Mansfield’s Grady Sullivan and Canton’s Liam Shea race after the ball in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. — With the playoffs on the horizon next week, both Mansfield and Canton entered Thursday night’s contest looking to prepare for the postseason.
Mission accomplished, for both sides.
The Hornets twice took the lead and the Bulldogs answered each time, and both sides had quality chances inside the final minute for a potential game-winner. But instead the two teams — which could be potential first-round opponents in a week — settled for a 2-2 draw.
“It was definitely a fair result,” said longtime Canton head coach Danny Erickson. “I thought we played really well with the ball and we attack really well, and I thought we should have finished several more chances but I was really happy with how we attacked. Mansfield played really well defensively and they were really dangerous on the counterattack, they totally deserved their goals.
“It could have gone either way, really good high school game that went back and forth with a lot of fight by both teams. I was proud we came back twice from trailing, so it was kind of a neutral tie, it was a fair result.”
Canton sits at #12 in the latest MIAA Division 2 rankings and should host their first-round game. But any deep tournament requires going on the road and going against tough defenses like the Bulldogs did on Thursday night.
And if anybody knows about going on the road and getting a result in the tournament, it’s Canton. The Bulldogs won four games on the road last year in the playoffs to reach the Division 2 state final.
“I thought [Mansfield] was very dangerous on that counterattack, and they had some good chances that they didn’t finish on,” Erickson said. “I said multiple times to my staff that this was a great test for us, this is what we’re going to feel like dealing with in a week or two.”
Although the Hornets saw their lead disappear twice, it was a good result. Mansfield came in at #22 in the latest rankings, which would travel to #12 — just one spot away from where Canton sits currently. That means Mansfield is likely to see a similar opponent in a week.
“For us, it was a good tie even though they came back on us,” said Mansfield head coach Steve Sheridan. “The way we’ve been playing, it was a good tie but we’re starting to at least score some goals. We’ve got four goals in the last two games. We’re looking for someone to be a finisher.”
Mansfield has been up and down with its offense this year, scoring six goals in a two-game span at the end of September, then suffered a shutout at Canton. The Hornets bounced back with five goals in two games but then went scoreless for three straight before finishing the season with a pair of goals in each of their last two games.
The first of the two on Thursday night came less than 10 minutes into the contest. After the teams traded good chances in the first five minutes — a tight-angle shot from Canton’s Jake McCabe that was knocked down and smothered by Mansfield keeper Liam Doyle, and a half-volley bid from Mansfield’s Grady Sullivan a moment later that was just wide of the post — the Hornets cashed in on the counter.
A corner from the visitors was quickly cleared and the Hornets countered with pace, combining in the midfield before getting into the attacking third. Senior Nate Kablik found junior Lucas DeSousa and, without hesitation, he ripped a hard shot that knuckled near goal and found its way into the back of the net despite the keeper getting a hand on it.
Canton knocked on the door throughout the final 30 minutes of the first half but couldn’t find an equalizer. McCabe’s service in the 25th minute found Owen Morrissey but his header flashed wide. Five minutes later, a creative flick off a corner from McCabe set up Jack Lauro at the near post but his bid was off.
Right before half, Carson Eagles had a go but Doyle made the diving stop the preserve the 1-0 lead at the break.
The lead didn’t last very long after the break as the Bulldogs came out of halftime and put the pressure on the hosts right away. Caden Mirliani teed up McCabe for a half-volley that forced Doyle into a difficult save on a bounce in the 41st minute. On the ensuing corner, senior Zaza Francoeur connected with a header at the far post that was tipped over the bar by Doyle.
Finally, in the 43rd minute, Canton cashed in. McCabe raced down the left flank along the edge of the area and slid a pass back between a pair of defenders right to the penalty spot where Eagles buried a one-timer to make it 1-1.
Mansfield went back in front right at the midway point of the second half. A long throw into the area from Kablik was tracked down and settled by Aiden Steele, and as the defense collapsed, he laid a pass back to left back Elliot Scholes for a one-time blast through traffic and in for a 2-1 lead.
The lead only lasted 10 minutes though as Canton came back again. This time it was freshman Vlad Francoeur, who took down a quick throw from McCabe and cut in towards the center of the pitch. A step over granted him a bit of space and he unleashed a bending shot to the far post that bounced once and just snuck inside the post to tie it 2-2.
Mansfield (4-9-3 Hockomock, 5-10-3 overall) concluded its regular season and awaits its destination for the first round. Canton (7-5-4, 7-6-4) wraps up its season on Friday at Randolph.
Boys Soccer
North Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro broke into the win column, riding a first half goal to pick up two points against visiting North Attleboro. After a nice defensive play in the midfield by junior Ryan Flaherty, the Warriors were able to push forward into the attack. A nice run from senior Joel Gygi down the left side resulted in a cross that was parried by the keeper but right to senior Alex Penders, who blasted a low shot into the net for the lone goal of the game in the 23rd minute.
Attleboro, 1 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Attleboro took the lead in the first half but Sharon found a late equalizer to split the points. Esvin Morales scored off of an assist from Alex Vecchioli in the first half, and the Bombardiers carried that lead late into the game before Sharon’s Adam Eastman headed in a cross with five minutes left to tie it.
Taunton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 8 – Final – Oliver Ames had an offensive outburst to the tune of seven half goals on its way to a win over visiting Taunton. Sophomore Casey Milliken had a first half hat trick and capped OA’s scoring with his fourth goal in the second half. Andrew Martins added a first half brace (both assisted by Ryan Linhares), Mirray Dasilva had a goal and an assist, and Jason Zalis netted his second goal of the season in the win.
Milford, 9 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Milford’s offense was clicking on all cylinders in a big win on the road at Stoughton. Eduardo Santana had a big day with a first half hat trick, twice hooking up with Jonny Castro and one assist from John Borges. Castro had a third assist in the opening half, setting up Arthur Tome — who finished with a brace and two assists. Nate Dinis (from Nick Ribeiro), Marcello Alves (from Miguel De Olivera), Danny Da Silva, and Andre Baiano also scored for the Scarlet Hawks.
