09/03/201909/03/2019

Girls Soccer: 2019 Davenport Division Preview

Foxboro won the Davenport title last season and the Warriors brought all bur four players back to make a run at a second straight division crown. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2019 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

2018 Record: 8-9-2
2018 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Kate Howarth
The Bulldogs finished third in the Davenport division last season and made it back to the state tournament, despite carrying a relatively young roster. Now, a year later, Canton brings back a strong corps, especially in the attack, and will look to take steps forward to try and challenge for the league title.

The best form of defense may be the attack for the Bulldogs, who will pair juniors Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia again in the forward line. The classmates are a dynamic pairing and critical to Canton scoring 52 goals last season, which was the fifth-best total in the league. Senior Morgan McCabe and sophomore Gabriella Herivaux add depth to the forward line.

In the midfield, sophomore Allie McCabe is coming off an impressive rookie season as a playmaker and will be the engine in the heart of the pitch. Sarah Collins will be tough to replace in the defense, but seniors Alexa Maffeo, Caroline Tourgee, and Kerstin Hansen are back. Sophomore Elyse Broderick is back to take over between the posts and will be the anchor of the defensive unit.

“I think the key for us this year will be consistency,” said Canton coach Kate Howarth. “Our girls are bought in and want to find ways to win! I think we will find ways to win some tough games and get better every single day! That’s always our goal. Every time we step out onto that field, improve and get better. If we do that, we will put together a great year.”

Foxboro

2018 Record: 15-2-3
2018 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Katie Stalcup
Last season, a young Warriors roster brought home the program’s first league title since 1993 and it could start a run of success for Foxboro, which graduated only four players from last year’s team that led the league in scoring and allowed less than a goal per game. Adding a year of experience could make this year’s team even more of a threat not only for a division crown but for a deep tourney run.

Youth was on display all over the pitch last season, particularly up front. Junior Jordyn Collins had a breakout season putting her speed together with clinical finishing to become one of the league’s most dangerous forwards. There is plenty of help for the forwards from the midfield, senior Lizzy Davis and junior Kailtyn Mollica are both dangerous on the wings, creating chances and the odd goals as well.

The lynchpin last year was a freshman. Sophomore Kailee McCabe, the reigning HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, had a remarkable rookie season. She controlled the midfield and drove forward to add scoring punch. Senior midfielder Kendra Wentling also adds a layer of protection for the defense, which will miss the graduated Alex Stamatos but has experience in senior Yara Fawaz and junior goalie Morgan Sylvestre.

“I am so excited about this team and what we are capable of this season,” said Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup. “I know if we stay focused and work together we will do great things.”

Milford

2018 Record: 5-12-0
2018 Finish: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Lou Colabello
This is the second season in charge for Milford coach Lou Colabello and he is hopeful that his team will build a comfort level with his expectations and systems to try and get the Hawks into the state tournament picture and push up the Davenport division standings. With a strong core of returning players, many with two or three years of experience on varsity, Milford has the opportunity to make a leap this fall.

The midfield will be a strength for the Hawks with seniors Juliana France and Ashleigh Starks are capable of breaking up opposition attacks and turning those quickly into attacks. Freshman Daniella Atheron will jump right into the attack and is expected to contribute goals this season. Defensively, the Hawks have experience in the form of seniors Maddie Boyle and Annie Flanagan and can count on solid play from both goalies, senior Olivia Marshall, and junior Carly Ferreira.

“We are really excited about our opportunities this year,” Colabello said. “With a heavy nucleus returning on defense and in the midfield, we hope to improve offensively. With a good mixture of experience and youth, I feel that we will make a vast improvement from last year.”

North Attleboro

2018 Record: 12-3-4
2018 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round
Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro is entering a transition season after graduating 14 seniors, including nine starters, from last year’s Davenport division runners-up. The Rocketeers will especially have to cope with the loss of leading scorer, and 2018 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Ashlyn Gaulin, but there is hope that the new faces will be able to step in and rise to the challenge this fall.

The attack looks very different this season with junior Tess Collins, who is battling a preseason injury, taking on the responsibility of leading the line along with Steph McKenna. There have been promising signs from that duo during the preseason. Midfield is more experienced for North this year, with seniors Alex Moulson, Abi Slaney, and Lily Cameron back from last year, while Olivia Wills and Abby Noreck are making the jump from JV. The defense is mostly new, but senior Lydia Hershey is back and will offer much-needed leadership, while senior Regan Fein has the starting job in net.

“Right now we have six players who have been unable to practice preseason with injuries,” said North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace. “Once we get everyone healthy we should iron out some assignments and figure out our rotations.”

Sharon

2018 Record: 2-15-1
2018 Finish: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Catherine Sullivan
Second-year head coach Catherine Sullivan will have a lot of new faces to work with this season after graduating 11 seniors from last year’s roster and she is hoping that the Eagles can use an experienced midfield to create more scoring opportunities and continue to improve over the course of the season.

The midfield combines technically-sound players with energy and speed. Seniors Marika Fillion sets the tone with her work rate and senior Bella Berger is one of the team’s top playmakers. Junior Amelia Scappaticci adds skill to the team’s passing game, while freshman Olivia Soby is expected to provide an attacking spark in the middle of the pitch. Up front, junior Emily Griffin will try to use her speed to create chances. In the back, junior goalie Cass Barbera got a lot of experience between the pipes last season and she will count on classmate Molly McAlevey to hold things down in front of her.

Sullivan said, “I’m excited about the mix of strong returning players and new talent stepping in this season. It’s a great group of kids who are dedicated to improving our style and speed of play, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.”

Stoughton

2018 Record: 0-17-1
2018 Finish: Missed Playoffs
Coach: Tara Daniels
It has been a decent preseason for the Black Knights and head coach Tara Daniels hopes that they carry that over once things kick off for real. Stoughton has been building cohesion for the last several seasons and Daniels believes that there is the right mix of upperclassmen and newcomers to make the Black Knights a competitive team this fall.

Senior Nicole Weir has found a spot in the back line and will provide the vocal leadership that the defense needs. Senior Brianna Buckley has won the starting job in goal this year after earning time between the posts last season. Junior Mackenzie Manning is the key to the Stoughton midfield, having led the team in points in each of her first two seasons on varsity and continuing to be the team’s primary playmaker. Freshman Shayla Ford will step into the attack this season and there is hope that she can make an instant impact with her speed and finishing ability. One of the most important developments of the preseason is the growing understanding between Manning and Ford going forward.

“This year we have a strong core of returning upperclassmen that have worked the past few years to help shape and strengthen this overall program, with the level of play I am seeing from this group of upperclassmen and the freshman class, it is going to be an extremely competitive season for the Knights,” said Daniels.

10/17/201810/19/2018

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/18/18

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Sharon, 3 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Sharon saw a lead disappear in the first half, but didn’t let it happen in the second. After going up 1-0 on a goal from Michael Baur (assisted by Brian Higgins) but Canton leveled before the break behind a goal from Paul Corcoran. Sharon took the lead again when Antonio El-Khoury finished off a cross from Baur. The Eagles added a key insurance goal on an unassisted goal from Higgins. Canton’s Avery Minkin scored to make it 3-2.

