Tag: Lindsey Resnick
Strong Defensive Effort Leads Foxboro Into State Semi
FOXBORO, Mass. – With all of the goals that Foxboro has scored this season, it is sometimes easy to overlook the defense that the Warriors have played, but on Saturday afternoon in the Div. 3 quarterfinal at Sam Berns Community Field it was the effort that Foxboro put into the defensive end of the field that secured a place in the final four.
Jordan Carman’s first half goal put the Warriors in front against No. 23 seed Ursuline Academy, but the Bears came with a different energy level after the break and put the hosts on their heels. Foxboro stayed strong, defended with all 11 players, got key stops from keeper Allie Sougaris, and walked away with a 1-0 win.
It was the third straight clean sheet for the Warriors in the postseason.
Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup explained, “That’s just what they’ve done all season, kept their composure, and did what they needed to do and worked together as a team and always believed. They just always believe they can and they do.”
Foxboro played the game without senior Kailee McCabe, who left the Round of 16 game with an injury and was unable to go on Saturday. It didn’t stop the Warriors from creating chances in the first 40 minutes, as they consistently put pressure on the Ursuline penalty area.
Right back Meghan Burke, who scored the final penalty in the shootout against Newburyport in the last round, had the first chance with an early shot from distance. A long free kick by Lindsey Resnick then fell to Grace Riley in the box, but her shot slammed off the bar before the official’s flag went up for offsides.
The chances kept coming. Left back Kylie O’Keefe had a half-volley from the edge of the area after a half-cleared corner, but it went over the bar. A few minutes later, Burke was at it again, stealing the ball and letting fly with a 25-yard strike that hit the bar and landed a foot from the goal line. Riley tried to get onto the rebound but wasn’t able to get a clean header.
Carman had her first look with a 20-yard free kick but it cleared the bar and then Brooke Barreira cleared an Ursuline set piece out to Riley on the left wing. She played the ball into Neve Taylor, who had a run at the last defender but slipped just as she was lining up a shot.
It took the visitors half an hour to get a good look at goal. Jenelle Murphy and Katherine Heavey had been finding dangerous pockets of space in front of the Foxboro back line but Heavey’s shot from distance that Sougaris tipped over the bar was the first chance of note.
Only a minute after that save, Foxboro jumped in front. Riley took a throw on the left wing and found Carman in space. She took a touch and then drove towards the left corner of the box. With the Ursuline defender giving space to avoid having Carman run past, she was able to let fly with a left-footed shot that keeper Claire Egan got fingertips to but couldn’t keep out.
“Not having Kailee, it definitely hurts us a little bit,” said Stalcup, “but JoJo has so much energy and intensity and competitiveness that she’s willing to just put it on her back and take it.”
Foxboro nearly made it two right after the break. It was Carman again in the left channel after a steal. She got into the box and had a good look with her left foot, but slid the shot just past the bottom far corner.
A second goal would’ve been a nice cushion for the Warriors because the second half was largely played in their end of the field. Ursuline looked more confident in the final 40 minutes and Foxboro started to sink back towards its goal. The back line of Resnick, Burke, O’Keefe, and Sophia Auclair with help from midfielders Erin Foley and Lauren Miley largely kept the Bears out of the box but Sougaris had to be on her toes to deal with a host of long-range shots.
As the sweeper, Resnick, a sophomore, acts a quarterback for the defense and a vocal leader at the back.
“She not only cleans things up, she organizes, and I can even hear her encouraging the other girls,” said Stalcup about Resnick’s influence. “When they’re going in for a tackle, I can hear her say, ‘You’ve got this Kylie!’ Cheering them on, while backing them up. It’s just awesome how the defense works together.”
Murphy set the tone with an early shot from distance that Sougaris held. Nine minutes into the second half, Heavey played a nice ball into the path of Murphy in the right channel and she forced Sougaris to get down quickly to her right to make the stop.
Much like the final minutes in the first round against Cardinal Spellman, opposition possession didn’t cause panic for the Warriors, who calmly cleared ball after ball down the stretch. They even had a couple chances to double the lead. Miley had the best look when Carman’s corner hit Foley at the near post and the ball was flicked back for Miley to hit on the half-volley just a foot over the bar.
Not every win has to be pretty at this stage of the season, you also have to be able to grind out results and the Warriors showed on Saturday they are capable of that too. Stalcup said, “Final four, it’s amazing. This is such a special team.”
Foxboro (16-1-4), the No. 2 seed, will face No. 5 Dedham, which beat Groton-Dunstable 5-0, on Tuesday at a neutral location for a chance to play for the state title.
Sougaris and Burke Heroics Lift Foxboro in Shootout
FOXBORO, Mass. – It is a very long walk from where the teams were lined up at midfield and the penalty spot, a walk made even longer when you are the fifth shooter and there is an opportunity to end the game. Find the back of the net and your team is moving on. That walk gives you a lot of time to think about the consequences of your next kick.
Foxboro senior Meghan Burke seemed unfazed by the noise, the cold, or the pressure. She walked to the spot, calmly put the ball down, and fired a shot into the bottom right corner to hand the Warriors a 1-0 (4-3) win over Newburyport in the Div. 3 Round of 16 on Wednesday night at Sam Berns Community Field.
“I named my five players and said, you girls go decide who’s going to go first and I was completely shocked they had her go fifth because she’s usually really nervous,” Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said with a laugh. “She swaggered out there and nailed it. It was impressive.”
When Burke was asked to describe her feelings during the walk up, she replied, “Surprisingly I was pretty calm. The coaches have been having us practice these PKs since the beginning of the season but I knew my girls had it from the start.” Asked if she always planned to go bottom right, she laughed, “Yeah, I’ve been practicing that spot.”
After a scoreless 100 minutes, the teams lined up for the shootout. The Clippers missed the opening kick and Jordan Carman buried hers low to the left. In the second round it was Newburyport that made its shot but Erin Foley’s penalty slid past the post to even things at 1-1. Both teams made their kicks in the third and fourth rounds, including Lindsey Resnick’s shot that slid under the body of Port keeper Gabriella Loughran.
The shootout was tied 3-3, but in the fifth round Foxboro keeper Allie Sougaris, who hadn’t been forced to make a save since cutting out a cross in the 44th minute, guessed correctly, diving to her left to make a stop and give Burke the chance to win the match.
“That was beautiful,” Stalcup said of the save. “The way she has grown and matured and her confidence has just taken off the second half of the season. I believed in her. I believed she was going to make a save out there and she believes in herself. It was awesome.”
Foxboro’s win was extra impressive because the Warriors played 80 minutes of game time without All-American Kailee McCabe, who left with an injury midway through the first half. Not only did Foxboro manage without the league MVP, but the Warriors dominated the second half and extra time and created numerous chances to win the game before it got to penalties.
“You could tell they felt a little worried when Kailee went out but the way they all came together and just kept fighting and kept pressing, I mean, we had the ball in their half for all of the overtime,” said Stalcup. “This team, the way we just fight and never give up, the grit, I’m just so proud of them.”
