09/22/201809/23/2018

Saturday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 09/22/18

Today’s games are listed below.

Football
North Attleboro, 42 @ Sharon, 14 – Final
1st Quarter: (NA) Russell Dunlap fumble recovery in the end zone, Tyler DeMattio XP good; (NA) Brendan McHugh 2-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) B. McHugh 3-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good; (S) Jeremy Ruskin 26-yard pass to Chris Gong, Mitchell Director XP good; (NA) Nick Raneri 17-yard pass to Ryan Gaumond, T. DeMattio XP good; (NA) N. Raneri 24-yard pass to R. Gaumond, T. DeMattio XP good.
3rd Quarter: (NA) Brett Labonte 4-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good.
4th Quarter: (S) J. Ruskin 4-yard pass to C. Gong, M. Director XP good.

Boys Soccer
Canton, 2 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Twice Canton took a one-goal lead and twice Foxboro responded in a quick manner to earn a draw at home. Paul Corcoran converted a sliding shot in the 2nd minute to give the visitors an early advantage but Nic Beigel brought Foxboro level, converting a penalty drawn by Matt Garcia. In the second half, Simon Cruz made a nice near post run in the 59th minute and hit a one timer to make it 2-1 in favor of Canton. But just four minutes later, Beigel grabbed his second with a nicely placed shot from outside the area.

Girls Soccer
Canton, 2 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Foxboro built a 2-0 lead but Canton scored twice in the final 20 minutes to earn a draw. Sophomore Katelyn Mollica put the hosts up 1-0 in the 10th minute, an advantage Foxboro took into halftime. Ten minutes into the second half, Kaitryn Franchino scored her second goal in as many games to make it 2-0. But Canton scored on a penalty kick in the 62nd minute and tied the game in the 71st minute to earn a point on the road.

Taunton, 0 @ North Attleboro, 9 – Final – North Attleboro’s Ashlyn Gaulin recorded four points and sister Emma Gaulin had three points as the Rocketeers rolled at home. Ashlyn Gaulin scored three goals and had one assist while Emma Gaulin scored once and had two helpers. Olivia Bishop, Lauren Pezzi, Lexi Sinacola, Tess Collins, and Emma Noreck all scored once for North Attleboro.

Field Hockey
Canton, 0 @ Walpole, 4 – Final – Canton sophomore Riley O’Connor made 16 saves in goal, but the Bulldogs fell on the road to the Porkers.

North Attleboro, 0 @ Taunton, 4 – Final – Taunton scored a pair of goals in each half to pick up a win over visiting North Attleboro. Alana Tavares scored both goals in the first half to give the Tigers the lead. Seniors Lauren Torres and Cierra Bartel each scored once in the second half for Taunton while Emma Sheehan made five saves in goal. THS head coach Liz Hathaway said Jillian Pagliuca, Jocelyn Pagliuca, and Kathryn Robinson all played well for the Tigers.

Oliver Ames, 2 vs. West Bridgewater, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames scored once in each half to pick up a win over West Bridgewater. The Tigers had 13 corners and peppered the West Bridgewater net with 21 shots. Meaghan Rockey scored OA’s first goal on an assist from Maggie Woods. Rockey then set Maura Kiernan up for the game-winning goal at the midway point of the second half.

Boys Cross Country
Ocean State Invitational – Mansfield’s Patrick Heavey earned a third place finish to help the Hornets take a third overall as a team. Heavey clocked in at 16:33.8 for third while Paxton Howard (17:30.9, 38th), Mike Mullahy (17:31.5, 40th), and Cullen Lancaster (17:32.3, 42nd) all had top 50 finishes for the Hornets. Oliver Ames was fifth as a team led by Zane Reservitz’s (16:51.1) 10th place finish and Rory McLaughlin’s (16:54.9) 12th place finish. North Attleboro senior Liam Monahan was 11th overall, crossing the finish line at 16:54.7. In the other varsity race, Foxboro’s Ryan Proulx finished in 17:33.1, taking 22nd overall.

Girls Cross Country
Ocean State Invitational – Foxboro had two runners finish in the top 10 of the Division 1 Varsity race, helping the Warriors earn a fourth place finish. Junior Abby Hassman was fourth overall at 19:28.4 while senior Lexi Quinn took seventh at 19:34.5. Lindsey Nelson was the third Warrior to cross, taking 17th overall in 20:41.4. In the Division 2 Varsity race, Mansfield girls were 20th overall. Senior Margaret Riley (20:50.3) and sophomore Tessa Lancaster (20:51.7) took 43rd and 44th respectively. North Attleboro was 22nd overall with junior Olivia Forbes having the top time, taking 80th in 21:41.1. Attleboro junior Shea Jamieson had the top finish of any Hockomock runner, clocking in at 20:41.1 for 37th.

09/04/2018

Boys Soccer: 2018 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2018 Davenport Boys Soccer Preview

Canton

2017 Record: 10-5-4
2017 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Danny Erickson

The Bulldogs have been one of the top offensive teams over the past two seasons, and that trend will likely continue with the personnel returning this season. The goal this season is to equal that success on the defensive end of the field.

“We have had lots of success the past two seasons in scoring goals but we have not been stingy enough with allowing goals,” said Canton head coach Danny Erickson.

Hockomock League leading scorer Paul Corcoran is back for his senior season and has been one of the top producers in the final third over the past two seasons. His nine goals in 2016 helped earn him HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year honors and last year he led the Hock with 15 goals and 23 total points. He is joined by HockomockSports.com Best XI selection Griffin Roach in the midfield. Roach is one of the best two-way players in the league and will undoubtedly be relied upon to help both the offense (10 goals, five assists last year) and the defense. Simon Cruz is another player with a good amount of varsity experience that will likely factor in.

While the offense looks to be in good shape, shoring up the defense won’t be easy after losing starting goalie Abe Garber and center back John Agnitti. However, Erickson can rely on Paolo Ruggeri to lead the way in the back. Ruggeri has a ton of varsity experience and will be the quarterback of the defense, organizing and keeping the back four in shape. Junior Alejandro Correal will step in as the starting keeper.

Foxboro

2017 Record: 11-5-4
2017 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Joe Franchino

Foxboro head coach Joe Franchino isn’t afraid to talk about how confident he is in this year’s team.

“The Hockomock title is coming to Foxboro,” Franchino said.

Although Foxboro graduated a dozen seniors, the players that the Warriors do return are the reason why Franchino is so confident in this group. Starting up top, Foxboro has both of its strikers back, including leading scorer Shane VandenBoom. Last year, VandenBoom was second in the league in the regular season with 21 points, scoring 12 goals and adding nine assists. He will be joined up top by Dylan Barreira, who had a strong sophomore season.

