Boys Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 9 @ Attleboro, 4 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. OA outscored the Bombardiers 5-0 in the second half to earn the sweep of the season series. The Tigers, who entered the weekend at No. 29 in D2, clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2019. Ben Reardon led the attack for OA with four goals. Shaun Teehan scored twice and Ryan Jaco, Victor Romeiro, and Jake Manthous each scored once. Noah Isleib made 13 saves. OA’s defense of Jason Zalis, Liam Dunlap, Lawrence Dear, and Jack Corey tossed a second half shutout.
King Philip, 6 @ Franklin, 24 – Final
Boys Tennis
Franklin vs. Bishop Feehan, 10:00AM
Foxboro @ Oliver Ames, 11:00AM
Baseball
Attleboro, 11 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Attleboro scored all of its runs in the final three innings, including a seven-run outburst in the sixth inning, to complete a comeback win on the road at Frothingham Park. The Tigers built their lead in the early innings as Jack Perron and Nick Ferrini scored in the second inning, Ian Kelly drove in Jack Morley (three hits) with an RBI single in the third, and Thomas Whiteside came home to score in the fourth for a 4-1 lead. Aiden Hochwarter’s second RBI of the game cut the deficit to two and Casey Victorio drew a bases loaded walk to get the visitors within a run after five innings. In the top of the sixth, Brody McKenna roped an RBI single to right to tie the game, Jackson Huntington continued his strong week with a two-run double, Matt Harvie singled in another Attleboro run, Danny Johnson brought in a run with a bases loaded walk, Harvie scored on a wild pitch, and Victorio scored when Cooper Johnson grounded into a fielder’s choice to push Attleboro’s lead to 10-4. Harvie scored Hochwarter (triple) in the top of the sixth to get Attleboro’s 11th. Patrick Finnerty had an RBI triple in the bottom of the seventh and scored on an RBI from Kelly, but the Tigers couldn’t cut into the deficit any further. Owen Lombardo and Ryan Landry each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Attleboro with the latter earning the win.
Softball
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro managed just one hit but it was enough as Lily Routhier tossed a complete game shutout and the Bombardiers held on against OA. The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning as Sarah Maher reached on an error to lead off the inning. After stealing second, Maher took third after a fly ball was caught in right field. Routhier grounded out to second but it was enough to bring Maher home to make it 1-0. Routhier scattered five hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings, striking out six, and had just one runner reach third, but she induced a grounder back to the circle for the final out in the fifth inning. Katie Melendy pitched well for OA, giving up just the one hit and three walks, one unearned run, and struck out a pair.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 23 vs. Norton, 0 – Final
Foxboro, 5 vs. Cohasset, 14 – Final
Oliver Ames, 10 vs. Middleboro, 0 – Final – Behind a strong defensive performance, Oliver Ames pitched a shutout of visiting Middleboro. Noah Isleib made eight saves in net to earn the shutout while Jack Corey, Landon Grothe, Liam Dunlap, Lawrence Dear, and Bryce Deibel all played well defensively for the Tigers. Sophomore Shaun Teehan paced the offense with four goals while Ben Reardon and Ryan Jaco each scored twice in the win. Victor Romeiro and Grothe each added one goal for OA.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 18 @ Norton, 5 – Final
Foxboro, 9 @ Cohasset, 8 – Final (OT) – Foxboro’s Val Beigel capped a big performance with the game-winning goal with just under two minutes left in overtime to hand the Warriors a key early season win over perennial state power Cohasset. The Warriors had to climb out of an early 3-0 hole, cutting the deficit down to just one goal (4-3) at halftime. The Skippers stayed ahead for most of the second half but Foxboro continually came back to pull even. After the Warriors hit the post with just over a minute left, Cohasset did the same at the buzzer of regulation. In the extra period, Beigel cut in front of goal, took a nice pass and deposited her fifth goal of the game to give Foxboro the win. Paige Curran finished with two goals and two assists, Mary Collins (assist) and Addie Riley reach scored once, and Mya Waryas notched one helper. Sophomore Audrey Campbell made six saves in the win.
Milford, 10 vs. Norwood, 17 – Final – Milford rallied from an early five-goal deficit to get within one but the Hawks couldn’t get any closer in a non-league loss to Norwood. The Mustangs’ 5-0 lead dwindled to 8-7 but a quick three-goal spurt gave the visitors an 11-7 edge at halftime. Emily Croteau crossed the 100-point threshold with five goals and an assist to pace the Hawks’ offense. Carly Haley added two goals and three assists, TJ Downing scored twice, and Erin Michelson chipped in with a goal and an assist. Alexa Landry, Jordan Douglas, and Caitlyn Banger each had an assist for Milford.
Oliver Ames @ Middleboro – Postponed to TBD.