Burke noted, “We knew that we win as a team, we lose as a team, everything happens as one unit. It’s just hard work and just supporting everybody.”
The first half was limited in terms of scoring opportunities for either team. Kayelyn Gallagher forced Sougaris into a save with an early free kick. Carman caused the Clippers some problems with her pace and driving runs from midfield, forcing Loughran into a couple of saves with shots from distance. Foley nearly got on the end of a Burke cross and got a touch to a Carman corner, but that was as much as either team mustered before the break.
When the teams came out of the halftime interval, it was Foxboro that stepped on the gas and started to push the Clippers deeper into their defensive third of the field. Neve Taylor had a great chance three minutes after the break when she took a pass from Carman, cut inside to open up shooting space in the box, and then fired a shot just over the bar.
Lauren Miley had a good look at a shot from the edge of the box two minutes later, but that one skidded wide of the near post. Foley then drove forward from midfield to open space for Jaclyn Vecchione on the left wing, but the Clippers were able to get back just in time to block the shot out for a corner. Foley and Miley were bossing the midfield for Foxboro, winning the ball back and sparking attacks.
“Lindsey (Resnick) played amazing in the back, just clearing everything out,” Stalcup explained. “We watched some game tape and we knew No. 3 (Deirdre McElhinney) was really dynamic on the ball, so I gave Lauren the assignment of staying on her. She did an amazing job and Erin just cleaned the ball up and distributed it so beautifully.”
Newburyport’s best chance came on the hour mark. A foul on the edge of the box gave Gallagher a chance to try and put one on frame, but Foley was able to get a foot out and block the free kick. Five minutes before the end of regulation, Carman went on a long run from midfield and let fly with a left-footed shot from just outside the box but it was narrowly wide.
In the first overtime, Foxboro continued to up the pressure. A Carman corner bounced in the area and popped out to Brooke Barreira at the back post but she wasn’t able to make clean contact. Early in the second overtime period, Taylor had a shot partially blocked and it nearly fell to Vecchione but Laughren went bravely at the Foxboro winger’s feet to make the save.
The game was forced to a shootout and it gave the chance for players to step up in the clutch. On Wednesday night, Sougaris and Burke came through for the Warriors.
“I’m so happy,” Burke said, trying to reflect on her emotions after making the spot kick. “Even in that moment, I was just so relaxed and happy. The whole game, it was just intense. I was in shock, so I’m just so happy and I still have the smile on my face!”
Foxboro (15-1-4) will be back at home in the quarterfinal round, hosting No. 23 Ursuline Academy, which beat No. 26 East Bridgewater 2-0.
Foxboro Gets MVP Moment to Decide Playoff Opener
FOXBORO, Mass. – In playoff soccer, sometimes you just need one opportunity, one bounce, one shot to find that winning goal. Other times, it may require dozens of chances before the ball finally finds its way into the back of the net.
For Foxboro, Sunday afternoon’s Div. 3 opening round playoff game at Sam Berns Community Field was definitely the latter.
Despite dominating play throughout the first half and forcing Cardinal Spellman goalie Jessica Pulsifer into at least a dozen saves, the game remained scoreless with just seconds remaining. Kailee McCabe made one more driving run at the Spellman penalty area and went down under a challenge. Much to the annoyance of the visitors, the official called a foul about 30 yards from goal.
McCabe, who had this weekend just been named the Hockomock League MVP for the second straight season and was also named an All-American, delivered the clutch moment, firing her free kick into the bottom corner, past the dive of Pulsifer. It would be the only goal, as the No. 2 seed Foxboro saw off No. 31 Spellman 1-0 to reach the Sweet Sixteen.
“She placed it perfectly,” Foxboro coach Katie Stacup said of McCabe’s goal. “It was a beautiful shot. She’s going to come through. She had an amazing game tonight. She had so many shots that just weren’t going in for her. She keeps coming back and she keeps fighting.”
It was a moment that had been coming. The hosts were rampant in the opening half, keeping the Cardinals pinned in their defensive third and cleaning up the rare breaks.
It started with the back line of Meghan Burke, Sophia Auclair, Kylie O’Keefe, and sweeper Lindsey Resnick, who never allowed Spellman to get the ball into its dangerous forwards. Then the ball was played forward where McCabe and fellow senior Jordan Carman could combine and cause havoc in the visiting defense.
Only took four minutes in and the Warriors had the first good chance, McCabe settled a throw, turned her marker and set up Erin Foley for a shot from 16 yards that was saved. This would set a familiar pattern, Foxboro attacking and the ball ending in Pulsifer’s hands.
In the 18th minute, Burke battled to win the ball back and that teed up Carman for a chance from the edge of the box that went wide. Two minutes later, Auclair’s ball out of defense found Neve Taylor free on the left wing. She played it into McCabe for another effort just wide. Three minutes after that it was Brooke Barreira on the right side of the box latching onto a loose ball only for Alyssa Belmont to clear off the line.
McCabe crossed to Carman for a chance in the six-yard box, but she wasn’t able to hit it cleanly and it was saved. A mishit clearance then gave McCabe a chance on her left foot, but Pulsifer pulled out maybe her best save of the half, diving low to her left. Just a minute later, Carman’s corner picked out Foley for a half-volley that was parried and then McCabe had another shot from outside the box that was palmed over the bar.
Finally, with the ref counting down the final 10 seconds of the half, McCabe found the breakthrough and put the Warriors in front.
“I told them we’re dominating the game, we’re winning balls in the middle, we’re playing beautiful through balls on the outside, getting these beautiful crosses but we’re just not finishing,” Stalcup said. “She’s a good goalie, she had an amazing game, but we need to start finding the corners a little more.”
It looked like the same pattern of play would continue in the second half. Lauren Miley had an interception and forced yet another save inside the first 10 minutes after the break.
But then the play switched and it was the visitors that were pushing forward in search of an equalizer and the Warriors ended up on their heels. In the 51st minute, Spellman had its best chance of the match. A foul on the right wing gave the Cardinals a free kick and Emma Pero curled it towards the top corner. Foxboro keeper Alexis Sougaris, who had barely touched the ball to that point, scrambled across her goal and made a fingertip save to prevent the ball nestling in the top corner.
“We felt that push in the final 10-15 minutes and I think we handled it pretty well,” said Stalcup. “I don’t think it got too frantic down there. I think we stayed organized enough and Ali did an amazing job on the free kicks and the corners.”
Even with Spellman pressing and the Warriors struggling at times to get out, Sougaris was rarely troubled, as the defense continued to hold firm. McCabe had the best chances of the final 20 minutes when she showed off her touch and her footwork to create shooting space on the edge of the box and draw two good saves out of Pulsifer.
When asked if a first round challenge like this could be good for her team heading into the next round, Stalcup replied, “I think it’s good for us going forward, but playing in the Hock we have those high-pressure games all the time. Those have gotten us ready for this game and this game has gotten us ready for the upcoming games, so it’s all kind of building.”
