Tag: Maeve Ledwith
2019 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars
Below are the official 2019 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Hockomock League MVP
Anna Beck, Attleboro
Hockomock League All Stars
Anna Beck, Attleboro
Campell Compton, Attleboro
Riley O’Connor, Canton
Kaitlyn Goyetch, Canton
Maria Femia, Canton
Meghan LaBelle, Canton
Jaime Notarangelo, Foxboro
Ella Waryas, Foxboro
Shannon Egan, Foxboro
Amanda Lewandowski, Franklin
Olivia Rondeau, Franklin
Maeve Ledwith, Franklin
Stephanie Bell, Franklin
Makenzie Manning, King Philip
Sammy Robison, King Philip
Grace Doyle, Mansfield
Abby Varricchione, Mansfield
Kat Swineford, Milford
Lindsay Robinson, North Attleboro
Emma Strachan, North Attleboro
Cassie Gennis, Oliver Ames
Ellie Waters, Oliver Ames
Georgia Costello, Oliver Ames
Haley Nelson, Stoughton
Alana Tavares, Taunton
Kathryn Robinson, Taunton
Franklin Rallies to Win Physical Battle With Braintree
FRANKLIN, Mass. – It certainly felt like the playoffs at Beaver St. Field on Saturday afternoon, and not just because of the cold. There was a fiery atmosphere at Franklin’s postseason opener against Braintree and the intensity, physicality, and aggression of the action on the field surpassed anything that the Panthers had faced in the regular season.
It took until the second half, but Franklin came to grips with that physicality and, thanks to a pair of goals within a minute of each other and a last minute goal line clearance, the Panthers were able to rally from a goal down to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory.
“That’s the most physical game we’ve had all year,” said a relieved Franklin coach Michelle Hess after the final whistle.
The Wamps came storming out of the gates and took control from the opening whistle, putting the Panthers back on their heels with a fast-paced transition game and a direct style. Franklin goalie Neilee Hess was forced into a save inside the first two minutes and the Panthers found themselves pinned back in the defensive half.
Braintree nearly scored in the third minute after a massive scramble in the crease, but the officials waved off a goal due to an infringement. Another cross came in seconds later but skipped right through the crease. In the fifth minute, the pressure paid off as the Wamps scored from a corner, Delia Lee getting the final touch to a cross.
Despite being the home team and the higher seed, Franklin looked nervous in the opening minutes and took a while to settle down. That was helped in the 13th minute by winning a corner, which was played out to Amanda Lewandowski, who set up a shot for Molly Collins. Olivia Rondeau was stationed at the post and was able to turn the shot in to make it 1-1.
The physicality was non-stop and freshman Kaitlyn Carney got tangled up with Lee in the midfield and was given a card for a trip. The Wamps took advantage of the extra player and regained the lead before the break with Lee getting the finishing touch from in close, flicking the shot past Hess (seven saves).
It could have been worse for the Panthers shortly after halftime when Allyson DeCoste and then Lee were denied at point-blank range by Hess in the Franklin goal.
Instead of being two behind, Franklin stayed within striking distance and started to find seams in the visitors’ back line. Lewandowski made a long run from inside her own half, but had a shot from outside the circle skid just wide of the post. Two minutes later, Rondeau found space on the right but back-to-back crosses were cut out by the Braintree defense.
“We noticed that they were trapping us on the left, pressuring us to go to the lefthand side of the field,” Hess explained. “We talked at halftime that since they’re doing that to us let’s switch the field more and start playing on the right and let’s using the middle a little bit. We also said they only have one girl back so let’s use some long balls since we have speed and at least get it into their half of the field.”
Finally, in the 49th minute, Franklin found itself level again, and again it was a well-executed corner that led to the goal. The ball was passed from up top to the end line and then sent across the crease, which led to a scrum on the goal line. Senior defender Maeve Ledwith was in the right place to get the telling touch.
“It picked up our momentum,” said Hess. “It recharged them. We work really hard on our corners, so it was great to see them execute and hit it at the right time.”
Before the teams had a chance to process that the game was tied, the Panthers were in front. A quick transition caught out the Braintree defenders and Stephanie Bell was able to redirect a shot up over the goalie’s blocker to make it 3-2.
Emotions were being frayed on both sides as the game’s intensity ratcheted up another notch for the final 10 minutes. The Wamps had a goal ruled out when a shot from beyond the circle went through a crowd of bodies untouched. Rondeau then set up Bell for a big chance but the shot went just wide.
With three minutes left in the game, Braintree had one final chance. DeCoste, who was mostly well-marshaled by Kate O’Rourke, got free and sent a shot towards the back post. Hess had been forced to cover the near post. so the goal was gaping but Collins hustled back to cover and swept the shot off the line.
At the final whistle, the Franklin players swarmed their goalie and celebrated a win that will get them ready for the challenges yet to come in the playoffs.
Hess noted, “Usually in the tournament you’re going to face a Walpole, who’s also another physical, aggressive team, or Somerset-Berkley, who has the boys, so yeah I definitely think this momentum and this excitement is going to let us continue to ride the wave and keep going.”
Franklin (15-2-2) will travel to No. 4 seed Westwood on Monday afternoon for the D1 South quarterfinal.
Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/21/19
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Taunton, 2 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Taunton took a lead in the first half but needed a second half strike to equalize and earn a draw on the road. Hunter Cabral put the Tigers up on an assist from Colton Madeira. Alec Nunes scored on a penalty kick in the second half to bring the visitors level.
Girls Soccer
Foxboro, 2 @ Walpole, 0 – Final – Foxboro scored once in each half to earn a win on the road at Walpole. Kendra Wentling put the visitors up 1-0 with a goal in the 34th minute on an assist from Alyssa Vandenboom. Jordyn Collins secured the win with a goal in the 75th minute, finishing off a cross from Katelyn Mollica.