Boys Tennis
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Behind a sweep of singles action, Oliver Ames returned home with a close win over Attleboro. Nick Westerbeke overcome a one-set deficit to win two straight, clinching the victory with an 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 win at first singles. Alex Efremidas added a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles and Patrick Dolan secured a 6-3, 6-1 verdict at third singles for OA. Attleboro’s Luke Hinton and Brady Rosen notched a 6-0, 6-4 win at first doubles while the team of Clay Tyler and Noem Cook continued to play well with a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 win at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames notched its second straight win and fourth overall on the season, taking down a shorthanded Attleboro squad at home. Hannah Farber continued her strong start to the year with a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles, Olivia Querzoli took a 6-1, 6-1 decision at second singles, and Stella Zacho emerged from her third singles match with a 7-5, 6-2 win. The Tigers added one more win from doubles action as Marina Mierzwinski and Ella Mierzwinski secured a 6-4, 6-1 win at first doubles. Attleboro’s Caroline Lynch-Bartek and Jenny Morin made their varsity debuts with a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win at second doubles.
Baseball
Canton, 14 @ Norwell, 11 – Final – The Bulldogs scored in double digits for the third straight game to start the season and picked up their third win. Canton’s offense was on fire from the start, as the visitors scored five in the first and went into the bottom of the fifth leading 12-1. Norwell made it interesting with three in the fifth and then six runs in the sixth. The Clippers added a seventh run in the final inning but Canton had done enough to improve to 3-0. Owen Lane was 0-for-2 in the leadoff spot, but he drew three walks and scored three runs. Lane also pitched the first four innings and allowed just one earned run. Matt Chafin was 2-for-2 with a walk and four runs scored. Jack Digirolamo was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI. Hayden Rose also drove in four runs, while Nick (two RBI) and Andrew Gillis (two runs) each had two hits. Digirolamo closed out the game, throwing the final 1-1/3 innings, striking out three and allowing one run.
Mansfield, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 9 – Final
Softball
Canton, 10 @ Rockland, 3 – Final – Shaelyn Murphy went the distance, striking out 13 batters to win her second game in as many days. Murphy also helped herself with two hits and two RBI. Olivia Mackwell powered the Canton offense with four hits and four RBI. Kailyn Durham had three hits and made a great defensive play in center. Jess Wright and Chloe Guerschuny added two hits apiece for the Bulldogs.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Oliver Ames overcame a two-goal deficit midway through the fourth quarter to pull out a win against visiting Attleboro. Ryan Jaco scored the game-winning goal with 30 seconds left to cap the comeback and complete a hat trick. Jason Zalis, Landon Grothe, Liam Dunlap and Lawrence Dear all played well on defense for the Tigers while Noah Isleib recorded 12 saves in net.
Canton, 5 @ Mansfield, 14 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery of this game – Mansfield junior Tommy Smith and freshman Nico Smith each scored four goals to lead the Hornets to a win over Davenport rival Canton. Both Tommy Smith and Nico Smith, along with Drew Sacco (two goals), scored early to give Mansfield a three-goal lead and the Hornets never relinquished that advantage. Cody Gordon added two goals an an assist, Andrew DeGirolamo had a goal and two assists, and Grady Sullivan had one goal and one assist. Senior Jeff Chaput and freshman Ethan Keleher each scored twice for Canton, AJ Thomas scored once, and Brendan Tourgee had three assists. Ryan DeGirolamo made 12 saves in net for Mansfield while Thomas Gormley had a strong game defensively. Canton’s Pat Drury had nine saves.
Foxboro, 18 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Foxboro won for the second straight game to start the season. Michael McCabe had a goal and an assist in the win, while Michael DeBarros, Josiah Lewis, and Evan Vieira also found the back of the net for the Warriors, each recording their first varsity points. Freshman Cam Deleskey added two goals in the win.
North Attleboro, 8 @ King Philip, 11 – Final – King Philip raced out to a three-goal lead in the first quarter and stayed ahead of the visiting Rocketeers the rest of the way for an 11-8 win. Donovan DeVellis led the offensive charge for the hosts with a team-high seven points, scoring a hat trick and adding four assists for the Warriors, who held a 7-5 advantage at half. Hayden Schmitz also had a hat trick for KP and added two assists, Noah Minkwitz notched a pair of goals and a pair of helpers while Mason Thompson (two assists), Alex Viscusi, and Aiden McCarthy each scored once. Henry LeClair added an assist while senior goalie James Boldy had a strong game in net, turning away a handful of point blank chances from North.
Milford, 1 @ Sharon, 14 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 13 @ Attleboro, 11 – Final – The Tigers erased a six-goal halftime deficit to stun the Bombardiers on the road. Attleboro had a terrific first half as Addy Papagolos’ six draw controls led the Bombardiers to a 9-3 lead at the break. OA opened the second half with four straight goals to get back into it and used that momentum, outscoring the hots 6-1 down the stretch. Catie Wilson and Erin Cottam paced OA with four goals apiece while Leanna Hudson added three and Kayla Magit had two goals and four assists. Attleboro’s Bella Cavallini and Amelia Collins each had three goals, Molly Moore found the back of the net twice, and Papagolos, Makenah Stokes, and Gigi Sprovieri each had one. Jordan Mooney chipped in with a pair of assists for Attleboro.