Foxboro (14-1-4) advances to the Sweet Sixteen and will host No. 31 seed Newburyport on Wednesday night.
Title Showdown Between Foxboro and OA Ends in Draw
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – With the cold rain and wind blowing across Muscato Stadium and the intensity of the play from both teams, it certainly felt like the playoffs had already started. Oliver Ames and Foxboro came into Monday night’s game tied for the league lead and the teams walked away in the same position.
For the second season in a row, the Davenport division title is going to come down to the final game of the regular season, as OA and Foxboro played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Jordan Carman opened the scoring inside the first 30 seconds of the match and freshman Emma Gavin equalized 11 minutes into the second half to send both teams home with a point.
“It’s just 80 minutes of intensity and you know that everything is riding on it,” Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “These are the kind of games that we need to get ready.”
OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “I just told them, just play your game guys. You don’t want to go home saying I was scared or I didn’t play my best game or I was tentative. We made a mistake and we recovered from it so I was quite happy.”
The game roared into life almost directly from the opening kick. Foxboro played the ball backwards and quickly out to the right wing where Kailee McCabe was racing down the sideline. Before the crowd had even settled in, McCabe hit a low cross into the middle. There was a second of hesitation between OA keeper Emily Meyers and the defender and Carman was able to stick her foot in and knock the ball into the back of the net.
“We had a little miscommunication,” Sellmayer explained. “I felt bad but I said the best time to make a mistake is the first 20 seconds of the game, you’ve got 79 minutes to straighten it out.”
Foxboro couldn’t have asked for a better start, especially with the wind at its back for the opening 40 minutes, and the Warriors pressed for a second goal.
Carman continued to be a primary weapon in the attack, as she created a good chance in the 10th minute with a clever flick over the defender and looping pass to Brooke Barreira, who shot it just wide. Six minutes later, Carman again made a nice play in the box, chesting down a long free kick from Lindsey Resnick into the path of Jaclyn Vecchione, but her shot went over the bar.
Foxboro relied on Carman’s versatility throughout the match, as she played up front, in the midfield, and dropped just in front of the back line, winning headers and tackles all over the pitch.
“She just battles the entire 80 minutes,” Stalcup said about Carman. “That’s just her character. She’s just a grinder and a fighter and she wants to win at all costs.”
McCabe nearly created a second goal a few minutes before halftime. Her throw-in from the left sideline picked out Erin Foley in the six-yard-box, but the sophomore’s shot on the turn was denied by Meyers, who got down quickly to her left.
OA had a couple dangerous moments in the first half, mostly off set pieces. Lauren Sellmayer played several dangerous free kicks into the box, including one in the 26th minute that Foxboro keeper Alexis Sougaris was able to snag in a crowd. In the final minute of the half, Lucinda Li Cotter used a clever header to get past her marker on the right. A rushed, sliced clearance by the defense went across the box but Sellmayer was unable to get a piece of it at the back post.
With the wind at its back in the second half, OA came out intent on finding a goal. The Tigers looked more confident and assured on the ball after the break. Sellmayer again came close, this time with a nice cut to her left foot and shot from 25 yards that caromed back off the post.
In the 51st minute, OA found the equalizer off another set piece opportunity. Camryn O’Connor’s free kick from the left took a deflection off the wall and went straight across the edge of the six. Alexa Lane got the slightest touch at the near post and Gavin reacted first to prod the ball across the line at the back stick.
“Emma went in the first half and missed the ball completely and I said catch your breath, you’ll be fine,” Sellmayer noted. “She played so well that we moved Cam up top and I think Cam and Lu caused a lot of problems for them. She had a great game for us.”
Foxboro almost instantly responded. McCabe ran straight at the OA defense and forced Meyers into a diving save. Carman then had a chance from distance that Meyers was able to read the bounce and hold onto.
Gavin had another look at goal in the 56th minute, but her left-footed shot was just wide. Cotter then teed up O’Connor for a look from 20 yards that skipped right in front of Sougaris but was comfortably saved. The chances kept coming for the home team in the final 10 minutes. Sellmayer got free for a header off an O’Connor corner nine minutes from time, but her effort went over the bar.
In the final seconds of regulation, OA had one last opportunity to put the ball into the box. Sellmayer’s long free kick landed and was only partially cleared out to Taylor deVos, who put her shot on target only to have McCabe head it off the line. The rebound fell to Sophia Byron and she tried to curl one towards the corner but Sougaris was again there to make the save in traffic.
“That was the longest 10 seconds of my life when that ball was bouncing around in there,” Stalcup said. “I just held my breath the entire time it was in there”
Asked about the play of her goalie and the preparation for OA’s set play delivery, Stalcup added, “We spent a whole practice on corner kicks and set plays. [Allie] has just grown this confidence throughout the season and I saw it tonight and it was amazing.”
Oliver Ames (12-1-2), which is looking for its first title since 2016 and Davenport title since 2015, will travel to North Attleboro on Wednesday, while Foxboro (13-1-3), which is looking for its third title in the past four years and is on a 16-game unbeaten streak, will be home to face Canton. A win for either team will clinch at least a share of the league title.
Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/20/21
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Taunton, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro turned three services into the area into three goals to pick up a win over visiting Taunton. The Bombardiers opened the scoring just over the midway point of the first half and doubled the advantage just seconds before the break. Sophomore Luke Hagopian’s cross from the right side popped free in the area and classmate Alex Vecchioli was first to it, smashing in a volley from in close. In the 40th minute, Esvin Morales whipped in a free kick from near the corner flag and senior Connor Adema one-timed a shot past the keeper. In the 52nd minute, a free kick from Cashel Stuger was not cleared and senior Liam Bischoff buried the loose ball into the open net to make it 3-0.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Canton exploded for three goals in the second half to pull away North Attleboro, snapping the Rocketeers’ three-game win streak while extending their own unbeaten run to seven games. Jacob Crugnale put the hosts ahead in the first half and Jake McCabe scored twice and had an assist in the second half for the Bulldogs. Dylan Baird capped the scoring for Canton.
Sharon, 0 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro scored on a penalty kick midway through the second half to get a win over Sharon. The Warriors built out of the back to earn their chance from the spot. Cam Barreira played Alex Penders near midfield, and the junior played senior Jacob Tessier into space on the right side. Tessier carried the ball forward before sending a service to Matt Angelini, who was taken down right near the spot after taking his first touch. Angelini buried the penalty kick just under the crossbar for the lone goal of the game. Derek Axon recorded the shutout in net for Foxboro.
Franklin, 1 @ Xaverian, 0 – Final – A pair of seniors linked up for the game-winning goal as Franklin swept the season series with Xaverian, pushing their win streak to four straight. Senior Jacob Crisileo set up classmate Jack Moran for the lone goal in the 59th minute.