Girls Soccer
Sharon, 1 @ Canton, 6 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Morgan McCabe and Elisa Diletizia each scored twice for the Bulldogs, who scored the first three and the last three goals of the game to get the win. Sarah Collins had a goal and assist and Anne Hoban scored once in the win. Marika Fillion scored off a Bridget McManus free kick early in the second half for the Eagles.

Field Hockey
Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final

Foxboro, 2 vs. Martha’s Vineyard, 0 – Final – Jamie Notarangelo and Molly Murphy (assisted by Lily Daly) scored in the second half to give Foxboro the non-league win at Forekicks and extend the Warriors unbeaten streak to nine games.

Volleyball
Canton, 3 @ Notre Dame Academy, 2 – Final – Despite falling behind 2-1, Canton picked up two straight wins to earn a 3-2 (19-25, 25-15, 20-25, 25-11, 15-8) decision on the road at Notre Dame Academy. “The entire team stayed strong throughout,” said Canton head coach Pat Cawley. Taylor Harris has a great night with 22 kills, 18 digs, a block and two aces, and Erin Devine added seven kills and eight blocks. Theresa O’Brien chipped in on both sides of the ball with nine kills and 18 digs while Nicole Brown finished with 36 assists, six kills, and 27 digs. Cawley said Megan McDonough and Julia Minichiello were awesome on defense, combining for 37 digs and seven aces.

Norton, 3 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final

Golf
Hockomock League Championships – Click here for results and a photo gallery of this event.

09/03/201809/03/2018

Girls Soccer: 2018 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2018 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

2017 Record: 10-6-2
2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round.
Coach: Kate Howarth

Canton has been on the cusp of getting back to the top of the Davenport division in recent seasons and on their day the Bulldogs can be very difficult to play against. As one of the favorites for the league title this fall, consistency will be the biggest challenge for Canton as it tries to unseat North Attleboro at the top of the Davenport standings.

To get the attack in gear, Canton will be turning again to its youth. The Bulldogs will look to sophomores Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia to run at opposing defenses and continue developing a partnership that was one of the most potent in the league last fall. Senior defender Sarah Collins will be the leader of the Canton defense, which will look to improve on the 34 goals allowed from last season. Junior Morgan McCabe will be stepping into a larger role this season, with her versatility as a forward or midfielder, and senior Julia Hamilton adds tenacity in the center of the pitch.

“I think this is going to be an exciting year for us, with strong players returning and some exciting new talent stepping in,” said Canton coach Kate Howarth. “Our goal as a group is to push passed being a really good team and become the great team we know we can be. The Hock is such a strong league and every team pushes each other to become better.”

Foxboro

2017 Record: 10-9-0
2017 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round.
Coach: Katie Stalcup

Last year was a transition season for Foxboro under first-year head coach Katie Stalcup, as a group of talented young players made their debuts at the varsity level. The Warriors improved over the course of the season, made the playoffs, and now with a year of experience for a young squad there is a lot of buzz about Foxboro this fall.

The graduation of Lily Sykes, who was one of the league’s top players for all four years of her career, leaves big shoes to fill, but Foxboro has a number of players with potential to make up some of her production. Senior Mackenzi Fraser will be the main striker for Foxboro this year but sophomore Jordyn Collins will add speed on the wing and freshman Kaitryn Franchino will contribute up top as well. Junior Kendra Wentling returns in the midfield and freshman Kailee McCabe is a player to watch in the center of the pitch. Defensively, Foxboro has a lot of experience in senior Alex Stamatos, who will be joined in the back line by junior Yara Fawaz. Sophomore Morgan Sylvestre will be in net again this fall.

Stalcup praised the team’s tenacity and speed. She added, “I am very excited about this season. Even though we are still a young team, I think we will do very well. We have a team full of hard workers and great attitudes.”

Milford

2017 Record: 6-10-2
2017 Finish: Missed Playoffs.
Coach: Lou Colabello

For the past several seasons, Milford has been on the verge of getting back to the playoffs and now new coach Lou Colabello, who formerly coached at Douglas, will look to push the Hawks up the league standings with a number of experienced players in key positions.

The midfield will be patrolled by seniors Siena Pierce and Cassie Probert and junior playmaker Juliana France, who was named a league all-star as a sophomore and demonstrated the ability to cover a lot of ground in the middle of the pitch. The Hawks scored only 24 goals last season, so the attacking unit will be hoping to step it up this year, including senior Hannah Martin and junior Ashleigh Starks. The defense also has plenty of experience with junior Olivia Marshall back in goal and her classmates Maddie Boyle and Annie Flanagan in front of her to keep things organized at the back.

Colabello said, “We should have a solid midfield and many other players who can play different positions,and we expect big things from our returning goalkeeper. I feel this team is capable of competing with some of the elite teams in the league. There work ethics and attitude have been outstanding,thus I expect it will be a rewarding season and hopefully a playoff berth.”

North Attleboro

2017 Record: 14-3-3
2017 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal.
Coach: Bill Wallace

North Attleboro will need a number of players to step into bigger roles this season, if the Rocketeers are going to make it three league titles in a row. North graduated 14 seniors and eight starters from last year’s team, but there are a number of familiar names and big contributors who are back and aiming for a three-peat.

The Rocketeers scored 60 goals last year and senior Ashlyn Gaulin contributed on 27 of those (17 goals and 10 assists). She will be the focal point of the attack this season, after the graduation of 100-point scorer Haley Guertin, and her sister Emma will try to provide the assists from the midfield. Seniors Kayla Pasquel and Haley Ferris will add to the experience in the center of the pitch for North and classmates Morgan Silver, Liz Smahi, Lexi Sinacola, and Lauren Pezzi will add depth in the midfield and defense. Seniors Sam Hawkins and Brieann Westcott will be at heart of the defensive unit with classmate Emma Noreck in goal.

North coach Bill Wallace said that sophomores Lydia Santos and Tess Collins will be contributors this season in midfield and attack. He added, “This group is a pleasure to work with, they want to work hard and get better.”

Sharon

2017 Record: 3-13-2
2017 Finish: Missed Playoffs.
Coach: Catherine Sullivan

Sharon alum Catherine Sullivan takes over the program this season, as the Eagles look to rebuild and work towards a return to the state tournament. With the graduation of Ali Filipkowski, Sharon lost a lot of firepower but Sullivan is excited about the potential and the growth of the team during the preseason.

One of the key returning players is senior goalie Lydia Chase, who is a fearless shot stopper and her distribution will be important for the Eagles’ transition game. In front of Chase, senior Rose Wald is back in the heart of the defense and will partner with sophomore Molly McAlevey, who is a newcomer to the varsity but already showing a lot of composure on the ball. The midfield engine is senior Maxine Gordon, who will drive the Eagles forward, and junior Bella Berger will add playmaking and vision in the center of the pitch. Senior Bridget McManus will be the main forward and she will be expected to not only provide goals but also set up her teammates and get others involved in the attack.

“As a Sharon graduate, I’m really excited about the opportunity to once again represent the maroon and gold,” said Sullivan. “I think this team has a lot of talent and athleticism, and we will be striving to create a cohesive group that can consistently compete at a higher level.”

Stoughton

2017 Record: 0-15-3
2017 Finish: Missed Playoffs.
Coach: Tara Daniels

Although Stoughton was unable to pick up an elusive league win last season, Black Knights coach Tara Daniels felt that there was progress from the team, particularly in attack. A group of speedy, young attackers made Stoughton a more dangerous team and that experience has Daniels hopeful for even more in 2018.

