Franklin, 37 @ Brockton, 7 – Final 1st Quarter: (F) Mack Gulla 2-yard rush, Garrett Portesi XP good; (B) Jason Wonodi 10-yard pass to Cameron Monteiro, XP good.
2nd Quarter: (F) Safety; (F) Jared Arone 7-yard pass to Will Deschenes, G. Portesi XP good; (F) J. Arone 27-yard pass to Shane Kindred, G. Portesi XP good.
3rd Quarter: (F) M. Gulla 77-yard rush, G. Portesi XP good.
4th Quarter: (F) Mike Davide, G. Portesi XP good.
King Philip, 30 @ Needham, 6 – Final
Mansfield, 31 @ North Attleboro, 29 – Final (2 OT) – Click here for a recap and photo gallery of this game. 1st Quarter: (M) Conner Zukowski 24-yard pass to Trevor Foley, James Gilleran XP good; (NA) Tyler DeMattio fumble recovery, XP no good.
2nd Quarter: (NA) T. DeMattio 4-yard rush, Conversion no good; (NA) T. DeMattio 18-yard field goal.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (M) C. Zukowski 4-yard pass to T. Foley, C. Zukowski conversion pass to T. Foley.
1st OT: (M) C. Zukowski 10-yard pass to T. Foley, C. Zukowski conversion pass to Drew Sacco; (NA) T. DeMattio 1-yard rush, Chase Frisoli conversion pass to Gavin Wells.
2nd OT: (NA) T. DeMattio 10-yard rush, Conversion no good; (M) C. Zukowski 10-yard pass to Rocco Scarpellini, C. Zukowski conversion pass to T. Foley.
Oliver Ames, 13 @ Quincy, 21 – Final
Stoughton, 27 vs. Braintree, 26 – Final
Taunton, 26 @ Durfee, 20 – Final 1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (D) Jevon Holley 61-yard rush, XP good.
3rd Quarter: (T) Jacob Leonard 54-yard pass to Trent Santos, Nathan Keenan XP good; (T) J. Leonard 8-yard pass to Jose Touron, 2pt rush failed; (T) Evan Perrotta 6-yard rush, N. Keenan XP good; (D) Isaiyah Thomas 43-yard rush, XP good.
4th Quarter: (D) I. Thomas 14-yard pass to Jayden Lewis, XP failed; (T) J. Leonard 3-yard pass to T. Santos, XP failed.
Sharon, 0 @ Seekonk, 28 – Final
Boys Soccer
Canton, 0 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Milford scored once in each half to down the Bulldogs for their first victory of the season. Arthur Tome put the hosts ahead, converting a pass from David Desa to make it 1-0. In the second half, junior Nick Ribeiro iced the game with a goal with just over two minutes to go.
Foxboro, 2 vs. Norton, 1 – Final – Foxboro senior Matt Angelini set up a goal in each half to help the Warriors claim a win against non-league foe Norton. Angelini blasted a low shot from atop the area that was saved, pushed off the post and out but junior Alex Penders was first to the loose ball and touched it in for a 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. Just after halftime, Angelini intercepted a pass in the attacking third and laid off a pass for Jacob Tessier, who beat the keeper from distance to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute.
Oliver Ames, 1 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Franklin scored back-to-back goals in a short span to earn a win over Oliver Ames, the first victory of the young season for the Panthers. Terry O’Neill was first to a loose ball in the box, pouncing on it to make it 1-0, and shortly after, Tyler Powderly found the back of the net. OA cut the deficit in half on a goal from senior Michael Haikal off an assist from Clide Neau.
King Philip, 0 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Carson Dameron scored the only goal of the game to lift North to the win. The sophomore pressured the KP center back, stole the ball, and scored on the break for his first career goal. Givany Carney also played well up top for North, keeping the KP defense on its toes. Brody Rosenberg and Joe Shephard played well on defense to help the Rocketeers keep a clean sheet.