King Philip, 0 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Milford finally solved King Philip, pumping in a pair of goals inside the final 10 minutes to get two points at home. After over an hour of scoreless play, the Hawks struck on a free kick in the 70th minute. Bill Silva set up Chris Tocci as the Hawks finally broke through for a 1-0 lead. With under two minutes to go, Arthur Tome assisted Eduardo Santana on a goal that made it 2-0. Milford head coach Antonio Pinto praised the effort of his defense, which posted its third straight shutout.
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 10 – Final – After being shutout for the first two times this season, Oliver Ames’ offense exploded for its best output of the season in a win over visiting Stoughton. Senior Hector Bucio recorded a hat trick to pace the offense while freshmen Andrew Martins and Casey Milliken (two assists) each had a brace.Ryan Linhares, Raphael Vache, and John Dobbin each scored once in the win while senior Mathias Taylor had four assists.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Bethany Alves scored with nine minutes to play to lift Attleboro to a big road win that moves the Bombardiers within two points of clinching a playoff spot with three games to go. Kacey Parker opened the scoring for Attleboro inside the first minute. Jamie Davies added a second on an assist by Emily Dunlea. Taunton hung around, battling back into the game, but with nine minutes on the clock Dunlea played a great through ball to Alves for the game-winner.
Canton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Canton and North played to a scoreless draw, leaving both teams chasing points in the final week of the season to clinch a playoff spot. North’s defensive unit of Meghan Dowd, Carli Guertin, Summer Doherty, and Charlotte Moynihan played well in front of keeper Maddie Ferrin to earn the clean sheet. Brayden Rice, Autumn Hewitt, and Sophia Capriotti also had good games in midfield, while Caroline Ferrin had a goal taken off the board late in the first half.
Foxboro, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Jordan Carman scored twice and assisted on two others, powering Foxboro to 13th straight game unbeaten. Neve Taylor also had a brace, while Erin Foley and and Rebecca Foley each scored once. Erin Foley also assisted on three goals and Lindsey Resnick added one helper. Sharon was missing a couple of its starters, but a strong game from Amber Marcus-Blank, who was tasked with marking Kailee McCabe.
Franklin, 3 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
Milford, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – KP scored one early in the first half and one late in the second half to secure a win that keeps the Warriors within two points of league-leading Franklin. Ella Pisani got the opener after 11 minutes when she took a pass from Sarah Harper 25 yards from goal and put it into the top right corner. Harper sealed the win in the second half off a pass from Kylie Anderson. Dani Gresham and Eilish McGowen played well in the KP midfield.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Kyla Melton, Lauren Sellmayer and Mary Cross each scored once as Oliver Ames improved to 12-1-1 on the season. Lucinda Li Cotter recorded a pair of assists while Emily Meyers had the shutout for the Tigers. Shayla Ford played well again for the Black Knights in multiple roles, while Bianca Casna gave Stoughton a good outlet up top and Sophia Lally was strong at the back in her one-on-one battles.
Foxboro Attack Too Much to Handle for the Bulldogs
CANTON, Mass. – Inside the opening 10 minutes of Wednesday night’s game at WWII Veterans Memorial Field, Foxboro saw itself go behind. A bad bounce (or fortuitous if you were on the Canton side) left the Warriors down, but far from out. The league’s second-highest scorer, Foxboro was confident that it could find one goal in the next 70 minutes.
As it turned out, the Warriors got five. Behind a Kailee McCabe hat trick, Foxboro turned around the early deficit to run out 5-2 winners at Canton, once again moving into a first-place tie with Oliver Ames atop the Davenport division.
“After we got down by that one goal, I could just see that they knew they were going to come back and win this game,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “I have that confidence in them and I think we’ve just come together so strongly as a team that they just have that faith in each other that they’re going to make it work.”
Foxboro nearly opened the scoring after seven minutes. Jordan Carman’s pass from the left wing picked out McCabe on the edge of the box. Elyse Broderick was able to get two hands to the shot and tip it over the bar. Just two minutes later, Canton found the opener. Sarah Dempster’s free kick from midfield took a huge bounce in the box, stranding Foxboro keeper Alexis Sougaris and ending up in the back of the net.
The Bulldogs were absorbing pressure but seemed buoyed by the early goal and were getting some success attacking down the wings. Fay Gallery won the ball in midfield and fed it to Emily McCabe, who in turn found Emma Cahill streaking down the right wing. The freshman’s cross just eluded Gallery at the back post. A few minutes later, it was McCabe on the right wing crossing but again Gallery couldn’t make contact on the far side.
Two goals in two minutes turned the game on its head and sophomore Erin Foley was the impetus behind both. First, she made a smart run in the box and was brought down by Broderick to earn a penalty that McCabe coolly put away. Just two minutes later, Foley pressured Dempster, forcing a turnover, and hit a curling, first-time shot over Broderick and under the bar from a tight angle.
“She’s just a grinder,” Stalcup said of Foley. “She just has so much competitive energy. I told her the other day that’s something I can’t coach. She just has so much emotion and passion and competitiveness that it fuels so much of her game.”
Canton continued to hold its own. Injuries have taken their toll for the Bulldogs, forcing Ava Gilmore to move out of defense into the midfield, but Allie McCabe was handling the Foxboro attacks and it remained a one-goal game for another 10 minutes.
Then Kailee McCabe made a goal out of nothing. The league’s leading scorer and reigning MVP, fired a shot from 35 yards out on the right side of the box and placed it into the far bottom corner to make it 3-1.
“Where we’re getting hurt most in the midfield,” said Senyonjo, who was missing two starters to injuries and had several other players banged up. “If we can put on this same performance with a few more healthy bodies then we might be able to get something out of the next few games and hopefully we can squeeze into the playoffs.”
With two minutes to go until halftime, Canton had a chance to get back within one. Gabriella Herivaux played a pass into Cahill charging down the right. The freshman cut back onto her left foot, but her shot from the edge of the box was parried at full stretch by Sougaris.
Momentum remained with the visitors coming out of the break. A cross from Brooke Barreira nearly found Foley for her second but the redirected shot went wide. Canton came close after a cross from deep by Kristina Keefe found Anne Hoban on the far side of the box. The senior’s glancing header went narrowly wide, possibly clipping the post on its way past the corner.
McCabe continued to be a thorn in the side of the Canton defense, finding little pockets of space on the edge of the area. Twice she forced great diving saves out of Broderick before finally completing her hat trick in the 63rd minute with a perfectly-placed shot from the edge of the box into the corner.
“She’s just this gift that was given to Foxboro and we’re just so thankful and grateful to have her,” Stalcup said. The pairing of McCabe with Carman up top has proved very fruitful for the Warriors. Stalcup explained, “That goal when Jordan passed it back to her and Kailee finished it, they just read each other so well and they’re just so quick on the ball. It’s just beautiful soccer.”
Like in the first half, Foxboro wasted no time adding another. A long ball from sweeper Lindsey Resnick found Carman behind the defense and she rounded Broderick before firing home from an acute angle.
