Football
Taunton, 28 @ Attleboro, 14 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (T) Malachi Johnson 44-yard rush, XP good; (T) Jacob Leonard 12-yard pass to Jose Touron, XP no good.
3rd Quarter: (A) Ethan Lako 1-yard rush, Matt Harvie 2-point pass to Ayden Ramirez; (A) M. Harvie 48-yard pass to A. Ramirez, 2-point failed.
4th Quarter: (T) M. Johnson 40-yard rush, J. Leonard 2-point rush; (T) J. Leonard 40-yard rush, XP good.
Canton, 37 vs. Blue Hills Regional, 6 – Final
1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (C) Godson Ofonagoro rush, Hayden Rose XP good; Owen Lane rush, H. Rose XP good.
3Q: (C) O. Lane pass to Josh Richards, H. Rose XP good; (C) H. Rose rush, XP failed.
4Q: (C) H. Rose 35-yard field goal; (C) Cole Ouellette 5-yard rush, H. Rose XP good; (BH) Blue Hills rush, XP failed.
Foxboro, 20 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final 1H: (F) Mike Marcucella 17-yard pass to Rashaan Lewis, Sam Carpenter XP good; (F) S. Carpenter 38-yard field goal; (F) S. Carpenter 44-yard field goal.
2H: (F) Ben Angelini 1-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good.
Milford, 43 @ Franklin, 24 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (M) Nick Araujo 4-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) Garrett Portesi 28-yard field goal; (M) Romeo Holland 15-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (F) Jase Lyons 69-yard pass to Luke Davis, G. Portesi XP good; (M) Evan Cornelius 10-yard pass to Andrew Rivera, N. Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) J. Lyons 4-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, G. Portesi XP good; (M) E. Cornelius 4-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (F) J. Lyons 12-yard pass to L. Davis, G. Portesi XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) E. Cornelius 3-yard rush, N. Araujo 2-point rush; (M) R. Holland 1-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
King Philip, 14 @ North Attleboro, 24 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 31 – Final 1st Quarter: (M) Tommy Smith 25-yard rush, Travis Hennessey XP good; (M) T. Hennessey 24-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (M) Conner Zukowski 8-yard pass to Drew Sacco, T. Hennessey XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) T. Smith 9-yard rush, T. Hennessey XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Charlie Decelles 3-yard rush, Sean Murphy XP good.
Sharon, 19 vs. Tri-County, 6 – Final 1Q: (S) Gabe Korn 4-yard rush, Jace McCarron XP good.
2Q: (TC) Tri-County 1-yard rush, 2pt conversion failed.
3Q: (S) G. Korn 42-yard rush, 2pt conversion failed; (S) Liam Conway 16-yard pass to David Bondar, XP failed.
4Q: No scoring.
Boys Soccer
Canton, 4 @ Randolph, 1 – Final
Girls Soccer
Taunton, 1 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final – Taunton closed out the season with its first win under head coach Dan Borges. Kaylee Lopes scored the opening goal, assisted by Juliana Matos, less than two minutes into the game and the Tigers were able to hold onto the lead for the next 78 minutes, while outshooting the Whalers 28-2. Senior Hayleigh Porter earned a clean sheet in her final start in goal, while classmate Christina DaCosta had a solid match in defense and senior Emily Calderon sparked the Taunton attack.
Field Hockey
Foxboro, 2 @ Bishop Feehan, 3 – Final
Oliver Ames, 3 vs. Dennis-Yarmouth, 0 – Final
Mansfield, 1 @ Uxbridge, 8 – Final
Taunton vs. New Bedford, 4:00
Junior Lincoln Moore (42) pulls in one of Foxboro’s three interceptions in the Warriors 36-14 win over Canton at Martinelli Field. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – Foxboro came into the new season with a roster filled with underclassmen being asked to step into major roles on both sides of the ball. After a tough start to the fall, losing the opening three games, the Warriors seem to be turning a corner.
The youth movement was on full display on Friday night at Martinelli Field. Sophomore Mike Marcucella threw three touchdown passes, including one to freshman Rashaan Lewis and another to classmate Nolan Gordon, and the defense forced four turnovers, to come from behind and beat Canton 36-14.
“Once we focused a little more, we were able to do a lot of different things,” Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli said. “We threw, we ran the ball. It’s such a young team that it’s hard to put a finger on whether it’s going to be a slow start or a fast start. All in all, the kids played tough.”
It was a game that had playoff implications for both teams. Despite a losing record, Foxboro was the No. 9 team in the latest Div. 4 rankings, while Canton was No. 21.
The Bulldogs needed a win to climb back towards the top 16 and they came out of the gates with a strong start. On fourth and three from the Canton 16-yard-line, Ben Angelini (eight carries, 61 yards) was stopped for no gain by Luke Richards and James Robbins. On the second Foxboro possession, Robbins sacked Marcucella on first down and Josh Richards jumped on a tipped ball to get the interception.
After the return, the Bulldogs started at the Foxboro 19. On third and 11, Godson Ofonagoro (18 carries, 97 yards) took a sweep around the right side, bursting past the Warriors front seven and scoring from 20 yards out.
Foxboro started its next drive at its own 15. Marcucella (12-of-18, 206 yards) hit Gordon for a quick first down. Two plays later Brandon Mazenkes-O’Grady took the handoff to the left side of the line, cut it upfield, and then raced away leaving the Canton defense in his wake on a 72-yard touchdown.
The extra point was no good, so Canton held onto the lead into the second quarter. After forcing a three-and-out, Foxboro got the ball at midfield. Marcucella fired a pass underneath to Tony Sulham (four catches, 63 yards) for 23. On first down, the Foxboro QB threw a ball down the right sideline to Lewis and the freshman laid out at full stretch to haul in a 27-yard score.
On its next possession, Canton faced fourth down and one from its own 29. Fallon sensed that his team needed a boost and had confidence that his line could hold its block to get a yard. Owen Lane (6-of-18, 72 yards) had trouble fielding a high snap and Sully Kenneally was in the backfield to bring him down for a five-yard loss.
“It was half a foot,” Canton coach Anthony Fallon said about the decision to go for it. “I know it was bad territory but I was looking to build some momentum. Our linemen were feeling confident, they were getting off the ball, I thought we were playing some really good physicality.”
“We had it if we didn’t drop the snap. It’s tough to put your defense in a hole like that but I thought it was time to try and get a little momentum. Just didn’t work out.”
Foxboro only needed one play to take advantage of the short field. Marcucella, despite taking a big hit from Julian Prentence, was able to get the ball away down the field and Gordon out-jumped the coverage bringing down the 28-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed, but the Warriors led 19-7.
After the fourth down gamble didn’t pay off, things got even worse for Canton as Lincoln Moore jumped a route and picked off a pass to give the hosts the ball at the 26. Canton’s defense came up with a big stand, including a good tackle by Jack Flaherty on third down to force a 37-yard field goal by Sam Carpenter.
Nick Crowe returned the ensuing kick 44 yards to give Canton good starting field position. On third and 10, Lane hit Ofonagoro on a screen pass and he broke free for what looked like it was going to be huge gain. Mazenkes-O’Grady showed off his speed to chase down the Canton running back from behind and force a fumble, which Sulham recovered.
“Forty-four (Mazenkes-O’Grady) made a great play on that screen there,” Fallon said. “Godson looked like he was gone there, the kid caught him and made that play. I thought even after halftime we were going to come out and throw some punches and we did okay but they just wore us down a little bit. We just made too many mistakes in the first half.”
The Foxboro defense started the second half with another turnover. Sophomore Kaden Hassett picked off Lane at the Canton 38. Mazenkes-O’Grady got 10 on first down and 27 on the second play. Moore capped the drive with a one-yard plunge to make it 29-7.
“We had planned to play a seven-game box against them but 21 (Ofonagoro) is a good runner and 14 (Lane) is a good runner and we had to make some adjustments after the first touchdown they scored and the kids adapted well,” Martinelli explained.
Payton Francis and Anthony Porazzo combined to stuff an option attempt for a loss of five, forcing another Canton punt. Foxboro’s offense needed just one play to turn that into a bigger lead. Marcucella hit Eddie Feldman across the middle and the junior broke free, bursting away from the secondary and finding the end zone on a 66-yard score.
While the final result was a foregone conclusion, the Bulldogs weren’t quitting and put together their best drive of the night, going 79 yards on 13 plays to get back on the scoreboard. Ofonagoro has a 14-yard run to get out to the 45. On third and three, Lane got four on a keeper and then he hit Richards for 11 to the Foxboro 33. Ofonagoro had gains of 12 and 15 yards before he went around the right side for a five-yard TD.
