Taylor Sjoberg and Attleboro’s Eoin Grimes each started while Mansfield’s Alex Thompson made an appearance off the bench.

Girls Soccer

Bentley picked up its biggest win of the season last week with an 8-0 throttling over Concordia. In the win, North Attleboro grad Jamie Grinavic scored her first two goals of the season inside a seven minute span. First Grinavic converted a breakaway and then just over six minutes later she slotted home her second.
The matchup between Boston College and Providence over the weekend featured some of the Hockomock’s best talent from recent years. Canton grad and former Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman picked up an assist for the Eagles. However, it was Canton alum Hailee Duserick and Oliver Ames grad Kendall Andrew and Providence that got the win. Andrew has started all of the Friars’ games while Duserick has started four and appeared in all eight.
Former Stoughton standout Rachel Berkowsky netted her first goal of the season earlier this month in Eastern Connecticut State’s 5-1 win over Johnson and Wales. It was Berkowsky’s third career goal so far as the Warriors are off to a 3-1-1 start.
The 2013 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Kelley-Rex Player of the Year Kristi Kirshe scored a game winner in overtime for Williams on Sunday to complete the Ephs comeback against Castleton. Kirshe’s goal marked her second of the weekend after she opened her 2015 account on the road at Trinity. Against Castleton, Kirshe put her shot into the side netting in the 99th minute for the win.

Volleyball

WPI is off to a 5-1 start this season and a couple of Hockomock graduates have been a big reason. Franklin’s Shay Feeley leads the team with 83 assists, averaging 4.37 assists per set. Feeley also has four kills, 12 aces and 14 digs. Offensively, King Philip grad Melissa Daigle has 40 kills, which is second on the season. Her 49 digs rank third on the team and she also has six aces.
Former Franklin star Alicia Wilde has helped Babson start with a 6-1 record this season. Wilde, playing for head coach Eric Neely, brother to Franklin hoops coach CJ Neely, is currently tied for second on the team with 46 kills, averaging 2.19 kills a game. Wilde has nine aces so far, which is second on the team and has 53 digs, which is also second on the team.
Mansfield alum and former Hockomock League All Star Lauren Beecher has played a big role for Dickinson so far. Despite the team’s 3-7 record, Beecher has been strong with 57 kills, 13 blocks and 12 digs.
Meanwhile at Stonehill, senior Kelsey Weymouth has helped the Skyhawks to a 4-3 start. Weymouth, a former North Attleboro Rocketeer, has a team-high 76 kills (3.04 kills per set), 10 blocks and 79 digs. In Stonehill’s 3-0 sweep of Dominican College, Weymouth slammed home a match best 12 kills with a 41% attack percentage.

Field Hockey

A pair of the 2014 Kelley-Rex winning Mansfield Hornets have helped Springfield off to a bright start. The Pride has gone 3-1 this season, allowing just five goals. Former Hockomock League MVP Allie Skinner has played in all four of Springfield’s games while fellow former Mansfield alum Hannah Boylan has appeared once.
Former Hockomock League MVP Katie Notarangelo has played a bigger role for MIT in her sophomore season so far. Notarangelo scored her first goal of the season back at the beginning of the month when the Engineers beat Lasell College 6-3.
The 2013 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Player of the Year Kellie Stigas has only started one game for Northeastern this season but she ranked fourth on the team in points. Stigas has appeared in all six games so far and netted her first goal in a 2-1 win against Dartmouth.
Franklin alum Samantha Rondeau is one of Simmons top players are just a sophomore. Rondeau has three goals and an assists for seven points. Simmons is off to a 5-1 start this season and Rondeau scored a gaol in a 2-1 over MIT and then added a pair of goals and an assist in a 9-0 blanking of Wheelock.

The Campus Report: Beginning of the Fall 2015 Season

Below is an update on former Hockomock League athletes currently competing in collegiate sports. If you would like to submit an update, please e-mail RyanLanigan@HockomockSports.com.