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – The Bombardiers scored twice in the first half to take control and keep their hopes of making the playoffs alive with four games remaining. Meghan Panzer opened the scoring after just five minutes, finishing off an Emily Dunlea assist. Briley Harnois added a second before the break, assisted by Ashley Dame. Attleboro sealed the win late on with a goal by Ashley Macia, assisted by Cassondra Stuger.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Attleboro held a 1-0 lead at halftime but needed a late goal to earn a tie on the road at King Philip. Anna Beck put the visitors up in the first half but King Philip freshman Lauren Barriero (from Christina Gifun) and junior Abby Nixon each scored in the second half to put KP ahead. Beck scored her second of the game to make it 2-2. Grace May made seven saves in net for KP.
Canton, 5 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Stoughton @ Foxboro, 3:45
Taunton, 2 @ Franklin, 4 – Final – Taunton took a 2-1 just before the midway point of the first half but Franklin answered with two goals before the break, and added an insurance tally in the second half. Alana Tavares put Taunton up 1-0 before Stephanie Bell pulled the Panthers level 27 seconds later. Sophomore Ashley Amarao put the Tigers back in front in the 13th minute but Franklin answered with two goals to take the lead. Kaitlyn Carney tied it on an assist from Amanda Lewandowski, and Bell grabbed her second with Hanna Richardson getting the assist. Molly Collins (from Maeve Ledwith) added an insurance goal in the second half.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. OA rallied from a goal down to secure a critical road win that moves the Tigers within two points of qualifying for the state tournament. Gabby Devlin gave the Hornets the lead with a goal just five minutes into the game, finishing off a scramble after a quick break. OA tied the game off a corner midway through the first half. Ellie Waters fired a shot from the top of the circle that was redirected into the goal by Sofia Anestam. Both teams had a number of chances to grab the lead, only to be denied by goalies Kayla Hunter (Mansfield) and Kara Ostrander (OA). The Tigers took the lead in the second half when another Waters blast off a corner was controlled on the post and finished by Cassie Gennis.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Milford, 0 – Final
Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip took care of business with a 3-0 (25-6, 25-9, 25-18) sweep at home over Attleboro. Senior Alison Hitchen had nine service points, including five aces, and four digs, classmate Kristen Masse added four aces and three kills, and Kiley Sullivan chipped in with three aces. Catherine Waldeck finished with four kills, three aces, and two blocks, and Nicole Coughlan added nine kills and five aces in the win.
Canton, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Canton’s Nikki Desjardins played great defense and the Bulldogs’ received a handful of strong performances at the net to pick up a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-17) win over Sharon. Taylor Harris led the way with 11 kills and three aces while Liz Bickett, Claire Quinn, Angie Elias, and Kiara Cerruti played well at the net combining for 18 kills.
Foxboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Foxboro earned a win on the road to punch its ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2012. Grace Boudreau led the way offensively with 14 kills and two blocks to help the Warriors earn a 3-0 (25-18, 25-12, 25-12) win on the road. Maddie O’Brien dished out 18 assists while Kelsey Treweek (eight digs) and Pam Nelson (nine digs, three kills) anchored the defense. Grace Fortune (14 service points, four aces) and Shakirah Ketant (nine service points, three aces) both had strong games serving.
Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Franklin defended home court with a 3-0 (25-11, 25-23, 25-13) win at home over Taunton. Mikayla Raffin had a team-high eight kills along with two aces to lead the way, Sarah Jackson added seven kills, Bridget Jackson chipped in with five kills and four aces, and Cailyn Mackintosh had 22 assists in the win.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up a key division win on the road, earning a 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-18) sweep on the road. Jordan Bosse did it all for the Tigers with 14 kills, 10 digs, and three aces while Ryley McNeeley added nine kills and three aces. Allie Kemp had 31 assists while Alison Barth finished with 29 digs. Mansfield’s Kacey Veiking had five kills and three blocks, Sam Sternburg added 14 digs, and Olivia Fernando finished with eight service points.
North Attleboro, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – North Attleboro stayed in the hunt for the Davenport title with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-8, 25-21) sweep on the road at Milford. Kylie Melanson had 11 kills, Brooke Street added nine digs, Eliza Dion chipped in with four blocks, and Hayley Gaskin had 18 assists.
Tuesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/15/19
Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 5 – Final – North Attleboro scored a trio of first half goals and never looked back in a big win over visiting Stoughton. Matt Mordini opened the scoring just beyond the half hour mark, putting the hosts ahead in the 31st minute off of an assist from Jeremy Folan. James Sales grabbed his first of two goals with an unassisted tally in the 39th minute and the Rocketeers deposited another tally just a minute later when Alex Pfeffer scored on a feed from Matt Conley. North added to its lead in the 48th minute when Sales finished a cross from Pfeffer. Eddy Mendoza scored his first career goal in the 74th minute, burying a free kick from 30 yards out.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 0 – Final
Canton, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – Foxboro scored late in the first half to level the game and then tallied three unanswered goals in the second half to earn two points. Canton took a 1-0 lead midway through the first but sophomore Kailee McCabe found the equalizer for the Warriors with five minutes left in the first half. Lizzy Davis (from Katelyn Mollica) and Kendra Wentling each found the back of the net while McCabe bagged her second of the game with 11 minutes to go to secure the win.
Milford, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 7 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – North scored six unanswered goals to earn a big road win. Lily Cameron scored the first two goals for the Rocketeers, one assisted by Lydia Hershey and the second by Alex Moulson. Caroline Ferrin got her first career goal just before halftime to make it 3-1. After Moulson scored from the penalty spot, following a foul on Steph McKenna, Ferrin got her second career goal off a Moulson assist. Moulson got her brace before Olivia Wills rounded out the scoring off a Cameron helper. Nikki Anderson scored for Stoughton.
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames converted a penalty kick in the first half to take the lead and found the back of the net twice in the second half to earn a win on the road at Taunton. Abby Hodges scored from the spot to put OA up by the break. Erin Holmberg orchestrated a pair of second half goals, assisting on goals from Leah Johnson and Camryn O’Connor as OA improved to 11-2-2.
Field Hockey
Mansfield, 2 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final
Foxboro, 1 @ Canton, 1 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game.