Franklin, 1 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Franklin scored the lone goal of the game just past the midway point of the second half to earn a hard-fought two points on the road against a tough Mansfield squad. Andrew O’Neill was there to pounce on the rebound of a shot from Will Kryzak in the 63rd minute for the lone goal of the game. “Mansfield really made us work for this one,” said Franklin head coach Fran Bositis. Mansfield applied a lot of pressure over the final 15 minutes but couldn’t find the equalizer. Mansfield coach Steve Sheridan praised his defense, highlighting strong performances from Brendan Flynn and goalie Liam Doyle.
King Philip, 3 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Jake McCabe recorded a second half hat trick to lead Canton to an important two points against visiting King Philip. McCabe had an assist on Canton’s opener, just three minutes in, using a clever touch on a near post run to set up freshman Vlad Francoeur for an open night right in front. The Warriors leveled the match just under 10 minutes later as Andrew Seropian played a great through ball to Matt Crago, who tucked a shot past the keeper in the 12th minute. The Bulldogs went back ahead in the 29th minute as sophomore Owen Morrissey notched his first career goal by heading in a cross to the far post from senior Carson Eagles. In the second half, McCabe scored twice inside the first 15 minutes, racing onto a ball over the top and beating the keeper 1-v-1, and then off of a deflected throw-in in the 54th minute to make it 5-1. King Philip scored twice in the final 10 minutes, first off of a deflection for a goal to Deven Patel, and then in the final moments when junior Keagan Fletcher played classmate Jack Morgan through for a breakaway.
Canton, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Ella Pisani scored a brace and the KP defense was able to quiet Canton’s potent attack to pick up an impressive win and move alone into first place in the Kelley-Rex division. Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn tapped in a corner, assisted by Kylie Menendez, in the 28th minute for what turned out to be the game-winner. Pisani would add a pair of second half goals to seal the win. The first came with 19 minutes to play, taking a pass from Menendez and firing a shot over the keeper from 25 yards. With two minutes left, Pisani tapped in a perfect cross from Heidi Lawrence. Lauren Casper got the clean sheet in net, making five saves. KP coach Gary Pichel made a point of praising his back line, Grace Lawler, Rihanna Mason, Rylie Wesley, and Lamothe-Vaughn for its play in the shutout.
Foxboro, 1 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – North scored in the closing seconds to rescue a point against Foxboro. Trailing by a goal late, Emma Pratt scored the equalizer on a rebound after a cross from Kaitlyn Joyce. The Warriors had the majority of possession throughout and took the lead when Neve Taylor found the back of the net from a Lindsey Resnick assist.
Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Mansfield and Franklin were unable to find the back of the net and settled for a point apiece in a hard-fought game. Franklin coach Tom Geysen said that it was evenly matched and well-played by both teams, while Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said there was a playoff intensity to the match. Mansfield keeper Olivia Salisbury made four saves to earn her fifth clean sheet.
Stoughton, 4 @ Milford, 3 – Final – Stoughton rallied from a three-goal deficit and Makenzie O’Connor scored with just two minutes to play to secure a dramatic come-from-behind victory. Ava Baglione scored twice and Dani Atherton added a third to put the Hawks into a 3-0 lead. Shayla Ford scored once to get back within two before halftime and then added her second to make it 3-2 after the break. Bianca Casna tied the game for the Black Knights, before O’Connor, who also had an assist, fired in the winner.
Oliver Ames, 6 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Jenna Gilman scored twice to lead OA to a big road win Emma Gavin, Mary Cross, Jolie Diaz, and Laney Carroll each added one for Oliver Ames in the win while Lucinda Li Cotter had three assists and Sophia Byron had one Jenna Nelson and Ali Manson also added strong performances for the visitors. Juliana Matos scored Taunton’s lone goal on an assist from Emily Calderon and keeper Ashlyn Hebert made eight saves. Taunton coach Dan Borges was happy with his team’s effort and aggression in the second half and the way the Tigers kept fighting despite being behind.
Field Hockey
Sharon, 0 @ Attleboro, 7 – Final – Junior Siobhan Landers scored a hat trick and senior Marley Young had three assists as Attleboro rolled to a big win at home. Landers scored a trio of goals, including one on a stroke, senior Jordan Mooney added a pair of goals, and both sophomore Nora Desrosiers and junior Bailey Ellis scored once in the win. Senior Alyvia Bessette also had an assist while sophomore Siany Ortez recorded the shutout in net.
Foxboro, 3 vs. North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro junior Mary Collins scored twice and added an assist on the third as the Warriors earned a hard-fought win over North Attleboro. Jenny Gallagher opened the scoring for Foxboro on a pass from Collins, who then scored back-to-back goals for the Warriors. Mia Dinunzio and Mya Waryas had the assists on Foxboro’s second goal while Val Beigel and Dinunzio notched assists on the third tally. Beigel had a standout performance in the midfield for Foxboro while Waryas and Collins both played well offensively.
Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Franklin scored twice in the second quarter, and then once in each the third and fourth, to pick up a win over visiting Mansfield. After a scoreless first quarter, the Panthers got on the board just over midway through the second when Haley Wernig buried an unassisted goal. The Panthers doubled their lead with a minute left in the half as Sydney Rogan set up Kaitlyn Carney to make it 2-0. In the second half, Wernig got her second (from Chloe Essam) with less than a minute left in the third, and Payten Crandall made it 4-0 (from Carney) less than two minutes into the fourth. Devon Barry had the shutout in net for the hosts.
Stoughton, 1 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Stoughton returned from a trip to Milford with its first win of the season, recording a 1-0 victory over the Scarlet Hawks. Carly Sanda scored for the Black Knights, converting a pass from Katherine Giroux. Kerry Driscoll and Cat Melo played excellent defense throughout the game to help seal the win for the Black Knights.