Mansfield, 6 @ Canton, 13 – Final – Emily McCabe scored six times and dished out three assists to lead Canton to an important division win over Mansfield. McCabe scored the 100th goal of her career in the win. Ella Yeaton added a hat trick and Devan Spinale had two goals and two assists for the Bulldogs, who got eight saves from goalie Ashley Balunas. Canton led by two at halftime but turned it on in the second half with a 6-1 run. Mansfield got goals from Tessa Johnson, Lola Varricchione, Maeve Anastasia, Rose Maher (two assists), Ella Palanza, and Stella Moore. Caitlyn Zajac made 10 saves to keep the Hornets in it.
Taunton, 1 @ Foxboro, 19 – Final – Seven different players found the back of the net for the Warriors, who wrapped up a perfect 3-0 opening week of the season. Paige Curran sparked Foxboro’s attack with five goals an three assists and Cate Noone added four tallies and a pair of helpers. Mya Waryas had a hat trick and two assists, while Val Beigel, Mary Collins (three assists), and Grace Riley (two assists) each scored twice. Addie Riley added a goal for Foxboro. Audrey Campbell made three stops and Sofia Lucente had one save to get the win.
Franklin, 19 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Fifteen Panthers scored on Thursday, as the perennial Hock power took on the first-year program. Vera Hansen, Maeve Grasso, Norah MacCallum, Raena Crandall, Erin Peterson, Ella Griffin, Morgan Lovell, Abby O’Rourke, and Juliana Owen all scored their first career goals for the Panthers. Ella Mahoney and Maise Streeseman both played well in goal to secure the win.
King Philip, 17 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – King Philip secured its third win of the young season, this time with a big win over North Attleboro on the road. Makenzie McDevitt (two assists), Abby MacDonald (assist), and Nikki McDonald (assist) paced the offense with four goals apiece while Sammy Cloutier added a goal and three helpers. Sierra King had a great defensive effort for KP with three caused turnovers and three ground balls while Kelly Holmes had a strong game in the midfield, commanding the draw.
Sharon, 9 @ Milford, 16 – Final – Buoyed by a big start, Milford earned its first win of the season with a 16-9 decision against visiting Sharon. The Scarlet Hawks raced out to an 8-0 lead and never looked back. The Eagles did make a game of it by going on a 4-1 run to cut the deficit to 9-4 but a three-goal spurt from the hosts just before halftime restored the big lead. Sophomore TJ Downing had a team-high four goals to pace the offense, sophomore Yasmin Martinez added three goals, and sophomore Alexa Landry notched one goal and two assists. Seniors Jordan Douglas (three goals, two assists), Carly Haley (two goals, two assists), Emily Croteau (one goal, two assists), and Ava Lebel (one goal) all played well for Milford. Caitlyn Banger made five saves in the win, Erin Michelson chipped in with a goal and an assist and senior Cailyn Paccico chipped in with one assist. Milford’s Bailey Garte had a team-high four goals while Keira Lydeard finished with a hat trick and one assist.
Boys Tennis
King Philip, 0 @ Xaverian, 5 – Final
North Attleboro vs. Dartmouth – Postponed.
Sharon, 1 vs. Brookline, 4 – Final – Junior Alex Budovalcev was the lone winner for the Eagles, rally from a one-set deficit to win in a third-set super tiebreaker, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8.
Taunton, 5 vs. Durfee, 0 – Final – Taunton won all five matches in straight sets to take down visiting Durfee. Mike Kimmer had the closest match of the day, prevailing from a hard-fought first single match with a 6-4, 7-5 win. Martin Frankimet added a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles and Heitor Sens completed the singles sweep with a 6-3, 6-3 decision. The team of Collin Lofgren and Derek Desseault only dropped two games, winning 6-0, 6-2 at first doubles while Kenny Dias paired with Rowan Kimmer to secure a 6-2, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Milford, 3 vs. Whitinsville Christian, 2 – Final – Milford swept both doubles matches and added one more win in singles action to break into the win column with a 3-2 decision over Whitinsville Christine. The team of Ava Merrill and Lily Bogonis secured the win for the Hawks, prevailing victorious in a three-set thriller at first doubles (6-3, 3-6, 6-2). Milford’s second doubles team of Audrey Brannigan and Paige Caldon earned a 6-1, 6-2 win while Kaylee Whitney earned a 6-3, 6-0 win at second singles.
North Attleboro @ Dartmouth – Postponed.