King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin took the lead just past the 20-minute mark of the first half and doubled its lead early in the second half to pick up a win over visiting King Philip. With the win, the Panthers move within one point of clinching a share and two points from clinching the division crown. Amanda Lewandowski scored in the 21st minute to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Freshman Kaitlyn Carney finished off a feed from Maeve Ledwith just under four minutes into the second half to make it 2-0. Neilee Hess made three saves in the win. King Philip goalie Makenzie Manning kept the Warriors in the game with 18 saves. Senior Charlotte Colella, junior Alli Beltramini, and sophomore Molly Piller all played well defensively for the Warriors.
Stoughton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final
Taunton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final
Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final
Volleyball
Mansfield, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Mansfield went on the road and earned a 3-0 sweep (35-22, 25-19, 25-20) over Attleboro. Sam Sternburg had a strong showing for the Hornets with 12 service points and nine digs while Ashley Santos added 14 service points and six kills for Mansfield.
Foxboro, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this match. – Canton defended home court in a key division battle, earning a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-17) victory over Foxboro. Taylor Harris led the way for the Bulldogs with 16 kills and nine digs while Liz Bickett played well with seven kills and 11 digs. Both Talya DeGraw and Kiara Cerruti had strong games at the net for Canton. Despite the loss, Foxboro didn’t had a single service error. Pam Nelson (11 digs, seven service points) and Sara Addeche (two aces, five service points) led the way at the service line for Foxboro. Grace Boudreau had 12 digs, six kills, and two blocks, Shakirah Ketant added two kills and two blocks, and Kelsey Treweek finished with eight digs for the Warriors.
King Philip, 1 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this match.
Sharon, 0 @ Milford, 3 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro had a strong showing on Tuesday afternoon, notching a 3-0 sweep (25-6, 25-8, 25-13) win over visiting Stoughton. Hayley Gaskin dished out 22 assists in the win with Kylie Melanson (eight kills, seven aces) and Eliza Dion (seven kills) pacing the attack.
Taunton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames earned an important win at home, beating Taunton 3-0 (25-13, 25-8, 25-13) to stay just a game back of first place in the division. Sarah Morley impressed at the service line with 23 service points, including 10 aces, while adding 12 digs to pace the host Tigers. Allie Kemp handed out 22 assists, Ryley McNeeley added 10 kills, and Caroline Flynn finished with eight kills for OA.
Boys Cross Country
Attleboro, 32 @ Franklin, 19 – Final – Franklin had four of the first five runners to earn a win over Attleboro and finish 5-0 in league action, clinching the Kelley-Rex division title for the third straight season. Senior Tyler Brogan earned another win, clocking in at 16:45. Nicholas Calitri was second overall, finishing one second later at 16:46.
Results: 1. Tyler Brogan, Fra (16:45) 2. Nicholas Calitri, Fra (16:46) 3. Nathan Seybert, Att (17:04) 4. Camden Harrington, Fra (17:20) 5. Declan Walmsley, Fra (17:28) 6. Francis Wenner, Att (17:40) 7. Griffin Sieczkiewicz, Fra (17:56) 8. Ethan Sylvia, Att (17:58) 9. Neil Bowie, Att (18:06) 10. Jack Clifford, Fra (18:13)
North Attleboro, 20 @ Foxboro, 42 – Final – Foxboro’s Ryan Proulx (17:19) finished the division dual meets undefeated but North Attleboro had the next six runners cross the finish to grab a win on the road. Senior Daniel Nobrega was the top finisher for the Rocketeers in 18:00.
Results: 1. Ryan Proulx, Fox (17:19) 2. Daniel Nobrega, NA (18:00) 3. Christopher Galligan, NA (18:21) 4. Griffin Gouck, NA (18:52) 5. Casey Poirier, NA (19:00) 6. Jack MacLaughlin, NA (19:09) 7. Mark Carlson, NA (19:13) 8. Jake Parkman, Fox (19:27) 9. William Bradley, NA (19:39) 10. Nicolas Olson, Fox (19:44)
Oliver Ames, 28 @ King Philip, 31 – Final
Taunton @ Mansfield, 3:45
Sharon, 15 @ Stoughton, 50 – Final – It was a clean sweep for Sharon as its top six runners took the top six spots to secure the win and clinch the Davenport division crown. It marks the second straight year that the Eagles have won the division title. Jacob Dubin won the race for Sharon in 18:13.
Results: 1. Jacob Dubin, Sha (18:13) 2. Mark Starovoytov, Sha (18:17) 3. James Kong, Sha (18:19) 4. Bradley Weiss, Sha (18:33) 5. Jordan Saks, Sha (18:34) 6. Siddharth Reddy, Sha (18:35) 7. Balint Mihajlovits, Sha (18:53) 8. Bob Currier, Sto (18:54) 9. Alex Tao, Sha (18:55) 10. Sebastian Malek, Sto (19:28)
Girls Cross Country
Attleboro, 37 @ Franklin, 24 – Final – Attleboro earned first and third place but Franklin used its depth to claim 10 of the top 12 spots to earn the win and clinch a share of the Kelley-Rex title with a 4-1 mark. Attleboro junior Kelly Neuendorf won the race in 21:02 while Franklin senior Sarah Giuliano took second, crossing the finish line two seconds later.
Results: 1. Kelly Neuendorf, Att (21:02) 2. Sarah Giuliano, Fra (21:04) 3. Kimberley Esteban, Att (21:07) 4. Caitlin Casey, Fra (21:34) 5. Sydney Hawkins, Fra (21:40) 6. Audria Hawkins, Fra (21:40) 7. Liliana Duffy, Fra (21:53) 8. Emma Nelson, Fra (22:24) 9. Ruth Ann Mulvey, Fra (22:25) 10. Angelina Perez, Fra (22:27)
North Attleboro, 25 @ Foxboro, 34 – Final – Foxboro took first and second overall but North Attleboro had six straight cross the finish line to pick up the win. Abby Hassman won again, this time finishing in 18:50 for Foxboro. North Attleboro junior Melissa Sapini took third in 21:52.