Canton, 5 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Deadlocked at 2-2 at halftime, Canton used a strong second half to secure a key win on the road. Freshman Carolyn Schiavo had a hat trick to pace the offense while Audrey Koen and Ellie Bohane each scored once for the Bulldogs. Abby Macdonald and Mara Boldy (from Kelly Holmes) scored first half goals for King Philip.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. – Oliver Ames scored once in each half to emerge from a defensive battle with Taunton for the win. Erin Cottam scored both goals for the Tigers with Julia Maclaine recording the assist each time. Olivia O’Rourke had the shutout in net for the visitors.
Volleyball
Canton, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip took care of business, earning a three-set sweep of visiting Canton (25-9, 25-14, 25-15). The Warriors continued to play well at the net with a balanced attack: senior Emily Sawyer (two blocks) had 11 kills while classmates Sami Shore (two aces) Ahunna James (nine digs), and Olivia O’Neil (five digs) each chipped in with six kills apiece. For Canton, Sally Hoban and Fatima Sidibay played well at the net while Kelly Schiavo and Zoe Scibelli played good defense.
Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Taylor Lacerda and Makayla Kuykendall both had strong games as Franklin notched another 3-0 win (25-17, 25-17, 25-22), this time against a solid Mansfield squad. Lacerda had 11 kills in the win, adding five digs, a block, and an ace while Kuykendall recorded 16 digs, six kills, and four aces.
Foxboro, 2 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final
Stoughton, 3 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Stoughton notched one of its best wins of the season, going on the road and grabbing a 3-1 win over the Scarlet Hawks. Patrik Oliveira anchored the defense for the Black Knights with 12 digs.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames bounced back from a close first set loss to win three straight, taking a 3-1 decision (22-25, 25-7, 25-20, 25-21) over Taunton. Junior Sarah Hilliard continued her strong play at the net with 21 kills and three aces, sophomore Clare Kavoulis had 39 assists, Maddie Homer added 17 digs, Courtney Raymond chipped in with eight aces and five kills, and Addyson Smock finished with six kills and four blocks.
Sharon, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Attleboro took two in a row to fend off a stiff test from visiting Sharon, 3-1 (25-8, 21-25, 25-13, 25-17). Julia Leonardo led the offense with 16 kills, nine digs, and two aces, Ellie Shelton added seven kills, and Addie Shelton chipped in with six kills and four aces. Natalie Brojek orchestrated the offense with 30 assists and added five kills as well.
Golf
Taunton @ Attleboro, 2:20
Franklin, 145 @ Oliver Ames, 144 – Final – The battle of the top two teams lived up to the hype as Oliver Ames earned a one-stroke win over Franklin in a non-league clash between division leaders. The Tigers’ top four of senior Michael McGinnis, senior Daniel Paul, junior David Rodgers, and junior Sean Kearns all shot a 36 at their home course of Pine Oaks for the win. Franklin’s Tyler O’Brien and Jack Hagerty shared medalist honors, both firing a round of 34.
Sharon, 188 @ Mansfield, 160 – Final – Drew Urban fired a medalist round of 38 to lead Mansfield to a win and a season-sweep of now division rival Sharon on the links at Norton Country Club. Nate McClean added a 39 in the win, Jason Friedman finished with a 41, and Hayden O’Connor rounded out the scoring with a round of 42 for the Hornets.
Milford, 168 @ King Philip, 151 – Final – Senior co-captain Gavin Croke shot an even par round of 35 to earn medalist honors and King Philip took down visiting Milford at Wentworth Hills. Croke had birdies on two and six in his medalist round. Ethan Sullivan added a 38 for KP while Cam Hasenfus, Jason Silva, and Evan Regan all came in with a 39.
Canton, 160 @ Stoughton, 173 – Final – Canton hit the road and came back home from Easton Country Club with a win over Stoughton. Brendan Tourgee earned match medalist honors, leading the way for the Bulldogs with a 38. Huck McCready added a 40 in the win and both Matt Anderson and Gavin McMahon shot a 41. Stoughton’s Mason Page and Colby Strunk each shot a 41.
Oliver Ames sophomore Casey Milliken takes a shot in the first half against Mansfield. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
MANSFIELD, Mass. — The Oliver Ames boys soccer team felt it should have taken two points in its last league game, a draw at home against Stoughton, especially after carrying a lead into the second half.
The Tigers found themselves in a similar situation on Monday, and this time out made sure to put the game away.
Senior Mike MacAdam gave the visitors the lead less than 10 minutes into the game and sophomore Casey Milliken, who had the assist on the opener, buried a penalty kick late in the second half for a key insurance goal as Oliver Ames earned a 2-0 win in a key matchup with division foe Mansfield.
“Every game in the Hockomock this year is going to be that, a tough, gritty battle,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “In fairness, I thought we played well at many times tonight and I thought their goalkeeper made a number of terrific saves. Overall it was a good bounce-back game after Stoughton because we should have put that game away and we didn’t. So it was good to come here and get a gutsy win against a good Mansfield team.”
A week ago, Oliver Ames didn’t open the scoring until just before halftime. Against Mansfield, MacAdam’s opener came in the eighth minute of play. But in both contests, the Tigers controlled play and had a handful of chances to score more.
Mansfield senior goalie Liam Doyle was strong all game long, turning away bids from OA’s Jackson Mercieri (5th minute) and Mirray Dasilva (6th) in the early moments.
OA broke through just moments later as outside back Diego Rivera connected with Milliken in the middle, who promptly dribbled forward to attack the defense. He laid off a perfectly weighted through pass and MacAdam sprinted onto it, reaching out to blast a shot past the keeper from inside the area for an early 1-0 lead.
“Mike’s going to see a lot of minutes for us if he plays like he did today,” Barata said. “Mikey is kind of like that unsung senior that can really help us out.”
Milliken nearly had another assist in the 16th minute, connecting with classmate Andrew Martins atop the area, and Martins used a quick touch before ripping a shot that was gobbled up by Doyle off the bounce. A minute later, Milliken’s hard cross was knocked around before Hector Bucio got his right boot on it but Doyle was once again in position for the stop.