Carman nearly added a second on a similar play a few minutes later, but this time her shot flashed through the box and out the other side. Just a minute before that shot, Cahill had gotten free on a rare foray into the attacking third and clipped the bar with a cross from the right.
McCabe forced another save out of Broderick in the 74th minute and the Canton keeper reacted quickly to clean up the rebound in front of Neve Taylor.
Canton would get a second goal in the closing minutes. Emily McCabe’s corner to the back post was met by Gallery, whose firm header from close range gave the keeper no chance.
“When you have a player that can make goals out of nothing, it’s just a killer,” said Senyonjo. “We had a game plan coming in, we stuck to it for the most part, and it worked. I still think the 5-2 scoreline doesn’t reflect how well we played but that’s the nature of the business we’re in. A couple mistakes here or there we could’ve avoided, we started well, but that’s a tough team.”
With the win, Foxboro (9-1-1) extended its unbeaten run to 10 games heading into Friday’s visit of state power Bishop Feehan. Canton (3-5-3) will get a few days off to heal before a visit from Attleboro on Tuesday.
2021 Hockomock League Girls Soccer Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Hockomock League Girls Soccer Preview
Attleboro
2020 Record: 5-5-5
Coach: Steve Santos
Attleboro has been on the brink of tournament qualification for the past several seasons, but narrowly missed out. Last fall’s team had the potential to end head coach Steve Santos’ wait to get back into the playoffs only for the pandemic to force an abbreviated season. After graduating the team’s leading scorers and playmakers (Bella Salviati, Jessica Gates, and Briley Harnois), the Bombardiers will count on new faces stepping in and giving them a chance to taste the postseason.
The Bombardiers will be hoping to build on a strong defense. Senior Olivia Calderone and junior Ella Stromfors will be the anchors in the heart of the back line and their leadership will be critical. Attleboro will miss senior Olivia Cook, who had a strong preseason at outside back but suffered an injury that will keep her out for the season. Junior goalie Alexis Campbell also has an injury at the start of the season but will hopefully be back soon to take over in net.
In midfield, Attleboro has several returning players who will be looking at slightly different roles this year. Junior Emily Dunlea is a dynamic and versatile midfielder and could be the team’s playmaker this season. She will get help from senior Emily Khang, who missed the 2020 season. Another skillful midfielder, Khang will give Attleboro an attacking boost. Sophomore Bethany Alves can play as a holding or attacking midfielder, depending on the situation. Up top, junior Kacey Parker and sophomore Jamie Davies will be counted on to make up some of the goals that were lost to graduations.
“We graduated a solid core of players who brought a lot to the team, so we’re trying to figure out who’s going to embrace those roles,” said Santos. “We have some good talented players who can keep the ball on the ground and play some solid soccer. We have some more to grow on and learning how to play aggressive, Hockomock soccer.”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Canton
2020 Record: 8-3-1
Coach: Idris Senyonjo
Last season, Canton edged Foxboro by a single point to win its first league title since 2012. The Bulldogs graduated a strong class of seniors, particularly in the midfield and the attack, but there is plenty of returning talent on both ends of the pitch and second-year coach Idris Seyonjo to feel confident of another title challenge this fall.
The attack will look very different this season after graduating prolific forward Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia (17 goals combined in 2020), but senior Gabriella Herivaux returns after scoring five times last year and could be poised for a breakout season as the primary target up top. Seniors Fay Gallery and Anne Hoban (who played at outside back last season) will also join in the attack and freshman Emma Cahill is a newcomer that could provide creativity in the final third. Sophomore Emily McCabe will step into the attacking midfield role and try to provide the killer pass from the center of the pitch.
Defense should be a strength for the Bulldogs this season with a mix of veterans and several incoming freshmen who could step in right away and contribute. Senior Allie McCabe continues to be the lynchpin of the Canton defense, commanding the heart of the back line with her strong play and leadership. There is plenty of experience in goal as well with senior Elyse Broderick back and healthy and junior Marissa Staffiere ready to step in, after being the starter all of 2020.
Seyonjo said, “Most important thing about this season is that I believe all teams are looking forward to what will hopefully be a normal season. I am excited. I look forward to my first full season as head coach. Every game will be different and we hope to be able to match or even better our performances from last season.”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Foxboro
2020 Record: 7-2-2
Coach: Katie Stalcup
Foxboro was just a single point short of a three-peat last season, dropping to second in the Davenport behind Canton, and the Warriors will have a lot of new faces this fall as they try to get back on top in the division. The Warriors graduated 10 seniors, but still have a lot of varsity experience, especially in the midfield, that will make them a tough challenge for their title rivals.
Senior Kailee McCabe, the reigning league MVP, is back in the middle for the Warriors this season. The four-year starter tied for the team (and league) lead with 11 goals in 2020 but she may have to take on a bigger scoring role this fall with Jordyn Collins now at Bryant. She should have a lot of help in the middle of the pitch. Senior Brooke Barreira, junior Lauren Milley, and sophomore Erin Foley all played significant minutes last year and capable of the quick combination passing that has been a hallmark of Foxboro’s play. Senior Jordan Carman will bring her versatility to the forward line this season, after playing pretty much every position (including goalie) last year.
Defensively, senior Meghan Burke will be the leader in the back line. An aggressive, solid defender, Burke has regularly been tasked with marking the opponent’s best attacker. Sophomore Lindsey Resnick had a strong rookie season and will add some game experience to the defense. Senior Maddie Maher and sophomore Alexis Sougaris will be the goalies tasked with replacing Morgan Sylvestre between the posts.
Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said, “We had some major losses with our 10 graduating seniors last year, but I am very excited about this team and what I have seen from them so far and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do against the tough competition in this league.”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
franklin
2020 Record: 6-4-2
Interim Coach: Jodi Klein
Long-time head coach Tom Geysen is dealing with a medical issue, so former JV coach Jodi Klein will take over this season and is emphasizing pressure high up the pitch and keeping possession in attack. Franklin returned to the top of the Kelley-Rex last season and Klein has an experienced squad to work with this fall, as they look to go back-to-back in what should be a wide-open title race.
The Panthers have built a lot of their recent success on a strong defense. This season should be no different. Junior Norah Anderson has been a mainstay in the heart of the back line for the past two seasons and she’ll be joined by junior Reilly Lorenzo and sophomore Maddie Horton. Senior Izzy Arnold and junior Katie Ewald give the Panthers speedy outside backs to provide width in attack and cover in the defensive third. Sophomore Rachel Welch will get the nod in goal after splitting time as a freshman and her reading of the game will help direct the defensive unit.
Franklin’s midfield has the potential to control games. Seniors Stella Regan and Chloe Barca and junior Bridget Leo bring plenty of experience to the middle of the pitch. Each are quick and solid in possession. Juniors Avery Greco and Chloe Stavely and sophomore Selene Hammad will step into the midfield to add depth. The Panthers will be looking to use the speed of the forward line to create chances. Senior Riley Fitzpatrick is the most experienced player up top and sophomore Anya Zub had three goals and four assists as a freshman. Freshman Kelly O’Connor is a new player to watch out for in the forward line.