Results: 1. Abby Hassman, Fox (18:50) 2. Jenn Yeomans, Fox (21:07) 3. Melissa Sapini, NA (21:52) 4. Shruti Srinivasan, NA (22:01) 5. Emily Manning, NA (22:04) 6. Marta Botelho, NA (22:18) 7. Olivia Forbes, NA (22:22) 8. Catherine Hanewich, NA (22:29) 9. Emily Steele, Fox (22:36) 10. Anya Doherty, Fox (23:04)
Oliver Ames, 27 @ King Philip, 28 – Final
Taunton, 32 @ Mansfield, 23 – Final – Mansfield finished the division dual meet schedule with a win over Taunton. Tessa Lancaster won the race for the Hornets with teammates Jess Alestock and Emma Lamson taking second and third, respectively.
Results: 1. Tessa Lancaster, Mans (20:30) 2. Jess Alestock, Mans (21:22) 3. Emma Lamson, Mans (21:23) 4. Lily Valcovic, Tau (21:41) 5. Livy Weber, Tau (21:51) 6. Kailey Melito-Santos, Tau (22:08) 7. Anne Riley, Mans (22:34) 8. Olivia Diaz, Tau (22:35) 9. Tatyana Mainer-Smith, Tau () 10. Devin Anderson, Mans ()
Sharon, 17 @ Stoughton, 43 – Final – Sharon had the top three runners cross the finish line and six of the top seven to beat Stoughton and clinch the Davenport division title for the first time since 2015. The trio of Daphne Theiler, Eliana Boxerman, and Juliana Dudziak led the way for Sharon once again, finishing within three seconds of each other.
Results: 1. Daphne Theiler, Sha (20:27) 2. Eliana Boxerman, Sha (20:48) 3. Juliana Dudziak, Sha (20:50) 4. Rebecca Lally, Sto (22:26) 5. Margaret Li, Sha (24:30) 6. Sierra Robinson, Sha (24:36) 7. Berta Faktorovich, Sha (24:38) 8. Elaine McCarthy, Sto (25:06) 9. Jess Maddaliena, Sto (25:12) 10. Julia Franey, Sto (25:20)
Golf
Sharon, 162 @ Canton, 145 – Final – Canton’s Mike Leonetti fired a career-best 35 to earn match medalist honors and lead the Bulldogs to a pair of wins over Sharon and King Philip. The win over Sharon gives the Bulldogs the Davenport title outright. Chris Lavoie added a 36 for Canton while Will Gefteas and Conor Hunter each fired a 37 for Canton. Sharon’s Ethan Skelly had a strong showing with a team-low 36. Eric Carter (41), Nathan Daly (42), and Will Frier (43) also scored for the Eagles.
King Philip, 161 @ Canton, 145 – Final – King Philip senior Kayla Schuberth fired a team-low 39 but the Warriors fell to Canton. Jack Hastry added a round of 40 for the Warriors while Patrick Reardon and Jared Curran each shot 41.
Taunton, 183 @ Foxboro, 170 – Final – Foxboro notched its ninth win of the season, taking down Taunton in a crossover match at Foxboro Country Club. Dylan Quinn shot a team-low 40, carding five pars in the win. Matt Fossella and Luke Davies had three pars apiece and both finished at 43 while Noah Hicks shot a 44. Taunton’s Spencer Andrews was the match medalist with a 39.
Stoughton @ Attleboro, 2:30
Franklin Upends Foxboro With Second Half Comeback
FOXBORO, Mass. – Entering Thursday afternoon’s clash between division leaders, Foxboro’s stout defense had allowed just three goals against through nine games played.
The Franklin Panthers, who came in averaging a league-best 6.1 goals per game, saw it as a challenge.
Franklin’s offense roared to life in the second half, scoring a pair of goals in a five-minute span, the latter turning out to be the game-winner as the Panthers claimed a 3-2 decision over Foxboro.
“We wanted to challenge them, we have a good offense but we knew we had to go out there and play hard,” said Franklin head coach Michelle Hess. “They pack it in [defensively], they are strong with their double teaming, and they do a good job of forcing you to play on the left side of the field. I give them credit for that, it slowed us down.
“Melissa [Bordieri] is a great coach, they always play us hard. I was hopeful we could penetrate the defense, even without one of our top scorers [Hanna Richardson].”
After trading goals in the first half, Foxboro came out on the front foot in the second half and grabbed its first lead. The Warriors scored 34 seconds into the frame as freshman Mya Waryas one-timed a cross from sophomore Kate Collins, putting the hosts ahead 2-1.
While Foxboro had its first lead, the goal seemed to spark the Panthers.
Franklin controlled a good stretch of the second half after going down a goal. The pressure paid off as junior Amanda Lewandowski used her speed to beat a pair of defenders along the left side before firing a cross into the middle where senior Olivia Rondeau tapped in her second goal, tying the game 2-2 with 20:16 to play.
Just under five minutes later, the offense came up with another strike for the Panthers. Lewandowski was the catalyst once again, gaining possession inside the circle before firing a shot, forcing Foxboro goalie Hannah Trombly (six saves) into a stop. The rebound fell right to Rondeau and she buried the loose ball, completing her hat trick and putting Franklin ahead, 3-2, with 15:21 left.
“I think their goal was an eye-opener,” Hess said. “A goal like that can go either way, you can fold or you can try to right that wrong and I think it sparked us.f
“We came out flat [in the second half], I think we took them too lightly because they are good. We needed a spark, I told them that the second half, it was their game and to go out and take it. We knew what we needed to fix, so let’s go. We started our passing game and I think that led to us playing better.”
Foxboro got its offense backing gear late in the game and made a couple of pushes up the field, including in the final minute, but Franklin senior Elizabeth Clark came up with a clearance to help seal the win.
“I think Franklin started to insert themselves and we had some breakdowns that they capitalized on,” said Foxboro head coach Melissa Bordieri. “I thought that we were still in it right until the end, and we were a little unlucky with some of the situations, but on the whole, I thought Franklin really put the pressure on.
“There was one span in the second half that it felt like we didn’t have a minute to gather ourselves and create some offense because they did a really good job pressuring us. Once we did get some offense going, it was late in the game.”