OA continued to press, this time it was sophomore Luke Churchill playing Dasilva in behind but Doyle came out and made a huge stop, pushing the bid over the bar in the 26th minute. Four minutes later, Doyle was at it again as MacAdam nearly returned the favor to Milliken, who cut it back onto his left foot inside the area only for his shot from in close to be denied and cleared by Mansfield defender Derek McGrath.
“We didn’t get into our style, [OA] runs around and cover each other all over, unlike we did,” said Mansfield head coach Steve Sheridan. “We’re young, we’re inexperienced, and we’re learning, which is good. This is what happened against Wayland, we let them dictate everything and got away from the way we should be playing. We played great for three games, got better each game, but reverted back tonight.”
Mansfield was able to get a forward a bit more in the second half and had their first two real chances just minutes apart. In the 52nd minute, senior Aiden Steele won a battle after a service from Grady Sullivan and unleashed a left-footed blast from distance but OA keeper Drew Hall handled it on the bounce.
OA finally added its insurance tally in the 70th minute. Milliken was taken down in the area to earn the pen. He stepped up and converted with a clinical finish just out of the reach of an outstretched Doyle.
“We definitely learned from Stoughton…today, we gave up very little shots from anywhere on the field, we were converging very quickly,” Barata said. “In the second half, we tried to bring them out a little bit because we wanted to play the game a little bit more. So it was a little bit of a tactical shift on our end that allowed for a lot more open play. We’re trying different things because it’s early in the season, we’ll see what works and what doesn’t.”
Oliver Ames’ back four of Mercieri, Rivera, Bucio, and Jake Williams played well in the back while Luke Churchill and twin brother Craig Churchill were vital in the midfield. Anytime the Hornets tried to build out of the back, it seemed one of the Churchills was there to thwart it. And then when it came to OA’s heavy edge in possession, it was Luke and Craig that seemed to facilitate the majority of it.
“Luke is kind of the glue that keeps us together, he’s the lynchpin for us right now,” Barata said. “It’s a lot of pressure in that position but now we have two Churchill’s doing it together, which is great because they both were fantastic today. They won’t get much press — except for maybe this — that’s just the way it works sometimes but they’re so steady, very good players.”
Oliver Ames boys soccer (2-0-1 Hockomock, 2-0-2 overall) has another huge showdown on Wednesday as the Tigers welcome league-leading Attleboro to Muscato Stadium. Mansfield (2-1-1, 2-2-1) will look to bounce back on Wednesday evening when it hosts Taunton.
Boys Soccer
Stoughton, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – For the second straight game, Attleboro exploded offensively in the second half to run away with a big win. Alex Vecchioli took down a deflection off a throw from Luke Hagopian and somehow kept possession between a pair of defenders and ripped a shot to the far post to give the Bombardiers a lead right before halftime. In the second half. Vecchioli grabbed his second of the game early in the second half, tracking down a pass from Lucas Marques before cutting it back onto his left for a shot from just outside the box that was tipped by the keeper and in. Late in the second half, Vecchioli linked up with Kyle Neuendorf, who played a perfectly weighted through ball in behind the defense that was smashed home by Billy Badger to make it 3-0. In the final minutes, senior Steve Etienne tracked down a long punt from keeper Tyler Rocchio and hit a low shot into the back of the net from inside the area.
Foxboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin junior Hansy Jacques scored for the third straight game and the Panthers picked up two points in a 3-0 blanking of visiting Foxboro. Junior Michael Fernandez-Martin opened his varsity account, finishing off a pass from sophomore Matt Honekamp to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Jacques doubled the lead before halftime after an assist from Will Kryzak. In the second half, Trey Lovell buried a penalty kick to cap off the scoring for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 2 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – After a scoreless first half, Mansfield tallied twice inside a 15-minute span in the second half to pick up two key points on the road at North Attleboro. Aidan Lopes set up Tyler Znoj for a blast from 25 yards out to put the Hornets ahead, 1-0, in the 53rd minute. Mansfield doubled the lead in the 65th minute as Aiden Steele’s header off a corner from Dan Checkoway ended up at the feet of Sean Higgins, who dropped in a shot from just outside the box. Liam Doyle recorded his second straight shutout for Mansfield, making six saves. Derek McGrath anchored another strong Mansfield defensive effort with a great individual performance.
Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Each team converted off a set piece in a 1-1 draw at Milford. Visiting Sharon took the lead in the 18th minute as Adam Eastman buried a free kick from 25 yards out to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Milford pulled level in the 61st minute as Eduardo Santana buried a penalty kick, a call he earned himself, to bring the Scarlet Hawks level. Sharon goalie Matt Baur had a terrific performance in net.
Canton, 2 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – A late goal from Canton helped the Bulldogs pull even and earn a point in a 2-2 draw on the road at Taunton. Carson Eagles scored a late goal to help the Bulldogs erase a one-goal deficit and pull level at 2-2. Jake McCabe scored Canton’s first goal while Taunton’s Javonte Fernandes (first half) and Devin Poe (second half) scored for the Tigers.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Morgan Cook’s goal just before halftime proved to be the winner, as Stoughton picked up its first victory of the season and its first under new coach Jon Grant. Shayla Ford opened the scoring in the third minute, running onto a Sabrina Rodrigues through ball behind the Attleboro defense. Jamie Davies leveled the match for the Bombardiers from the penalty spot in the 17th minute. Stoughton regained the lead in the 40th. Emma Byrne played a ball forward to Cook, who was able to get a telling touch on it and find the back of the net. Stoughton was able to limit Attleboro’s chances for a tying goal in the second half with a strong defensive effort. Katrina Varnum finished with 10 saves to help the Black Knights come out on top.
Taunton, 0 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton scored late in each half to earn its third win in as many games and move alone into first in the Davenport division. Emily McCabe scored both goals for the Bulldogs, her sixth and seventh of the season, the first assisted by Caira McKinney and the second by Gisella Berardi. While Canton held a sizable (17-4) edge in shots on goal and hit three posts, Taunton continued to fight and remained in the game until the final 90 seconds. Taunton coach Dan Borges praised the play of midfielders Juliana Matos and Emily Calderon for helping the Tigers compete to the end.