“This is an exciting season for all of us,” said Klein. “I am a new coach to all of our returning varsity players and any of these girls who have played for me in the past have never played at the varsity level before. We are working through a brand-new system and style of play and we’re all very eager to see what we can accomplish together this season.”
King Philip
2020 Record: 7-5-2
Coach: Gary Pichel
After graduating a large, talented group of seniors, including the top two scorers in program history, last year was bound to be transitional for King Philip, but it was also an opportunity for several players to step up into bigger roles. As it turned out, the Warriors had plenty of talent still on the squad and stayed in the hunt for a league title right to the final week.
The Warriors will be hoping last year’s game experience will pay off with a title challenge this season. The midfield should be a strength for KP. Junior Ella Pisani had a breakout 2020 season, showing off her skills as both a forward and midfielder and leading the team in scoring. She will be at the center of the KP attack again this year. Senior Paulina Baczkowski will give the Warriors width on the outside and delivers accurate crosses. Senior Morgan Norrman is an accurate passer who can push the Warriors into quick counterattacks.
Senior Brooke Mullins has improved every year in the KP defense, and she adds aggression and a willingness to get the ball forward quickly. After an impressive rookie year, junior Grace Lawler missed all of 2020 with an injury, but she is back and gives KP an instant upgrade in the back line with her ability to mark the opposing team’s best attacker. Freshmen Dani Lamuscio (midfield), Mikayla Thompson (defense), and Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn (defense) should make an instant impact and add extra energy for the Warriors this season.
“I see this team keeping up with our KP tradition of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication to the cause,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “Our team will be competitive in every game as we go through the gauntlet of the Hockomock League.”
Mansfield
2020 Record: 6-4-3
Coach: Kevin Smith
Mansfield entered the abbreviated 2020 season with a relatively inexperienced group, and it showed during the early parts of the fall, but the Hornets put things together quickly and finished only a point back of Franklin for the division title. With nine starters returning, including most of the defensive corps, the Hornets should be in the mix for the title again this year.
Although the Hornets will definitely miss the on-field leadership and versatility of senior Maria Sevastos, who was injured in the spring, Mansfield has plenty of experience in the back line. Senior Anna Darlington will be the leader in the defense alongside sophomore Kara Santos, who is coming off an impressive rookie season at centerback. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Salisbury brings two years of experience in net and classmate Caitlin Zajac is a capable backup.
Senior Katie Miller will control the middle of the field. A four-year starter, Miller provides an extra layer of protection for the back line and can get the Hornets into the attack as well. Up front, senior forward Tarynn Smith is a willing runner, who can give opposing defenses a physical challenge. Sophomore Carly Devine is a creative playmaker that will give the Hornets an offensive spark.
“We are still very young with only four returning seniors,” Mansfield coach Kevin Smith explained, “but it’s a good core of players who have multiple years of varsity experience already.”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Milford
2020 Record: 3-6-3
Coach: Lou Colabello
Milford closed the 2020 season on a strong run, going 2-1-1 over its final four games that included two hard-fought games with Mansfield. Only three seniors are returning from last year’s roster, so the Hawks will be young this fall, but not necessarily inexperienced since many of the underclassmen stepped into the lineup last year.
The key to the Milford attack is junior Dani Atherton. She was the team’s leading scorer with eight goals last season (more than half of the team’s total) and most of the offense will flow through her feet. The Hawks will hope for more creativity and goals from the rest of the team, including juniors Brooke Ferreira and Amy Oliveira, a pair of players who can start up top or in the midfield. Junior Brianna Guerreiro is also back in the center of the pitch.
At the back, seniors Aubrey Korpi and Aislinn Bennett will provide much-needed leadership for this young crew and senior Jill Araujo can jump into the back line or help supply cover from the midfield. Junior Catarina Mestre is another returning defender from last season’s squad.
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
North Attleboro
2020 Record: 5-5-3
Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro battled to a .500 record in 2020 and did it thanks to a strong defensive foundation. The Rocketeers allowed only 11 goals in 13 games last year and had five clean sheets. After graduating 15 players from that squad, and losing a starter to an injury, North coach Bill Wallace is enthusiastic about the potential for this year’s team to make a playoff push.
The Rocketeers return both of last year’s leading scorers. Senior Steph McKenna and junior Emma Pratt each scored five times last season and they will be counted on to improve those numbers with a full season (and without the restrictions that were in place in 2020). Behind the strikers, North’s midfield got a lot of experience last year. Senior Brayden Rice and junior Caroline Ferrin will be in the middle, while senior Autumn Hewitt and juniors Brooke Sullivan and Lily Adams provide the width.
Defense was a strength last year and it should be again in 2021. Senior Summer Doherty returns after missing a lot of last season with an injury. Her leadership and athleticism will be important in the middle of the back line. Seniors Meaghan Dowd and Charlotte Moynihan and junior Haley Sinacola make up the rest of the starting back four with junior Maddie Ferrin in goal.
“Right now, we are organized and making opponents work hard to develop their offense,” Wallace said. “Our goal is to play faster and with more urgency. The work rate is high, and the girls are looking forward to competing in the always tough Hockomock League!”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Oliver Ames
2020 Record: 8-1-5
Coach: Britt Sellmayer
Oliver Ames lost only once in 2020 and avenged that defeat by beating Canton in the Hock Cup final. The Tigers did draw five matches last season, but with eight starters returning, and several younger players who got valuable experience, OA will hope to turn those single points into two and bring home its first league title since 2016.
The Tigers pride themselves on being a tough team to break down and the defense should be stout again this fall. Senior Emily Meyers is back in goal and will be a vocal leader at the back. Senior Allison Evin moved from up top to the heart of the defense last season and her speed and understanding of the game made her a tough marker for opposing forwards to get away from, while juniors Mary Cross and Sophia Byron are looking to build off strong sophomore seasons. Senior Kyla Melton has transferred in from Milton Academy and her versatility will be a boost to the back line or in midfield.
Midfield will continue to provide cover for the back line with the likes of seniors Katie Gibson and Lauren Sellmayer not only giving the Tigers a physical, aerial presence, but also consistent delivery on set pieces. Senior Camryn O’Connor, a Boston University-commit, adds creativity to OA’s bite in the center of the pitch and will be a key to turning defense into attack. Junior Jenna Gilman will also provide playmaking and width and speedy sophomore forward Lucinda Cotter has been in good scoring form during the preseason.
“We have eight starters returning from last season, plus some younger players pushing for playing time,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “We are hoping our depth will be an advantage for our team this year.”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Sharon
2020 Record: 2-8-2
Coach: Catherine Sullivan
Sharon won a pair of games in 2020, but was also competitive in several losses that showed there was potential for improvement heading into the new season. The Eagles will be young this year, particularly after a pair of preseason injuries cost them returning starters, including junior Sally Brouhard, but there is still reason for optimism about the athleticism in the squad.