Speed on the edges is going to be a key strength for the Black Knights this season led by senior outside back Cintia Khouzami and sophomore Nikki Anderson, who has gained a lot of confidence after playing a lot of minutes as a freshman. In the heart of the defense, senior Corina Kavanagh will be the leader of the group, ensuring everyone is organized. Sophomore Mackenzie Manning is another player who grew a lot over the course of her rookie season and will again be the primary playmaker for the Black Knights and a key to keeping possession. Senior Gabriela Diaz played a lot at the back last season, but this year her speed will be utilized up front to create even more opportunities.

Daniels said, “Our strength this year is our speed; our team has many players that excel on the track in the off-season. Last year we made big strides offensively and this year we plan on using the speed of many players to help us continue the offensive push we need.”

10/18/201710/20/2017

Thursday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/19/17

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Attleboro junior Will Halben scored the lone goal of the game in the 10th minute and senior goalie Nick Hasenfus had a strong performance in goal to help the Bombardiers score an upset of top-ranked OA.

Canton, 2 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Canton junior Paul Corcoran broke the deadlock with 15 minutes to play, netting the game-winner to help the Bulldogs earn two points on the road. Canton junior Avery Minkin scored his first career goal to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead entering halftime. Sharon senior Christian Villanueva scored the equalizer early in the second half before Corcoran netted the winner.

Foxboro, 4 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Foxboro scored three goals in the second half to secure two points on the road at Milford. Hussein Kafel opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing a rebound off a shot from Ryan Kelley. Kafel doubled Foxboro’s lead in the second half but Milford cut the deficit in half with a penalty kick. Matt Garcia and Dylan Barreira scored in the final 20 minutes to ice the game. Shane VandenBoom had two assists in the win for Foxboro.

Franklin, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Mansfield senior John Cooney netted the lone tally of the game and senior keeper Nick Ferraz made a pair of highlight saves in the first half to help the Hornets preserve the lead, and the win, against the visiting Panthers. Cullin Anastasia set up Cooney for the only goal.

Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – King Philip erased a one-goal first half deficit, scoring once before the halftime break to knot the score, and then again early in the second half for the winner. THS took the lead in the 17th minute but KP scored in the 31st minute with Mike Rowe nodding in a corner kick from Camron Lawrence. The Warriors scored the winner in the 44th minute when Cam Koch latched onto a loose ball in the area, burying it backside to make it 2-1.

Stoughton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro scored a pair of first half goals, and then survived an early second half strike from the visitors to stay in first place. Joe Hilf (14th minute) and Gabe Pinhancos (33rd minute) each converted breakaway chances to put the hosts up 2-0. Stoughton’s Jayden Falise buried a rebound on a chance from Ritchy Laguerre to make it 2-1. Pinhancos then buried a chance from the top of the box in the 60th minute, and James Sales capped the scoring with his first career goal in the 68th minute on an assist from Ryan Pasquel.

Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Isabella Salviati scored the game’s lone goal on what Attleboro coach Steve Santos described as a “great hustle play.” OA coach Britt Sellmayer said that Emily Nosalek and Sofia Masciarelli played well in defeat.

Canton, 4 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – Riley Duserick scored a pair of goals to lead the Bulldogs to the victory that clinches Canton a return to the state tournament. Morgan McCabe and Elisa Diletizia also scored for the Bulldogs and Leianna Brune recorded an assist. Ally Filipkowski scored both goals for the Eagles in the loss. Bridget McManus and Keegan Veazey recorded assists for Sharon.

Milford, 0 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final Lily Sykes scored two goals, including a 40-yard strike, and had an assist for the Warriors. The second goal was the 50th of her career. Shaina Abbott and Jordyn Collins had the other two goals for the Warriors. Milford coach Jay Mastaj said that Juliana France, Rachel LeBlanc and Brianna Braza had good games for the Hawks.

Mansfield, 5 @ Franklin, 1 – Final The Hornets broke open a 1-1 tie with four second half goals and stayed tied atop the Kelley-Rex division standings. Taylor Smith had a brace and an assist for Mansfield, while Cassidy McMahon, Stephanie Kemp, and Amanda Mangano each had goals and Emily Vigeant had a pair of assists for the Hornets.

King Philip, 5 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Avery Snead scored two goals and Chloe Layne, Abby Baker, and Emma Durant each had one for the Warriors. Emily O’Gara scored the lone goal for the Tigers. Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game.

North Attleboro, 3 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – North Attleboro deposited all three of its goals in the first half to beat Stoughton and clinch the 2017 Hockomock League Davenport division title. Mackenzie Rosenberg had a pair of assists in a five-minute span, setting up Emma Gaulin for the opener and then Asyln Gaulin to make it 2-0. In the 28th minute, Haley Guertin made it 3-0 on a feed from Leah Jette. Nina Beauvais recorded the shutout in net for the Rocketeers.

Volleyball
Canton, 1 vs. Notre Dame Academy, 3 – Final – Canton split the first two games, but NDA rolled to two straight wins to grab the victory 15-25, 25-19, 9-25, 21-25. Hannah Jerrier had 13 kills and two blocks and Nicole Brown had 27 assists for the Bulldogs.

Golf
Hockomock League Championships (@ Blue Hill Country Club) – Click here for complete results from the event. Click here for a photo gallery of the event.

10/16/201710/16/2017

Rodman Scores Brace, Canton Beats Milford

Canton girls soccer — Canton senior Riley Duserick (22) pushed the ball forward from midfield during Monday night’s win against Milford at WWII Vets Memorial Field. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

CANTON, Mass. – Canton had a chance to cut North Attleboro’s lead in the Davenport division to just a single point last week, but a loss to the Rocketeers on Friday opened that lead back up to five points and made each of the remaining league games a must win if the Bulldogs were going to keep up the race for a title.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

On Monday night, the Bulldogs bounced back with a strong overall performance in a 3-0 win against Milford, sparked by a pair of unassisted goals from freshman phenom Olivia Rodman and a composed defensive effort.

Milford started the game well, combining well in the midfield to create opportunities in the final third. Sophomores Ashleigh Starks, Juliana France, and Annie Flanagan passed their way through the Canton midfield in the opening few minutes and Maggie Boyle and Hannah Martin each forced saves out of Canton keeper Briana Murphy.

“They connect passes really well,” said Canton assistant coach Sarah Handman of Milford. “I think we weren’t winning the 50-50 balls in the first 15 minutes and from then on that’s what made the difference.

The Hawks only struggle was finding the right pass to turn half chances into goals. Milford coach Jay Mastaj said, “That’s been our struggle all season, we’re playing with everybody but then the ball gets into the final third and we’re missing that little extra. We had our chances.”

The Bulldogs started to get a foothold in the game and in the 19th minute Rodman changed the momentum completely. The freshman ran onto a ball down the far touchline and cut infield onto her right foot before unleashing a rocket just under the bar and out of the reach of freshman keeper Carly Ferreira.

The goal turned the game on its head and the confidence started flowing for the hosts, who took control. Three minutes after the goal, Riley Duserick saw a 25-yard free kick smack off the crossbar and out and then right back Leianna Brune intercepted a pass on the right and sent a perfect early cross to an unmarked Rodman on the edge of the six, but the shot went over the bar.