North Attleboro, 1 @ Braintree, 0 – Final – North closed out a three-game week with a hard-fought non-league road win. Steph McKenna scored the lone goal of the game early in the second half. She took a pass from Autumn Hewitt and found the back of the net from 15 yards out. Haley Sinacola also came close when she hit a 35-yard free kick off the bar. Maddie Ferrin recorded her second clean sheet of the week and North’s defense of Lily Adams, Charlotte Moynihan, Caroline Ferrin, and Summer Doherty all played well.
Stoughton, 1 vs. Norwood, 2 – Final – Morgan Cook scored off an Isabella Rodrigues assist for Stoughton’s lone goal of the game. Emma Tran also played well in multiple positions for the Black Knights, who were missing a few players for the non-league game.
King Philip, 1 vs. Bishop Feehan, 6 – Final
Sharon, 3 vs. Milton, 3 – Final – Amanda Hu scored a late equalizer to earn a point for the Eagles, who twice came from a goal down in the draw. Olivia Soby opened the scoring for Sharon. After Milton scored twice to take the lead, Wendy Wooden leveled the scores. The Wildcats regained the lead but Hu fired in a shot from distance to tie it up in the closing minutes. Sofia Goclowski had a pair of assists.
Field Hockey
Milford, 0 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Ellie Bohane scored twice to lift Canton to the victory. Erin Lane and Maggie McCready each scored once for the Bulldogs.
Franklin, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 0 – Final – Franklin built a three-goal advantage by halftime and tacked on one more in each of the third and fourth quarters to secure a win on the road over OA. Kaitlyn Carney scored a pair of goals while Shaw Downing, Payten Crandall, and Haley Wernig also scored, which was the first varsity goal for Wernig. Wernig and Crandall also had assists while Megan Sullivan had five saves for the shutout.
North Attleboro, 0 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – KP’s defense was dominant throughout, allowing only one shot on goal. Seniors Lily Brown and Molly Piller stood out for the Warriors on the defensive end of the field. Mara Boldy got the winner, scoring in the second quarter off an assist from Makenzie McDevitt. Boldy then added an assist, setting up Margo Reilly. Kelly Holmes added a third, assisted by Christina Gifun, and freshman Abby MacDonald closed out the scoring with her first career goal. Boldy added her second assist of the game on KP’s fourth.
Stoughton, 5 vs. Brockton, 0 – Final – Zofia Bangs scored a hat trick to power the Black Knights to their first win of the season. Mia Allie and Isabella Iacobucci also scored once apiece.
Volleyball
Milford, 1 @ Canton, 3 – Final – Canton bounced back from a tough second set and got its first win of the season, 25-22, 12-25, 25-16, 25-17. Taylor Reynolds ran the offense for the Bulldogs, dishing out 27 assists, while also chipping in with four aces and nine digs. Anna Verille had a big game defensively, recording 17 digs and also had four aces. Jess Wright sparked the attack with 14 kills (and added seven digs), while Sydney Gallery had a solid all-around game on the outside with eight kills and five digs.
Franklin, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – OA won a close first set, 27-25, but then Franklin rolled over the next three sets (25-12, 25-13, 25-12) to pull out the win and stay perfect on the season. Cailyn Mackintosh dished out 21 assists and added eight kills. She also chipped in with four aces and 27 digs. Taylor Lacerda also had eight kills for the Panther and Brigid Earley had four kills and seven blocks. Addyson Smock had a pair of blocks for the Tigers and gave them an aggressive presence at the net. Hadley Rhodes led OA with 20 assists and five kills and Maddie Homer was strong in serve-receive and on defense with 27 digs and 32 receptions.