Taunton, 2 @ Durfee, 3 – Final
Boys Volleyball
King Philip vs. Bellingham, 4:45
Milford, 3 @ Lincoln-Sudbury, 2 – Final
Taunton, 3 vs. Quincy, 0 – Final – Taunton improved to 3-0 to start the season, landing a sweep over visiting Quincy (25-22, 25-18, 25-17). The Tigers’ two setters both continued to play well as Ty Ekstrom dished out eight assists and have four digs while Daniel Freitas had 14 assists and three digs. Matt Freitas and Antonios Dimakis each had five kills, Owen Kelley and Josh Duncan both had four kills, and Bradley Hylander continued to anchor the defense with nine digs and a strong serve receive.
North Attleboro and Mansfield are looking to return to the playoffs this spring. Read full team-by-team breakdowns of the Hockomock League boys lacrosse teams. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2022 Record: 6-11 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Kevin Patton
Attleboro took a step in the right direction last season as it improved its win total and had one of its best offensive seasons in its program’s young history. Head coach Kevin Patton is hoping the upward trajectory continues this season.
2023 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview
After a big increase in offensive production, expectations remain high for a similar output as the Bombardiers have its top two scorers back from a year ago in seniors Carter Shelton and Cole McKenna. Shelton will return to the attack after finishing inside the top 10 in the Hockomock League in points, tying for ninth with 47 goals and tying for eighth best in the league with 37 assists. A lot of those assists went to McKenna, an end-to-end midfielder that really sets the tone on both ends. McKenna had 25 goals and 12 assists a year ago. Senior Jack DiLiddo and sophomore Nathan Conroy are also back in the mix in the attack, giving the Bombardiers an experienced group up front.
As the Bombardiers strive to make the state tournament, another positive is the experience on the defensive end. Junior Harry Wheaton is back in the net for the third straight year and is among the most experienced goalies in the league after turning away 237 shots last year. He has a veteran group in front of him as well led by senior Bobby Sawyer, juniors John Wheaton and Ethan Lyons, and sophomore Matt Silva — all returning varsity players. Meanwhile, McKenna will be joined in the midfield by fellow returners and classmates Spencer Sherck and Patrick McAvoy. Junior Tyler Graney and freshman Landon Vieira will also be in the mix for meaningful minutes in the midfield.
“With a solid returning core with varsity experience, we will be relying on these guys to provide leadership and hard work to help us achieve our goals,” Patton said.
2022 Record: 5-12 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Tommy Galvin
Former Canton standout Tommy Galvin, who was the interim coach during the 2021 season when the Bulldogs won a share of their third-ever Davenport division title, takes over as head coach this season and will be looking to get his squad back into content for the league crown.
There isn’t much experience on this year’s squad so Galvin will be leaning heavily on the handful of veterans he does have on the squad. The offense will face the task of replacing the production of last year’s leading scorer Sam Carlino, who had over 150 points between the past two seasons. Senior Jeff Chaput will lead the charge offensively as one of the few returners in the attack, coming off a season with 21 goals and 17 assists. Junior Brendan Tourgee anchors the midfield unit and had a terrific sophomore campaign, adding to the offense with 22 goals and 26 assists. Freshmen Ethan Keleher and Michael Thomas could make an immediate impact right away.
There are only a handful of seniors on the team so there is plenty of opportunity for new faces to step in and find a spot in the lineup. Galvin will be looking to find the right combination of players in order to find the recipe for success this season. Defensively, junior Colin Blake is back in the mix and will be a leader on that end of the field. Galvin believes the Bulldogs have a smart and tough defensive core that will play in front of a competitive group of goalies.
“I am very excited to begin my head coaching career with this group of kids,” Galvin said. “They come to practice every day ready to learn and always give 100%. We have some new faces but also a lot of two and three-year starters who we will lean on, especially at the start of the season. I expect to be competitive in every game and am looking forward to the season starting this week.”
2022 Record: 14-7 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Quarterfinal Coach: Matt Noone
Foxboro has always been in the picture in the Davenport division title hunt, having won four in the past six seasons, and with nine returners back it looks like the Warriors will be in the mix once again this year.
There’s no doubt that the Warriors will have one of the best attacks in the division, and in the entire league, with the talent they have back up front. Senior Conor Noone has been scoring goals and making plays for the Warriors since his sophomore season, finding the back of the net 23 times during the regular season last year and added a team-high 31 assists. Sophomore Jon Sacchetti is coming off an impressive freshman season and will look to take the next step this spring, and sophomore Aidan Waller rounds out the Warriors’ attack group. Senior Finn Stapleton is another seasoned veteran and his presence on both ends will be vital for Foxboro’s success this year.
Stapleton will be joined in the midfield by a trio of talented juniors in Ryan Cotter, Luis Sulham, and Ian Foley — all multi-sport athletes that can get up and down the field and make plays on both ends. Sophomore Ian Williamson and freshmen Cam Delesky and Michael McCabe will provide depth in the midfield. Defensively, it starts in the cage with junior Adam Addeche, who begins his third campaign as the starting goalie. He will have a familiar face out in front with junior Jack Sullivan returning to anchor the defensive unit while sophomores Jaiden Jean and James Dee Gaffney will look to fill out the defense.