“We’ve had three losses where we’ve had the last drive of the game to either tie or win and just weren’t able to pull that off,” Martinelli said when asked about his team overcoming an 0-3 start to the season. “I think being youthful has a lot to do with it but it’s good experience for the kids.”
Foxboro (3-4) has won three of its last four games and is tied for first in the Davenport division. The Warriors will head to Oliver Ames next week. Canton (3-3) will host Blue Hills on Friday in its final game of the regular season.
Senior running back Chad Silva scored all but one of OA’s points, catching two touchdowns and rushing for a third, to help the Tigers beat Canton. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – Looking to set aside last week’s tough loss to Stoughton in the league opener, Oliver Ames wanted to make sure it set a positive tone from the opening whistle of Friday night’s visit of Canton to Muscato Stadium.
With two touchdowns in its opening two drives, OA was able to get out to an early lead and, behind three scores from senior running back Chad Silva (two receiving and one rushing) and a second-half shutout from the defense, walk away with a 19-7 victory.
“You want to get on top, you want to score early, you want to play from ahead. We got that done tonight,” said OA coach Ed DeWitt. “We had a couple things we liked coming in and executed them pretty well. It takes that kind of execution because they’re super tough, they’re super big, they come after you.”
OA wasted no time in trying to make its mark on the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Wayne Casey (3-of-6, 97 yards) caught the Canton defense with play action and threw a strike to a wide open Jordan Young for 66 yards down to the Canton 14. Three plays later, on fourth and two from the six, Canton jumped offsides to gift the Tigers a first down. Silva took the next snap, went around the left side, and raced to the pylon for a three-yard touchdown.
Penalties would be an issue for the Bulldogs all night, hampering the offense’s attempts to move the ball. After a first down on the first possession, Godson Ofonagoro’s big run was brought back by a holding call. Silva stuffed Canton QB Owen Lane (18 carries, 101 yards) for a loss to bring up third and long and Thomas Whiteside broke up a pass to get the ball back for the Tigers.
“We just made too many mistakes,” said Canton coach Anthony Fallon. “We’re hurting ourselves on offense. We just couldn’t find a way to get too much going tonight. We have some things we need to clean up.”
OA’s offense went right back to work, marching 76 yards in eight plays to add to its lead. Silva (19 carries, 90 yards) was the main man, getting the ball five times and breaking off runs of 17 and 18 yards to help get into the red zone. On third and 11, Casey again caught the Bulldogs, faking a jet sweep to the left and finding Silva, who had leaked out of the backfield on the right, for a 21-yard score.
The extra point was blocked, but the hosts led 13-0.
Canton was also coming off a tough loss in its league opener and looked in need of a spark. A penalty on a punt return backed them up to their own eight with time winding down in the half, but the Bulldogs wouldn’t fold.
Lane broke away for a 47-yard keeper to move the ball out to the OA side of the field. On third down, the Bulldogs got a break when Lane’s pass was broken up by Nick Ferrini, but Silva was called for roughing the passer. Ofonagoro (15 carries, 73 yards) would gain 10 on third and five and then on the next play he cut inside the left tackle, finding a seam for a 13-yard touchdown.
With just 38 seconds left in the second, the visiting sideline came to life and it looked like Canton was going to take momentum into halftime. Ferrini had a different idea. He returned the ensuing kick 76 yards, all the way to the Canton 10. On first down, Casey flipped a pass to Silva, who was able to snatch the low throw and find the end zone. The conversion attempt failed on a sack by Hayden Rose.
In just 19 seconds, Canton went from going into halftime down just six points to being back down by two scores.
“It was a dagger,” Fallon admitted. DeWitt said, “Nick does kind of what he’s been doing for us all year. He makes a huge play. Wayne makes a great throw to Chad, who picks it off his shoe tops, gets in the end zone, and we’re back at it. It’s a huge turning point.”
OA had chances to put the game away in the third quarter, but the Tigers couldn’t put together the plays on offense to take advantage. A 72-yard touchdown run by Jack Morley was wiped out by a holding call and, after back-to-back first down runs, a fumbled hand-off stalled the drive.
A bad snap led to a Canton fumble and Donovan Howard pounced on it at the Bulldogs 26, but Charlie Cox and Ruairi Ritson sacked Casey for an 11-yard loss on first down and OA ended up having to punt.
It was big plays by the OA defense that was keeping the Bulldogs at arm’s length. Silva and Jake Manthous combined to stuff a jet sweep for a loss of four and on fourth and one Harry Leventhal came up with a big sack of Lane to force a turnover on downs.
DeWitt said, “Our guys play both ways. So, if they’re playing poorly on offense, we talk about resiliency all the time, you’ve got to be able to snap into defensive mode and just stop them.”
After a three-and-out, Canton got the ball back with four minutes to play. Lane (4-of-13, 32 yards) hit James McCool for a sliding grab to convert third and five, but three plays later Morley sniffed out a screen pass to force fourth and 10.
Mathous pressured Lane into an incomplete pass and Silva sealed the win with a seven-yard burst on third and short, so the Tigers could take a knee.
“Six (Silva) is a handful,” said Fallon. “He’s a hard guy to bring down. We tried to go low and take out his legs but he just lowered his shoulders and ran through some guys.”
Oliver Ames (3-2) will have a short week before hosting the Tiger Bowl against Taunton on Thursday. Canton (3-2) has a bye week before a trip to Martinelli Field to face Foxboro.
Football
Attleboro, 20 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final 1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (A) Matt Harvie 27-yard pass to Ayden Ramirez, Adrian Rivera 2-point rush good; (A) M. Harvie 14-yard pass to Cole McKenna, XP failed.
3Q: No scoring.
4Q: (A) Shaun Maher 4-yard rush, 2-point rush failed.
Canton, 14 vs. Dedham, 0 – Final 1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (C) Owen Lane 22-yard pass to Michael Thomas, Hayden Rose XP good.
3Q: (C) O. Lane 3-yard rush, H. Rose XP good.
4Q: No scoring.
Foxboro, 14 @ Plymouth South, 21 – Final
Franklin, 21 vs. Duxbury, 34 – Final 1Q: (D) Alex Barlow 1-yard rush, XP good; (F) Michael Davide 5-yard rush, Garrett Portesi XP good.
2Q: (D) Matt Festa 6-yard rush, XP good; (D) M. Festa 40-yard pass to Chris Walsh.
3Q: (D) Adam Barr 1-yard rush, XP failed; (D) M. Festa 88-yard pass to C. Walsh, XP good; (F) Jase Lyons 37-yard pass to Derek Dubriske, G. Portesi XP good.
4Q: (F) J. Lyons 49-yard pass to Luke Davis, G. Portesi XP good.
King Philip, 19 vs. Xaverian, 14 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (KP) Matthew Kelley 33-yard field goal.
3Q: (KP) Carson Meier 45-yard interception return; M. Kelley XP good; (KP) M. Kelley 30-yard field goal; (X) Henry Hasselbeck 77-yard pass to Jonathan Monteiro, Joseph MacDonald XP good.
4Q: (KP) Nathan Kearney 6-yard rush, 2-point conversion failed; (X) H. Hasselbeck 29-yard pass to J. Monteiro, J. MacDonald XP good.
Mansfield, 35 @ Doherty, 0 – Final 1Q: (M) Drew Sacco 18-yard rush, Travis Hennessy XP good; (M) Brian Butler 12-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good; (M) B. Butler 9-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good.
2Q: (M) Connor Curtis 8-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good.
3Q: (M) Tommy Smith 13-yard rush, T. Hennessy XP good.
4Q: No scoring.
Milford, 42 @ Natick, 27 – Final
Oliver Ames, 35 vs. Dighton-Rehoboth, 0 – Final1 1Q: (OA) Chad Silva 2-yard rush, 2-point failed.
2Q: (OA) Wayne Casey 25-yard pass to Bronson Burnham, XP failed; (OA) W. Casey 70-yard pass to Nick Ferrini, C. Silva 2-point rush good.
3Q: (OA) C. Silva 2-yard rush, W. Casey 2-point pass to Jack Morley; (OA) Jordan Young 2-yard rush, N. Ferrini XP good.
4Q: No scoring.
Stoughton, 14 vs. Hanover, 51 – Final 1Q: (H) Nick Freel 17-yard rush, XP good; (H) N. Freel 15-yard rush, XP good.
2Q: (H) Ben Scalzi 5-yard rush, XP good; (H) B. Scalzi 36-yard pass to N. Freel, XP good; (S) Jonathan Goncalves 90-yard interception return, XP good; (H) B. Scalzi 15-yard pass to David Quinlan, XP good; (H) B. Scalzi 38-yard pass to John McDonald, XP failed.
3Q: (S) Liam Dunn 51-yard rush, XP good; (H) J. McDonald 25-yard field goal.
4Q: (H) Marvin Felix 2-yard rush, XP good.