Franklin took the lead in the seventh minute of the game on its first shot of the game. Freshman Kaitlyn Carney helped the Panthers transition into offense, finding Lewandowski, who dribbled past a couple of Foxboro defenders. Drawing the last line of defense, Lewandowski dropped a pass off to Stephanie Bell, who ripped a cross to the far post for Rondeau to tap in.
Foxboro tied the game just over seven minutes later. A corner forced Franklin goalie Neilee Hess into a save but the ball wasn’t cleared out and Mya Waryas smacked the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
The Warriors had a chance to take a lead at the end of the first half with three consecutive corners, but Foxboro was unable to register a shot on goal. Franklin’s Maeve Ledwith sniffed out a play, intercepting a pass before making a clear to keep the teams level.
“We just have to capitalize on our chances,” Bordieri said. “We had a lot of corners that we just left goals out there, you have to score on one of those. It felt like it could have gone either way, the girls worked hard to create chances but I think finishing was the issue today.”
Franklin field hockey (9-0-0 Hockomock, 9-1-0 overall) welcomes Attleboro to Beaver Street on Monday while Foxboro (5-1-3, 6-1-3) will try and bounce back from its first setback on the same day, hosting North Attleboro.
Panthers Push Past King Philip In Division Showdown
WRENTHAM, Mass. – Monday afternoon’s field hockey contest between host King Philip and visiting Franklin will be a learning experience for both sides.
An experienced Panthers squad, who earned a 3-0 win in the game, will look to fine tune their offense, mainly their shot selection. And the Warriors, with a roster filled with mostly new faces to the varsity level, will be looking to get to the same level as the visitors.
Franklin controlled the play for the majority of the game, peppering the King Philip net from start to finish. However, thanks to a terrific performance from KP junior goalie Makenzie Manning (22 saves), the Panthers only celebrated three goals.
But three goals was all the Panthers needed, as they held the hosts to just one shot on goal with one penalty corner. Meanwhile, Franklin racked up 14 penalty corners and placed 27 shots on goal throughout the contest.
“We are a little green out there, most of them are juniors and sophomores but most of them haven’t played varsity yet,” said first-year KP head coach Lisa Cropper. Cropper previously coached Franklin for nine years (2009-2017). “[Franklin] has a lot of experienced kids. We looked good in some scrimmages when everything is calm, but as soon as it ramped up, we reverted some and played a little scared.
“We weren’t playing our angles correctly, they were exploiting that. And we were ball watching and worried about individual stuff instead of playing as a team. Now we have to transfer what we talk about in practice to the game, that’s the next step.”
The chances came often and early for the visitors, as junior Stephanie Bell sent a deflection just wide off a feed from freshman Kaitlyn Carney just seconds into the game. Manning was forced into a double said just minutes later as Carney set up Amanda Lewandowski for a shot.
Two minutes later, Manning came charging out to deny a bid from Hanna Richardson and defender Sammy Robison blocked the follow-up shot off the line to keep the game scoreless.
The Panthers finally broke through in the 16th minute with a little extra huddle. After a strong clear, Lewandowski hustled to win a foot race and went in alone towards good. Manning came charging off the line and forced Lewandowski to play the ball towards goal. Junior Leila Frankina pounced on the loose ball and buried it from in close.
Franklin continued the pressure early in the second half. Just over five minutes into the second frame, Manning made a nice stop on a shot from Bell and denied a rebound chance from Lewandowski. The Panthers were rewarded a penalty stroke after the second save but Manning came up big again with a blocker stop to keep the deficit at one.
“She’s phenomenal, she played even better than I expected,” Cropper said of Manning. “Our defense did channel things so she had a good look at the shot but we didn’t know what to do after the save. We marked for the initial shot but not after. I told them there’s no losing, just learning…and we did a lot of learning today.”
Robison once again deflected a shot away to keep the Warriors in the game but the pressure paid off for the Panthers, scoring back-to-back goals in a four-minute span.
Carney smacked a hard low shot from 12 yards out that took a slight deflection off a KP stick and into the back of the net to make it 2-0. After a corner, Carney got another look from a similar spot and lofted a bouncing shot through traffic that smacked the back of the cage.
“Their goalie played phenomenal but we have to do a better job picking our corners,” said Franklin head coach Michelle Hess. “That’s part of the early season learning curve. It’s hard because the goalie can become a target, so we have to get them shooting away from the goalie, but it’s a fixable issue. We had some issues at the beginning of last year and got things sorted out.
“We’ve got to mix up our shot selection, with some aerials and some hard shots. One of the hardest shot is the slow push that’s bouncing that can be hard for a goalie to time.”
Since the Panthers had the majority of the possession, King Philip’s best offense spells came on the counter-attack. But chances were limited as the Franklin defense thwarted the Warriors’ bid to counter.
“Having Maeve [Ledwith] back there, she’s a brick wall back there, she’s not letting anyone by,” Hess said. “And my other captain Elizabeth Clark has really stepped up, she’s been playing well too. We’re pretty deep defensively which is good.”
Franklin field hockey (2-0 Hockomock, 2-0 overall) is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Canton. King Philip (1-1, 1-1) will entertain Milford on the same day.
Field Hockey: 2019 Hockomock League Preview
By HockomockSports.com Staff
2019 Hockomock Field Hockey Preview
Attleboro
2018 Record: 6-11-1
2018 Result: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Lindsay Antunes
The Bombardiers are looking to climb off the foot of the Kelley-Rex division standings this fall and challenge for a return to the state tournament. With a number of players making the move up after successful seasons on JV, Attleboro coach Lindsay Antunes is confident that her team will have the firepower to compete with the league’s top teams this year.
Senior Anna Beck will lead the way for Attleboro again this fall. The midfielder led the team in scoring last year and was one of the top scorers in the Hock, and she will be counted on to open up chances for her teammates. Junior Campbell Compton will add to the midfield group with her playmaking and stick skills. Junior Kiera Murray will be the lynchpin of the defensive unit, providing leadership at the back. The forwards are going to be a combination of returning players and new faces that are expected to provide additional scoring this season.