In the midfield, everything will run through junior Joe Cusack. There aren’t many midfielders that have the poise on the ball that Cusack does and he will likely be the engine for the team. He isn’t the biggest player on the pitch but his vision is among the best and his ability to play balls over the top and through the defense make Foxboro’s offense very dangerous. Nic Beigel will complement Cusack in the middle to give the Warriors a solid 1-2 combo.

Defensively, the Warriors are hoping to see more of the same after only allowing 15 goals through 18 regular season games. The good news is that Foxboro has plenty of experience returning in the back with Matt Garcia, Brian Gardner, and Will Regan back in the fold. Franchino stressed that the team must put defense first and buy into the system, and then the team can go forward — an area the Warriors are very confident in.

Milford

2017 Record: 7-8-3
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brian Edwards

After missing out on the postseason by just one game, the 2018 Scarlet Hawks are laser-focused on making it into the state tournament and having a run at the division title.

Third-year head coach Brian Edwards saw his team go from four wins to seven over the first two years and is hoping that upward trend will continue in 2018.

“We are looking to build upon the lessons learned last year,” Edwards said. “We want to work on maintaining focus and closing games out this season. With many players coming back for their third varsity season we are hopeful that our experience helps us work towards our goals this season.”

One big reason for optimism is junior Walisson De Oliveira, who exploded as one of the best offensive threats in the league in the second half of the season. After playing in the midfield for half the year, Edwards moved De Oliveira up top and the move paid off big time. The striker scored 14 goals (second most in the Hock) and had three assists.

In the midfield, the Hawks boast a trio of talented and experienced players. Tiago Carvalho, Joao Boaventura, and Jordan Borges have all shown improvement over the offseason and will be counted on to handle the middle of the pitch. Seniors Joey Madden and Zach Brown return to anchor the defensive unit in front of senior goalie Cam Doherty.

North Attleboro

2017 Record: 11-2-6 (Davenport Division Champions)
2017 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Geoff Burgess

Despite graduating over a dozen seniors from last year’s Davenport division-winning squad, North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess believes his team will be ready to defend its league title.

The Rocketeers will have to find a replacement for HockomockSports.com Best XI selections Gabe Pinhancos (center mid) and Brendan Matracia (goalie), as well as the entire back line, but Burgess does have options to fill the voids.

“I’m excited to see what this group can accomplish,” Burgess said. “We have a good nucleus of talented players and high expectations.”

Senior striker Joe Hilf was second on the team in points last year after scoring six goals and adding two assists and Big Red also has junior midfielders Dylan Corrigan (four goals, three assists) and James Sale back in the fold. All three have plenty of varsity experience and should be major factors for North this season. Junior Joey Coscarella will see more playing time as well this season.

Senior captain Evan Rosenberg will step in at center back to anchor the new back four. Burgess is also optimistic about his options in net with junior Kyle Briere taking over as the starter.

Sharon

2017 Record: 5-9-4
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Bryan Kelly

Only one year removed from winning the Davenport title, Sharon is hoping its versatility will help get them back to the top of what is shaping up to be a very competitive division.

“We have some dynamic players this year which gives us the ability to use different formations making it difficult for teams to plan for us,” said Sharon coach Bryan Kelly. “We have a rotation of players who can play two or more positions and play them well. If we stick to our game plan, we will be a tough team to reckon with.”

The Eagles have a strong core of returning players that Kelly can build off of. Ethan Kantor is back for his third year in goal and will be the leader of the defense. Alex Dias returns from a torn ACL to take up one of the outside back positions. Kelly expects Brendan Arnold and Daniel Gunduz to step up on defense this season.

In the midfield, junior Michael Baur (HockomockSports.com Second XI selection) will be a key piece and help the Eagles transition from defense to offense. Baur is also one of the more dangerous free kick takers in the league. Baur will work with the speedy Isaiah Stessman and Norway-transfer Viktor Schneider on the wings in the midfield.

Kelly is looking for junior Brian Higgins and Daniel Lillenfeld to form a dynamic partnership up top while Antonio Elkoury and Eli Berkowitz can step in and provide depth in both the midfield and up front.

Stoughton

2017 Record: 1-16-1
2017 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Joshua Aubin

After three straight years in the playoffs, the Black Knights had a down season a year ago but new head coach Joshua Aubin is anxious to get Stoughton back into playoff contention.

“This is definitely a team that is not afraid to get down and dirty,” Aubin said. “We’ve got some scrappy players who will not be backing down from the challenges ahead.”

Stoughton will be relying on its 10 seniors to set the pace this season, starting with captain Fabi Ponce de Leon. In his fourth year on varsity, Ponce de Leon will be the engine in the middle of the field and help facilitate things for the Black Knights. Aubin is looking for some new faces to step up around Ponce de Leon to take some pressure off the senior and give him some space. Fellow captain John Ortiz will be a leader for a defensive group that is looking to improve on last season.

All-Hockomock selection Carter Gerome returns as the starting goalie for the Black Knights.

“We do have a lot of athletes where we hope to be able to maximize on their individual abilities,” Aubin said. “We have a little bit of everything – some height, some speed, some strength, some physicalness, and some finesse.”

10/27/201710/27/2017

Rocketeers, Warriors Finish Level In Playoff Preview

North Attleboro boys soccer — North Attleboro’s Jeff Gale (left) and Foxboro’s Will Regan track down a loose ball in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. – With the division title picture already wrapped up, Thursday night’s showdown between Foxboro and North Attleboro wasn’t about league standings, but instead a preview of what’s to come in the postseason.

The two teams traded a pair of second half goals, finishing level, 1-1, at Sam Berns Community Field.

In years past, North and Foxboro wouldn’t cross paths once the regular season ended. But the new alignments implemented this season have both Big Red and the Warriors in the Division 2 South tournament.

“Under the lights, on the turf, on a cold Fall night…that’s pretty much what we’re going to be seeing as we go forward in the tournament,” said North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess. “We’ll probably be on the road a good portion of us. So this was great mentally for us, especially to score first. If we can just find a little composure to close games out…the same thing happened on Tuesday [against Milford].”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Foxboro was fresh off a 1-1 draw on Tuesday against Canton. The Warriors had nearly a dozen scoring chances go begging in the second half against the Bulldogs.

The Warriors picked up right where they left off on Tuesday, even attacking the same goal. But unfortunately, it was more of the same. Foxboro continued to build offense and register chances, but failed to find the back of the net in the opening 40 minutes.

Just over five minutes in, sophomore Dylan Barreira’s flick put senior Matt Rongione in behind on the right flank, but his low service towards the back post went without a recipient and rolled just wide.

In the 15th minute, Ryan Kelley got in behind the defense and went alone at the keeper, but North’s Brendan Matracia came charging out of his net to make the sliding stop.

North’s first chance came just before the half hour mark. Senior Ryan Pasquel’s free kick just over half was batted around at the edge of the area before Zach Matracia got a shot off, but it went well over the bar.