Taunton, 24 vs. Middleboro, 13 – Final 1Q: (T) Tanner Brannon 35-yard fumble return, XP failed.
2Q: (M) Jacob Briggs 66-yard rush, Matt Cohen XP; (T) Malachi Johnson 1-yard rush, 2pt pass failed; (M) J. Briggs 56-yard rush, XP failed; (T) Jacob Leonard 32-yard pass to Jose Touron, 2pt rush failed.
3Q: No scoring.
4Q: (T) M. Johnson 52-yard rush, 2pt pass failed.
Sharon, 0 @ Dover-Sherborn, 16 – Final
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Attleboro junior Alex Vecchioli scored twice and assisted on a third to lead the Bombardiers to a bounce-back win on the road at Taunton. Vecchioli opened the scoring in the first half, finishing off an assist from Billy Badger to put the visitors ahead 1-0, which they took into halftime. Vecchioli set up the next goal, finding Steve Etienne who scored to make it 2-0. Clay Tyler assisted on Attleboro’s final goal, connecting with Vecchioli, who buried his fourth goal of the week.
King Philip, 1 @ Milford, 3 – Final – A goal-filled first half favored Milford and that was all the scoring in the contest as the Scarlet Hawks staked a 3-1 win over King Philip. The teams traded goals to start as Milford took a 1-0 lead when Eduardo Santana found Mathias Felipe for the opener but King Philip leveled on a goal from Matt Crago, assisted by Dermott Amorim. Santana put the Hawks back ahead, finishing off a corner from Arthur Tome, and then right before the halftime whistle, John Borges found Nick Ribeiro, who squeezed one in from a tough angle.
Sharon, 2 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Sharon scored a pair of goals inside a five-minute span in the second half to secure two points in a win over Mansfield. The Hornets took the lead 10 minutes into the game when Cooper Austin headed in a corner kick from Tyler Znoj for a 1-0 lead, an advantage that Mansfield carried into halftime. In the second half, Palash Raina headed in the equalizer off a cross from Rishi Shetty. Just four minutes later, Cam Birnbaum ran onto a through ball from Adam Eastman and finished for the eventual game-winner. Znoj, Austin, Derek McGrath, Dylan Mullin, Marco Germiniani, and Lucas deSousa played well for Mansfield.
Girls Soccer
Taunton, 0 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Neither team could find the back of the net in a game where the advantage depended on who had the wind at their backs. Taunton keeper Hayleigh Porter made nine saves to earn the first clean sheet of her career, while Alexis Campbell played well to get her first clean sheet this season. Christina Da Costa, Cali Melo, and Jenna Pereira all played strong games in Taunton’s defense, while Emily Calderon and Juliana Matos sparked the Taunton attack in the second half. Eighth graders Kaylee Lopes, Maddie Crowley, and Lia Abouyazbek also impressed for the Tigers.
Stoughton, 0 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Foxboro and Stoughton played to a scoreless draw at Sam Berns Community Field. The Warriors created a few chances through forward Erin Foley, but couldn’t find the finishing touch. Allie Sougaris made several important stops in the second half and earned her second clean sheet of the season for Foxboro.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 1 – Final
Milford, 1 @ King Philip, 9 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. Rachel DeFlaminis scored a second half hat trick and Mikalyla Thompson finished with three assists to lead the Warriors to a big win at home. Ella Pisani’s brace had KP up 2-0 in the first half (her fifth and sixth goals in the past two games), but Milford cut the lead in half when Dani Atherton’s cross wasn’t cleared and Erin Michelson finished from close range. KP was able to score in the final minute of the half to restore its two-goal lead, as Kylie Menendez finished off a pass from Thompson. Heidi Lawrence added two goals, Ally Pochay scored on a Danielle Gresham corner, and Dani Lomuscio (two assists) slipped a pass through to DeFlaminis to make it 7-1 just 12 minutes into the second half. DeFlaminis would score twice more, one off an assist from Menendez, to wrap up the scoring.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Saturday, 10/29 at 10:00AM.
Field Hockey
King Philip, 1 @ Westwood, 2 – Final – King Philip put up a great fight but fell on the road in a non-league tilt at Westwood. Kelly Holmes scored the lone goal for the Warriors while Maggie Murphy had a great game defensively in front of goalie Haley Bright (16 saves).
Stoughton, 0 vs. East Bridgewater, 0 – Final
Volleyball
Attleboro, 3 @ Bridgewater-Raynham, 0 – Final – Attleboro rolled to a 2-0 lead and then closed out the sweep with a competitive third set over Bridgewater-Raynham (25-14, 25-7, 25-23). Mary Katherine Runey called it a “full team effort” in the win. Natalie Brojek notched 26 assists and six aces, Julia Leonardo recorded 13 kills and five aces, and Addie Shelton chipped in with seven kills and four aces.
Milford @ North Attleboro, 5:15
Golf
Attleboro, 176 @ King Philip, 151 – Final – King Philip’s Cameron Hasenfus carded three birdies in a medalist round to lead the Warriors past Attleboro. Hasenfus birded on the second hole and then back-to-back on seven and eight to finished with a medalist round of 34. Anthony Fraone shot a 37, Jason Silva added a 39, and Gavin Croke rounded out the scoring with a 41.
Mansfield, 177 @ Sharon, 178 – Final – Mansfield senior Drew Urban fired a team-low round of 42 and the Hornets left the Cape Club of Sharon with a one-stroke victory over the Eagles. Brendan Vokey added a 44, Davon Sanders shot a 45, and Jason Friedman rounded out the scoring with a 46.
Football
Attleboro, 27 vs. Bishop Feehan, 7 – Final 1st Quarter: (BF) Dante Bruschi 10-yard rush, XP good.
2nd Quarter: (A) Anthony Salviati 30-yard fumble recovery, A. Salviati XP good.
3rd Quarter: (A) Adrian Rivera 4-yard rush, XP blocked.
4th Quarter: (A) A. Salviati 16-yard interception return, A. Salviati XP good; (A) Matt Harvie 24-yard pass to A. Rivera, A. Salviati XP good.
Canton, 29 vs. Norton, 0 – Final 1Q: (C) Charlie Cox 50-yard interception return, XP failed.
2Q: (C) Owen Lane 22-yard rush, Hayden Rose XP good; (C) O. Lane 62-yard rush, 2pt conversion failed.
3Q: (C) O. Lane 3-yard rush, H. Rose XP good.
4Q: (C) H. Rose 17-yard field goal.
Foxboro, 0 vs. Whitman-Hanson, 7 – Final
Franklin, 37 vs. Brockton, 6 – Final 1Q: No scoring.
2Q: (F) Jase Lyons 3-yard rush, Garrett Portesi XP good; (F) J. Lyons 55-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, XP failed; (F) J. Lyons 35-yard pass to Luke Davis, G. Portesi XP good; (F) J. Lyons 3-yard rush, G. Portesti XP good.
3Q: (F) J. Lyons 5-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good; (F) G. Portesi 22-yard field goal.
4Q: (B) Monteiro 60-yard rush, XP failed.
King Philip, 42 vs. Needham, 0 – Final
North Attleboro, 27 @ Mansfield, 21 – Final (OT) – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (M) Rocco Scarpellini 1-yard rush, Travis Hennessey XP good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) Greg Berthiaume 9-yard rush, Austin Clemente XP good; (NA) Chase Frisoli 8-yard pass to G. Berthiaume, A. Clemente XP good.
3rd Quarter: (NA) C. Frisoli 26-yard pass to Ryan Bannon, A. Clemente XP good; (M) Conner Zukowski 20-yard pass to Trevor Foley, T. Hennessey XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Connor Curtis 40-yard rush, T. Hennessey XP good.
1st OT: (NA) C. Frisoli 10-yard pass to Aidan Conrad, 2-point conversion failed.
Milford, 34 vs. Wellesley, 14 – Final
Oliver Ames, 22 vs. Quincy, 27 – Final
Stoughton, 26 @ Braintree, 27 – Final
Sharon, 40 @ Westborough, 28 – Final
Boys Soccer
Foxboro, 0 vs. Milton, 3 – Final
Stoughton, 5 @ Norwood, 0 – Final – Matheus Groberio scored a pair of goals to help Stoughton bounce back in a big way with a rout of Norwood. Sam Santos, Tyler Teixeira, and Joao Moratti each scored once on top of Groberio’s brace while Ben Shirey posted the shutout in net.
Girls Soccer
Stoughton, 4 vs. Norwood, 1 – Final – Stoughton scored four times in the second half, winning for the second time in as many days. Norwood got the lone goal of the first half and went into the break with the lead, but the Black Knights responded six minutes into the second half and never looked back. Morgan Cook equalized with a shot off the post, assisted by Shayla Ford. Five minutes later, Emma Tran scored what turned out to be the game-winner from the spot. Ford doubled the lead in the 57th minute, breaking past the Norwood defense and finishing. Tran added her second of the day just two minutes later with a 30-yard free kick. Molly Fox made seven saves to pick up the win in goal.