The Eagles will lean on the midfield, as the most experienced group. Junior Sofia Goclowski stepped in last year and had an all-star-caliber season and will be the primary playmaker in the center of the pitch. Junior Amber Marcus-Blank is moving up from the back line and her aggression will be key to shielding the defense. Junior Olivia Soby combines physical presence with technical skills and will be an important piece to the attack.
Senior forward Wendy Wooden will be the team’s primary threat up top and her speed will stretch opposition defenses to open space for the midfielders. On the other end of the field, the Eagles will be very young. Senior Amanda Hu is the only returning player in the back line and she’ll be counted on to keep everything organized. Sophomore Jordanna Morris will add much needed speed and athleticism to the defense and already looks comfortable at the varsity level.
“We have a very young squad this year, but I am excited about our mix of talent and athleticism,” said Sharon coach Catherine Sullivan. “As always, the league looks to be extremely competitive, but we welcome the challenging matches that help us grow and continue to move our program in the right direction.
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Stoughton
2020 Record: 0-11-1
Coach: Hermes Lima
Second-year Stoughton coach Hermes Lima is still looking for his first win, but he is confident that this year’s team has the right combination of skill and speed to give teams problems. The Black Knights are counting on increased depth and the pairing of experienced players and talented newcomers to get back in the win column.
One of the key players for Stoughton this season is junior Shayla Ford. Blessed with great speed, Ford can either stretch the opposition and attack the space behind the defense or drop into the Stoughton back line and give cover for her teammates. Freshman Makenzie O’Connor is going to step in up top and will add another dynamic element to the attack, while classmate Morgan Cook can slot in as a forward or in the back line to add aggression and a physical element. Junior Isabella Rodrigues gives the Black Knights speed on the wings and gives more speed for the forwards to run into.
The Black Knights will have experience in defense. Senior Abigail Durand is back in goal and provides vocal leadership for the back line. Senior Samantha Tran can play anywhere across the back line and her versatility is important. Junior Emma Tremblay and freshman Lauren Mitchell will both play in the center of midfield and can protect the back line or facilitate the Stoughton counter attack. Both can also slot in at central defense when needed. Junior Sabrina Rodrigues is another versatile player, jumping in at wingback or in the heart of the midfield.
“Every player bought into the culture last year and the new/returning players have bought in to every word/thing said and given to them this year!” said Lima. “The players are ready to fight for one another, represent their school and make this program proud of every achievement in their path. As a coach, I cannot ask anything else of them! This will be an intriguing but yet good step in the right direction for this program.”
Hockomock League Girls Soccer
Taunton
2020 Record: 0-3-7
Coach: Mike Couture
Taunton coach Mike Couture only got four games to assess his team in 2020 before the season came to an abrupt end. Now in his second year, Couture is building around a young roster, composed mostly of sophomores, and is excited about the talent and the potential. The Tigers will be hoping to get off to a good start and end their wait for a nearly two-year wait for a league win.
Senior Isabella Anslow will be the leader of the defensive unit. She has been a busy goalkeeper in the past but has come up with several big games against big opponents. An example of that was being able to hold Mansfield to a scoreless draw in the first meeting between the teams last year. Junior Emily Calderon will lead the Tigers on the other end of the field. The forward is quick and experienced and she’ll be counted on to give Taunton a cutting edge in attack.
“This is a strong group and how quickly this good group of less experienced players develop, will determine the degree of our progress and we are off to a good start,” said Couture.
Canton Edges Foxboro in Finale to Win League Title
CANTON, Mass. – Following Foxboro’s 1-0 win on Monday afternoon, Canton knew that it would need a win in Wednesday night’s rematch at WWII Veterans Memorial Field to overtake the Warriors and win the Davenport division title.
After twice taking the lead and having Foxboro quickly bounce back to tie the game, Canton’s third lead of the night turned out to be the charm. Gabriella Herivaux’s goal three minutes into the fourth quarter gave the Bulldogs the lead for good and they held on for a 3-2 victory and a first league title since 2012.
“Both teams played hard the whole game,” said first-year Canton coach Idris Senyonjo. “It was tough, we scored a goal and then give up one like two seconds later. That’s always a demoralizer, but I knew they were going to become a little more defensive the longer the game went on because they didn’t have to win, we had to win.
“We had to force it, but there was nothing left in the tanks after that.”
Coming into the game, Foxboro and Canton boasted five of the top six scorers in the league this season. Fitting for a big game, all five of those star players found the back of the net on Wednesday, including Canton’s trio of senior forwards Olivia Rodman, Elisa Diletizia, and Herivaux.
“I spoke to each one of them yesterday,” Senyonjo explained. “I told them, all the goals you’ve scored are going to be irrelevant if we can’t get the result. Every goal that you’ve scored has led you to this moment. This is going probably going to be the last home game you play and why not finish with a championship?”
Foxboro started well, with the Warriors aggressively pressing and pinning Canton back. Aislinn Servaes had an early chance after a misplaced clearance inside the opening 10 minutes and forced Canton keeper Marissa Staffiere into a save. Seven minutes later, Jordyn Collins got space on the edge of the box but her shot was charged down by freshman Ava Gilmore.
“It was a very evenly-matched game,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “It was a great game. I knew it was going to be a battle out here and I knew they were going to want to beat us so much because of what happened on Monday.”
It took most of the first quarter, but the hosts started to find ways into the attacking third. Diletizia switched play out to the right and Anne Hoban stepped past a defender before firing a long shot that was saved by Foxboro goalie Maddie Mayer, who was called up from JV to replace the suspended Morgan Sylvestre.
The chances kept coming for both teams. Rodman fired a cross from the left that Herivaux teed up for Emily McCabe to put on goal from just outside the box. Collins made a run on the left side of the box and knocked the ball off Staffiere, but Allie McCabe got back and cleared it off the line. Rodman then showed quick feet to shift the ball to her left and send a shot just wide.
Just after the half-hour mark, the hosts were in front. Mia Gilmore whipped in a cross from the right and Rodman showed great skill to bring it down off her chest and hit it quickly on the turn.
The excitement of the opening goal was short-lived. Within a minute, Foxboro got the ball into the box and Collins drew a foul. Kailee Mccabe made no mistake from the spot, firing Foxboro back level.
Early in the second half, Sarai Costello freed Diletizia with a long, curling pass around the left back and the forward forced Mayer into a save from a tough angle. A couple minutes later, Kailee McCabe slipped past her marker to get space for a shot from 25 yards that was just over the bar.
In the 49th minute, Herivaux managed to keep the ball in play on the near touchline and get it into the middle. The ball was played into the feet of Rodman with Foxboro defender Lindsey Resnick on her back. She was able to get her head up and slide an inch-perfect pass into the path of Diletizia, who was clean through on goal and powered her shot past Mayer’s dive and into the far corner.