2022 Record: 15-6 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Quarterfinal (Kelley-Rex champion) Coach: Lou Verrochi
Every spring, Hockomock teams start the new season hoping this will be the year that Franklin loosens its grip on the Kelley-Rex division and each time the Panthers return with the talent to not only win state titles but to compete with the best programs in the state. In fact, longtime coach Lou Verrochi believes this might be as good a team as he has ever had.
Franklin’s attack will be among the best in the state. Senior Luke Davis is already a two-time All-American, senior Jayden Consigli was an All-American last year, and senior Tyler Sacchetti joined his attacking partners by recording more than 100 points in 2022. All three are Div. I commits. The Panthers have loads of depth in the midfield with senior Ravin Chaudhury providing box-to-box work and classmate John Walshe a standout defensive midfielder. Juniors Eddie O’Brien, Ryan Grasso, and Drew Hansen can all jump into the attack and produce, while seniors Chris Drake and Brian Leonard will provide cover in the defensive half.
The defense has more experience this season. Senior Ben Harvey will be the anchor of a strong group of poles. Senior Braeden Leonard has battled injuries but is finally healthy and ready to step into a big role and sophomore Drew McCarthy will be the third starter. Senior Connor Sullivan and sophomore Flynn Baker will split time between LSM and close defense. Junior Matt Corvi and senior Mike Galvin give Franklin two strong shot-stoppers in goal and senior Justin Alexander is one of the best FOGOs in the state.
“We also have many players waiting in the wings that can really play,” Verrochi said. “I’m very excited for this season.”
2022 Record: 13-5 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Hal Bean
King Philip has been chasing Franklin at the top of the Kelley-Rex division since the team shared the title in 2014. The Warriors are hoping to finally unseat the Panthers this spring but also to put together a tournament run after last season’s postseason came to an abrupt end at the hands of rival Mansfield. After graduating 16 seniors from last year’s roster, KP will have to quickly incorporate a lot of new faces to make that title challenge.
The attack will be led by junior Donovan DeVellis. He scored 30 goals last year and was second on the team in scoring. This spring, he’ll lead the line. Also helping out in attack will be Pat Weiblen, Justin Kosh, Aiden McCarthy, and freshman Mason Thompson. Senior Alex Viscusi and Noah Minkwitz will take charge of an athletic midfield. They will be joined by Hayden Schmitz, Cullen McCarthy, Brandon Berdos, Thomas Kilroy, Henry Leclair, Nick Longobardi, and Jake Booth.
Defense has been a consistent strength for the Warriors. They allowed a league-low 122 goals in 18 games last season. Senior goalie James Boldy will be the leader of the defensive unit and will have a lot of depth in front of him. Juniors Tyler Douglas and Jack Berthiaume will be helped out by freshman defenseman Brodie McDonald, whose potential makes him one to watch. The defense will also see contributions from Luke Stehley, Averi Dangelo, Drew Bowen, Jackson Fornash, and backup goalie Finn Cunningham.
The King Philip boys varsity lacrosse team finds ourselves in familiar territory playing in competitive games against teams in and out of the Hockomock League and working towards improving previous years’ standings,” said KP coach Hal Bean. “This year’s captains James Boldy, Alex Viscusi, and Donovan DeVellis are great individuals and a joy to coach. I am very fortunate to have them leading this program.”
2022 Record: 8-12 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen Coach: Tim Frias
Mansfield’s defense came up strong in the closing stretch of the 2022 season, holding three of its final five opponents to five goals or fewer, including rival King Philip in the opening round of the playoffs. The Hornets have an experienced group at both ends of the field hoping to carry that momentum into the new year and put together a title challenge in their first year in the Davenport.
Up top, the Hornets return a talented group of attackers. Senior Drew Sacco will be the leader of that group, but he will have plenty of help from juniors Tommy Smith and Will Riley. Freshman Andrew DeGirolamo will give Mansfield a strong four-man rotation hoping to set the ton near the opposition cage. The midfield will be led by seniors Aiden Steele, Cody Gordon, Grady Sullivan, and junior Andrew Burnham, all of whom are strong two-way players. Juniors Sam Oliveira, Logan Pereira, and Ben Grella and freshmen Nico Smith, Tommy Vallett, and Donovan Minton will give Mansfield enviable strength in numbers.
The defense will also have a lot of depth this season. Senior Liam Barry, juniors Nolan Bordieri and James DeGirolamo, and sophomore Thomas Gormley will lock things down at close defense. Senior Stephen Mullert, junior Dylan Sansone, and freshmen Ben Hoopis and KJ Mahoney will provide extra help at LSM. Senior goalie Ryan DeGirolamo will be back in the cage this season to give the Hornets extra leadership in defense.