King Philip, 2 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – KP bounced back from a loss to OA by handing Franklin its first loss of the season. Heidi Lawrence scored a brace for the Warriors, who moved back into a first-place tie with the Panthers in the division. Lawrence scored 13 minutes before halftime after a nice run that was picked out by Ella Pisani’s diagonal ball. Norah Anderson got Franklin’s goal off a Katie Ewald corner, but then Lawrence popped up with the winner five minutes from full time. Pisani again provided the killer pass.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game. KP scored a pair of second half goals, both assisted by Kelly Holmes, to pull out a second straight win. The game was scoreless at halftime, but with seven minutes left in the third Holmes found a little bit of space on the left and fired a ball into the middle that was deftly tipped by Nicole MacDonald for the opening goal. The lead stayed at one until the final two minutes when Holmes hit a low cross from the right wing that was deflected in front by Ella McDonnell for a goal that sealed the points. Marley Young had Attleboro’s best chance when her second quarter shot was cleared off the line by Maggie Murphy. Siany Gomez had a huge game in goal for the Bombardiers to keep them in the game until the final minutes.
Stoughton, 0 @ Canton, 10 – Final
Franklin, 9 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Franklin scored five goals in the opening quarter and never went back in a big win on the road over Taunton. Sophia Cuneo opened the scoring less than a minute in, Sydney Rogan and Payten Crandall each scored once, and Haley Wernig scored two goals inside the final minute to give the Panthers a big lead early. Kaitlyn Carney, who scored two goals in the second half, assisted on Franklin’s first four goals. Lindsay Dennett and Brooke Taylor (first career goal) added a goal each for Franklin.
Mansfield @ Oliver Ames, 3:45
North Attleboro, 8 @ Milford, 0 – Final – North Attleboro scored three goals in each the first and third quarters on its way to a big win over Milford. Caitlin Vacher (from Caroline Folan), Madison Folan (from Ava Spencer), and Julia Puccio (from Sadie Barend) scored one apiece in the first to give North a 3-0 lead. In the third, Rory McGinley, Caroline Folan, and Puccio each had an unassisted goal. Kelsey Thompson and Ava Mckeon both played solid in the midfield to help stop Milford offense and transition the ball up the field for the North Attleboro offense.
Foxboro, 6 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Volleyball
Foxboro, 2 @ Sharon, 3 – After a great back-and-forth battle, Sharon prevailed in five sets to take down visiting Foxboro (25-20, 17-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-11). For the Warriors, Sami Sloan recorded eight kills, seven digs, and six aces, Alyssa Cloherty added 30 assists, seven digs, three blocks, and a pair of kills and aces, and Shannon McElhinney chipped in with 16 digs and two aces.
Mansfield, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – In a hard-fought, competitive match, Oliver Ames prevailed with a 3-0 25-15, 25-19, 25-20) sweep of visiting Mansfield. Senior Courtney Raymond had a strong game with 10 service points and four kills, senior Maddie Homer added 22 digs, sophomore Clare Kavoulis dished out 20 assists, junior Sarah Hilliard had 14 kills, and senior Mary Derba chipped in with five kills.
Attleboro, 0 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – After prevailing in a tightly contested first set, King Philip went on to complete the sweep to knock Attleboro from the ranks of the unbeatens (26-24, 25-17, 25-18). Emily Sawyer continued to dominate in the middle with 13 kills along with four blocks and three aces while the Warriors also got big offensive contributions from Ahunna James (six kills, 11 digs) and Sami Shore (eight kills, two ces). Shea Mellman anchored the KP defense with eight digs. For Attleboro, Julia Leonardo recorded 14 digs and six kills while Natalie Brojek added 12 assists, seven digs, and four aces in a strong all-around effort.
Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Franklin continued its undefeated start to the season with a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-17, 25-16) on the road at Taunton. Makayla Kuykendall had a big game for the Panthers with 11 kills, eight digs, and four aces while Taylor Lacerda continued her streak of strong performances with 17 kills and 11 digs.
Milford @ North Attleboro, 5:15
Golf
Attleboro @ Dighton-Rehoboth, 3:00
Mansfield, 162 @ North Attleboro, 155 – Final – Jake Gaskin and Tyson Laviano shared match medalist honors to give North Attleboro a key non-league win over rival Mansfield. Gaskin and Laviano both fired a two-over par round of 37 on Heather Hill’s South Course to lead the Rocketeers. Zach Corsetti shot a 40 and Ishan Kohli rounded out North’s scoring with a 41. Brendan Vokey led the Hornets with a 38, Nate McClean and Hayden O’Connor each shot a 41, and Drew Urban carded a 42.
Foxboro, 162 @ Oliver Ames, 152 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its fifth straight win to start the season, taking down Davenport division foe Foxboro at Pine Oaks. Junior David Rodgers was a co-medalist in the match, sinking a birdie on the fourth hole to finish with a 36 for OA. Michael McGinnis added a 37, Sean Kearns finished with a 39, and Lucas Riley came into the clubhouse with a 40. Foxboro freshman Zac Georgantas also shared match medalist honors with a 36.
Outlook: After experiencing some growing pains against a tough schedule last season, the Bulldogs boast a good number of returning players looking to have a bounce-back year in 2022.
Canton has key pieces in key spots on the field and has a total of 22 seniors on the roster. The defense will be filled with veterans including a talented group of linebackers that include seniors Jack Flaherty (captain) and Hayden Rose along with junior captain Owen Lane. While the linebackers are likely to be the heart of the defense, the Bulldogs also have some key experience – and some noticeable size – on the defensive line with seniors Julian Prentice (captain) and Jack Digirolamo. In the secondary, Charlie Cox and Josh Richards will man the safety positions to anchor the secondary unit.
The Bulldogs have a familiar face back at quarterback in Lane, an athletic lefty that can make plays with both his feet and his arm. As just a sophomore a year ago, Lane gained valuable experience and will be looking to build on a solid campaign. He will work behind a somewhat inexperienced line that is anchored by senior captain Matt Lesser at center with Nathan Levis and sophomore Luke Richard at guard, and junior Giovanni Disasio and sophomore Luke Laguerre at tackle. Senior Godson Ofonagoro has transferred in and will be in the mix at running back along with James Robbins, Cole Ouellette, and Michael Sayers.
Canton opens the season on the road at Dighton-Rehoboth but then hosts back-to-back non-league games as the Bulldogs look to build some momentum before their first meeting with Mansfield since 2012.
Outlook:
Foxboro narrowly missed out on a trip to Gillette last year, falling in the Div. 5 state semifinal. The reigning Davenport division champions will have to replace the production of league MVP Dylan Gordon, but the Warriors have a host of younger players ready to step into bigger roles this season and will be excited about adding league title drama to their Thanksgiving Day rivalry with Mansfield.
Even graduating its starting tailback and quarterback, Foxboro will have a lot of depth in the skill positions this season with several underclassmen showing that they are ready to contribute right away. Sophomore Mike Marcucella will take over under center and will have plenty of options in the backfield and at receiver. Junior Lincoln Moore has the strength and quickness to be a dynamic runner along with junior Brandon Mazenkas-O’Grady, senior Jaiquann Williams, and sophomore Ben Angelini. Senior Payton France will be an option at wideout, junior Tony Sulham adds speed wherever he lines up, and sophomore Nolan Gordon will be a big target on the outside. The offensive line is loaded with size this season. Senior Andrew Finn will be the leader of a group that includes junior Nate Urman and sophomore Jonathan Balde. Sam Carpenter is one of the league’s top kickers and gives Foxboro the chance for points every possession.
Defense has always been a focal point for the Warriors and they have plenty of experience returning to be a strong group. As one offense, Foxboro will have plenty of size up front. Finn and Mazenkas-O’Grady are constant threats from the ends with Urman and Balde helping out in the interior. Moore was a standout linebacker as a sophomore and he leads a group that includes Williams and Angelini. Sulham is a lockdown corner and Gordon, Francis, and Marcucella will all add depth in the secondary.
“If the players and coaches are patient and are mindful that you never pick up where you left off, assuming nothing, this can be a good football team, characterized by senior strength and tremendous underclass talent,” said Foxboro coach Jack Martinelli.
Outlook:
It usually doesn’t take Mansfield long to rebuild and the Hornets come into the new season with an experienced core of returning players, particularly in the skill positions, that is poised to challenge not only for the program’s first Davenport division title but also to make a deep run in the state tournament. With nearly all of its production back from last year, Mansfield will be counting on that year of experience to be ready for a tough schedule meant to prepare the Hornets for the playoffs.