Franklin, 2 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Franklin scored a pair of second half goals to maintain its perfect start to the season and hand Foxboro its first loss. Olivia Costa opened the scoring off a Norah Anderson assist and Costa then provided the assist for Selene Hammad’s goal that wrapped up the points for the Panthers. Franklin keeper Rachel Welch finished with six saves, while Foxboro’s Allie Sougaris made nine stops.
King Philip, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Taylor deVos scored a pair of goals to lead the Tigers to a win over visiting King Philip. deVos converted a free kick opportunity in the first half to give the Tigers the lead. King Philip’s goal was scored by Heidi Lawrence, finishing a Rihanna Mason corner five minutes into the second half to bring the game level. Shortly after that, deVos buried another shot, which proved to be the game-winner. Catie Wilson, Rhiya Fisher, and Lucinda Li Cotter all had strong games for OA. Janiya Matier made six saves in net for the Tigers.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield and North each scored in the opening 20 minutes of the game and split a point apiece. Meghan McCann scored her first varsity goal four minutes into the game, off an assist from freshman Alexandra Fernandes. Emma Pratt equalized for North 15 minutes later, finishing off a corner to make it 1-1.
Milford, 0 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Sofia Goclowski and Autumn Simon each scored a brace to lift Sharon to its second win of the season, already matching its league win total from 2021. Taylor Standring and Jessica Li each recorded assists for the Eagles and Kate Goloboy earned the clean sheet in goal.
Golf
Milford, 151 @ Attleboro, 157 – Final – After back-to-back close losses, Milford got back into the win column with its second win over the Bombardiers this season. Junior Anthony LaPierre was the match medalist, firing a low-round of 35 at Stone-E-Lea. Nate Lawrence added a 36 and David Fleming came in with a 39 for the Scarlet Hawks. Carter Shelton paced the Bombardiers with a 38 while Leo Lombardo chipped in with a 39.
North Attleboro, 155 @ Stoughton, 190 – Final – Tyson Laviano and Dillon Harding shared medalist honors to pace North Attleboro to a win over Stoughton at Easton Country Club. Laviano and Harding each fired a 38 in the win. Paul Medeiros had a team-low round of 45 for the Black Knights.
Foxboro, 172 @ Franklin, 149 – Final – Franklin junior CJ Steel fired a 35 to lead the Panthers to a win in their home opener at Franklin Country Club over visiting Foxboro. Steel, who had one birdie on the day, earned match medalist honors while Jack Hagerty added a 37, Tyler O’Brien shot a 38, and Brendan Collins finished with a 39. Mat Sullivan had a team-low round of 40 for the Warriors.
Mansfield, 162 @ Canton, 165 – Final – Mansfield had a trio of golfers all come in with a 40 to help the Hornets land a rare win for the visiting team at Blue Hill Country Club. Brendan Vokey, Jason Friedman, and Nate McClean each shot 40 in the win while Drew Urban chipped in with a 42. For Canton, Huck McCready earned match medalist honors after carding a 37 on the day. Brian Middleton added a 41, Brendan Tourgee chipped in with a 43, and both Joey Ryan and Teddy Shuman finished with a 44.
Boys Soccer
Mansfield, 2 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final –Mansfield sophomore Cooper Austin scored his first two career goals, one in each half, to help the Hornets grab two points on the road over Foxboro. Midway through the first half, Grady Sullivan forced a turnover in the attacking half, quickly pushed forward down the right blank and swung a service into the area where Austin got a touch to redirect it past the keeper. In the 70th minute, Austin ran in behind the defense off of a long throw from Sullivan and was taken down in the area. Austin stepped up and buried a low left-footed shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0. Liam Doyle made 12 saves in net to secure his first career shutout. Brendan Flynn, Derek McGrath, Matty Sullivan, Aidan Jones and Kyle Johnson all played well defensively for Mansfield.
Milford, 0 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Attleboro took the lead late in the first half and then tacked on three more in a dominating performance over a shorthanded Milford team. After a half hour of scoreless back-and-forth action, the Bombardiers found the back of the net with less than 10 minutes to go in the first half. Junior Luke Hagopian dropped a free kick to the back post where senior Lucas Marques rose up and nodded it back into the six-yard box. Junior Kyle Neuendorf settled it down and quickly buried a low shot into the back of the net. In the second half, junior Alex Vecchioli tracked down a long throw from Hagopian, carried into the area and then was taken down as he split a pair of defenders to earn a penalty kick. He calmly slotted his shot to the keeper’s left to double Attleboro’s lead in the 50th minute. Just seven minutes later, Vecchioli lofted a pass over the top of the defense where senior Steve Etienne got a slight touch right before the oncoming keeper and the ball fell to senior Richard Ferreira, who blasted a low shot through traffic and into the open net to make it 3-0. Attleboro capped the scoring on their seventh corner of the game when Hagopian’s low service wasn’t cleared, Neuendorf got a touch, and Vecchioli pounced on the loose ball inside the area.
Canton @ Sharon – Postponed to Wednesday, 9/14 at 3:45.
North Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – North Attleboro scored a pair of goals less than a minute in the first half in a win on the road over Taunton. Givany Carney and Bryce Newth scored back-to-back goals to give the Rocketeers the lead. Carson Dameron added a goal early in the second half for North while Javonte Fernandes (from Riley Rebello) scored a second half goal for the Tigers.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 5 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford took a lead early in the game, but the Bombardiers scored five straight, including three from Alexandra Tetrault, to secure their first win of the season. Freshman Ava Baglione got the Hawks off to a great start with her first varsity goal, but Jamie Davies responded almost immediately to level things, assisted by Kacey Parker. Tetreault would get her first of the night, and the eventual game-winner midway through the half. Tetreault added a second nearly midway through the second half to double the lead. With four minutes to play, Zenda Gjoni netted her first career goal to make it 4-1 and Tereault finished off her hat trick in the final seconds. Parker had two assists for Attleboro and Emily Dunlea and Tatum O’Brien each had one.