2022 Record: 1-15 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Austin Costa
Milford coach Austin Costa, who has played for the Portuguese national team, is excited that the Hawks could be poised for a step forward as a program this spring. With all but one starter returning from last season, more than 20 underclassmen adding depth to the roster, and enough players in the program to have a JV team for the first time in seven years, Milford has the depth to make a mark.
The attack will be loaded with experience, as all three starters are back. Senior Jacob Ligor is the team’s top scorer and the AIC commit will again be counted on to lead the line alongside classmate Eric Farrell. Sophomore Jayden Martins could be poised for a breakout season. The midfield is loaded with young talent including freshman Henry Baldic, who will also try to be a contributor on face-offs. Freshmen Jason Stokes and Ricky Nashawaty and sophomores Anthony Maietta, Robbie DeGasperis, and Matthew Lioce will all be contributors this season.
Senior Nick Casilli is the leader of the defensive unit and senior goalie Alex McGuire will help keep things organized at the back. Junior Oliver McKee is a newcomer that will add strength in defense and freshman Dylan Burns is expected to have an instant impact with his speed. Freshman Ethan Charczenko will be a defensive midfielder who should see immediate playing time.
Costa said, “I think this is going to be another great step for Milford in our goal of growing the lacrosse program and competing in the Hockomock. With a great balance of senior leadership and talented underclassmen, I cannot think of a better group to reset the expectations and reach new goals for Milford lacrosse. The excitement, the numbers, and the energy are back for Milford lacrosse.”
2022 Record: 18-3 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Quarterfinal (Davenport champion) Coach: Ryan Izzo
North Attleboro won 18 games and the Davenport division title in 2022, but the Rocketeers graduated 12 seniors and will have a new coaching staff this season. Former Walpole, UMass, and MLL standout Ryan Izzo takes over after a couple of seasons coaching Norton and he inherits a young roster that will be looking to gain valuable experience.
Senior goalie JT Gallagher is back in the cage this season and will be an important leader for the defensive unit. Classmate Julian House and junior Connor Rajotte return on close defense and will be counted on to mark some of the opposition’s best attackers. Senior Jack Regan will be the leader of an attacking group that graduated a lot of production from last year. Sophomore Brady Backner is the team’s top returning scorer but has an injury to start the season.
“Young squad with great senior leadership,” Izzo said about his roster. “Will be a good test this year in regards to understanding the speed at this level and the skill set from those really well-rounded teams. We will look to compete at a high-level day in and day out. With a lot of first-year players on the squad, we may be inexperienced on paper, but what’s lacking in skill, will be made up with toughness and outworking our opponents. Looking forward to a great season for North.”
2022 Record: 7-11 2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Ben Devlin
Even after graduating a 50-goal scorer, Oliver Ames has plenty of scoring punch back from last year’s team. Defensively, the Tigers will have only one returning starter so will be counting on several new faces to step into bigger roles this spring and have instant impacts as they try to get into the playoff mix.
Senior Ben Reardon is coming off a 55-goal, 29-assist season and will be the leader of the attacking group, while junior Alex McAndrew and sophomore Shawn Teehan will join him up front. Teehan stepped into a starting role by the end of his freshman season. Junior Ryan Jaco provided 23 goals from midfield last year and he’ll be joined by his twin brother Evan, who is moving forward from his defensive midfield role. Senior Jake Manthous will handle face-offs and get more time on offense this season, while senior Victor Romeiro and junior Owen Bourne will both see playing time.
The defense will be relatively inexperienced, but junior Landon Grothe is a three-year starter. Senior Jason Zalis saw plenty of action as a sophomore but missed his junior season and junior Liam Dunlap, sophomore Bryce Deibel, and freshman Lawrence Dear will compete to be the third pole. Junior Jack Corey takes over at LSM after being converted from attack. Senior Noah Isleib, a St. Michael’s commit, is back for his third year as the starting goalie and he will be backed up by junior Ethan St. Jean.
“We continue to try to rebuild and compete in a very difficult Hockomock League,” said OA coach Ben Devlin. “We look for several returning, younger players to pick up some of that lost production. We are hoping that our defense is improved over last year with some increased depth and experience from several key players. As always, our toughest games are within the league. Every Hock team is talented and well-coached, but our goal as always is to try to win enough games to make the tourney.”
2022 Record: 9-10 2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Jon Shocket
Sharon continues to build experience with a relatively young roster. The Eagles have only one senior on the roster this season, but they will still be looking to get back into the state tournament and stay in the mix in the Davenport division.
The defense will continue to learn on the job. Sophomores Ben Goldberg and Zack Berstein will be back at the poles with classmate Matt Powers in the cage. On the other end of the field, the attack features junior Sam Rothbaum and Jake Kaufman with newcomer Dylan Cummings getting the chance to contribute right away.