Foxboro had back-to-back chances in the 31st and 32nd minutes. First, Barreira’s corner kick was met by Mike Moses’ header near the penalty spot and then left back Will Regan launched a shot from distance, but Matracia made comfortable saves on both bids.

“They dominated us in the first half, we had really nothing going on,” Burgess said. “I thought we had a better run in the second half, we decided to kind of sit and counter, which is our play usually. We noticed they were only defending with really four guys and I thought if we could get on the counter a few times we could create some opportunities, and we did.

“I thought we had some really good chances, I thought we should have had a PK – it was close. I give them credit, Barreira and [Shane] VandenBoom, those kids are great with those flicks and the through balls. And No. 15 [Nic Beigel] played an outstanding game, the defensive midfielder.“

North’s first chance on the counter came in the 55th minute when outside midfielder Josh Rodriguez sprinted onto possession near the top of the box. Rodriguez cut back to create some space but his shot was partially blocked and Foxboro keeper Bobby Harrison came up with the stop on the bounce.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Just a minute later, the Rocketeers had a shout for a penalty when sophomore James Sales played Jeff Gale into the the area, but Ryan Kelley’s tackle got just enough of the ball to allow for an easy stop by Harrison.

Big Red finally broke through in the 67th minute after earning a free kick close to the corner on the left flank. Noah Barney dished a low service into the area that was touched by Zach Matracia back to Sales right in front for the easy tap in and a 1-0 lead.

Foxboro nearly responded immediately in the 68th minute when Beigel and Kelly combined atop the area, the former ripping a low shot that clanked off the left post and right back into the grasp of Matracia.

But Foxboro continued to apply the pressure and broke through in the 71st minute. Once again, Beigel and Kelley combined, sending Beigel into the area. But before the junior could unleash a shot, North’s Andrew Fontaine came through with a great tackle.

The ball rolled right to junior Hussein Kafel and he tucked his shot in at the back post to bring the Warriors level.

“We just really didn’t get a lot of our offense going,” Burgess said. “We tried to possess but they are very physical and that kind of takes you out of your game and I they got into our heads a little bit. Every time we went into a challenge, we started looking for them and instead of watching for the ball, we’re looking for the Foxboro kid.

“That back line is all seniors,” Burgess added. “And then sitting in front of them, Sales and Pasquel, are the keys. Sales is only a sophomore and he doesn’t get a lot of credit. He’s really solid back there. If I can get him to sit a bit deeper and play a little wiser, no one is going to get behind us. That 4-3-2-1 counter-attacking style, and those two guys really protect Kevin [Aguilar] and Andrew [Fontaine] in the center. We don’t make a lot of mistakes, we just had one really bad games where we laid an egg. Brendan Matracia had about six or seven great saves, stopped a couple breakaways.”

Foxboro finishes the season at 10-4-4 overall, and 8-4-4 in league play. Seeds for the tournament will be released on Wednesday.

North Attleboro boys soccer finishes its league record at 9-1-6 and its first-ever Davenport division title, which it clinched with a win on the road at Milford on Tuesday. The Rocketeers (10-1-6 overall) will wrap up its season at home in a non-league clash with Attleboro in the annual Leach and Garner Cup.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

10/25/2017

Foxboro, Canton Settle For Draw In Davenport Clash

Foxboro boys soccer — Canton’s Griffin Roach (left) and Foxboro’s Dylan Barreira battle for possession in the first half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FOXBORO, Mass. – With the wind at its back, Foxboro boys soccer had nearly a dozen legitimate scoring chances in the second half alone, but walked away from Sam Berns Community Field with a 1-1 draw against visiting Canton.

The strong wind helped dictate the play in both halves. Canton benefitted in the first half, while Foxboro took advantage in the second half.

“That was one of those games,” said Foxboro head coach Joe Franchino. “We were banging on the door, just not getting one of them in. [Soccer] can be a brutal game, and we ended up with just the point.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Canton came out strong despite being on the road. It took less than two minutes for the Bulldogs to register a scoring chance as Simon Cruz set Griffin Roach up for a chance just inside the area, but Roach’s shot went wide at the far post.

Four minutes later, the Bulldogs created another chance and this time, chased in. A deflected clearance fell right back into the area and Canton junior Paulo Ruggeri did well to use his body to shield some space, taking the ball down and placing it in from close range to make it 1-0.

Bulldogs senior keeper Abe Garber made one of his several stellar saves in the eighth minute, denying Foxboro sophomore Dylan Barreira at the near post after being sent in behind the defense by Shane VandenBoom.

Canton nearly doubled the lead in the 17th minute when junior Paul Corcoran found Cruz atop the area, but Foxboro goalie Bobby Harrison – who was well off his line — got just a touch to the shot and the ball was cleared away.

Foxboro found the equalizer in the 18th minute. After a throw from Matt Garcia found its way over the top of Canton’s defense, Foxboro senior Ryan Kelley barreled his way through traffic, eventually getting the last touch off the front of his head and in from close range to tie it 1-1.

“To give up a goal within the first 10 minutes and then to get it back in the first half is a lot of credit to the guys,” Franchino said. “They kept fighting and didn’t give in, even against the wind.

“We had the chances in the second half, but it can be a brutal game sometimes.”

With the wind making it difficult for Canton to clear its own zone, Foxboro put the pressure on to try and score the go-ahead goal.

In the 38th minute, Hussein Kafel served a cross from the left side that VandenBoom ran onto at the near post, but his touch was over the bar.

Kelley nearly found a second tally when he got his head to Barreira’s corner in the 39th minute, but the senior couldn’t get all of it.

Just two minutes later, Garber robbed Kelley of his second goal. Kelley dribbled past a pair of Canton defenders and ripped a shot at the near post, but Garber did well to get down and make the stop.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Nic Beigel had his chance just four minutes later when he weaved his way through the defense and had a go, but once again Garber was in great position to knock the shot away at the near post.

In the 69th minute, VandenBoom hooked up with Barreira once again, but the sophomore’s shot at the near post was just inches over the bar. VandenBoom had a chance himself a minute later when he tracked down a ball over the top, but he couldn’t get over his volley and his shot was just high.

Foxboro finally had Garber beat in the 77th minute when an errant header found Barreira, who placed his shot at the far post outside the reach of Garber. However, Canton defender Mike Mazzola was in the right spot and got a touch on it, with Garber smothering the rebound.

The Warriors had a final chance in the 78th minute when Garcia placed a perfect service into the area that VandenBoom got his head to, but Garber grabbed his final save to preserve the point.

“On the day, I didn’t think it was much of a contest in the second half,” admitted Canton head coach Danny Erickson. “They played very well, kudos to Foxboro. I thought they were the better side, we were unable to find any part of our game…we couldn’t connect passes, we weren’t winning challenges.