Sharon, 2 @ Canton, 5 – Final – Emily McCabe scored four times to lead the Bulldogs to a second win to start the season. It took Canton until midway through the first half to get going but McCabe netted a hat trick to push the Bulldogs into a commanding lead at halftime. Emma Cahill made it 4-0 in the second half, but the Eagles never stopped battling and would halve the deficit. Sofia Goclowski got the first, assisted by Olivia Soby, and Nasiba Aikulova added a second, assisted by Maddie Tajalli. McCabe tallied her fourth of the night with seven minutes remaining to finally secure the points for the Bulldogs. Alyssa Wong, Caira McKinney, Mekhala Costello, and Cahill all had assists for Canton.
King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to Friday, 9/16 at 3:30.
Boys Cross Country
Sharon, 27 @ Mansfield, 30 – Final
Stoughton, 50 @ Oliver Ames, 15 – Final
Franklin @ Attleboro – Postponed to Wednesday, 9/14 at 3:45.
Taunton @ King Philip, 3:45
Milford @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Foxboro @ Canton – Postponed to Wednesday, 9/14 at 3:45.
Girls Cross Country
Sharon, 23 @ Mansfield, 33 – Final
Stoughton, 50 @ Oliver Ames, 15 – Final
Franklin @ Attleboro – Postponed to Wednesday, 9/14 at 3:45.
Taunton @ King Philip, 3:45
Milford @ North Attleboro, 3:45
Foxboro @ Canton – Postponed to Wednesday, 9/14 at 3:45.
Golf
North Attleboro, 147 @ Milford, 157 – Final – North Attleboro’s Jake Gaskin and Dillon Harding shared medalist honors to lead the Rocketeers to a win over Milford. Gaskin and Harding each carded one over par rounds of 36 at Hopedale Country Club while Tyson Laviano added a 37 and Zach Corsetti rounded out North’s scoring with a 38. For Milford, Nate Lawrence had a team-low round of 37, Anthony LaPierre added a 38, and Eric Farrell fired a 39.
Stoughton, 202 @ Foxboro, 166 – Final – Patrick Callahan had a solid day on the links at Foxboro Country Club, recording five pars and one birdie on his way to a match medalist round of 40 in Foxboro’s win over Stoughton. Callahan finished with a four-over par 40, Zac Georgantas (four pars) shot a 41, Mat Sullivan (five pars) came in with a 42, and Reese Curreri (three pars) finished with a 43. James Spector and Paul Medeiros led the way for the Black Knights, each with a 48.
King Philip, 157 @ Taunton, 180 – Final – King Philip snapped a brief two-match skid with a victory over Taunton at Segregansett Country Club. Ethan Harris shot a match medalist round of 38, Evan Regan added a 39, and both Jason Silva and Gavin Croke finished with a 40 for the Warriors. Logan Letourneau had a team-low round of 40 for the Tigers.
Canton @ Sharon – Postponed to Friday, 10/7 at 3:30.
Franklin vs. St. John’s Shrewsbury – Postponed to Tuesday, 9/20 at 3:15.
Taunton and Attleboro will be looking to challenge Milford atop the Kelley-Rex division. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-8-3 Coach: Peter Pereira
While last year’s record doesn’t jump off the page, it was a good season for the Bombardiers and a step in the right direction for the program.
There were a lot of varsity debuts a year ago, and a lot of new faces in the lineup for longtime head coach Peter Pereira. This year is the opposite as many of those players are back and looking to make a serious challenge for the Kelley-Rex division title. Highlighting a deep and talented group of returners is a trio of HockomockSports Second XI selections from a year ago: senior forward Esvin Morales, junior goalie Tyler Rocchio, and junior midfielder and last year’s HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year Alex Vecchioli.
That trio gives the Bombardiers a top player in most key spots on the pitch. Vecchioli will be flanked by some familiar faces as senior Lucas Marques, junior Billy Badger, and junior Luke Hagopian are all back in the mix after starting last season. Juniors Kyle Neuendorf and Richard Ferreira provide key depth off the bench for the midfield unit. Up front, senior Steve Etienne will complement Morales at striker with juniors Nick Ticas and Clay Tyler able to provide energy off the bench.
Attleboro did graduate one of the best center backs in the league in Cash Stuger so there will be a hole to fill there but Pereira has a solid trio of experienced seniors in Jake Stomfors, Toby Smith, and Ian Miller to rely on defensively. Juniors Zack Diffenderfer and Joshua Codella are also in the mix for minutes in the back four.
“It is a hard-working group and I believe we have the potential to win some big games,” Pereira said.
2021 Record: 14-5-4 (D2 State Finalist) Coach: Danny Erickson
The Canton boys soccer team made history last year with its run to the Division 2 state final and while it will be a big ask to replicate such a special run, the Bulldogs have plenty of key pieces to at least challenge for a division title and have a go at another big run.
Canton lost the majority of its lineup from a year ago after graduating seven of the 11, but with a large, talented senior class, Hall of Fame coach Danny Erickson always has his squads ready to compete. The biggest piece back to the puzzle is senior striker Jake McCabe, a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection that tied for the league-lead in goals during the regular season a year ago with 13 goals.
Having 13 seniors on the squad will give the Bulldogs a boost, including veteran players like Caden Mirliani, Ashton Cetoute, Carson Eagles, and Brian Shea. Junior Zaza Francoeur picked up some valuable minutes a year ago and will be a key piece in the attack this year.
“We will certainly need to reinvent how we play after losing so many weapons but we have a great group,” said Erickson. “Lots of guys competing hard for the opportunity to contribute. That should help us compete in the always-tough league.”
2021 Record: 9-9-1 Coach: Dan Ambrosio
Foxboro has a strong core of returners back from last year’s squad that qualified for the postseason and will be looking to incorporate some young players to challenge for the Davenport division crown.