The midfield will be athletic and is probably the team’s most experienced group. Ryan Brown will give the team energy on both ends of the field and Ronan Widland will be back at LSM. Gabe Korn and Jordan Weisman will add depth and production in the midfield.
“We will have some growing to do,” said Sharon coach Jon Shocket. “We have only one senior on the squad so this year and next will be super exciting!”
2022 Record: n/a 2022 Finish: n/a Coach: Brendan Chambers
Taunton is playing varsity boys lacrosse for the first time since 2018, but the Tigers are hoping that the experience and cohesiveness of the roster will carry the team through the season. Although it hasn’t been at the varsity level, many of the seniors have been playing together since eighth grade and the Tigers have a host of underclassmen that could step in and play big roles.
The defense will be led by senior Ethan Fitzsimmons, whose game IQ will be crucial against some of the top attackers in the Hock. Senior Jake Leonard will also play close defense. Freshman Riley Mellin will be in the mix on defense as sophomore Landen Rodrigues works his way back from an injury. Freshman Oren Cullins will be in the cage after a strong JV season that saw him go 10-4 and allow five goals per game. Senior Dylan McCaughey will be at LSM.
Offensively, the Tigers will be relying on three seniors. Last year’s leading scorer Israel Cruz has a nose for goal and will be the focal point of the attack. Thomas Murphy and Colton Scheralis will also get the chance up top and bring different facets in front of goal. Senior Tommy Selfridge is dropping back from attack into the midfield to balance the lineup and initiate the offense from the top of the cage. Seniors Colt Kennedy and Connor McGrath are capable dodgers and add more experience to the top midfield line. Eighth-grader Jameson Vallarelli has made a positive impression in the preseason and also looks ready to make an immediate impact.
“With a senior-heavy, determined squad, many of whom have been playing together since eighth grade, we are looking to fit the pieces together to have a competitive season in the Hock,” said Taunton coach Brendan Chambers.
Boys Lacrosse
Franklin, 23 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin’s star offensive trio of Tyler Sacchetti, Jayden Consigli, and Luke Davis combined for 24 points to lead the Panthers to a big win in the season-opener. Consigli had a team-high nine points with seven goals and two assists, Davis added three goals and five assists, and Sacchetti finished with five goals and two helpers.
Milford, 1 @ Canton, 12 – Final
North Attleboro, 5 @ Foxboro, 7 – Final – Foxboro senior Conor Noone had a hand in all six of the Warriors’ seven goals and junior Adam Addeche had a terrific performance in net in a season-opening win over rival North Attleboro. Noone scored four goals and assisted on two more. Tony Sulham added a pair of goals, Jon Sacchetti scored once, and Ryan Cotter chipped in with an assist. Addeche recorded 15 saves in an outstanding performance in the cage. Luke Antonetti let North with three goals.
Taunton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 19 – Final – Oliver Ames got off to a strong start and never looked back in a win over Taunton, who was playing in its first varsity game since the 2018 season. Jake Manthous set the tone for the host Tigers, winning 17-of-18 faceoffs and scored one goal. Ben Reardon, Alex McAndrew, Ryan Jaco, and Shaun Teehan all had multi-goal games while Owen Bourne scored his first career goal. Jason Zalis, Landon Grothe, Liam Dunlap, and Jack Corey all played well defensively for OA. Taunton freshman Brody Coute stepped in as goalie for Taunton due to an injury, and in just his second day of playing in net, made 14 saves. Senior Tommy Selfridge had a pair of goals for Taunton, senior Thomas Murphy added one goal, and both Connor McGrath and Israel Cruz had an assist.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 16 – Final – Franklin started league play with a big win, defending its home turf with a 16-1 win over Attleboro. Gabi Consigli scored her first two varsity goals for the Panthers while Jamie Tanner had a strong all-around performance with two goals, three assists, two draws, and three ground balls. Ella Mahoney made four saves in net in the win.
Canton, 13 @ Milford, 10 – Final – Canton built a comfortable lead by halftime and then held off a Milford comeback bid in the second half to secure a season-opening win over the Scarlet Hawks. Ella Yeaton paced the Bulldogs’ offense with a team-high six goals while Emily McCabe added four goals in the win. Ashley Balunas made seven saves in the win. Canton led 8-2 at halftime before Milford opened the second half with three straight, but that would be the closest the hosts would get. For Milford, Emily Croteau had four goals and one assist, Jordan Douglas added three goals and one helper, and Carly Haley, TJ Downing, and Alexa Landry each scored once.
Foxboro, 19 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Foxboro played well on both ends of the field as they recorded their first league win of the season. Seven Warriors found the back of the net in the win, led by six goals from Paige Curran, four from Val Beigel (two assists), and three each from Cate Noone (five assists) and Mya Waryas (two assists). Audrey Campbell and Sofia Lucente each made a pair of saves to combine for the shutout. Macy Quinn, Ella Campbell, and Mary Collins (four assists) also scored once for Foxboro.