Football

Three Hockomock alums were on the winning side as WPI edged out MIT over the weekend. Stoughton’s Dan Eckler threw for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns, completing nearly 80% of his passes. On the ground, Eckler ran for 58 yards and a touchdown. Just like last year, Eckler’s favorite target was Franklin graduate Brandon Eccher, who caught six passes for a team-high 63 yards and a touchdown. WPI junior Marcus Middleton appeared on the gridiron for the first time since high school and caught a pass for 16 yards. For his efforts, Dan Eckler was named the Liberty League’s Offensive Performer of the Week.
Taunton’s Devi DeCourcey had six total tackles, including a sack, and added a pair of pass break ups to help Bridgewater State beat Curry 42-21. OA grad Nick Cidado completed his first collegiate pass and had four punts, including a long of 48 yards. Fellow OA grad Carlton Williamson was the leading rusher for the Bears with 80 yards on 13 carries.
Mansfield’s George Busharis completed 26 passes for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Castleton’s 21-10 season opening win over Plymouth State. Foxboro’s Alton George played for Plymouth State and recorded a tackle for loss.
A trio of former Hockomock players played their way onto the box score in Framingham State’s 42-6 win over Endicott. Foxboro’s Derek Gilreath made his debut and hauled in his first career catch on a 14-yard play. Mansfield’s Greg Donahue notched a tackle for the Rams. On the other side, Franklin’s Craig Anderson had three total tackles and had a sack.
Foxboro’s Ty Spencer hauled in two touchdown passes for Fitchburg State for his 16th and 17th career touchdown catches. His 17th career TD catch is now tied for 2nd on the Falcon’s all-time receiving touchdown list. Taunton’s Asante Easter had three total tackles for the Falcons while Canton grad Sterlin Garvin made his collegiate debut with a 19 yard kickoff return.
There were a lot of Hockomock alum that made an impact in UMass Dartmouth’s 41-6 win over Mount Idea. Canton’s Anthony LaRose was one of the more productive players on defense with six tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss. Mansfield’s Lou Petrella added a pair of tackles with 1.5 sacks. Taunton’s Marcel Flynn had five tackles and Mansfield’s David Collins had a tackle. On offense, Taunton’s Terrence Gibson’s first college game saw him get eight carries for 30 yards. For Mount Idea, Mansfield’s James Comer had a tackle.
In Westfield State’s big 44-21 win over Nichols, Stoughton graduate Pat Raeke registered five tackles for the Owls. Mansfield alum Nick Bosari made his college debut with a pair of tackles. For Nichols, Brett McEvoy started his sophomore year with a team-high 14 tackles and had three tackles for loss. McEvoy also had punting duties for the Bison, with six punts, a long of 51 yards and two punts placed inside the 20.
Canton’s James Bourikas made his collegiate debut, register a tackle in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s 37-0 blanking of Norwich football.
Worcester State suffered a 41-28 setback to Salve Regina over the weekend. For the Seahawks, Franklin grad Robert Dellorco had a tackle. For Worcester State, Mansfield’s Aurian Dawkins had six tackles and fellow former Hornet Dylan Finerty had five tackles and a tackle for a loss. Recent Sharon grad Adrian Lingo made his collegiate debut with a pair of tackles.
Western New England opened up their 2015 campaign with a 34-14 win over Springfield and one former Hock alum was a big reason for the Golden Bears’ strong defensive performance. Former OA standout Dean Soucie recorded eight tackles and also recovered a fumble. For Springfield, OA alum Colin Lozzi had three tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Stoughton’s Brandon Alves had a pair of tackles as well.

Men’s Soccer

Former Canton standout Scott Levy assisted on the game winning goal for Bentley in 3-1 win over Caldwell.
North Attleboro graduate Josh Ocel converted a penalty kick in the 105th minute to give Brandeis a 2-1 win against Hardin-Simmons in Texas. It was Ocel’s first goal of the season
Foxboro grad Sawyer Fleck recorded his first assist of the season, setting up the Bears’ opening goal in a 3-1 win. Fleck’s direct kick found the head of Jonathan Pires for the opener. Sawyer’s younger brother Riley Fleck (FHS 2015) made his collegiate debut in the game.
A pair of Hockomock alums have helped the Curry men’s soccer team to a 3-0 start to the season. OA grad David Stapleton scored a goal and had an assist in an 8-0 win over Lyndon State. Before that, Stoughton’s Steven DePina had a goal in the Colonel’s 10-1 over Wheelock.
Canton graduate Chris Murray collected his first two goals of the 2015 season as WPI cruised to a 4-1 win over Worcester State. Murray’s first goal came in the 21st minute off a free kick and then added his second in the 52nd minute.

Women’s Soccer

Oliver Ames graduate Kristina Simonson picked up two assists for Babson over the weekend. The Beavers notched a 6-0 over Simmons as Simonson had an assist in each half.
Former Hockomock League MVP Lauren Berman scored her first goal for Boston College last week. After transferring from Maryland to Boston College this season, Berman scored in the 30th minute and BC went on to beat Harvard 2-1. Berman assisted on a goal for the Eagles over the weekend but BC suffered a 2-1 setback to St. John’s in overtime.
Mansfield alum Kelly English tied a career-high with 12 saves in net for Nichols women’s soccer team and the Bison picked up a 4-1 win over Mount Holyoke. In Nichols’ 2-1 setback to Clark, English made nine saves in net.