The Warriors will need to get the new players up to speed quickly because the injury bug has already hit, taking seniors Jorge Sanchez-Garcia (All Hock honorable mention last year) and starting defender Ian Foley for the season. Head coach Dan Ambrosio will lean heavily on his senior captains, striker Alex Penders and defender Marco Pacini. Penders, a standout on the hardwood for Foxboro’s basketball team, isn’t your typical striker but standing at 6’5, he’s a nightmare for opposing defenders and a dream for teammates serving the ball into the area.
Pacini is a seasoned veteran as a four-year member of the varsity team and will be the anchor of the back line. Sophomore Ryan Cotter will take over in net behind Pacini and the back line. The strength of the squad could be in the middle with a trio of juniors: John Hollis, Ryan Flaherty, and Pradyu Gubbala. All three are returners from a year ago and will be key pieces in not only helping the back line but orchestrating and organizing the attack.
“The strength of the attack lies in the ability to counter quickly, while defensive organization is a strength when without the ball,” Ambrosio said.
2021 Record: 11-5-4 Head Coach: Fran Bositis
Franklin will be looking to replicate its success from last year after the Panthers came just three points shy of the division title and earned a win in the state tournament.
The Panthers didn’t graduate a huge senior class but they did lose some key pieces like HockomockSports Best XI selection Terry O’Neill in midfield and Second XI selection Aidan Griffith on defense. But there is plenty of talent back all over the pitch for the Franklin, who will certainly be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex crown this year. Franklin’s four captains are spread throughout the field with Best XI selection Rex Cinelli back at center back, Will Kryzak up front, Trey Lovell in the middle of the pitch, and Griffin Tolonen in net.
Cinelli is coming off a very strong sophomore campaign and will join forces with Will Klawson to anchor the back line, which has impressed so far this preseason. Lovell will partner with Noah Cain at center mid to help the Panthers transition from the back, and orchestrate the offense. Juniors Hansy Jacques and Andrew O’Neill will provide depth alongside Kryzak up front. Michael Fernandez Martin, Garrett Scagliarini, and Matt Honekamp are new names to keep an eye on.
“It’s still early but our athletes are working hard and I know that we are all excited for the upcoming season,” said Hall of Fame head coach Fran Bositis. “We are looking forward to the challenge of competing in the Hockomock League.”
2021 Record: 3-13-2 Coach: Mike O’Neill
After battling through an injury-plagued 2021 season, the King Philip boys soccer team is aiming to be in the mix for the Kelley-Rex division title this year.
The Warriors boast a strong group of seniors that will be the heart and soul of the squad but will be looking to integrate some young and new faces in order to challenge in a very talented Kelley-Rex division. After scoring just 20 goals last year, the Warriors are hoping offense will be a strength this year behind a deep mix of creative and quick wing players. Senior Matt Crago returns after a terrific junior season (four goals, two assists) and will be a go-to option in the midfield and out wide. He’ll be joined by junior wing Will Bowen and junior wing Dermott Amorim.
Up top, KP will look to junior Tommy Lomuscio to find the back of the net. As a sophomore, he scored five goals and had nine assists – factoring in on just under half of the Warriors’ offense production. Senior goalie Connor O’Reilly made some huge saves a year ago and is back in net this year. Senior Tom Meader will anchor the back line at center back while senior Oliver Blackburn and sophomore Sayan Panda will lend some help to the defense from the center mid spot.
“I think the Hock is wide open this year, which is just another way of saying that there is a tremendous amount of parity,” said KP head coach Mike O’Neill. “Any win is a good win in the Hockomock League. We have strengths in our captains and our senior leadership. In order to be really competitive, we will need our younger players to contribute right away.”
2021 Record: 8-5-4 Coach: Steve Sheridan
Mansfield is looking to make a big splash in its first season competing in the Davenport division and enter the season as an instant contender.
The Hornets join the Davenport in a challenging year with Oliver Ames looking to make it three straight Davenport titles (four overall), a Canton squad fresh off of a state finals appearance, a revitalized Stoughton squad, a very skillful Sharon team, and a competitive Foxboro group. Despite losing 14 seniors from last year’s squad that went 8-5-4, Mansfield has a solid core intact for a big year.
It starts with captains Aidan Steele, Grady Sullivan, and Dan Checkoway – all three are seasoned veterans and know what it takes to compete in the Hock. Steele plays up top as a target forward while Sullivan and Checkoway patrol the midfield, along with the talented Connor Palinski. Junior Lucas DeSousa and sophomore Tyler Znoj have impressed early on in the midfield while sophomore Cooper Austin is in the mix up front.
Head coach Steve Sheridan is turning to senior Liam Doyle, who missed all of last year with an injury, to take over in net. Senior Derek McGrath will anchor the back line in front of Doyle while sophomore Matthew Sullivan has had a strong camp in the back as well.
“We don’t have as much varsity experience as I’d like, but we have a good bunch of kids that hopefully click sooner rather than later,” Sheridan said.
2021 Record: 12-4-3 Coach: Antonio Pinto
The defending Kelley-Rex champions might have some inexperience and youth in some spots in the lineup, but the Scarlet Hawks return a strong core of players ready to defend their title.
Milford has won four straight division titles, two in the Davenport and now two straight in the Kelley-Rex, and will be looking to make it five straight with another banner this year. Returning HockomockSports Best XI selection Nick Ribero is such a steady presence in the midfield and does a great job spreading the ball and finding open teammates. He will have a lot of options with Arthur Tome (seven goals, nine assists), Eduardo Santana (nine goals, five assists), and John Borges (two goals, eight assists), all back this season.
After losing Best XI selection Chris Tocci (center back) and Kevin Gomes (goalie), the Hawks will have some inexperience in their own final third. The Scarlet Hawks will turn to junior Nate Dinis to anchor the back line after he played some key minutes a season ago.
“We have a very young squad going into the season, but a tight group of kids who are together 24/7, a very family-like team here at Milford this season,” said Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “Offensively we will have to figure out ways to score goals. Defensively we are very young and inexperienced but have a tight group of kids that will help each other out.”