“Abe was the one positive I thought. He was very clean and bailed us out a couple of times. But kudos to Foxboro, that’s a hard working group. They changed the point of attack well and we didn’t open our mouths on defense. We have a lot to work on.”

Both sides came into Tuesday’s contest with a mathematical chance at the Davenport, but North Attleboro clinched the division with a win at Milford. Foxboro boys soccer (10-4-3 overall, 8-4-3 Hockomock) will host the Rocketeers on Thursday night to close the regular season.

“We want to make a deep run in the tournament,” Franchino said. “There was a lot of hype for that game, and even though it’s not for the title anymore, they can make a statement going into the playoffs. We fought to the end today, but it didn’t turn out in our way. We were so close though.”

Canton (8-4-4, 7-4-4) will entertain Stoughton on Friday before heading to Marshfield on Monday to conclude the regular season.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

09/13/201709/14/2017

Wednesday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 09/13/17

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 2 @ Sharon, 4 – Final – Click here for a recap of this game.

King Philip, 1 @ Canton, 2 – Final – Canton junior Griffin Roach scored a pair of goals to lead the Bulldogs to a big win over visiting King Philip. Roach scored the opening goal in the 17th minute after a shot from Avery Minkin was deflected. In the second half, Roach doubled the lead when his shot from just inside the area was deflected into the top corner. KP scored in the 73rd minute when sophomore Brian McCarthy’s cross was headed home at the far post by senior Jack Bush.

Franklin, 1 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Foxboro’s Ryan Kelley had a hand in both of the Warriors goals, recording a goal and an assist in the win. Kelley scored the opener inside the first five minutes, smashing home a rebound on a shot from Cam Cass. Early in the second half, Kelley played Nic Beigel in, who finished his chance to make it 2-0. Franklin responded within five minutes to cut the deficit in half but Foxboro held on for two points.

Mansfield, 2 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Mansfield netted a pair of second half goals and senior Nick Ferraz made six saves to record his second shutout of the season. Cullin Anastasia put the visitors on the board midway through the second half by converting a penalty kick. Sam Hyland doubled the Hornets’ lead five minutes later when he finished off a corner kick from Luke Savoie.

Taunton, 0 @ Milford, 1 – Final – The Scarlet Hawks netted the only goal of the game midway through the first half to earn their first win of the season. Junior Tiago Filadelfo nodded home a free kick service from sophomore Jordan Borges for his first career goal. Like Capobianco recorded the clean sheet in net for the Hawks. Milford head coach Brian Edwards said Leo Coelho had a strong game for the Hawks in midfield.

Oliver Ames, 1 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – North Attleboro got off to a great start, opening the scoring inside the first two minutes but Oliver Ames battled back to level the match before halftime, and that’s how it would finish. North Attleboro sophomore Dylan Corrigan scored his first career goal, finishing a pass from senior Josh Rodriguez. Head coach Geoff Burgess credited Joe Hilf with starting the counter attack that led to the goal. OA scored in the 33rd minute when senior Mason Galbato opened his 2017 account, finishing off a long throw with Nathaniel Cardoza assisting. OAHS head coach John Barata noted both Cam Vella and Chris Lawrence played great in the back for the Tigers.

Girls Soccer
Sharon, 1 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – The Bombardiers made it two wins in a row with what head coach Steve Santos called, “a great team win.” Freshmen Briley Harnois and Isabella Salviati scored for Attleboro to open a 2-0 lead at halftime. Sharon got one back from Ally Filipkowski before Hannah Meier sealed the points with Attleboro’s third. Santos said that Kara Thornton did a great job marking Filipkowski and praised the defensive effort of his captains Jordyn Forte, Morgan Laplume, and Julia Hayes.

Canton, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Chloe Layne had a goal and an assist for the Warriors, who continue the unbeaten start to the season. Ally Stanton opened the scoring in the ninth minute and the score stayed 1-0 until eight minutes after the break when Avery Snead finished a Layne pass to double the lead. Ten minutes later, Layne got her goal from a Jenna Hitchen cross to wrap up the scoring. Emma Durant made two saves for KP and Warriors coach Gary Pichel said that the back line of Emma Corcoran, Olivia Berry, Lauren Anderson, and Kyliegh Remmis “were unbeatable today.”

Foxboro, 0 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – In an even game, in which both teams had good scoring opportunities, the Panthers earned all two points thanks to a goal in the final minute by Calen Frongillo, assisted by Anna Balkus. A minute before the Franklin goal, the Warriors had a scoring chance of their own but were denied by a diving Cat Robbins save.

Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 6 – Final – Cassidy McMahon continued her strong start to the season with two goals and two assists to lead the Hornets to their third win of the season. Stephanie Kemp added a brace for Mansfield, which also got goals from Allison and Melissa Reef.

Milford, 2 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Milford picked up its first win of the season behind goals from Juliana France (assisted by Maddy Boyle) and Hannah Martin (assisted by Kristina Chiarelli). Samantha Tichelaar scored the lone goal for the Tigers and Grace Pimenta made 10 saves.

North Attleboro, 4 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Click here for a recap of this game.

Field Hockey
Franklin, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames took a 2-1 lead before the halftime break and that was enough, with goalie Tigers’ Caitlin Grant recording eight saves in the win. Meaghan Rockey and Sarah Stevens each found the back of the net, both on assists from Cristina Boudreau. Franklin junior Ashley Reutlinger’s first goal of the season, on an assist from Cassi Ronan, tied the game in the first half before OA retook the lead. OA head coach Abby Tepper said Grant “played amazing in net” and also praised the defensive play of Sarah Tetrault.

Volleyball
Attleboro, 1 @ Sharon, 3 – Final

King Philip, 3 @ Canton, 0 – Final – King Philip earned a sweep on the road, beating Canton 25-18, 25-13, 25-13. Reigning Hockomock League MVP Sydney Phillips led the Warriors’ charge with 18 kills while Michaela Palumbo added nine kills and Grace Ely chipped in with seven kills. Elise Pereira (seven digs) and Julianne Rando (six digs) paced KP’s defense. For Canton, Sophia Connor had a strong all-around game, hitting .429 with 10 digs and 2 aces. Taylor Harris added four aces, two kills and two blocks for the Bulldogs.

Franklin, 3 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Franklin picked up its second straight sweep, this time on the road at Foxboro. Riley Marino had 11 serve receptions, seven digs and three aces for the Panthers while FHS head coach Kate Horsmann said Lauren Lockhart had another smart hitting match, finishing with eight kills. Maggie Doyle added four kills, two blocks and an ace in the win.