“That’s where we start,” said Handman. “We work on building on the outside from the back.” In addition to Brune down the right side, central defender Sarah Connolly and left back Sarah Collins frequently stepped forward in possession and created space for the midfielders and forwards to take advantage.

Milford’s best chance of the game arrived in the 25th minute when sophomore Madeline Boyle lined up a 35-yard free kick and forced a stretching save out of Murphy, who managed to catch the ball just under the bar.

Madeline Boyle showed off her defensive ability a few minutes later when she reacted first to a low cross from the left to deny Lilah Sullivan a chance at the back post and then Rachel LeBlanc stepped just in front of Rodman to deny a goal scoring opportunity.

The chances kept coming for Canton with freshman Elisa Diletizia showing her strength to shoulder aside her defender and run onto a through ball from Juliana Agnitti before sending in a hard cross that Rodman just missed getting a foot on.

Diletizia had chances to extend the lead either side of halftime but sent both shots wide. Sullivan had another shot when Rodman’s run deflected off a defender’s leg and fell to the senior inside the box but Ferreira came up with one of her seven saves (six in the second half alone).

“The defense has been playing great all year,” said Mastaj. “Carly is a freshman goalie and being a freshman and stepping up to varsity isn’t easy and I think she’s been good back there.”

In the 54th minute, Rodman sealed the win for the Bulldogs. Diletizia sent a through ball over the top and Rodman got fortunate as she raced to the ball with Ferreira, as the ball deflected off her leg and rolled the ball past the keeper. Rodman hustled to the end line to keep the play alive and was able to cut the ball back towards the goal from an acute angle and, with the help of a defender’s foot, into the net.

Canton nearly added a third in the 74th minute but Brianna Braza cleared a Morgan McCabe shot off the line at the near post and then got up to block a shot from Lauren Fitzpatrick as well. The third did finally arrive with the final kick of the game, as McCabe finished a breakaway with a well-taken shot on the run.

Handman said, “Our goalkeeper only had to make two or three saves in the second half and I think we could have scored three or four goals with our runs up top. We had really good chances.”

Canton (7-4-2) is three points behind league leader North Attleboro with three league games remaining. The Bulldogs will try to stay in the title race on Thursday when they travel to Sharon. Milford (4-8-2) needs eight points from its remaining four games to get into the state tournament and will start its closing stretch with a trip to Foxboro on Thursday.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

10/05/201710/05/2017

Bulldogs Find Right Mentality and Dominate Franklin

CANTON, Mass. – Just four minutes into Wednesday night’s game at World War II Veterans Memorial Field, Franklin opened the scoring, but instead of hanging its head and allowing the visiting Panthers to take control, Canton turned up the aggressiveness, pressured all over the pitch, and turned the game around.

Riley Duserick, Elisa Diletizia, and Lilah Sullivan each recorded a goal and an assist, as Canton stormed back to dominate Franklin, winning 4-1 to get back above .500 for the season.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“We know how to play soccer and we have good soccer players,” said Canton coach Kate Howarth. “If we come out with that mentality then we’re going to play games like this. If you have that passion and that drive and leaving it on the field then there’s no way you can lose. It’s not a lack of talent; it’s a lack of oomph.”

Inside the opening four minutes, Franklin took the lead. Molly Duncan slid a through ball between the Canton defenders to find Miranda Smith running down the right channel and the senior forward lifted her shot over onrushing keeper Lindsey Barrett.

Although the Panthers had the lead, it was Canton that was pushing the tempo and creating scoring chances. Duserick and Diletizia both had long shots saved by Franklin keeper Cat Robbins in the opening 15 minutes.

The Bulldogs pressure created the breakthrough in the 23rd minute. Sullivan made a long run to the end line and sent in an inch-perfect cross over the outstretched arms of Robbins and to Diletizia unmarked in the middle of the six-yard-box. The freshman forward got a shin to the ball and knocked it in for the equalizer.

Ten minutes later, Canton got the lead. Leianne Bruce won the ball in front of the Bulldogs’ bench and played it forward towards Diletizia, who cushioned a one-touch pass into the path of sophomore Morgan McCabe. Franklin right back Madison Stewart came all the way across to get a piece of the ball but it bounced right back to McCabe, who fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

“They knew we build from the back and that we build with the outside backs because they had them man-marked in the first half,” said Howarth. “We kept trying to play them and they would come in and counter. Once they turned and faced up, we could find our forwards and they found opportunities that way.”

Franklin had one chance before halftime but a first-time shot from the edge of the box was sent over the bar by Carly Alston. Otherwise, the Canton defense looked impenetrable with center backs Sarah Connolly and Carly Hutchinsoncutting off every Franklin pass.

“We didn’t play well defensively,” said Franklin coach Tom Geysen. “We’ve got some problems we need to fix on the back line. We’re having problems all over the field at the moment. We don’t play the ball where we need to play the ball, we over-touch the ball, you saw how timid we were.”

He added, “You can’t play that way against them or against Oliver Ames or Mansfield or anyone else in this league because this is what you’re going to get.”

The second half was completely dominated by the Bulldogs. Franklin center backs Grace Gallo and Brenna Atwood seemed to be under constant pressure from the speedy Canton attack.

Diletizia had chance from the edge of the box saved by Robbins just one minute into the half. In the 47th minute, Duserick’s corner into the center of the box picked out Sullivan, who nodded home the third for the Bulldogs.

Howarth remarked, “I said at halftime, if we get one then we’ll get more than one. As long as we get that next one then it’s going to break them and we’ll get more after that.”

The chances kept coming for Canton. Diletizia set up Sullivan for a first-time hit from the edge of the box but it went narrowly over the crossbar. A minute later, Juliana Agnitti burst forward from midfield and set up Diletizia, but the shot was saved.

“They’re soccer players,” said Howarth about Diletizia and classmate Olivia Rodman. “They play the game all the time and they have instincts that you can’t teach kids. It’s different than just being a physically good athlete…they have soccer instincts and it’s a special thing.”

Lauren Fitzpatrick drove at the Franklin defense in the 56th minute and the ball was deflected by Atwood into the path of Julia Hamilton and she fired a shot that just missed the top corner.

In the 61st minute, Duserick wrapped up the win for Canton with a pinpoint 35-yard free kick from outside the right hashmark that sailed into top, far corner. After the game, Howarth called it the midfielder’s “sweet spot.”

“Front to back it was the best game mentality-wise we’ve had yet,” said Howarth. “We have had lots of goals scored on us and we haven’t in the past responded well. The passion has to be there; you have to respond well…Today, we finally responded the way that we try to instill.”

Canton (4-3-2, 4-3-2) will try to keep the momentum going on Friday with a trip to Taunton, while Franklin (6-3-1, 6-3-0) will look to bounce back when it hosts Stoughton.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

10/01/201712/11/2017

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/02/17

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Taunton, 1 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final

Canton, 5 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final

Foxboro, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – North Attleboro had a penalty kick denied in the first half but found the winner in the second half. In the 57th minute, junior Joe Hilf finished off a through ball from sophomore Joey Coscarella for the lone tally of the match.

Franklin, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Zac White opened the scoring in the first half for the Warriors and Tyler Mann sealed the victory with a second half goal. Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Click here for a recap of this game.