2021 Record: 8-8-2 Coach: Mike Lacasse
An untimely departure from the girls’ program at North forced a bit of a shakeup in the coaching ranks as Geoff Burgess moves over to the girls and Mike Lacasse, who has coached the JV team for a number of years, moves up to take over varsity.
Lacasse and the Rocketeers will look to make some noise in a very talented Kelley-Rex division, and look to get back to the state tournament. The strength of the squad will be in the midfield as the Big Red has some familiar faces back in key spots. Senior Carson Dameron is back for his third year as a starter and will be joined by classmates Zach Smahi and Griffin Rodden. Juniors Kaden Burns and Quinn Conley will patrol the flanks while sophomore Patrick Etienvre could be poised for a breakout campaign after some impressive minutes as a freshman.
Defensively, North Attleboro has the challenge of replacing one of the better keepers in the league in David Floyd as well as HockomockSports Second XI selection Brody Rosenberg at center back. Seniors Jack Regan (outside back) and Sam Bush will try to solidify the backline with junior Owen Goeller in position to start in net. Up front, the Rocketeers will turn to senior Givany Carney, a powerful striker, and junior Bryce Newth, to produce some goals.
“We have a good mix of young talent and experience in some key positions,” Lacasse said. “I am excited to see what this team can accomplish this season, as they look to continue the progress they had toward the end of last year.”
2021 Record: 13-4-2 Coach: John Barata
For most programs, losing the league MVP plus the league’s top goal scorer would be a massive hurdle to get over. But this isn’t something new for Oliver Ames, who has won three straight division titles and eight overall since the 2011 season. While graduation will certainly hurt, the returners and new arrivals have OA right back in the mix for another title.
Despite the loss of Mathias Taylor (MVP) and Clide Neau (tied for a league-high 13 goals), the Tigers have plenty to be excited about, starting with sophomore Casey Milliken, who finished atop the points leaderboard during the regular season a year ago and earned HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year honorable mention.
On top of that, Joey Carney is back in the mix in the midfield looking to capitalize on a solid sophomore campaign (four goals, two assists), and sophomore Andrew Martins will see an increased role after impressing as a freshman. And like always for OA, they will lean heavily on the captains: senior Hector Bucio, who had a breakout year with seven goals and three assists, and senior Jake Williams. Sophomores Luke Churchill has also impressed so far this preseason.
“OA is excited to compete in the Hockomock League,” said OA head coach John Barata. “We are working to get into the tournament this season. We want to grow as a team and have a lot of fun.”
2021 Record: 6-9-3 Coach: Scott Nathan
Sharon battled its way through injury after injury last season, showing glimpses at times (wins over league champs Milford and Oliver Ames, finishing on a four-game unbeaten streak) but missed out on a spot in the state tournament.
With a host of talent returning this year, the Eagles are serious contenders to challenge for the division title in what is shaping up to be one of the deepest years in the Davenport. The Eagles look to have a strong defensive group this year anchored by HockomockSports Second XI selection Rhys Davis at center back. He’ll be joined by seniors Tyler Goodman, Brandon Mauricio, and Tony Yang to not only give the Eagles a veteran backline but one with skill and pace. Senior Matt Baur is back with the program and returns to his starting spot in net.
The Eagles also have some key pieces back in the midfield and up front. Senior captain Adam Eastman will be looking to build on his nine-goal season from last year, which was tied for fifth most in the Hock. Seniors Rishi Shetty, Malachi Diaz, and Miguel Vasconcelos provide depth up front. Cam Birnbaum and Kevin Lu are also returning players from last year’s squad that could see valuable minutes.
“The Hock is among the strongest leagues in the state,” said head coach Scott Nathan. “We look forward to getting the chance to play against so many quality teams. The boys can’t wait to get started!”
2021 Record: 0-17-1 Coach: Ruben Teixeira
Stoughton struggled through a difficult schedule last season but there is a bit of a buzz about the Black Knights entering this season.
First year head coach Ruben Teixeira, who has coached both at the high school and collegiate level, had a great turnout for tryouts and the Black Knights will be looking to bounce out of the bottom of the standings and make a serious run at the Davenport division title.
Stoughton has a good amount of returning players from a year ago, including a lot of young players that were getting their first varsity experience. Teixeira will look to his seniors to guide the way, especially early on. Senior Joao Marotti sets the tone with his hard work and will be a factor both defensively and offensively for Stoughton. His versatility will provide Teixeira with some flexibility in the midfield. Another senior to keep an eye on is Matheus Groberio, a new addition to the program that has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. He could be an instant impact player for Stoughton this season.
2021 Record: 5-10-3 Coach: Taylor Whitters
Taunton had an excellent start last year, winning four straight to open the season but the momentum came to a halt and the Tigers finished at 5-10-3 and on the outside looking in for the postseason.
With nearly its entire squad back in the mix this season, the Tigers will be looking to replicate that start and then carry it even further and challenge for the Kelley-Rex title. Taunton was young last season as the lineup featured mostly juniors and sophomores, but now the Tigers are one of the most experienced groups and will be looking to use their speed to challenge the rest of the Hock.
Riley Ribello was a 2021 HockomockSports Best XI selection on defense but he’s shown he can play at center mid or move up top and be a dangerous attack, and it’s likely that’s where we’ll see him this season. The Tigers also have Quincy Jones-Sylvia back at center back while Josh Letourneau, Ian Robicheau, and Jonathan Trinh all saw time at outside back and will provide key defensive depth this year.
Conal Scully proved to be a top attacking option last year with the ability to score from a variety of spots on the pitch. Aidden Fitting plays with a ton of pace on the outside and the Taunton midfield will get another speedy player in Javonte Fernandes, who is back on the field after playing goalie last season. Vinicius Lira Lima and Az-Anael St. Marc provide attack depth for the Tigers.
“We have a lot of individual talent, however, it is our unmatched team chemistry and synchronicity on the pitch that will undoubtedly make this our year in the Hock,” said Taunton head coach Taylor Whitters.