Mansfield, 0 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton defended its home court with a big win over Mansfield, recording a 25-3, 25-9, 28-26 sweep of the Hornets. Junior Molly Turner had a great all around game for the Knights with 13 assists, four blocks and 25 service points. Senior Val Whalen led the Stoughton offense with 15 kills. “We started strong and kept up a great defensive game to hold off the Hornets in the third set,” said SHS head coach Erica Batchelder.

Taunton, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Taunton notched its first win of the season, holding off the Hawks in the third set to earn a 25-18, 25-19, 28-26 sweep. Sam Reaume led Taunton with 10 digs, seven kills, two blocks and an ace while Kayli Fagan finished with 20 assists, three kills, two assists and a block. THS head coach Toby Chaperon said Rawan Hamie and Sam Martin provided a spark up front and at the service line, and praised the defensive play of McKenzie Lucie, Jaime Brown and Elaine Bodemer.

Oliver Ames, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro earned its third win of the season, and first sweep, fending off Oliver Ames with a 25-15, 25-22, 26-24 win. Amelia Murphy had a strong game for the Rocketeers with nine kills and four aces while Kezie De La Cru added eight kills and two aces. OA sophomore Jordyn Vella had four kills, two blocks and three aces for the Tigers.

Golf
Taunton, 191 @ Franklin, 164 – Final

Foxboro, 225 @ Sharon, 227 – Final

Canton, 152 @ Stoughton, 185 – Final – Canton’s Joey Vaughan and Danny Powers shared match medalist honors, each carding a low-round of 37 to lead the Bulldogs to their second win in as many days. Jack Goyetch and Chris Lavoie each chipped in with rounds of 39. Stoughton’s Brendan Campbell had a team-low round of 42.

King Philip, 161 @ North Attleboro, 156 – Final – Dylan Kane and Marcus Costa each carded rounds under 40 to lad the Rocketeers to a close win over KP. Kane shot a 36 while Costa carded a round of 38 in the win.

Cross Country
Canton @ North Attleboro, 3:45

09/04/201709/05/2017

Boys Soccer: 2017 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2017 Davenport Boys Soccer Preview

Canton

2016 Record: 8-7-5
2016 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Danny Erickson

After playing a good handful of juniors and sophomores during the 2016 season, the Bulldogs look to be an experienced group heading into this year. Leading the way will be senior and two-time captain Jake Verille, who leads the Bulldogs from the middle of the pitch. Fellow captain Abe Garber is back for another year in net and senior captain John Agnitti with anchor the defensive line.

Verille, a HockomockSports.com Best XI selection last season, has been one of the top playmakers the past two years. On top of Verille’s offensive ability, Canton also returns junior Paul Corcoran – the team’s leading scorer (nine goals) and the HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. Alongside Corcoran, the Bulldogs have a slew of juniors with varsity experience including Griffin Roach, Simon Cruz, Paulo Ruggeri and Avery Minkin that will all factor into the attack.

“We are confident that we will be able to keep the ball and attack this year,” said Canton head coach Danny Erickson. “The chances should be created, but we will need to finish. We will also need to defend as a group of 11 MUCH better than we did last season.”

Foxboro

2016 Record: 6-9-4
2016 Finish: Reached D3 South First Round
Coach: Joe Franchino

After graduating just five seniors last season, head coach Joe Franchino brings back the majority of squad that had just one loss in its last eight regular season games in 2016. However, two of those five players – Anthony Barreira (two-time Best XI selection) & AJ Bubencik (now playing at Mass. Maritime) – were four year players and will be tough to replace.

The good news is that while the Warriors were young a year ago, a good portion of the team has at least a season of varsity experience under its belt. Senior captain Shawn McNamara, now in his fourth year starting for the Warriors, will lead the way along with fellow captains Matt Rongione and Ryan Kelley. Senior Cam Cass also has plenty of experience and will be relied upon as a playmaker. Junior Shane Vandenboom had a strong sophomore season and will be an important piece in the midfield along classmate Nic Beigel and senior Hussiein Kafel.

Seniors Bobby Harrison will be the starting goalie for the Warriors.

“Coming into my third year, I am confident the team has bought into the system and I’m really looking forward to see how they compete,” Franchino said. “We have experienced senior and junior classes with a couple of sophomores to watch out for. We may not have a target on our back but when it’s all said and done, I believe we have the team to win! I believe in this group and really excited to see what they accomplish.”

Milford

2016 Record: 4-10-4
2016 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brian Edwards

The Scarlet Hawks are looking to take the next step in year two with Brian Edwards at the helm. After just four wins a season ago, Edwards is hoping that the experience gained by his younger players will translate into more success this time around.

Midfielder Andre Oliveira will be a key piece for Edwards and the Scarlet Hawks, helping both the offense and defense. Oliveira’s ability to transition from defense to offense will be key for the Scarlet Hawks this season. On the defensive side of the ball, senior Jacob Balzarini is back in the center of the defense. After getting plenty of time in that spot last season, Balzarini will be the anchor of the backline this year. On top of Oliveira and Balzaini, Edwards is looking for new players to step up and make an impact.

“I’m looking for us to be a team that stresses balance,” Edwards said. “I am hopeful that the experience many of these guys gained last year translates into more success in the standings. I am also excited to see what the new guys bring to the squad. There are a bunch of hungry young players that want to make their mark on this team and in this league.”

North Attleboro

2016 Record: 2-10-6
2016 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Geoff Burgess

North Attleboro boasts over a dozen seniors on the 2017 version of the Red Rocketeers and head coach Geoff Burgess is hoping that experience will translate into success on the field.

Leading the way will be senior and 2016 HockomockSports.com Second XI selection Gabe Pinhancos, who has been Big Red’s field general for the past couple of seasons. Josh Rodriguez and Ryan Pasquel are also back this season to help bolster the midfield. Junior Joe Hilf and senior Jeff Gale will be relied upon to pace North Attleboro’s offense.

Big Red’s biggest strength could be in the back, having a defensive unit with plenty of experience. Noah Barney and Zach Matracia both saw significant time and will be joined by classmates Andrew Fontaine and Kevin Aguilar. That defensive unit will be in front of senior goalie Brendan Matracia.

“I am hoping that we are going to be a team on the rise this year,” said Burgess. “I have a strong senior class and we’ve had a good summer and an even better preseason.”

Sharon

2016 Record: 11-4-4 (Davenport Division Champions)
2016 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Bryan Kelly

The defending Davenport division champs will boast a large senior class (14) but will also rely on some younger players as they look to win back-to-back Hock titles.

The Eagles’ tri-captains will provide leadership in each part of the pitch, with senior center back Shubo Roy-Chowdury on the back line, senior Tyler Hippler leading the midfield and senior Spencer Hall up front. Sharon’s attack will bolstered by seniors Marques Benton and Andy Reyes-Jones, who both saw plenty of time up top a year ago. Meanwhile, sophomore Michael Baur is back after a standout freshman season and classmates Isaiah Stessman, Brian Higgins and freshman Brice Nathan will all play a role in helping the Eagles go forward.