Sharon, 1 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second half but Sharon found the equalizer with just three minutes to play to earn a point on the road. Wallison de Oliveira put the Hawks up in the 60th minute but Michael Bauer cleaned up a loose ball in the area to knot the game. Sharon nearly had the winner in the final minute, but Milford keeper Luke Capobianco made a key say. MHS head coach Brian Edwards added Tiago Carvalho played a great game in the midfield for the Hawks.

Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 2 @ Taunton, 3 – Final – Samantha Tichelaar extended her goal-scoring streak to four games, while Megan Flanagan and Alex Wapenski each added goals to make it back-to-back wins for the Tigers. Khy Camaro, Emma Silvia, and Kasey Colvin each had assists in the win and Grace Pimenta made five saves.

Stoughton, 2 @ Canton, 7 – Final – Freshman Olivia Rodman scored a hat trick and recorded an assist for the Bulldogs to keep Canton in a tie for second place in the Davenport. Fellow freshman Elisa Diletzia added a brace for Canton. Sarah Collins and Morgan McCabe also scored in the win. Chinazo Odunze scored the first for the Black Knights off a Mackenzie Manning assist and Manning scored the second from the penalty spot.

North Attleboro, 4 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – Ashlyn Gaulin had a hat trick for the Davenport leaders and Haley Ferrin added the fourth. Haley Guertin had a pair of assists, while Rachel Labonte and Kayla Pasquel each added one. According to North coach Bill Wallace, Emma Noreck led a “strong defensive effort” and he noted the solid play of Emily Chiasson, Lauren Dow, Sam Hawkins and Julia Tolfa. Lizzy Davis had the lone goal for the Warriors and Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said that Alex Stamatos had a “great game” in the Foxboro defense.

King Philip, 4 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – King Philip scored four times in the opening 20 minutes of the game and held on after Franklin scored two to halve the deficit before the break. Avery Snead scored twice and assisted on another, while Chloe Layne added a goal and an assist. Emma Corcoran had an assist and Ally Stanton added the fourth goal for the Warriors.

Mansfield, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Emily Vigeant scored a penalty kick that turned out to be the game-winner for the Hornets. Stephanie Kemp had the other goal for Mansfield.

Milford, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Juliana France scored a pair of goals and Ashleigh Starks had one for the Hawks to end the team’s three-game winless streak and move Milford within a point of second place in the Davenport. Sharon coach Brad Furnival said that his team had its fair share of chances, including a Sabrina Robbins free kick that struck the bar, but that the Eagles “weren’t clinical enough. He added that the second Milford goal was “fantastic,” a 25-yard half-volley into the top corner.

Field Hockey
Taunto, 3 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final

Canton, 2 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Canton’s Maggie Malloy and Kaitlyn Goyetch each found the back of the net as the Bulldogs held off Stoughton in a tight affair. Allie Howe scored Stoughton’s lone goal of the game.

Foxboro, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final

Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – Click here for a recap and photo gallery from this game.

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames erased a pair of one-goal deficits in the second half to earn a draw on the road. The Tigers took the lead behind a goal from Hannah Stryke, assisted by Kayla Lozzi, but Mansfield stormed back with goals from Ann Maher (unassisted) and Brooke Downey (from Heather D’Ambra) to take a 2-1 lead at the break. Lozzi tied the game before D’Ambra put the Hornets back up on a feed from Emily Ierardo. Stryke netted her second of the game, on an assist from Maggie Woods, to tie the game. OA goalie Caitlin Grant made 11 saves in net.

Sharon, 0 @ Milford, 9 – Final – Shannon Cormier netted four goals to lead the Scarlet Hawks to a big win over visiting Sharon. Danielle Fokas added three goals and Colby Bowers netted her first career goal in the win.

Volleyball
Taunton, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final

Canton, 0 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton defended home court with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 win over visiting Canton. Senior Val Whalen led the Black Knights with 16 kills while senior Vicky Ramos had a strong game on the outside with five kills. Juniors Hanna Holden and Molly Turner combined for over 30 assists. Nicole Brown paced Canton with 20 assists and four kills, Taylor Harris had nine kills and Megan McDonough played great defense with 13 digs and a pair of aces.

Foxboro, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro got stronger as the match went on, notching a 25-17, 25-12, 25-6 sweep against visiting Foxboro. Tori Melanson had a strong day at both the net (seven kills) and serving (five aces) while Amelia Murphy finished with eight kills. Kezia De La Cruz had her best serving performance of the year, finishing with nine aces to go along with five kills.

Franklin, 1 @ King Philip. 3 – Final – It was a strong team performance for King Philip, picking up a 25-17, 25-17, 20-25, 25-20 win over Franklin. Sydney Phillips led the way offensively with 18 kills, four digs and two blocks while Michaela Palumbo added nine kills and 10 service points and Grace Ely chipped in with six kills and two blocks, Kat Kmetz had a strong day serving with 19 service points while Elise Pereira had four aces and seven digs. Rachael Veilleux had a strong all-around day with 34 assists and 12 service points, including five aces.

Oliver Ames, 2 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Trailing 8-7 in the deciding fifth set, Mansfield’s Katie Dardinski (11 service points) served six straight points to put the Hornets ahead for good. Mansfield won the match 17-25, 25-22, 25-22, 17-25, 15-9. Meg Hill had a strong day at the net with 23 kills while Lexi Gardner added nine kills and 20 service points. Julia Harrison added seven kills and 12 digs for the Hornets. For Oliver Ames, sophomore Ally Kemp had 35 assists to go along with five kills while Katie Flynn (14 kills) and Kayla Raymond (nine kills, six blocks, four aces) paced the Tigers’ offense. Junior Sadie Homer finished with 19 digs and three aces for OA.

Golf
King Philip, 172 @ Mansfield, 163 – Final – Mansfield junior Jake DiSangro and freshman Nathan Morreale each carded rounds of 40 to lead the Hornets to a key division win over King Philip. Freshman Brian See added a 41 while senior Brendan Loomer carded a round of 42 in the win.

Milford, 176 @ Stoughton, 186 – Final – Milford’s Riley Lynch and Stoughton’s Brendan Campbell shared medalist honors, each carding a round of 42. Milford’s Andrew Fauerbach added a 44 in the Hawks’ win.

Franklin, 162 @ Attleboro, 167 – Final – Attleboro’s Corey McKenna and Franklin’s Bryan Woelfel earned co-medalist honors at Highland Country Club, but Matt D’Errico’s round of 40 and Gerard Collins and Jack Paterson both for 42 to help the Panthers earn the win. Jack Handy added a 41 for the Bombardiers.

Sharon, 165 @ Oliver Ames, 137 – Final – Oliver Ames’ Thomas Walsh birdied on five of his last six holes to shoot an incredible four-under-par round of 30 to lead the Tigers to a win. Walsh sank a 20-foot put on the last hole to finish at 30. Walsh’s round, which may be a school record, was complemented by Ryan McGarry’s par round of 34, Mark Bissonette’s round of 36 and Eric LeBlanc’s round of 37.

09/15/201709/16/2017

Friday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 09/15/17

Today’s games are listed below.