The Mansfield offense should have plenty of balance to it this season. Senior Conner Zukowski will be back under center for the Hornets and he has a host of weapons to take advantage of in both the passing and ground games. Seniors Drew Sacco and Rocco Scarpellini will be in the backfield this season and both are dynamic runners who can grind yards or break big plays. Juniors Brian Butler and Nolan Bordieri could also be added to the mix. Junior Connor Curtis will give another option as a running QB. Junior Trevor Foley emerged as one of the top receivers in the league last season and junior CJ Bell, Bordieri, and junior Brandon Jackman give the Hornets a lot of depth on the outside, while senior Ryan DeGirolamo gives Zukowski a big target at tight end. The line should also be deep this season, led by seniors Jephte Jean and Colton Johnson and newcomers senior Dexter Harris, and juniors Aidan Gleavy, Matt Tryon, and Jason Riley.
Experience is a strength on the other side of the ball as well. Foley and Bell give Mansfield playmakers in the secondary that will cause havoc with opposition passing attacks. Bordieri and Jackman will add to that defensive back group. Jean was an imposing force on the defensive line and he will be helped by Gleavy and Harris. DeGirolamo gives the Hornets a threat from his defensive end position and Riley could step into that role on the other side. Scarpellini and senior Caden Colby will return at linebacker.
“Depth and experience at offensive skill positions with the return of about 95 percent of the team’s production from last year,” Mansfield head coach Mike Redding said of his team’s strength. “Defensive group is also experienced with the secondary returning three of the four starters and two of the three linebackers, so good experience there as well.”
Outlook: Buoyed by a productive offseason, Oliver Ames is looking to get back into the heart of the division title race this season. The Tigers have a strong nucleus of players back and are hoping a strong line – both offensively and defensively – will pave the way for success this season.
Three of the Tigers’ five captains call the offensive line home so OA will lean heavily on that unit to pave the way for the offense. Columbia University-commit Jaden Hinton has transformed into one of the best two-way linemen in not only the Hock but in the state. He will be joined by fellow captains Chris Young and John Carey, as well as classmate Luis Fernandes. The unit will be in charge of creating holes for four-year starter and captain Chad Silva. After handling lead blocking duties last year, Silva will likely be the feature back for the Tigers and has a great combination of power and speed.
Senior captain Wayne Casey will start under center and will be tasked with controlling the offense. He will work with Robert Jenkins, Jaden Graham, and Bronson Burnham as weapons on offense.
Silva is back for another year at linebacker and is a big-time playmaker on that side of the ball. Seniors Jack Morley and Jordan Young round out an experienced group while Hinton will work with Young, Fernandes, and classmate Donovan Howard along the defensive line. Seniors Jack Perron and Nick Ferrini will play in the secondary alongside Jenkins and Graham.
“I am thrilled about the work our older guys have put in this offseason and really think it should help them pay off,” said OA head coach Ed DeWitt. “We really want to continue to improve week to week and play with more consistency than we did last year.”
Outlook:
Sharon is continuing its independent schedule this fall and, with 13 returning starters, the Eagles will have plenty of experience. Depth continues to be a challenge for the program, but there is room for development, and head coach Dave Morse is hoping that a very young roster will continue to develop this season.
Junior quarterback Liam Conway will lead an offense that is going to try and add more balance this season. Senior Kyle Samuels and junior Jacob McLoughlin will be the primary targets in the passing game. Juniors Gabe Korn and Duncan Seaman will be in the backfield and will give the Eagles a couple of threats in the running game. Senior fullback Joden Chanel will try and lead the way in the running game and senior lineman Dan Davis will be there to open holes.
Defensively, Sharon wants to be more aggressive. Korn and Seaman will lead the linebacking corps and add playmaking on the defensive side of the ball. Davis will be an impact player on the line and Chanel will give Sharon speed on the edge. In the secondary, Samuels will be one of the top cover guys, while junior Elijah Wisdom will be a ball hawk at free safety.
“Hoping to continue to develop and turn that into winning football games,” Morse said. “We are still very young because of the lack of seniors but it is my job to get all of our players up to speed at the varsity level.”
Editor’s note: Sharon is competing a non-league schedule this season.
Outlook: Stoughton finished in the middle of the pack in the Davenport division after an injury-plagued season last year. The Black Knights reached the state tournament and kept it close before falling in the first round, and ended the season with a win over rival Canton on Thanksgiving to finish at 5-6.
Between the graduating seniors and the players returning from injury, there will be plenty of new playmakers for the Black Knights this season. One familiar face will be the one under center as junior Jarred Daughtry is back at quarterback after getting a lot of reps a season ago. Daughtry showed that he can make plays with his arm but he’s very athletic and will be someone opposing defenses have to keep an eye out for.
Running the Wing-T, Daughtry will have senior Tagh Swiezewski and juniors Liam Pearl and Alex Huynh – both of who got off to promising sophomore campaigns before injuries. All three will be involved in blocking and running, and also key pieces in the Stoughton passing game. Junior James Currier has emerged as a top option as a receiver as well.
Stoughton has been known for its tough defenses over the years under longtime head coach Greg Burke, and the Black Knights will be looking to continue that tradition this year. Stoughton gave up over 23 points per game last, which was unusually high for a program that has kept teams under 20 for at least the six seasons prior to that. An athletic secondary will feature Swierziewski, Daughtry, Huynh, and Currier. Timmy Chung returns as one of the starting linebackers alongside Pearl and Beder, while Laz, Noel, and Thomas will all be two-way linemen.
“We need to stay healthy and improve on the line,” said Burke. “We need younger players to play and to improve every week.”
2021 Record: 5-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Steve Dunlea
With a good mix of new faces and experienced veterans, Attleboro is aiming to be in the mix of a loaded Kelley-Rex division. For the Bombardiers, it will lean heavily on a deep pitching staff.
It starts with seniors Billy Saltmarsh, who is committed to UMass Dartmouth, and Cian Kelleher, who is committed to Stonehill. They’ll be joined in the rotation by junior lefty Danny Johnson while senior Jamie Bloch and junior Sean O’Hara lend strength to the relief corps. Sophomore Matt Harvie, sophomore Johnny Pagano, and freshman Tyler Dunlea will also be in the mix to see innings on the mound.
Senior captain Owen Taber (UMass Dartmouth) will be an anchor of the Bombardier defense at second base while juniors Peter DelPozzo and Cooper Johnson, along with Pagano, look to fill in at shortstop as senior captain Evan Houle works his way back from an injury from basketball season. Johnson, DelPozzo, and Dunlea are in the mix for the starting job at third while Bloch (committed to UMaine Farmington) and Christian Dame provide depth at first base.
In the outfield, senior Nate George will cover a lot of ground from his spot in centerfield, and the Bombardiers will rotate between Parket Sacket, Hayden Hagerty, Ben Hochwarter, Danny Johnson, Brody McKenna, and Harvie for the other two outfielder spots. Junior Aidan Hochwarter provides a steady presence both at the dish and behind the plate at catcher.
“The strength of this team is its chemistry,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “We have a great group of returning players who have really worked hard to build a team bond through the pandemic. I give a lot of credit to the captains from last year and this year. Despite the challenges they faced with COVID, they were able to rebuild the chemistry of the Attleboro baseball program that was lost when the 2020 season was canceled.”
2021 Record: 8-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Ben Shuffain
Canton got off to a great start to the 2021 campaign, winning six of their first seven games but ended up with a first-round exit in the playoffs. With a strong core of returning players plus a couple of promising young players, the Bulldogs are aiming to get back to the postseason again this season.
The Bulldogs certainly have some holes to fill with the loss of a talented senior class and the departure of ace Andrew Middleton. Fourth-year head coach Ben Shuffain will lean on captains Andy Butler and Matt Chafin to lead the charge this season, along with three-year players Nico Bonanno, Matt Quan, and Zach Peters. Chafin was one of the best offensive players in the league last year, finishing second with a 0.442 average.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Shuffain has a lot of options for pitching, with at least a dozen choices to fill out the rotation and relief corps. Jay Kelleher, Hayden Rose, and Owen Lane will all be in the mix for innings on the mound. Matty Lesser, James Young, Jack Digirolomo, and freshman Kyle Redquest will work the infield while the catching duties will fall to Sean Sullivan and Matt Hart.
“We are a very experienced team with a lot of guys with a lot of innings pitched from last season and wins under their belt,” Shuffain said. “With a few of last year’s backups moving into starting roles and the addition of a few younger guys and the experienced upperclassmen this team should have a good season as they will continue to work hard on the field and in the weight room.”
2021 Record: 5-10 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 3 South Preliminary Round Coach: Derek Suess
Foxboro has some of the top returning talents in the league but will look for some of its younger players to provide the depth needed to compete for a division title this season.