“Though spots are still being established and player combinations being determined,” Antunes said, “we are confident that this year’s offensive line is going to make a significant impact on the league.”
Canton
2018 Record: 15-4-1
2018 Result: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Chrissy O’Connor
Canton finished just one point shy of back-to-back league titles and for the second season in a row saw its season ended by the eventual South champion, but the Bulldogs remain one of the teams to beat in the Davenport thanks to a roster filled with returning, experienced players ready to make another tournament run.
Midfield will be an area of strength for the Bulldogs this season with senior Kaitlyn Goyetch back to create scoring chances for her teammates. She was second on the team in scoring last year and is capable of opening up space for the attackers. Juniors Maria Femia and Meghan LaBelle will help Goyetch out in the middle of the field, adding to both the attack and the defense, and senior Meg Aldrich provides energy to push the team on both ends of the field. Junior Riley O’Connor returns in goal to shore up the defense. The attack will certainly miss leading score Maggie Malloy, but there are a number of players that are ready to step in and try to make up for that loss of production.
“Canton field hockey is excited for the regular season to begin,” said head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “Our captains Kaitlyn Goyetch, Meg Aldrich and Rose Malloy along with several key returning players will be major contributors to our success this season. We are working towards a strong showing in the always competitive Hockomock League”
Foxboro
2018 Record: 17-2-1
2018 Result: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Melissa Bordieri
The Foxboro Warriors will have almost an entirely new look this season after graduating 10 starters and 14 seniors overall.
While it will be almost an entirely new team, there is definitely plenty of talent and a lot of team speed. Jaime Notarangelo is the lone starter to return and will see time at both center forward because of her goal-scoring abilities plus time at center mid because of her distribution skills. Ella Waryas will see a significant increase in her role in the midfield alongside Molly McElhinney. Anna Marcucella and Mikayla Cloherty will see time both in the midfield and defensively for head coach Melissa Bordieri, who is still moving all the pieces around in search of the right combination. Lauren Foster is a team captain and will be tasked with anchoring the defense while junior Hannah Trombley and sophomore Lily Jones battle for minutes in goal. Kate Collins picked up some valuable minutes last year and will be relied on offensively alongside Olivia Simoneau.
“We still have a lot of talent, it’s just a matter of piecing together who fits where and who works well together,” Bordieri said. “We are a tenacious team so we are optimistic about the season.”
Franklin
2018 Record: 13-6-2
2018 Result: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Michelle Hess
After finishing second in the Kelley-Rex division and making a run to the Div. 1 South semifinal, where they led perennial power Walpole by two goals with 10 minutes remaining, Franklin wants to build on that momentum and return to the top of the league standings for the first time in three seasons. The experience of last year’s run, which included finishing on an 11-2-2 run, has confidence brimming through the program.
The loss of do-everything midfielder Cassi Ronan will certainly hurt, as well as defender Emily Valentino and goalie Christina Luccini, but the Panthers still have a solid foundation of returning standouts to rely on. Senior Maeve Ledwith will continue to lead the defensive unit and is one of the league’s top distributors out of the back. Junior Amanda Lewandowski saved her best for the end of the season and playoffs and will be one of the team’s top attackers. Freshman Kaitlyn Carney is expected to contribute right away and possibly ease the loss of Ronan from the midfield. Junior Neilee Hess will take over between the pipes.
“The players worked very hard in the offseason, and I am proud of them for their dedication and determination,” said Franklin coach Michelle Hess. “I look forward to watching this team come together and earn a top spot in the Hockomock League along with another deep run in the tournament.”
King Philip
2018 Record: 18-2-1
2018 Result: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal
Coach: Lisa Cropper
After winning the league and South titles in 2017, the Warriors made a coaching change. After making it back-to-back Kelley-Rex crowns and getting back to the South semifinal last season, the Warriors are making another change on the sideline. Former Franklin coach Lisa Cropper is back in the Hock after two years at Dean College and she will be trying to keep the momentum going for KP this fall.
While the Warriors dominated the league in goals scored last year, thanks in large part to HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Alli Meehan, and that drew a lot of attention, but the Warriors were even more impressive defensively, allowing only 15 goals in 21 games. Senior Sammy Robison is back to hold down things on defense along with classmate Grace May and junior Mackenzie Manning, who may end up sharing duties in goal. Sophomore Christina Gifun and junior Paige Berdos will drive the team in the midfield.
In addition to the graduation of Meehan, KP will be without reigning Underclassman of the Year Meghan MacDonald, who transferred to Tabor Academy. Senior Raegan Simeone and juniors Abby Nixon and Grace Crocker will be counted on to try and make up that production in the attack.
“We have a lot of really solid players with no real superstars, which should give us a very balanced team,” said Cropper.
Mansfield
2018 Record: 9-8-2
2018 Result: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Theresa Nyhan
The Hornets are only four years removed from back-to-back league titles and a trip to the South final and the experience on this year’s roster gives Mansfield hope that another deep tourney run could be on the cards. With seniors in every layer of the field and talented underclassmen to fill in the depth, the Hornets look like a serious contender at the top of the Kelley-Rex division standings.
In attack, Mansfield will count on a speedy trio of seniors to try and boost the goal totals. Paige Peterson, Becca Hottleman and Gabby Devlin are all back on the front line. In midfield, Kelly Doherty and Grace Doyle provide the engine that pushes the Hornets forward, while also providing the necessary cover for the defense. Senior Kayla Hunter is back in goal and will try to organize the back line, which will include seniors Grace Maher, Mallory Burke, and Angela Burnham.
“Overall we have a good balance of juniors and seniors at each level,” said Mansfield coach Theresa Nyhan. “We should be able to keep fresh legs on the field at all times. Looking forward to a good season.”
Milford
2018 Record: 2-14-2
2018 Result: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Katie Blackburn
The Hawks have a number of players returning who have several years of varsity experience and will try to blend in players that are making the leap from JV in order to improve from last year’s two-win season, which included five games that Milford lost by only one or two goals.