Game of the Week – Football
Franklin, 28 @ Milford, 10 – Final – Click here for a recap from the Game of the Week.
1st Quarter: (F) Jake Noviello 8-yard pass to Jack Nally, Matt Zucco XP Good; (M) Brendan White 4-yard rush, Sean Lehane XP good; (M) S. Lehane 20-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (F) J. Noviello 7-yard pass to Evan Wendell, M. Zucco XP good; (F) J. Noviello 6-yard pass to Ryan Driscoll, M. Zucco XP good.
4th Quarter: (F) Sean Hofferty 2-yard rush, M. Zucco XP good.

Football
Attleboro, 0 vs. Dartmouth, 6 – Final
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (D) Nate Ellis 62 yard rush, XP failed.
4th Quarter: No scoring.

Canton, 16 @ Scituate, 17 – Final
1st Quarter: (S) Scituate 82-yard pass, XP good; (C) Alec Ragusa 31-yard rush, Owen Lehane XP good.
2nd Quarter: (S) Scituate 31-yard field goal; (C) O. Lehane 31-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: (C) Johnny Hagan 16-yard pass to Tony Harris, XP blocked.
4th Quarter: (S) Scituate 14-yard pass, XP good.

King Philip, 16 @ Foxboro, 7 – Final – Click here for a recap of this game.
1st Quarter: (KP) Cole Baker 31-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (KP) Brendan Lydon 25-yard pass to Tom Madden, XP blocked.
3rd Quarter: (F) Devin Hassett 22-yard rush, Russell Neale XP good.
4th Quarter: (KP) Nick Kerr 5-yard rush, C. Baker XP good.

Mansfield, 28 vs. Braintree, 0 – Final
1st Quarter: (M) Danny DeGirolamo 52-yard rush, Mike DeBolt XP good.
2nd Quarter: (M) Damani Scott 24-yard pass to Hunter Ferreira, M. DeBolt XP good; (M) D. Scott 28-yard pass to Aidan Sacco, M. DeBolt XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (M) Joe Cox 10-yard rush, M. DeBolt XP good.

North Attleboro, 34 @ Bishop Feehan, 0 – Final

Oliver Ames, 12 @ Silver Lake, 28 – Final
1st Quarter: (SL) Phil Lashley 37-yard rush, 2pt failed; (OA) Noah Fitzgerald 10 yard rush, 2pt failed.
2nd Quarter: (SL) Tanner Boyd 10 yard rush, 2pt failed.
3rd Quarter: (SL) T. Boyd 6 yard rush, 2pt good.
4th Quarter: (OA) Anthony Berksza 15 yard rush, 2pt failed; (SL) P. Lashley 4 yard rush, 2pt good.

Taunton, 14 @ Durfee, 0 – Final
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (T) Noah Leonard 9 yard pass to Wesner Charles, John Teixeira XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (T) Prince Brown 48 yard interception return, J. Teixeira XP good.

Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Reigning Hockomock League MVP Tyler Mann netted a hat trick to lead the Warriors past Attleboro. Attleboro opened up a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes but King Philip rallied to cut the deficit in half before the halftime break and netted two in the second half. Aidan Lancaster converted the opener on an assist from Will Halben in the fourth minute and Mike Russo doubled the lead on a feed from Devin Andre in the 15th minute. Mann opened his 2017 account in the 25th minute on an assist from Tony Bozza. Mann tied the game in the 52nd minute and then finished off a feed from Connor Mullins in the 67th minute for the winner.

Canton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Canton opened the scoring in the 29th minute when junior Paul Corcoran buried an assist from Griffin Roach to go up 1-0. But North Attleboro responded just a minute later, tying the game when Jeff Gale hammered home a rebound off a shot from Gabe Pinhancos.

Foxboro, 1 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Foxboro scored the game-winning goal in the final minutes of the game to earn a key division win on the road. Junior Shane VandenBoom finished off a cross from Cam Cass for the winner.

Franklin, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames senior Brandin Osborne continued his strong start to the season, scoring a pair of second half goals to lift the Tigers over Franklin. After a scoreless first half, Osborne scored twice, assited by Cam Vella and Nathaniel Cardoza. Jack Carroll earned his third shutout of the season and OAHS head coach John Barata said Vella, Mason Galbato, Colin Evin, Matt Campell and Chris Lawrence played great in the back for the Tigers.

Taunton, 1 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield built a 5-0 lead in just over a half hour of play in a big win over visiting Taunton. John Cooney opened the scoring in the 5th minute, converting a throw in from Sam Hyland. Junior Luke Savoie buried a shot from distance to double the score, and two minutes later, Sean Lanzillo nodded home another Hyland throw. Austin Ricker made it 4-0 on a feed from Jake Tuleja and Connor Eames netted his first career goal off an assist from Colin Caridi. Taunton’s Jake DeAndrade picked the upper corner from distance in the 32nd minute to get the Tigers on the board.

Stoughton, 1 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Milford scored once in each half to build a 2-0 lead and held off a late Stoughton push to earn the two points. Wallison Tavares opened the scoring for the Hawks, heading home a corner from sophomore Jordan Borges to put Milford up 1-0. Anthony Salvador doubled the lead in the second half on an assist from Joey Madden. MHS head coach Brian Edwards said Brayan Traya played well in the midfield for the Hawks.

Girls Soccer
King Philip, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – KP scored two goals in the second half to break open a one-goal game at the break. Attleboro trailed 2-1 at the half with a goal by freshman Isabella Salviati and head coach Steve Santos said the Bombardiers came out strong to start the second half, but KP was able to get the third goal and extend its perfect start to the season.

North Attleboro, 3 @ Canton, 3 – Final – The Bulldogs rallied from a 3-1 deficit to get the draw. Morgan McCabe scored off an Olivia Rodman cross to cut the lead to one and Sarah Connolly finished off a corner from Sarah Collins with about four minutes to play to earn Canton a point. Canton’s first goal was by Collins from another Rodman cross. North goals were by Leah Jette, Aine Mendonca, and Kayla Pasquel.

Sharon, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – The Warriors earned their first win of the season and the first win for head coach Katie Stalcup. Foxboro got goals from Jordyn Collins, Lizzy Davis, Shaina Abbott and Grace Ferguson to bring home its first two points. Ally Filipkowski got the lone goal for the Eagles and Lydia Chase had a great game, according to Sharon coach Brad Furnival, making more than a dozen saves in the loss.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Molly Duncan scored the winner with a long-range shot in the final eight minutes of the game to earn the win for the Panthers. Abby Reardon gave OA the lead seven minutes after halftime, but Anna Balkus tied it for Franklin six minutes later. Regan Benton made seven saves for the Tigers and Cat Robbins made 10 for the Panthers.

Mansfield, 4 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Emily Vigeant scored a pair of goals, as the Hornets continued their unbeaten start to the season. Sydney Mulkern and Amanda Mangano also scored for Mansfield.

Milford, 3 @ Stoughton, 1 – Final – Cassie Probert, Hannah Martin, Maddie Boyle each scored goals for Milford, which has won back-to-back games. Freshman Mackenzie Manning scored the lone goal for the Black Knights.

Field Hockey
Foxboro, 3 @ Hopkinton, 2 – Final

Oliver Ames, 7 vs. West Bridgewater, 1 – Final – West Bridgewater scored first but Oliver Ames scored seven straight goals to rout the visitors. Liz Nuss and Emily Han each scored two goals while Meaghan Rockey, Maura Kiernan and Brenna Woods each found the back of the net once. Sarah Stevens had three assists while Kayla Lozzi, Rockey and Nuss each had one helper.