Maybe the biggest advantage the Eagles have is returning keeper Ethan Kantor. The junior had a terrific season in net a year ago and will be the backbone of the team’s defense.

“With a solid defense that is smart and has speed, we should be able to keep up with fast offenses while not losing the capability to support a potent offense,” said SHS head coach Bryan Kelly. “Overall, we are solid from goal to forwards, it just depends on if we can put the ball in the back of the net.”

Stoughton

2016 Record: 8-9-2
2016 Finish: Reached D2 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Chris Suchorski

Stoughton will be looking to make it back again to the postseason, this time under first-year head coach Chris Suchorski. The Black Knights just made it in a season ago but it marked the third straight year for the program.

Suchorski is tasked with replacing 12 seniors that graduated from last year’s team. However, all of the players he is returning all saw varsity time last season and that should soften the blow dealt by graduation. Senior Tyler Melo (six points) is back and will likely be a vital part of the Black Knights’ midfield and attack. Junior Fabio Ponce de Leon (six points) begins his third season on varsity and will once again be one the Black Knights’ top offensive options. Brian Peoples also returns as one of the team’s top playmakers.

The biggest question could come with the back four, as the Black Knights must find a replacement for 2016 Best XI selection Goddy Fombe, who anchored the back line the past two season the sweeper position.

10/24/2016

Monday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/24/16

Today’s games are listed below.

Boys Soccer
Foxboro, 1 vs. Weston, 0 – Final – Foxboro sophomore Nic Beigel scored with a minute to play to give the Warriors the win. With the victory, Foxboro qualifies for the MIAA state tournament via the Sullivan Rule.

Sharon, 0 @ Norwood, 0 – Final

Girls Soccer
Sharon, 6 @ Norwood, 0 – Final – Ally Filipkowski and Ally Steinberg each netted a pair of goals to pace Sharon’s offense in a win against Norwood. Alex Rabb and Amanda Klayman each scored a goal apiece as well.

Volleyball
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin picked up the sweep on the road to earn its 12th win of the season. Maddie Kuzio paced the Panthers with 28 digs and four aces while Maggie Doyle added five digs and three blocks and Erin Skidmore had nine kills and eight digs.

Foxboro, 0 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton celebrated its 12 seniors with a 25-19, 25-13, 25-16 win. “Each senior made contributions to the win,” Canton head coach Pat Cawley said. In the third set, Canton senior Nicole Poole recorded her 1000th assist on a kill by Emma Murphy. “Nicole is a selfless and talented player who has put her mark on CHS volleyball,” Cawley said.

Mansfield, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip clinched the Kelley-Rex division title with a 25-16, 25-22, 25-20 over Mansfield. Sydney Phillips had a strong day with 16 kills and five service points. Carly Adams added 29 assists and 13 service points, Amanda Loewen had eight digs and 10 service points, Liv Balduf finished with six kills and 10 service points, Angela Vellante had 18 service points and two aces and Molly Croke added six digs. For Mansfield, Chloe Peters had 22 assists and eight service points, Meg Hill had 11 kills and Olivia Broyles added five kills.

Milford, 3 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – After dropping the first set, Oliver Ames rattled off three straight to get the win, 23-25, 25-2, 25-21, 20-15. Alyssa Gavin led OA with 17 digs and five aces while Bridget McCarthy added 30 assists and two aces. Kayla Raymond tallied 14 kills and two blocks and Katie Flynn and Maya Fetcho each had eight kills.

Sharon, 1 vs. Norwood, 3 – Final

Stoughton @ Cardinal Spellman, 5:00

Field Hockey
Franklin, 4 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Caroline Lounsbury scored the game-winner four minutes into the game while Cassi Ronan, Erin Walsh and Annie Walsh each scored once. Kate Morse and Annie Walsh each had two assists along with one assist from Dana Lewandowski. Christina Lucini and Anna Jardine combined for the shutout in goal with four saves.

Foxboro, 1 @ Canton, 1 – Final

Mansfield, 2 @ King Philip, 1 – Final

Milford @ North Attleboro, 3:45

Oliver Ames, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Sydney Hedrick, Sarah Stevens and Cristina Boudreau each scored a goal for the Oliver Ames while Dimitra Efremidis had a pair of assists and Kendall Clifford had one helper. Katie Vamosi made five saves in net for the win.

Sharon, 0 @ Stoughton, 5 – Final – Mia Russell paced Stoughton’s offense with two goals while Olivia Schlehuber, Kamryn Oliviera and Thayna Oliviera each netted a goal apiece.

10/13/2016

Foxboro, Attleboro Each Grab A Point In Scoreless Draw

FOXBORO, Mass. – As teams enter the final weeks of the regular season and points are at a premium, Foxboro and Attleboro settled for one apiece as they fought to a 0-0 draw at Sam Berns Community Field.

Despite dominating the majority of the first half, and recording more scoring chances in the second half, Foxboro was unable to find the back of the net, hitting the crossbar once and being stopped by Attleboro goalie Nick Hasenfus on other attempts. Meanwhile, the Bombardiers continued to be frustrated by the Warriors’ high pressure and their lone serious chance of the second half was blocked away before Bobby Harrison was forced into a save.

“We have to pick up points,” Foxboro head coach Joe Franchino said. “The guys fought hard, I thought we were the better team today. We were knocking it around, we had the possession and we had the chances. You just have to keep grinding, it’s been the nature of the season so far. The boys aren’t quitting though, it was just unfortunate we didn’t get a goal.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

After Attleboro registered the first scoring game in the 13th minute – a sequence between Aidan Lancaster and Ahijah Joseph resulting in a shot over the bar from Nick Lawrence – it was essentially all Foxboro for the final half hour of the opening stanza.

In the 17th minute, Anthony Barreira played Colin Spinney wide and his low cross was met by a one time shot from Nic Beigel but his shot skipped wide.

In the 25th minute, Beigel sent in a low service to the near post where freshman Joe Cusack got a touch to it but Hasenfus cut the angle down and got just enough to keep it out.

Three minutes later, after a corner was partially cleared, a service from Will Regan eventually was deflected to Barreira, who volleyed a rocket right off the crossbar and out.

The Warriors had two chances in the final minute with Spinney finding Cusack at the near post but his shot was wide and then Cusack returned the favor by playing Spinney in but Hasenfus denied his shot to send the teams into the halftime break scoreless.