Junior captain Sean O’Leary is one of the top arms in the league and has a lot of varsity experience under his belt already. He will be the ace of the staff that will also feature junior Mathieu Sullivan, who made his varsity debut last season, and freshman Nolan Gordon, who has impressed during the preseason. Pitching depth will come from seniors Andrew Peterson, Tom Marcucella, Liam Mulkern, and junior Alex Stern.
Senior captain Tom Marcucella is one of the most experienced players in the league and his versatility gives head coach Derek Suess a lot of options in the infield. Marcucella can play at any of the four infield spots but will spend the majority of his time at first base. Junior Ryan LeClair is back in the mix at shortstop after a breakout season a year ago, sophomore Tyler Prescott is back for his second year with the squad, and freshman Ryan O’Leary offers a solid bat and glove. Senior Kyle Smith and junior Josh Connolly provide solid depth in the infield.
Senior captain and three-sport star Jack Watts will patrol center field for the Warriors and will be flanked by juniors Kenny Mello and Louis Carangelo, all three looking to make an impact with their bats this season. When not pitching, Gordon will also be in the mix for some innings in the outfield and sophomore Shane Henri gives Suess another solid option. Mulkern is the starting catcher with freshmen Ben Angelini and Mike Marcucella in the mix as well.
“We have great leadership from our captains and upperclassmen which has set the tone for the rest of our guys,” Suess said. “The underclassmen have bought in and can contribute right away. We must embrace the daunting challenge of playing in the Hock, and compete with confidence to give ourselves the best chance to reach our goals.”
2021 Record: 16-2 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Final Coach: Zach Brown
Franklin graduated some of the best players in the league after last season, but the Panthers still have a loaded lineup and a deep and talented pitching staff that could result in a very deep playoff run.
Not many teams could lose one of the best hitters in the league (Nate Cooke, 0.429) and one of the best catchers in the league (Jake Fitzgibbons, 0.353) and still boast one of the best lineups in the league but that’s how deep the Panthers are. Jack Marino, Ben Jarosz, and Chris Goode were all among the league leaders offensively a season ago, and Franklin also has sophomore Henry Digiorgio and junior Eisig Chin back after picking up a year of varsity experience. Junior Ryan Gerety, a Northeastern commit, is one of the best fielders in the region and is very dangerous at the plate.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
And after surrendering a league-low 40 runs last season, Franklin returns its entire rotation. Jacob Jette had a great junior season and will be one of the best pitchers in the Hock while junior Alfred Mucciarone will look to build upon a solid sophomore campaign. Relievers James Kuczmiec and Ethan Voellmicke dominated last season, coming in time after time and shutting opponents down.
2021 Record: 8-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
It was a good start for head coach Jeff Plympton as the Warriors won eight games last season and went to the playoffs, bowing out to eventual state champions Xaverian.
King Philip has the majority of its lineup back and will be looking to make some noise in a very competitive Kelley-Rex division. After averaging almost five runs a game last year, the Warriors have some key bats back in the lineup this year. Senior Shawn Legere is a returning league all star that starts at shortstop and is coming off a season in which he hit 0.386 and scored a league-best 16 runs. Rudy Gately had a breakout sophomore season and will be a key bat in the lineup again this year.
Gately will also be a go-to option on the mound for Plympton after going 4-0 last season, striking out 33 in 34.1 innings of work with an impressive 1.03 ERA. Tommy Martorano also gained a lot of experience last year as a sophomore and will give the Warriors a solid 1-2 punch for its starting rotation.
“We have a lot of arms to roll out if we need them which is great,” Plympton said. “Shawn Legere provides great leadership to the team and demands hard work at practice and games. Our fielding should be strong this year but I’m looking forward to watching our offense. Last year we struggled at the plate but this year looks promising. Last season we notched our first playoff win in over a decade and we look to keep those strides moving forward this year.”
2021 Record: 8-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Chris Hall
With a talented and experienced pitching staff and a list of players eager to make a name for themselves at the dish, Mansfield enters the season with the goal of challenging for the Kelley-Rex division title.
The Hornets were young last spring, and a lot of players earned their first varsity starts on the mound and at-bats. Mansfield has the majority of its team back and will be looking to turn that valuable experience into a successful 2022 campaign. They certainly aren’t shying away from testing that talent with defending state champions Xaverian, Maryland powerhouse Archbishop Spalding, and other top teams on its schedule along with a loaded Hock schedule.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Seniors Anthony Sacchetti, Aaron Blinn, Jimmy Gilleran, and Colby Geddis highlight a deep and talented pitching staff for the Hornets. All of those arms got their feet wet during last year’s season and now give head coach Chris Hall a lot of flexibility with his rotation. There won’t be a drop off as the games go on with four solid options.
The big challenge for the Hornets a season ago was offense, scoring a division low 57 runs. With a strong offseason under their belts, there are a lot of names eager to step up and improve that number. Sacchetti, Gilleran, Geddis, and classmates Andrew Slaney and Jared Fraone will try to lead the way while juniors Conner Zukowski, Sam Martin, Caden Colby, Aidan Jones, and Rocco Scarpellini are all in the mix. Sophomores Connor Curtis and Jake Maydak both played varsity last year and could be impact players right away. Behind the dish, Aidan Jones and Wyatt Bolduc are battling for the starting spot at catcher after the Hornets lost senior Liam Anastasia to an injury.
“The keys to success this season rely heavily on every player doing their job,” Hall said. “The Hornets bring a well-rounded roster to the table and expect to compete all season long. Pitching and defense continue to be a strength for the Hornets. Offensively, the Hornets look to use a variety of talent to score runs and win baseball games.”
2021 Record: 5-9 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Alex Dion
There were some growing pains for the Hawks a season ago with a young squad, but with just five players graduated from a year ago, the Hawks are hoping to be a contender in a deep Kelley-Rex division.
Head coach Alex Dion plans to get contributions from all four classes this season, starting with a strong group of seniors that cover the field. Tyler Lane and Grant Scudo will see time in the outfield, Justin Luchini mans first base, Alex McColl can play in a number of spots in the infield, Cole Forrest is a versatile weapon, and John Denegris is an option on the mound.
The rotation will be anchored by junior Evan Cornelius, junior Tyler Caldon, and sophomore Anthony LaPierre. Cornelius started every game for the Hawks last season and will play at first when he’s not on the mound. Caldon and LaPierre, both right-handed pitchers, are up from the JV squad and have impressed in the early going.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
Offensively, sophomore Keith Lee picked up valuable experience after starting nine games as a freshman last season. He will start behind the dish and be one of the most important bats in the lineup. Sophomores Damien Carter and Sean McGee also started last season and will make up Milford’s middle infield.
“I am excited about the potential that this group has,” Dion said. “With strong senior leadership and varsity players in all four grades we have an opportunity to compete this year and for years to come. This is a great league and I have a lot of respect for the other teams in it. It starts on the mound and if we can get quality pitching out of the arms that we have here we have a chance to compete. We will have to win games in a variety of ways and I believe that we have the athletes to do that.”
2021 Record: 12-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Semifinal Coach: Mike Hart
After splitting the division title a season ago, the Rocketeers enter the 2022 campaign with a chance at winning back-to-back division titles for the first time in 30 years.
Replacing ace Dennis Colleran won’t be easy but North Attleboro has some solid arms on the mound including senior Danny Curran and senior David Floyd, who missed last season. Curran went 2-0 last year and struck out 22 in 23 innings of work with a 3.65 ERA. Head coach Mike Hart also has pitching options in senior Anthony Wescott, and juniors Jordan Paradis, Derek Maceda, and Ayden Delaney.
One of the big reasons the Rocketeers had such success last season was their offense, which scored a Davenport division 110 runs. Maceda was one of the best bats in the league and will patrol the outfield for the Big Red along with Curran, Paradis, and senior Christian Bates. In the infield, Floyd will be joined by classmates Brody Rosenberg, Gavin Wells, and Nik Kojoian, and senior Tyler Bannon will patrol shortstop. Junior Aidan Conrad had a breakout season starting behind the dish a year ago.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“We’re going to look to put a lot of pressure on other teams offensively,” Hart said. “We have many capable pitchers who can provide quality innings. We feel our defense will limit mistakes and not give many runs away. If we want to have a successful season we will need contributions from everybody on the roster on a daily basis. We will rely on our senior leadership and experience to guide us through the season. We need guys to excel in their role and focus on the job at hand.”
2021 Record: 9-6 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Joe Abarr
After earning a share of the Davenport title last season, the Tigers have the pieces in place to make another run at the division crown this year.