Stoughton, 7 vs. Brockton, 0 – Final – Allie Howe and Kamryn Oliveira each netted a pair of goals for the Black Knights. Lisa Ramanauskas, Jordan Lyons and Alanna McCormick each scored once in Stoughton’s win.

Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip defended home court with a dominant sweep (25-17, 25-8, 25-4) over the visiting Bombardiers. Kat Kmetz rattled off 21 service points for KP, including two aces. Sydney Phillips (12 kills), Michaela Palumbo (six kills) and Grace Ely (three kills) paced the Warriors’ offense.

Canton, 1 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro notched a key division win over visiting Canton, 25-14, 25-12, 23-25, 25-8. Kezie De La Cruz (two aces) and Amelia Murphy (five aces) each had 14 kills in the win for the Rocketeers while Leah Marceau finished with 26 assists. CHS coach Pat Cawley said Nicole Brown had a great night for the Bulldogs, finishing with 21 assists while Hannah Jerrier finished with 13 kills.

Foxboro, 0 @ Sharon, 3 – Final

Franklin, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Trailing 9-17 in the third set, Franklin’s Lizzie Boynton went on a 10 point serving run, including four aces, to put Franklin ahead and help the Panthers finish the sweep. During the Panthers’ comeback, Emma Clifford played strong defense and added two kills. Ellie Wisniewski finished with nine kills and an ace.

Taunton, 0 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 25-12, 25-19, 25-12 sweep of visiting Taunton. Julia Harrison paced the Hornets’ offense with 13 kills and 13 service points. Meg Hill added 12 kills and Olivia McGrath finished with 17 service points.

Stoughton, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Stoughton notched its fifth straight win to open the season, sweeping Milford 25-11, 25-18, 25-13. SHS junior Molly Turner controlled the offense with 21 service points and 10 assists while senior Val Whalen had a strong game with 15 kills, 12 digs and eight service points. Milford head coach Dan Seaver said Emily Piergustavo and Julia Riordan played well from the setting spot and Sydney Sutton had a good day in the back row.

Golf
Attleboro, 187 @ King Philip, 154 – Final – King Philip’s Danny McLoughlin shot a match medalist round of 36 to lead the Warriors to a win over Attleboro.

Mansfield, 173 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 168 – Final

Taunton, 174 @ North Attleboro, 154 – Final – North Attleboro’s Dylan Kane carded a one-over-par round of 36 to pace the Rocketeers at the middle course at Heather Hill Country Club. Jillian Barend (38) and Matt Wanless (39) also carded rounds under 40 for Big Red.

09/04/201709/04/2017

Girls Soccer: 2017 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2017 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

2016 Record: 10-8-2
2016 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinal
Coach: Kate Howarth

For each of the past two seasons, Canton has finished second in the Davenport division and, with only three seniors graduating from the 2016 roster, the Bulldogs are poised to make another run at a league title this fall. Enthusiasm is also high after a strong closing stretch to last year, which included a draw with Kelley-Rex champ Mansfield and playoff victories over Greater New Bedford and Milton.

Senior Riley Duserick is the focal point of the Canton midfield and her ability to open space, pick out the right pass, and shoot from distance gives the Bulldogs a consistent threat in the attack. Junior Julia Hamilton emerged last season as a solid counterpoint to Duserick in the heart of the midfield with her tenacity and speed adding even more cover to the back line. Sophomores Lauren and Morgan McCabe will be added to the midfield options after strong rookie seasons. Lauren Fitzpatrick could see more time up front to replace the graduated Hannah Link and Tessa Cudmore and head coach Kate Howarth expects several freshmen to contribute as well.

The defense had inconsistent moments early in 2016, but the Bulldogs seemed to figure things out midway through the season and with the back four all returning defense should be a strength for Canton. Seniors Sarah Connolly and Carly Hutchinson will lead the defensive unit and junior Sarah Collins brings energy and speed from her right back spot.

“We are working really hard every day to get better at the little things that will push us beyond being a good team this season,” Howarth said. “I think our biggest weakness last year was consistency, so if we can get ahead of that right away we will be in a much better place than we were last year.”

Foxboro

2016 Record: 11-9-0
2016 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Katie Stalcup

Foxboro had an inconsistent 2016, but demonstrated the talent in the program by beating perennial power Notre Dame Academy in the first round of the playoffs and nearly going on the road to beat Medfield in the second round, only to fall in a penalty shootout. The Warriors have seven returning players, so this will be a young team in 2017, but new head coach Katie Stalcup will be familiar with those players after her stint as the JV coach last year.

The Warriors will be able to count on senior Lily Sykes. The four-year starter is one of the most dynamic players in the league and is capable of dominating the midfield by beating a defender off the dribble or picking out a defense-splitting pass. Senior Shaina Abbott will be one of the forwards that Sykes will be looking to set up, while senior Olivia Dantona adds speed on the wings. Senior Mackenzie Cusack is also back to lead the defensive unit along with junior Alex Stamatos.

Stalcup is counting on a number of young players to step in and contribute right away. Sophomore Lizzy Davis played for Stalcup on JV last year and brings speed and physicality to the forward position. Among the freshmen that will be on the roster are midfielder Katelyn Mollica, forward Jordyn Collins, and defender Emma Dahl.

“I am very excited about being the new varsity coach this year,” said Stalcup. “We have seven returning varsity players, four seniors who are all captains and five very impressive freshmen on the team for this season as well as some great players coming up from JV. We are a young team, but I am excited to see how well we can play together.”

Milford

2016 Record: 5-9-4
2016 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Jay Mastaj

Milford is looking to bounce back from a five-win season to challenge for a spot in the state tournament this fall. The Hawks have a roster filled with youth and bring the majority of the starting lineup back and head coach Jay Mastaj is confident that the talent is there to make a push up the table and compete with the top teams in the league.

The Hawks are deep and experienced on the back line and the defense could be a real strength for Milford this season. Seniors Rachel LeBlanc and Brianna Braza will be the leaders in the heart of the defense and will try to keep everyone organized. Senior Leeanne Kibbee will lead the attack and will be counted on to finish off chances created by senior Maggie Boyle and sophomore Ashleigh Starks, who will look to create from the center of midfield.

Mastaj said of the attackers, “The combination brings strong skills, familiarity and solid varsity experience.” He is also excited about the younger players and what they can bring to the table this year, including sophomores Madelyn Boyle, Julianna France, and Annie Flanagan.

“This season we expect to be very competitive across the entire league,” Mastaj added, “and with a little bit of luck we believe we can challenge for the top of the Davenport.”

North Attleboro

2016 Record: 14-4-2 (Davenport Division Champions)
2016 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Bill Wallace

Despite changing coaches midway through the 2016 season, North Attleboro rolled to its first league title in its first season in the Davenport division. The Rocketeers racked up 14 wins and a goal differential of plus-40. Expectations are even higher coming into this fall with North returning a roster filled with experienced upperclassmen.

URI-commit Haley Guertin is the player to watch for the Rocketeers, as the senior forward is both a goal threat and also a playmaker who consistently opens up opportunities for her teammates. Her 37 career assists is tied for the most in program history. Head coach Bill Wallace said that there is a change in systems coming up front, but with Leah Jette and Ashlyn Gaulin joining Guertin, North will have a formidable attack.