King Philip, 11 @ Brookline, 7 – Final – King Philip had a balanced offensive attack in both halves on its way to a win over Brookline on the road. The Warriors kept the hosts in check during the first half, taking a 5-3 lead by halftime. Abby MacDonald finished with a team-high four goals to pace KP, adding one assist. Nikki McDonald added a hat trick and Alyssa Legere chipped in with two goals and two assists for KP while Emily Campbell recorded 10 saves in the win.
Stoughton, 2 @ Mansfield, 20 – Final – Mansfield had nearly a dozen players fine the scoring sheet in a win over Stoughton, who was making its varsity debut in girls lacrosse. Ava Adams led the Honrets with six goals and two assists while Rose Maher had four goals and one helper. Cammy Shanteler, Keira Fitzpatrick, Maeve Anastasia, and Brooke Butler each added a pair of goals in the win. Amanda Reid and Morgan Groppi each scored once for the Black Knights.
Taunton, 7 @ Oliver Ames, 12 – Final – Oliver Ames opened up the season with a win at home, capping a double-header sweep with the boys team with a 12-7 decision. Junior captain Liv O’Rourke and junior Erin Cottam each scored three goals to pace the offense while junior Claire O’Rourke made nine saves in net. Taunton’s Mel Jesus had a strong game in net with 18 saves for the visitors while Cali Melo paced the offense with five goals and two assists. Maddison Szala added two assists and one goal, and Caroline Vallarelli had one goal and one helper.
Boys Outdoor Track
Attleboro @ Franklin, 3:45
Canton, 48 @ Foxboro, 88 – Final – The Bulldogs had a handful of athletes compete — and place — in multiple events in the loss to Foxboro. Ruairi Ritson won the high jump (5′), took second in the shot put (38’2.75″), and finished third in the 110M hurdles (20.4), Godson Ofanagoro won the 100M (12.0) and took third in the long jump (17’5.5″), Blair Resil grabbed second in both the 100M (12.2) and the long jump (19’6.75″), and Sam Vail finished third in the 400M (66.3), the javelin (106’5″), and the 2 Mile race (12:10).
King Philip @ Taunton, 3:45
Sharon, 54 @ Mansfield, 82 – Final – Mansfield won both relays, swept the javelin, and Ayden Agbasi was a double-winner as the Hornets opened the season with a win over Sharon. Agbasi won both the shot put (45’7″) and the discus (109’1) for key points for the Hornets. The 4×100 relay team of Myles Brown, Evan Thevenot, Sirius Li, and Nate Kablik clocked in at 44.7 for first place while the Hornets’ 4×400 team (Tommy Giudicianni, Troy Penney, Kyle Dickinson, Talon Johnson) finished first in 3:42.3. Eamon Doyle anchored the javelin sweep with a first place toss of 104’8″, Brown (23.1) and Jack Reed (23.7) went 1-2 in the 200M, and Penney (2:09.2) and Marco Geminiani (2:09.7) took the top two spots in the 800M. Johnson added a win in the 1 Mile race (4:41.2), Kablik was first in the 100M (11.1), and Evan Rawlings won the 400M hurdles (58.5).
Oliver Ames, 69 @ Stoughton, 67 – Final
Girls Outdoor Track
Attleboro @ Franklin, 3:45
Canton, 78 @ Foxboro, 58 – Final – Katie Oliver was a double-winner in the jumps and the Bulldogs swept both the 400M hurdles and the shot put to pick up a season-opening win over Foxboro. Oliver won both the long jump (16’6.5″) and the triple jump (33’2.5″), and Emma Massih anchored the shot put sweep (with Jess Brathwaite and Jocanda Cabral) while also winning the discus (82’4″). Syriah McCruse won the 100M (12.6) for Canton while finishing second in the 200M (26.7), and Luran Slotnick and Zoe Scibelli registered their first varsity points by finishing second and third, respectively, in the javelin. Annie Odivin won the 400M hurdles followed by teammates Kenzie Bennett and Julia Donovan.
King Philip @ Taunton, 3:45
Sharon, 31 @ Mansfield, 105 – Final – Mansfield swept the high jump, the shot put, the discus, and the 400M race, earning nine points in each event on its way to a win over Sharon. Elyssa Buchanan was a triple winner for the Hornets, taking first in the 100M hurdles (17.3), the high jump (4’10”), and joined Abigail Scott, Megan Driscoll, Danni Cuzzi to win the 4×100 relay in 51.8. Katie Garrahy was a double winner with wins in both the discus (80’5″) and the shot put (31’10”). Scott also won the 100M (13.3) and Driscoll took first in the 200M. Sharon’s Olivia Nau won both the 400M hurdles (73.1) and the long jump (15′).