A combination of veterans and new faces eager to make an impression gives head coach Joe Abarr a nice mix to work with. Offensively, the Tigers will look for their senior captains to lead the way. Jake Waxman will play first base and potentially some outfield and is one of the best bats in the Hockomock League while Joe Cicchetti could also see time at first as well as the outfield, and is a strong two-way player. Patrick Finnerty is back in the mix after a strong junior season.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
On the mound, OA has a pair of lefties at the top of the rotation. Nick Clark (3-0, 2.78, 32K) and Jack Richardson (2-2, 2.07, 21K) are both coming off great junior seasons and will give the Tigers a solid 1-2 punch on the mound this year. Richardson will also see time in the outfield and will be a key piece of the lineup offensively.
“We have a good mix of returners and young talented players looking for opportunities to help our team win,” Abarr said. “We are excited for a full ‘normal’ season back in the Hock.”
2021 Record: 3-12 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Preliminary Round Coach: Andrew Poliferno
Sharon enters the season with a roster eager to compete among the Hockomock League’s top teams, but the Eagles will have to do so all on the road this season. With the construction of the new high school currently underway where Sharon’s field was, it will be all road trips for the Eagles this season.
It will start with the 10 seniors on the team, including captains Dan Okstein and Dylan Labbe. Okstein is back after an injury limited his time a year ago and will be a key piece in the lineup offensively. He will be the anchor of the outfield, playing mostly in left but could also see time in center. Labbe has a ton of varsity experience and will be the ace of the pitching staff this year. Also on the mound returns sophomore Luke Meixel, one of the league’s breakout players last year as a freshman. junior Alex Coughlin, Ryan Baker, Zach Loomis, Jack Broughton, and Okstein will also be in the mix for innings on the mound.
Offensively, Nate Yaffe is back after a great year at the dish a year ago and will take over at shortstop. Not only is Yaffe consistent with the bat, but he’s also very dangerous on the base paths. Another speedy option at the dish will be Palash Raina and the Eagles are hoping to get key contributions at the plate from Okstein and varsity newcomer Connor Blaney. Liam Conway takes over behind the dish and Will Hippler, Owen Kevorkian, Eli Greenfield, Josh Tolentino, and Jake Loomis are all in the mix for spots in the lineup as well.
2022 Hockomock League Baseball Preview
“As a second-year varsity coach, I couldn’t be prouder to see how ready our players are to play their 2022 season,” said Sharon head coach Andrew Poliferno. “It is evident our players worked hard during the off-season to prepare to compete in the Hockomock. Our players are gritty, determined, and not afraid to put in the hard work that it takes to improve. In addition to their drive to succeed, the team vibe is positive and players go out of their way to encourage one another. I believe we have the makings of a very talented and passionate group of players ready to make noise for their 2022 season.”
2021 Record: 4-10 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Kevin Carty
There will be a lot of new faces in the Stoughton lineup this season, and that goes for the dugout too as Kevin Carty takes over for Mike Armour, who was the longest-tenured coach in the Hockomock League.
Carty is going to lean heavily on his seniors, who make up over half of the Knights’ roster. There is a lot of versatility among the senior class as well with players like Joe McNulty and Jonah Ly, who could see time in the outfield, the infield, on the mound, and in McNulty’s case, even behind the dish. Brad Franey, Anthony Girolamo, Anthony Tilton, James Price, and Owen Wiesnberger are all seniors that are in the mix for infield spots.
Girolamo, Ly, and Price will be joined by sophomore Will Worsley, junior Jeriel Cuello, junior Sean Farley, junior Joe Rush, and sophomore Hunter Malkin as options on the mound for Carty.
“We have a deep group of seniors that will carry us this year,” Carty said. “These seniors are very athletic and can play anywhere on the field. They have the ability to be great leaders for the younger players. We will go as far as they carry us.”
2021 Record: 13-5 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal Coach: Blair Bourque
Replacing a league MVP is never an easy task as the Tigers have to do with Danny MacDougall, but Taunton has a lot of depth and a lot of new faces looking to make a name for themselves as they help Taunton challenge for the Kelley-Rex title.
The strength of the 2022 Tigers will be offense and defense. Taunton has already lost some pitchers to injury so it will be a group effort on the mound this season. Coming off a season in which they scored 119 runs (nearly 7 runs a game), the offense will once again be a key component. Dawson Bryce had a breakout year after hitting 0.341 and driving in 12 runs a season ago, and junior Ryan MacDougall is one of the best power hitters in the league.
Seniors Evan Cali, Colby DeCouta, Colin Botelho, and junior Braden Sullivan are all very experienced at the varsity level and head coach Blair Bourque will lean on their leadership this season.
“Unlike in years past, we don’t have any true pitchers; our pitching staff consists of position players who will need to step up and give us an opportunity to compete,” Bourque said.”Offensively, we’ll look to have productive at-bats, be patient, and take advantage of mistakes. We should have one of the more productive offenses Taunton has had in some time. Although we’ll continue to play fundamental baseball, we hope to be able to capitalize when opportunity presents itself.”
Football
North Attleboro, 14 @ Attleboro, 6 – Final 1st Quarter: (NA) Tyler DeMattio 45-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good.
2nd Quarter: (A) Adrian Rivera 5-yard rush, XP no good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (NA) T. DeMattio 8-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good.
Canton, 14 @ Stoughton, 47 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (S) Jarred Daughtry 6-yard pass to Tagh Swierzewski, Jonah Ly XP good; Bahsor Mahn 70-yard rush, Hayden Rose XP good; (S) J. Ly 10-yard rush, XP failed; (S) Brady Clark 40-yard pass to Emmett Pearl, J. Ly XP good; (S) B. Clark 30-yard pass to E. Pearl, J. Ly XP good.; (S) Tyler Noel 2-yard fumble recovery, J. Ly XP good.; (C) Owen Lane rush, H. Rose XP good;
3rd Quarter: (S) Anthony Girolamo 12-yard rush, J. Ly XP good.
4th Quarter: (S) E. Pearl 50-yard interception return.
Foxboro, 21 @ Mansfield, 35 – Final 1st Quarter: (M) Conner Zukowski 16-yard pass to Ryan DeGirolamo, James Gilleran XP good; (F) Sam Carpenter 29-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (F) S. Carpenter 43-yard field goal; (M) Drew Sacco 5-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good; (F) Dylan Gordon 15-yard rush, D. Gordon 2-point conversion rush.
3rd Quarter: (M) Rocco Scarpellini 5-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good; (M) C. Zukowski 1-yard rush, J. Gilleran XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) C. Zukowski 8-yard pass to R. DeGirolamo, J. Gilleran XP good; (F) Tom Marcucella 73-yard pass to Rashaad Way, S. Carpenter XP good.
King Philip, 20 @ Franklin, 27 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (KP) Charlie Grant 5-yard pass to Drew Danson, Matthew Kelley XP good; (KP) C. Grant 1-yard rush, M. Kelley XP good; (F) Jared Arone 85-yard pass to Shane Kindred, XP blocked.
2nd Quarter: (F) J. Arone 17-yard pass to S. Kindred, Garrett Portesi XP good; (F) J. Arone 37-yard pass to S. Kindred, XP blocked.
3rd Quarter: (KP) Crawford Cantave 6-yard rush, 2pt pass failed; (F) Mack Gulla 5-yard rush, J. Arone 2pt rush.
4th Quarter: No scoring.
Taunton, 28 @ Milford, 34 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (T) Jacob Leonard 25-yard pass to Trent Santos, Nathan Keenan XP good; (M) Tyler Lane 32-yard rush, Nicholas Araujo XP good.
2nd Quarter: (T) Faisal Mass 97-yard interception return, N. Keenan XP good; (M) Evan Cornelius 1-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (M) N. Araujo 41-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: (M) E. Cornelius 3-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (M) N. Araujo 45-yard field goal; (T) J. Leonard 46-yard pass to T. Santos, N. Keenan XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Isaiah Pantalone 10-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good; (T) J. Leonard 31-yard pass to Jose Touron, N. Keenan XP good.
Football
Milford, 28 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final 1st Quarter: (M) Evan Cornelius 31-yard pass to Damien Carter, Nick Araujo XP good.
2nd Quarter: (M) Tyler Lane 1-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) E. Cornelis 27-yard pass to Isaiah Pantalone, N. Araujo XP good.
4th Quarter: (M) Jack Veo 2-yard rush, N. Araujo XP good.
Canton, 8 @ North Attleboro, 42 – Final 1st Quarter: (NA) Tyler Bannon 13-yard rush, Tyler DeMattio XP good; (NA) T. DeMattio 44-yard rush, T. DeMattio XP good; (NA) Chase Frisoli 20-yard pass to Joey Perriello, T. DeMattio XP good; (NA) C. Frisoli 35-yard pass to Gavin Wells, T. DeMattio XP good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) C. Frisoli 14-yard pass to Gavin Wells, T. DeMattio XP good.