“The first ten minutes is a feeling out period, looking at the formation they are playing, matching up players, have to be defensive minded in that first ten minutes,” Franchino said. “But once we got in a groove, we pushed players on and I thought we had the better play and the better opportunities.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“We’ll take any tie because our goal is to get points,” Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira said. “We need points, we have four left so any point is great. Obviously [Foxboro] played better than we did, we got lucky because they hit the bar and they had a few opportunities. But we’re going home with a point so that’s excellent. It was one of our weakest games. We just had our best game last game and it was 0-0 then too. We dominated that game but here today, no. Foxboro was hungry, they were winning the 50/50 balls and had opportunities. The first half was all them. I don’t usually call timeouts but Foxboro was just putting pressure on us.

“The second half was more even but they still won more of the 50/50 balls. Anthony [Barreira] is deadly around the area. He’s a big boy, he’s got a good touch so he’s difficult. Harry [Lancaster] does a good job with anybody and he did with him.”

The Bombardiers registered the first chance of the second half when Austin Champagne pounced on a loose ball off a corner kick but his bid was blocked.

Foxboro’s AJ Bubencik had a shot from just outside the area saved by Hasenfus in the 57th minute and Barreira had a similar shot smothered by Hasenfus in the 61st minute.

“He’s been solid,” Pereira said of Hasenfus, who notched his sixth shutout of the season. “He talks, he gets the kids going, the kids have confidence in him now. He’s been a total surprise, I had no idea. He’s been playing JV. He’s been playing ODP for the last couple of years so he’s been getting the training and he’s been absolutely awesome for us. And with Harry [Lancaster] and Tyler [Treichler], they play solid, Harry’s been our MVP for the season.”

The Warriors continued its pressure and it resulted in another good bid. Barreira played Spinney wide but his shot just rolled wide at the far post in the 67th minute.

“I think that’s the difference from where we were at the beginning of the year to now is the pressure in the center of the park,” Franchino said. “We’re not letting teams play. It’s just getting the right mixture of the right players. Even our outside backs stepped up and our backline was pushing players on. We’re not just winning balls in the defensive third, we’re winning them in the attacking third and middle third which makes a huge difference. We just have to keep grinding.”

Attleboro had its best chance in the 70th minute when Joseph sprang Will Halbem in behind the defense but before he could uncork a shot in the area, Foxboro’s Shawn McNamara slid in and pushed the ball out for a corner kick.

Foxboro boys soccer (2-7-3, 1-7-3), which has earned at least a point in four of its last five games, will look to continue that trend when they travel to Sharon on Monday. Attleboro (5-3-4, 5-2-4) travels to Wrentham to take on Kelley-Rex leading King Philip the same day.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

09/05/2016

Boys Soccer: 2016 Davenport Division Preview

2016 Davenport Boys Soccer Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2016 Davenport Boys Soccer Preview

Canton

2015 Record: 3-10-4
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Danny Erickson

For the first time in a decade, the Bulldogs missed out on the postseason last year but with a large group of experienced players returning, the 2016 team is looking to start a new playoff streak. Canton graduated just two starters from last year’s team and looks to be in the mix for the Davenport division title this season.

Canton will look to its four captains for guidance with the quartet spread out nicely on the field. Junior Jake Verille and senior Ben Waterhouse will bring skills and versatility to the midfield. Senior Danny Hartnett is experienced and will anchor the back line while classmate Sammy Papakonstantino will be relied upon to be a catalyst up top for the Bulldogs.

“We think we have the technical ability this fall to play some good soccer,” head coach Danny Erickson said. “We were competitive last Fall but couldn’t figure out how to get the ball in the back of the net and get a result. I’m confident that we are ready to take the next step and see the positive results come this Fall.”

Erickson added there is a battle for the starting goalie spot right now between senior Sean Mitchell and junior Abe Garber.

Foxboro

2015 Record: 15-2-3
2015 Finish: Reached D3 South Semifinal
Coach: Joe Franchino

It will be far from easy for Foxboro to replace the 2015 HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Devante Teixeira (20 goals, 16 assists), who graduated, and two-time league all star Joe Morrison (eight goals, 15 assists), now playing full-time with his academy team. But senior Anthony Barreira (18 goals, 12 assists) is back for his fourth year on varsity and the Warriors get former league all star Jeff Melo back to bolster the back line, which will make the transition easier.

Barreira is set to be a top striker in the league and Melo showed during his sophomore year that he can be one of the best defenders in the area. AJ Bubencik’s conversion from a defender to a midfielder will be key for the Warriors this season as well. Sophomore Nic Beigel had a great rookie campaign and will be a key piece for Foxboro this season along with juniors Shawn McNamara and Ryan Kelley. Aaron Wentling and Bobby Harrison will fight for the starting spot in net this season.

“We are not the same team as last year but the quality is still here and my expectations are to win games,” head coach Joe Franchino said.

Milford

2015 Record: 4-13-1
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brian Edwards

Milford had a strong debut when it joined the Hockomock League in 2013 but were able to capture just seven league wins over the past two years. Brian Edwards has taken over at the helm of the Scarlet Hawks and is looking for a bounce back season in his first year.

The Scarlet Hawks will be relying upon its three captains to make the turnaround. Senior Marcello Panno is one of the most versatile players in the league with Edwards referring to him as a ‘swiss army knife.’ Edwards expects Panno to play roles both offensively and defensively. Defensively, senior Danny Mendoza is going to be tasked with handling top strikers from around the league. Edwards credited Mendoza’s work rate and his ability to make those around him better. Junior Andre Oliveira will be a major part of Milford’s attack this season. Oliveira will be one to watch, especially on the counter attack.

“We expect to see a focus on technical skill and ball movement as opposed to direct play,” Edwards said. “This is an attack which will be geared towards moving the ball in tight spaces against high pressure.”

Edwards also noted the team will focus on a team defensive effort, with an effort to deny opponents space in the final third.

North Attleboro

2015 Record: 1-14-3
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Geoff Burgess

After a rough couple of years, the North Attleboro Rocketeers are hoping a switch to the Davenport Division could be the perfect platform to launch a turnaround. With a good amount of players that saw either starting minutes or valuable time off of the bench back, the Rocketeers will look to ramp up their play, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Juniors Noah Barney and Zach Matracia saw a lot of minutes as outside backs last year and will look to bring that experience back this year. Senior John Brennan will try to anchor the back line from the center of the pitch while the Rocketeers look to find the right fit in the middle to complete the defense. Junior Brendan Matracia will occupy the goalkeeper spot with a good amount of minutes played from his sophomore year under his belt.

“We have gone from being young and green to being a group of seasoned varsity players,” head coach Geoff Burgess said. “It should be a resurgence for the program.”

Offensively, senior captains Leo Charlebois and Conor Danahey will be two of the main options up top. Burgess noted that junior Josh Rodriguez had a strong summer and will be a playmaker this year. In the middle of the pitch, junior Gabe Pinhancos will be complemented by classmate Ryan Pasquel and sophomore Marcus Costa.