Senior goalie Paige Reisman will be the key on the defensive end, solidifying a back line that will see several new faces that are trying to get up to varsity speed. Her communication and vision will help the newcomers be ready for opposing attacks. Senior Megan Hart is also back on defense to add leadership in front of Reisman. Junior Olyvia White can play in midfield or defense, while senior Kathryn Swineford will try to push the Hawks into the attack from the middle of the field.
“We have a lot of returning players on offense that have experience playing together,” said Milford coach Katie Blackburn. “This experience will help in creating an offensive attack throughout games. The players have worked hard this offseason to improve on skills and come into the season conditioned.”
North Attleboro
2018 Record: 6-10-2
2018 Result: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Karen Folan
The Rocketeers are hoping that an experienced lineup will be the key to challenge the top teams in the Davenport division and also to make a return to the state tournament. North Attleboro only missed out on a playoff spot by four points last season and there is the potential to make a bigger push this fall.
Senior Emma Strachan will be in her third year as the starting goalie and will continue to lead the defensive unit. Senior Lindsay Robinson heads into her second year as a force in the North midfield and senior Michelle Pothier will start her third year generating offense as one of the starting forwards. Senior Grace Cole adds speed on the wings to open space for the attack and senior Faith Graveline will move into the midfield from defense, adding another layer of cover for the back line and another weapon in the offensive circle.
“We have a solid group of returning varsity players for the 2019 season,” said North coach Karen Folan. “We hope to utilize our knowledge and experience to come out strong at the start of the season and continue to build on our strengths as the season moves forward.”
Oliver Ames
2018 Record: 8-9-2
2018 Result: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Sharon Lawrence
While Oliver Ames brings back 11 returning players from last year’s playoff team, the Tigers remain relatively young, with a strong junior class anchoring the team throughout the roster. That level of experience gives OA the potential to make noise in the loaded Kelley-Rex division and be competitive with the perennial title challengers.
The offensive unit is deep and expectations are high for an improvement on last year’s 31 goals scored as a team. Juniors Haley Gilman and Hannah Stryke and seniors Maura Kiernan, Ellie Waters, and Cassie Gennis will all play up top and are all capable of making plays inside the offensive circle. Several younger players will get the chance to impress right away, including sophomores Ava Costello and Lily Gaskill and freshman Julia Maclaine.
Junior Maggie Woods is the leader of the midfield group, constantly finding herself around the ball and propelling the Tigers forward. Sophomore Georgia Costello will join her in the middle of the field. Juniors Emily Han and Emily Dionne will lead the defense, while juniors Abbey Boyce and Courtney Lake are newcomers to the defense that will contribute right away. Senior Kara Ostrander and junior Peyton Phillips are both capable of being the starter in goal.
“The team shows improvement in skill and confidence from last season after a strong off-season commitment to the game,” said OA coach Sharon Lawrence. “We have a deep bench with lots of talent in the forward and midfield lines to keep legs fresh and performance strong, giving us good game endurance.”
Sharon
2018 Record: 0-18-0
2018 Result: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Ashley Courville
After a winless season, with no goals scored, there is plenty of room for improvement for the Eagles this fall. Sharon ended that goalless stretch in the opening game of the season against Norwell and there is an increased level of confidence that the program is mixing in more experienced players with newcomers that can help make the team more competitive this year.
The defense will be led by an experienced corps of players. Seniors Holly Davis, Blaize Hanna, and Anya Lane are all back to solidify a back line that reduced the goals allowed by 27 from 2017 to 2018. Senior Lauren Glass will be the team’s primary playmaker in midfield and she will get help from junior Jenna Goldstein. There are a lot of new faces in the attack, including sophomore Ashley Young, who got Sharon’s first goal of the season in the opener. Juniors Samantha Sherman and Jillian Parker will also chip in up front.
Sharon coach Ashley Courville said, “Our strengths on defense this season are consistency and strength. We have a handful of returning players back on defense giving us stability. Our offensive strengths are added speed leading to the ability to carry the ball on the field more effectively.”
Stoughton
2018 Record: 7-11-2
2018 Result: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Dan Mark
The Black Knights would love to make a push for a playoff appearance this fall and Stoughton will rely on is experience in midfield and attack to overcome some of its inexperience in defense to try and make that run possible.
In the midfield, seniors Skylar Carroll, Madison Araujo, and Juliana Rush give the Black Knights speed and stick skills to push forward and make the transitions that will break down opposing defenses. In the attack, senior Brittni Paul and juniors Haley Nelson and Sarah McGrath have a nose for being in the right spots around the goal to create scoring chances. While the defense is relatively new, junior Kayla Laboy will be back between the pipes to add leadership and organization at the back.
Stoughton coach Dan Mark said, “We have a good nucleus of returning players, but do have some inexperience defensively. I think the key to our team will be a strong offense.”
Taunton
2018 Record: 8-7-4
2018 Result: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Liz Hathaway
The Tigers have made great strides as a program, becoming a regular in the state tournament and competing with the top teams in the Hock, but after graduating 10 seniors Taunton will have its work cut out to make sure that another playoff berth is secured this fall.
Junior forward Alana Tavares will carry a lot of the scoring load for the Tigers this season. Tavares led the team in scoring last year and showed that she can also play in the midfield to create opportunities for teammates. Senior Kathryn Robinson will move up from defense into the midfield and her stick skills added to her defensive mindset will give the Tigers cover on both ends of the field. In defense, junior Jocelyn Pagliuca returns to provide leadership and cover in the back line with her ability to step into a challenge.
“We graduated 10 seniors last year and have many players stepping up for this season,” said Taunton coach Liz Hathaway.
Hockomock Field Hockey: Players to Watch in 2019
By HockomockSports.com Staff
Player are listed alphabetically
Anna Beck, Senior – Attleboro
Attleboro senior Anna Beck has drawn the bulk of the attention from opposing defenses for the past few seasons, but they have largely failed because Beck remains among the league’s top scorers. Last season, she scored 13 goals, which was fifth-best in the Hock, and also added seven assists. Her total of 20 points was in the top 10 in the league and her leadership, vision, and stick-handling ability has been critical to keeping the Bombardiers competitive with the top teams in the league. Heading into her senior season, Attleboro will be hoping Beck has what it takes to push the Bombardiers into playoff contention this fall.