3rd Quarter: (NA) T. DeMattio 2-yard rush, Connor Rupert XP good.
4th Quarter: (C) Owen Lane 2-yard rush, Owen Lane 2pt rush.
Foxboro, 47 vs. Hopkinton, 12 – Final 1st Quarter: (F) Dylan Gordon 57-yard rush, XP failed; (F) Tom Marcucella 22-yard pass to D. Gordon, T. Marcucella 2pt pass to Rashaad Way; (F) T. Marcucella 80-yard pass to D. Gordon, Sam Carpenter XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) D.Gordon 63-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good; (F) S. Carpenter 30-yard field goal; (H) Hopkinton 8-yard pass, XP failed; (F) T. Marcucella 74-yard pass to R. Way, XP failed; (F) S. Carpenter 24-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: (F) Tyler Prescott 9-yard rush, S. Carpenter XP good; (H) Hopkinton 9-yard pass, XP failed.
4th Quarter: No scoring.
Mansfield, 10 @ Franklin, 28 – Final – Click here for a Recap and Photo Gallery from this game. 1st Quarter: (F) Jared Arone 54-yard pass to Shane Kindred, Garrett Portesi XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) J. Arone 8-yard pass to Grayson Hunter, G. Portesi XP good; (M) Drew Sacco 1-yard rush, James Gilleran XP good.
3rd Quarter: (M) J. Gilleran 30-yard field goal; (F) J. Arone 41-yard pass to Will Tracey, G. Portesi XP good.
4th Quarter: (F) J. Arone 34-yard pass to Jonathan Martins, G. Portesi XP good.
King Philip, 30 @ Taunton, 21 – Final 1st Quarter: (T) Evan Perrotta 14-yard rush, Nathan Keenan XP good; (KP) William Astorino 1-yard rush, Matthew Kelley XP good; (KP) M. Kelley 31-yard field goal.
2nd Quarter: (T) Jacob Leonard 56-yard pass to Jose Touron, N. Keenan XP good; (KP) Rudy Gately 1-yard rush, M. Kelley XP good; (KP) Charlie Grant 4-yard rush, M. Kelley XP good.
3rd Quarter: (KP) M. Kelley 41-yard field goal.
4th Quarter: (T) E. Perrotta 4-yard rush, N. Keenan XP good; (KP) M. Kelley 29-yard field goal.
Stoughton, 35 @ Oliver Ames, 7 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (S) Jarred Daughtry 49-yard pass to Emmett Pearl, Jonah Ly XP good.
3rd Quarter: (S) J. Ly 1-yard rush, J. Ly XP good.
4th Quarter: (S) Anthony Girolamo 16-yard rush, J. Ly XP good; (OA) Sean Friel 51-yard pass to Jack Morley, XP good; (S) A. Girolamo 45-yard rush, J. Ly XP good; (S) J. Daughtry 11-yard pass to Michael Jardim, J. Ly XP good.
Sharon, 14 @ Fairhaven, 42 – Final
Girls Soccer
Canton, 5 @ Sharon, 2 – Final – Canton pulled away late to grab a road win. Gabriella Herivaux led the way for the Bulldogs with a brace. Sofia Goclowski scored for Sharon on an assist by Olivia Soby. Amanda Hu also found the back of the net for the Eagles, assisted by Wendy Wooden.
Stoughton, 0 @ Norwood, 3 – Final – Shayla Ford played well in the loss for Stoughton, but couldn’t finish her chances. Mia Rivera also had a decent game in goal for the Black Knights and Sofia Issa continues to impress in the midfield.
Field Hockey
Attleboro, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – Attleboro scored a pair of second half goals to level the match but King Philip sophomore Kelly Holmes scored on a beautiful aerial shot with just over two minutes to play to give the Warriors the win. Sophomore Mara Boldy opened the scoring in the first quarter on an assist from Sydney O’Shea and then Holmes scored to make it 2-0. Emma Briggs cut the deficit in half with a third quarter goal and Sarah McMahon tied it with under six to play before Holmes deposited her shot over everyone and into the far corner off of a penalty corner. Senior defenders Haley Izydorczak and Molly Piller both played outstanding in the win.
Canton, 7 @ Sharon, 0 – Final
Foxboro, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – After trading goals in the first half, Oliver Ames’ Erin Cottam scored twice in the second half to give the Tigers a key division win over Foxboro. Junior Tyla Delamere opened the scoring with her first career goal midway through the first quarter but Jenny Gallagher responded with just over a minute left in the period to make it 1-1. Georgia Costello put the hosts ahead just over a minute into the second but Gallagher answered again just over a minute later to send the teams into the halftime break knotted at 2-2. Cottam got her first goal of the game late in the third off a feed from Lily Gaskill. Cottam tacked on a second one with 9:48 to play to secure the win. Both Gaskill and Ava Costello played well in the midfield while Olivia Stevens had a strong game on defense for the Tigers.
Franklin, 8 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin scored twice in each the first and second quarters and put it out of reach with three more in the third in a win on the road at Milford. Kaitlyn Carney scored four goals and had one assist to pace the offense, getting assists from Sophia Cuneo, Ella Aldred, and Ella Mahoney while Kendall Jones scored twice in the win (one assisted by Haley Wernig). Sydney Rogan tacked on a pair of second quarter goals for the Panthers.
Mansfield, 2 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Taunton built a two-goal lead in the second half but Mansfield struck for a pair of second half goals, including the gaming one with less than a minute to go to grab a point on the road. Jillian Edmond (from Kaysie DeMoura) broke the deadlock with a goal with just over four minutes to play in the third. DeMoura recorded her second assist by finding Caelen O’Leary early in the fourth quarter. Mansfield scored with 20 seconds left to tie the game. Em Gannon had a big game in net with 16 saves while Jasmine Lucier and Kylie Thorpe both played well.
Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 5:15
Volleyball
Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip’s offense was hitting on all cylinders as the Warriors rolled to a 3-0 sweep (25-7, 25-17, 25-9) win at home over the visiting Bombardiers of Attleboro. Middles Sami Shore (11 kills, three blocks) and Emily Sawyer (10 kills) both had strong showings while Ahunna James (seven kills, five digs) played a strong all-around game. Samantha Asprelli added 12 digs and Stella Bailey recorded 18 service points and 26 assists.
Foxboro, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – Oliver Ames took care of business on Friday evening, knocking off division foe Foxboro in straight sets (25-7, 25-13, 25-18). Junior Courtney Raymond played well in the win with eight kills and two blocks, senior Shannon Willard added 14 assists, senior Hadley Rhodes dished out 12 assists and added four kills, and sophomore Sarah Hilliard recorded 10 kills and five aces.
Canton, 3 @ Sharon, 1 – Final – Canton bounced back from a one-set deficit to take three straight on the road for a 3-1 victory (18-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-15). Sydney Gallery had one of the best performances of her career with 13 kills, seven digs, and three aces to lead the way. Anna Verille anchored the defense for the visitors with 25 digs and added an ace and a kill while Talya DeGraw turned in a strong all-around performance with nine kills, 14 digs, and an ace.
Franklin, 3 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Milford fought hard to avoid the sweep with a win in the third set but Franklin proved to be too much as the Panthers secured a 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 25-16) win over the Hawks. Junior Meghan Linkkila anchored the defense with 15 digs and had a strong showing at the service line with seven aces while sophomore Taylor Lacerda was nearly unstoppable at the net with 19 kills to go along with 11 digs and a pair of aces.
Mansfield, 3 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – After dropping the first set, Mansfield rallied to take three straight, including a vital third set, to knock off Taunton, 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-12). Christina Lydon dished out 17 assists in the win with Nicole Santos (six kills), Elyssa Buchanan (six kills), and Julia Kelly (five kills) pacing the offense.
Stoughton @ North Attleboro, 5:15
Golf
North Attleboro, 201 @ Attleboro, 197 – Final (5 cards) – Attleboro grabbed its sixth win of the season and got back to .500 with its second close win over rival North Attleboro this year. Carter Shelton and Leo Lombardo led the way after both shooting a 37, Brendan Raymond added a 39, and Dane Holske, Parker Sackett, and Jackson Sweeney all came in at 42 for the Bombardiers. Tyson Laviano led the visitors with a medalist round of 36 while Jake Gaskin added a 38.
Mansfield, 161 @ Sharon, 170 – Final – Mansfield finished the week a perfect 4-0, capping it off with a win over Sharon at the Norton Country Club. After a solid showing in his varsity debut, junior Drew Urban had a hole-in-one on the seventh hole to highlight the win. Cian Goulet had a team-low round of 39, Brendan Vokey and Hunter Tang each shot a 40, and Ryan Doherty and Urban both came in with a 42.