In the midfield, Aine Mendonca returns to hold things down in the center of the pitch. Her poise in posession and ability to break up opposing attacks is critical for the Rocketeers. Of course, if anyone gets through, HockomockSports.com Best XI defender Rachel LaBonte and fellow senior Emily Chiasson are on hand to clean it up. North also returns both Nina Beauvais and Emma Noreck in goal.

“We should be up tempo and have a lot of depth,” said Wallace. “These kids have played together for years and generally care about each other. As always, the Hock is a ‘bear’ of a league and for us to continue last years success we are going to have to work hard and continue to improve!”

Sharon

2016 Record: 7-9-2
2016 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brad Furnival

Sharon narrowly missed out on reaching the playoffs last season under first-year head coach Brad Furnival. This year, making the playoffs could be even more difficult after the team lost nine seniors and seven starters from last year’s team. The Eagles will be building with youth this fall and gaining experience for a number of new faces.

One returning player that the Eagles will be counting on is senior Ally Filipkowski, who is coming off an exciting summer that saw her named to the U-20 Puerto Rican national team. The George Washington-commit is one of the most talented players with the ball in the league and she will be tasked with creating most of the chances for the Eagles. Senior Sabrina Robbins will step into a leadership role at the heart of the Sharon defense this fall and will be counted on to organize a young group.

Among the new faces to watch is junior Maxine Gordon, who will be starting in the attack this fall and is hoping to build off her experience from last season to be a consistent goal scorer. Sophomore Bella Berger is another player that Furnival believes could be in for a strong season. Berger will be influencing the game from the center of midfield.

“This season will be more of a transition season for Sharon girls,” Furnival said. “We have a very young team so the vision for this team is a couple of seasons down the line. We are hoping to continue playing an attacking brand of soccer and are looking forward to coming up against some top opposition that the Hock will pit us up against.”

Stoughton

2016 Record: 0-17-1
2016 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Tara Daniels

Stoughton has been in a rebuilding mode for the past couple of seasons, but entering 2017 head coach Tara Daniels is making changes to the formation and counting on an experienced back line to get the Black Knights moving up the table in the Davenport division.

The leader for Stoughton is senior Sarah Widrow, who was the team’s lone league all-star last fall and impressed during the HockomockSports.com Charity All-Star Game. As an attacking fullback, Widrow pushes the Black Knights forward and adds vocal leadership to the back line. She will be joined at the back by the speedy Gabriela Diaz, who was converted from striker to defender. Senior Mia Greene will be the focal point in the midfield to try and keep possession for Stoughton.

Sophomore Chinazo Odunze returns from a injury-shortened season to lead the line for the Black Knights attack. She had a strong start to her freshman campaign before her injury and Daniels calls her combination of speed and physicality a “game-changer” for the attack.

Daniels said, “This season we are trying a new formation to give us more offensive opportunities…Staying healthy and in good shape is key to a successful season. We are looking to step up our possession game and having more of an offensive push this year.”

10/22/2016

Bulldogs Find Defensive Form to Beat Sharon

CANTON, Mass. – The pitch was slick from two days worth of rain, but the Canton defense showed no ill effects and zero slip-ups, as it corralled Sharon’s top two attacking threats, Alex Rabb and Ally Filipkowski, limiting the Eagles to only a couple clear scoring chances.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

It was a major turnaround for the Bulldogs, who had allowed six goals last time out against Milford. The back four, with help from the midfield, held firm on Saturday morning at World War II Veterans Memorial Field and Canton pulled out a 2-0 victory that edges the Bulldogs closer to a spot in the state tournament.

“After the Milford game, I took the back line and we talked about some issues,” explained Canton coach Kate Howarth, “and there was a little bit of confusion I wasn’t aware of. We cleared everything up and you could see the back line was so solid today.”

Chances were at a premium for both teams in the first half. The Bulldogs has the first shot on goal when Tessa Cudmore’s shot was handled by Sharon keeper Natalie Gray. A corner three minutes later from Sarah Connolly had to be cleared off the line by Amanda Klayman and then Lauren McCabe had the rebound saved by Gray in the bottom corner.

The Bulldogs’ best scoring opportunities were coming from Connolly’s set piece deliveries. She fired in a long free kick that Gray caught cleanly and then in the 27th minute she was credited with the opening goal when her corner was deflected off the leg of a Sharon defender and just over the line.

The defensive effort for Canton started with the midfield trio of Julia Hamilton and freshmen cousins Lauren and Morgan McCabe, who bottled up Filipkowski by sending multiple players at the junior playmaker as often as possible. Even without Riley Duserick, who was out with an injury, the Bulldogs put the clamps on the Sharon midfield in the first half.

“She’s a good player and I think when you can shut her down they don’t really create a lot of chances,” said Howarth of Filipkowski. “[Julia] fought hard and I think she stood her ground with Ally.”

When the Eagles did get the ball forward, Rabb was regularly alone up top surrounded by Connolly and Carly Hutchinson. At halftime, the Eagles made an adjustment to try and get more runners out wide and it created Sharon’s best chance in the 46th minute.

Filipkowski managed to shrug off the attention of the Bulldogs and slid a pass into Victoria Zambello angling in from the right wing but Canton keeper Kathryn Doody was off her line quick to block the shot. Ally Steinberg also started to find space on the right side going one-on-one with Canton right back Sarah Collins and created a couple dangerous crosses that Doody and the defense managed to clear in front of Rabb.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“We made a formation change in the second half to try and isolate Ally [Steinberg] one-on-one out wide,” said first-year Sharon coach Brad Furnival. “We were able to create a few chances. Their keeper dealt well with some crosses, but unfortunately we didn’t have enough players in the box to score goals, which kind of killed us in the end.”

When asked about opponents focusing on Filipkowski to try and stunt the Eagles attack, Furnival replied, “I thought Filipkowski had a good game. I’d like her to get more shots off but even if teams put two or three players on Ally, she’s still going to create chances because she’s that kind of player.”

Canton had its chances to close out the victory. Cudmore was causing problems with her speed, running at the Sharon back line, and Lauren Fitzpatrick added some good minutes off the Bulldogs bench.

Cudmore nearly doubled the lead in the 48th minute when she chased down a deflected pass but it was saved by back-up keeper Isabella Berger and the follow-up by Hannah Link sailed over the bar. In the 52nd minute Cudmore had another good look but her curling effort from the edge of the box smacked off the bar.

“We had a couple other chances that would have been easy finishes,” said Howarth, “and we didn’t get them in and those are the ones that we talk about every week. If we put away some of the easy chances…we would be beating teams by a lot more than we are.”

In the 64th minute, Cudmore set up the goal that sealed the win. She hustled to keep a loose ball alive on the near side of the box and laid a pass into the path of Catherine Leonetti, who had just come into the game, and she hit it first time off the underside of the crossbar and across the line.

Howarth said, “Once we got that I think everybody calmed down a little bit. It took the pressure off and we could finish the game.”

With the win Canton (7-6-1, 7-5-1) moves back into second place in the Davenport, one point ahead of Foxboro, which the Bulldogs will face on Tuesday afternoon. Sharon (5-9-1, 4-9-1) will step out of the league on Monday for a trip to Norwood.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.