Kaitlyn Goyetch, Senior – Canton
Canton senior Kaitlyn Goyetch has been one of the league’s top playmakers for the past two seasons, helping the Bulldogs grab the 2017 Davenport division title and finish second in the division by just a single point last fall. Goyetch scored four goals last year and added a team-high 13 assists, but the 2017 HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year’s game extends to the defense as well, as she regularly tracks back and helps on the other side of the ball. For the Bulldogs to challenge for another league title and make a third straight tournament run, Goyetch’s vision in the middle of the field and her ability to set up the attackers will be critical, especially after the graduation of leading scorer Maggie Malloy. Canton is typically in the mix for the Davenport crown and with Goyetch leading from the midfield, the Bulldogs will expect to be in the running again this year.
Kayla Hunter, Senior – Mansfield
The Hockomock League looks loaded with talent again this season so having experience in key positions will be vital as teams battle for bragging rights. Mansfield will have an edge in the goalie department as the Hornets returning starting keeper Kayla Hunter. Hunter will be tasked with keeping the defense organized against tough competition. She had 156 saves last season, which was second-most in the league, and posted five shutouts with an impressive 1.89 goals against average. Hunter has quick reactions and isn’t afraid to come off the line and disrupt the play. Having a player like Hunter that has a lot of confidence in such an important position such as goal will certainly give Mansfield a boost this season.
Maeve Ledwith, Senior – Franklin
Franklin senior Maeve Ledwith has become one of the top defensive players in the Hock and she leads a strong defensive unit that was just minutes away from upsetting Walpole in last year’s South semifinal and is poised to make a run at this year’s Kelley-Rex division title. Ledwith is a vocal leader at the back and her speed and stick skills make her tough to get by and also tough to take the ball off of once she gets it. Ledwith also showed off her vision to start Franklin transitions. The Panthers return a strong core from the team that was so close to making the South final last year and Ledwith’s leadership as a three-year starter gives the Franklin defense an edge that will make them tough to score against.
Amanda Lewandowski, Junior – Franklin
During last year’s state tournament, Amanda Lewandowski emerged as one of the team’s most dynamic attacking threats, scoring five goals as Franklin made a run to the South semifinal and nearly pulled off an upset of Walpole to reach the final. Lewandowski scored five of her 13 goals during the tournament, stepping up when the Panthers needed her the most, to spark that playoff push. Lewandowski also added 13 assists and her 26 points for the season was among the best in the league. Although Franklin will have to manage the graduation of do-everything midfielder Cassi Ronan, Lewandowski leads a still relatively young forward group that is capable of firing in the goals and firing the Panthers back into contention for the Kelley-Rex title. If she can carry over the momentum from last year’s tournament, Lewandowski may find herself at the top of the league scoring charts this fall.
Haley Nelson, Junior – Stoughton
The strength of the 2019 Black Knights looks like it will be the offense as Stoughton returns a good amount of experienced players between the midfield and forward groups. One of those forwards is junior Haley Nelson, who had a breakout campaign in the attacking end of the field for Stoughton in 2018. Nelson emerged as a go-to option, scoring a team-high 10 goals while adding three assists. Nelson does a nice job of getting her stick to the ball and finishing off chances in front of goal. She is the type of player that can give her team a boost with her energy and will team up with the likes of Brittni Paul and Sarah McGrath to give Stoughton a strong attacking core.
Jaime Notarangelo, Senior – Foxboro
The defending Davenport division champions may have graduated a lot of firepower from last year’s team, but with senior midfielder Jaime Notarangelo coming back expectations will remain high for Foxboro this fall. A prototypical do-everything midfielder, Notarangelo provided the Warriors with solid play all over the field, from making a defensive stand on one end to popping up with a goal or assist on the other end. She scored 14 times last season and added six assists, but it was her energy and seemingly tireless running that made Notarangelo stand out. The graduation of players like Sophia DiCenso and Lily Daly certainly leaves a hole up front, but Foxboro still has its sparkplug to drive the team forward and give the Warriors hope for a second straight league title.
Sammy Robison, Senior – King Philip
King Philip has been the class of the league for the past two seasons and its goal-scoring has drawn most of the attention but the Warriors’ defense has been critical to its back-to-back league titles. Senior Sammy Robison has been the leader of a defensive unit that allowed only 15 goals in 21 games last season and made a run to a second straight South semifinal. KP had 12 shutouts last year and remarkably allowed more than one goal in a game only three times. Robison uses her strength to control the space in front of goal and her reading of the game to make crucial interceptions and spark the counterattack. With the graduation of league MVP Alli Meehan, KP’s offense will have a hard time achieving the same goal totals but new head coach Lisa Cropper still has a strong defense that she can lean on as the Warriors search for a three-peat in the division.
Hannah Stryke, Junior – Oliver Ames
A lot of teams learned quickly last year just how tough it was to defend Oliver Ames’ Hannah Stryke. During her sophomore season, Stryke showcased her speed to get in behind defenses and set the table for the Tigers’ offense. Her ability to carry possession up the field and then make herself available in the circle helped her emerged as a top attacking threat in the league. She is also a key piece on corners, helping create and finish chances. OA will certainly be looking to get back to the state tournament again this year and Stryke will be an important part of the Tigers’ offense.
Alana Tavares, Junior – Taunton
Taunton junior Alana Tavares is already heading into her fourth season on varsity and continues to take on bigger roles for the Tigers, taking on the playmaking role from midfield and adding much-needed scoring punch. Tavares, a standout in field hockey and lacrosse, led the Tigers with nine goals and five assists last fall, but it was her composure on the ball and ability to break through pressure that made her vital to Taunton’s transition game. Now, as a veteran on the team, Tavares will be expected to add leadership for the younger players and will be counted on to perform despite the attention of opposing defenses. If Taunton hopes to make a run at a postseason berth this fall then Tavares will be a key player in all aspects of the game and all over the field.