Again, Canton celebrations were cut short just five minutes later, as Foxboro responded with a second equalizer. McCabe stepped up and let rip from the edge of the box. The shot was blocked, but looped to the left onto Collins’ foot. After taking a touch, she bent a shot inside the far post and tied the game at 2-2.
The home team came out flying for the fourth quarter, needing a goal to win the title. Rodman had a good chance from the left that initially looked like it was flying into the top corner, but ended up settling into Mayer’s gloves.
“I told them just throw everything you’ve got right now,” Senyonjo said about the message heading into the final 20 minutes. “It just came down to could we get lucky today because this game was going to give me a heart attack.”
A minute later, the Bulldogs were in front for a third time. A kick-in from the right was fired into Herivaux at the near post. She managed to bring the ball down off the bounce and, surrounded by defenders, managed to turn and get a foot on the ball as she was falling down, knocking it past the keeper.
After losing two leads, Canton tried to add to its advantage. Gilmore hit another great cross to the back post and Rodman directed it towards goal but Jordan Carman was there to block.
Foxboro’s best chance in the closing minutes came off the foot of a Canton player. Katelyn Mollica fired in a low cross from the right and Mekhala Costello stretched to block, tipping it towards goal but right into the grateful grasp of Staffiere.
“I just can’t help but wonder if it would’ve been different with Morgan in net but that’s something I can’t control,” said Stalcup about her senior goalie who was out because of a red card in Monday’s game. “They played well, Canton worked hard and they just got more goals than us tonight. My girls fought hard, we gave it our all out there.”
Senyonjo added, “It feels good. We beat a really good team.”
Canton (8-1-1) and Foxboro (7-1-2) will wait to find out the details of the Hockomock League’s cup tournament. When asked about the possibility of a third meeting in the cup final, Stalcup said, “That’s what I’m hoping. That’s what I would really love to have is one more chance.”
Shorthanded Foxboro Beats Canton, Jumps Into First
FOXBORO, Mass. – Just five minutes after going in front in Monday afternoon’s top of the table clash at a windswept Sam Berns Community Field, Foxboro’s advantage seemed tenuous at best.
The Warriors had starting goalie Morgan Sylvestre sent off for a foul on the edge of the box that the officials deemed a denial of a clear goal scoring opportunity. Junior Jordan Carman grabbed the goalie shirt and gloves for the first time in her career, which meant Foxboro was losing not only its keeper but also one of its best defenders.
Going up against the league leaders, a team with the second most goals in the league (behind only Foxboro), and an attacking unit boasting three of the top five scorers in the Hockomock for 50 minutes, it was improbable that the Warriors could come away with a victory.
But that’s exactly what happened. Foxboro dropped back into a solid defensive shell, largely holding Canton to long distance chances, and Carman dealt comfortably with everything she faced, helping the Warriors hold on for a 1-0 win that moved them into first place in the Davenport with one game remaining.
“I’m smiling very big under this mask right now,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “It was just about containing, keeping them outside of the box as much as possible, not diving in, not letting them get any near shots off, and not letting them just pass the ball around. We did a good job of cutting off the angles for them to get it out wide.”
Despite the unseasonably cold weather, the teams looked ready to go from the start and settled into a tough, midfield battle.
The first quarter saw only a couple of half-chances for either side. Jordyn Collins settled a cross from the left but tried to play the ball out wide to Katelyn Mollica rather than shoot on the turn. Three minutes later, Olivia Rodman sent a left-footed cross into Gabriella Herivaux but the side-footed effort was easily held by Sylvestre.
Things livened up over a 12-minute span in the second quarter that saw the hosts go ahead and then quickly drop down to 10 players.
In the 24th minute, Collins blocked a clearance that forced Canton back into its own box and then Alyssa Vandenboom blocked the second attempt to get through on goal only to hit her shot right at Bulldogs keeper Marissa Staffiere. A minute later, the same duo combined for the opener.
Vandenboom played a perfectly weighted through ball between the center back and left back that Collins ran onto and the senior striker made no mistake, firing her shot in off the far post to put Foxboro ahead.
Just five minutes later, Elisa Diletizia got free for the first time in the match and was storming in on the Foxboro penalty area. Sylvestre was off her line quickly but her tackle caught the Canton forward. The officials conferred and agreed that if not for the foul Diletizia had a clear sight at goal and gave a straight red to the keeper and a free kick on the edge of the box.
With no backup keeper, Stalcup was forced to give Carman her debut in goal, which meant taking her from the stopper position where she has been so effective all season.
“Not even in practice, but she’s always told us that if need be that she would be the one that would step up,” Stalcup said about Carman’s goalkeeping experience.
Mia Gilmore wasn’t able to test the new keeper with her free kick, as it went narrowly over the bar. Six minutes later Gilmore had another chance from the edge of the box, after good interplay between Emily McCabe and Sarai Costello, but again it went just over.
The expectation was that Canton would create chance after chance in the second half, laying siege to the Foxboro goal in search of the equalizer, and the Bulldogs had plenty of possession, but the Foxboro defense continued to hold out. Lindsey Resnick in the middle, flanked by Meghan Burke and Peyton Feldman with Emma Dahl taking Carman’s spot at stopper alongside Kailee McCabe playing deeper than usual proved difficult for Canton to break down.
“I think we started forcing it a little bit too much,” Canton coach Idris Senyonjo admitted. “I think the idea of we need to score started getting in our heads more than actually we’re going to score if we keep doing what we’re supposed to be doing. But they did a good job defensively. They’re a good team.”
In fact, Foxboro had one of the best chances of the third quarter. Collins got free on the break and laid a pass off to Mollica on the right but the shot went just wide.
“That was what was so brilliant about it, when we did get the counters we were able to keep possession of the ball and at least get a few runners on the side,” Stalcup said. “They thought they were going to pound it on us and when we got the counter it put them on their heels.”
Canton’s best chance came nine minutes into the fourth. Anne Hoban broke free down the right wing and the defender hit a low cross into the box that Herivaux met first time. It was a well-struck shot but it skimmed the crossbar on its way past. Two minutes later, Rodman had a chance on the left but tried a cross rather than a shot and Carman got a touch and Burke was able to block the rebound attempt.
“It forced them to go much further deep to defend and it meant that we had to break up two blocks of four, which made it much harder,” Senyonjo explained. “You still have to make sure you do your job. We had probably, what 80 percent of the possession after the red card happened? But that doesn’t do you any good if you don’t get score a goal.”
Although the Warriors haven’t won a third straight title yet, it leaves them needing just a point on the road in Wednesday’s rematch to clinch the division.
“They came in [today] and the pressure was on them to get a win and now that pressure is on us,” said Senyonjo. “It’s kind of switched around.”
Foxboro (7-0-2) will travel to Canton (7-1-1) on Wednesday night in the regular season finale.