Sharon

2015 Record: 10-7-1
2015 Finish: Reached D2 South Second Round
Coach: Bryan Kelly

Even though Sharon lost a strong group to graduation, the Eagles are relying on a new crop of seniors to lead them in 2016. The Eagles also expect to get contributions from juniors, sophomores and freshmen in different areas of the field.

Senior captains Ian Camilli and Shali Patel will lead from the heart of the field at center midfield while fellow captain Benjamin Stamm will be a viable attacking option. Sophomore Ethan Kantor will take over the starting job for Andrew Filipkowski, a 2015 HockomockSports.com Best XI selection that graduated. Shubojit Roy-Chowdhury will be the anchor of the back line as a center defender. Head coach Bryan Kelly is looking for breakout seasons from Oliver Hu, Jacob Tevin, Jeremy Cabral, Marques Benton Jr., Spencer Hall, Andrew Reyes-Jones and Michael Baur.

“[On top of our seniors and juniors] there will be several sophomores and freshman called up throughout the season who will only add to the strength of the team,” Kelly said.

Stoughton

2015 Record: 9-8-3
2015 Finish: Reached D2 South Second Round
Coach: Aaron Salter

After another successful campaign, the Black Knights are hoping to push their postseason streak to three straight years. Stoughton will face the challenge of graduating seven seniors, including some key pieces from each part of the field, but there the group of returning players should give the Black Knights plenty of optimism.

Stoughton has scored over 30 goals in back to back seasons (38 in 2014, 31 in 2015) and will look to make their offense a strong suit again this year. The Black Knights are returning three of their top four scorers, including sophomore Fabio Ponce De Leon (eight goals, two assists), Jordan Asnes (five goals, five assists) and Loubensky Lucas (five goals, one assist). Lucas has been finding the back of the net for three years and head coach Aaron Salter notes he’s had a strong preseason thus far.

“I felt last year we didn’t kill off enough games and left teams with life still in them,” Salter said. “This year we will be hoping to close out games much easier.”

Defensively, the Black Knights are hoping experience will help anchor the back line. Tyler Melo will be a factor in the midfield while Goddy Fombe and Noah Schulze both emerged as strong options on defense last season. Salter admitted there were players in new spots last year but now with a year under their belts, they have developed the awareness and look strong in the preseason.

10/24/2015

Foxboro Storms Back in Second Half At Stoughton

Devante Teixeira scored the game-tying goal and created a host of chances as Foxboro came from behind to win. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry, Managing Editor

STOUGHTON, Mass. – The pitch was not in great shape, it was cold out, the wind was blowing, and facing an opponent that it had beaten by five goals in the first meeting, Foxboro came out sluggish to start the game against Stoughton on Friday afternoon.

Down by a goal at halftime, first-year coach Joe Franchino stood outside the team huddle and senior captain Robby Lowey led the team talk, imploring the Warriors to step it up in the second half.

The talk worked. Foxboro got into gear in the final 40 minutes and its three attackers, Devante Teixeira, Anthony Barreira, and Joe Morrison, each scored goals to give the Warriors a come from behind 3-1 win that keeps them in the Davenport title race with two league games remaining.

“We’re just trying to find a solution not a problem,” said Franchino about the discussion at halftime. “You can blame the pitch, you can blame a lot of things, but it’s all about finding a solution and getting the victory. The guys pulled it together.”

Stoughton took the lead just six minutes into the game. Noah Schulze, who had only minutes earlier flashed a header narrowly wide, stayed with a loose ball that bounced off of Foxboro keeper Clay Leopold and finished.

“It was a great goal by Noah Schulze,” said Stoughton coach Aaron Salter. “He got a little bit fortunate, but it was still a very good finish to keep battling and not stop.”

The best Foxboro chance of the first half fell to Morrison, but the sophomore midfielder was unlucky to see his shot ricochet off the post after a decisive through ball by freshman Nic Biegel.

Barreira also had two shots saved by Stoughton keeper Kyle Silverman at the half hour mark but overall it was a subdued first half from the Warriors. Teixeira in particular was limited in his touches and impact on the game with left back Jeremy Fishman keeping him under wraps with help from centerback Goddy Frombe.

“I thought first half we did a great job in terms of our shape, our organization, how we wanted to play, how we approached it,” said Salter.

He added, “Nick Comeau, his job was to man-mark Joe in the midfield and he did an awesome job. He was everywhere and he was our hardest working player out there.”

After the break, things changed drastically Teixeira, who had seemed frustrated in the opening 40 minutes, suddenly looked like the player that is leading the league in points. He terrorized he left side of the Stoughton defense and eight minutes after the break he equalized.

Morrison tried to get room on the edge of the box but the ball bounced into the path of Teixeira and he managed to flick it past two defenders and hit it first time into the bottom corner.

“In the first half we had him,” said Salter. “He was getting frustrated, he was getting wound up and in the end it was our undoing because it gave him the fire in the belly to go on and smash it into the net.”

Just a minute later, Teixeira was through again but was denied by Silverman. In the 52nd minute, he go to the byline and cut it back for Hussein Kafel but the sophomore’s shot struck the post and stayed out. Teixeira also had what appeared to be a second goal, but the officials waved it off because the shot had actually gone through the netting outside the post.

In the 69th minute, he forced a mistake and rounded the keeper only to have his chance cleared off the post by Frombe.

“He’s MVP all day long,” said Franchino. “Nobody’s had an answer for him all year. He’s a talented player and he’s carried us in the KP game and he started it off here…that’s what he does.”

Stoughton had a couple of chances in the second half. A long goal kick by Silverman picked out Josh Mitchell up front and his flicked header found Fabio Ponce De Leon but his close-range chance went wide. In the 64th minute, Mitchell sent a header wide from a corner.

The missed opportunities would hurt because Foxboro would take the lead in the 70th minute. Barreira collected the ball near midfield and dribbled at the heart of the Stoughton defense. The Black Knights hesitated and allowed Barreira to line up a shot that slipped inside the post from the edge of the box.

With only five minutes remaining, Morrison wrapped up the two points for Foxboro. He kept possession in the box despite being surrounded, created a foot of space, and smashed his shot into the roof of the net giving Silverman no chance.

“It’s good to see Joe get back on the scoresheet because he does so much in the middle of the park,” said Franchino. “You’re getting double teamed being a top player and then you get unlucky at times…he’s grinding it out.”

Salter did not believe that the final score indicated how his team had played but he added, “Those players show a moment of brilliance each and you’re going to get punished. There’s not much you can do, but I’m truly proud of my boys.”

The win moves Foxboro to within a point of league leading Oliver Ames, which plays on Saturday, with two games remaining. The Warriors will face Sharon on Tuesday.

Stoughton needs three points from its remaining two games to qualify for the postseason. The Black Knights will face Canton on Tuesday night.

Josh Perry can be contacted at JoshPerry@hockomocksports.com and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.