King Philip, 3 vs. Walpole, 0 – Final – King Philip continued its strong start to the season with a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-8, 25-10) at home over non-league foe Walpole. It was a strong all-around effort from the hosts with Sami Shore (10 kills, two aces), Liz Carey (four kills, 10 service points), and Emily Sawyer (five kills) pacing the offense. Stella Bailey (five aces, 17 service points) and Kiera Hagen (five aces) both performed well at the service line while Samantha Asprelli (six digs) was strong defensively.
Taunton @ Sharon, 5:15
Golf
Mansfield, 168 @ Franklin, 166 – Final – Franklin defended its home course to hand Mansfield its first loss of the season. Sophomore CJ Steel show the low round of the afternoon, carding a 38. That was one stroke better than Mansfield’s Cian Goulet. Caden Sullivan added a round of 42 and Ben Paterson and Caroline Woelfel each shot 43s for the Panthers. Cody Nieratko shot a 40 for the Hornets, who also got a round of 43 from Jordan Tavares and a 46 from Brendan Vokey.
Canton, 145 @ Oliver Ames, 152 – Final – Canton pulled out a win in the battle of unbeaten division rivals. Mike Leonetti was the medalist at Pine Oaks, shooting a 2-under round of 32. Will Gefteas had the second lowest round of the day, finishing with a 35. Conor Hunter added a 38 and Mekhala Costello and Charlie Cohen both shot a 40. OA was led by David Rodgers with a round of 37. Lucas Riley and Jake Kaplan both shot 38s and Carter Allbritton added a 39.
Attleboro senior Emily Khang celebrates her second half goal that lifted the Bombardiers to a win over North Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
ATTLEBORO, Mass. – With the Attleboro boys soccer and football teams piled into the stands behind the benches, the noise felt more like a playoff game than simply the third league game of a long season. Wednesday night’s crowd seemed to spur on both teams, adding extra energy to a rivalry that has a history of close, physical encounters.
Heading into the final 15 minutes of a scoreless game at Tozier-Cassidy Field, the home crowd started chanting that they wanted a goal. The Bombardiers almost immediately obliged. Emily Khang, who sat out the abbreviated 2020 season, got on the end of a knockdown header by Ally Haigh and slammed home the go-ahead goal.
Attleboro managed to hold on over a frantic closing stretch, pulling out a 1-0 win over North Attleboro. It was a game that saw both teams have goals disallowed and North watch a late penalty appeal controversially get waved away.
“It was a pretty cool atmosphere to be a part of and I thought it was pretty interesting the timing of the chant and the goal,” Attleboro coach Steve Santos said afterwards. “That was a good effort to not quit on that.”
He added, “We’ve just got to work on finishing. They grind, they fight, but it’s just one ball away, one call one way, a goal taken away on each side, it’s crazy and it becomes anyone’s game.”
North coach Bill Wallace said, “Three games into the season and you have that kind of play? It’s pretty good. I’m proud of the way they played and we just need to find the back of the net.”
The first half was all Attleboro. The Bombardiers came storming out of the gates and took control of the center of the pitch, forcing North backwards. Jamie Davies had a good chance in the opening minute but her shot from the edge of the box was saved by North keeper Maddie Ferrin. Four minutes later, Kahlan Gray had a look from the left side of the box but it sailed just over the bar.
North’s first good break came in the 16th minute when Steph McKenna got free in the right channel. She tried to play the ball into the path of Brooke Sullivan, but Bethany Alves rushed back to clear the ball on the edge of the Attleboro penalty area.
Davies continued to be a thorn in the side of the North defense. She nearly took advantage of a bad bounce to get in behind only for Ferrin to slide out and collect. Three minutes later, a good turn by Kacey Parker on the right opened space for Davies in the middle. She had a nice touch to create room for a shot but again Ferrin was able to get behind it.
The visitors had their first good scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of the half. Emma Pratt’s corner bounced multiple times in the box, but the Bombardiers were finally able to clear. Another Pratt corner picked out Caroline Ferrin at the back post but the header was just wide. Maddie Ferrin had to be quick on the other end to beat Zoe Johnson-Kiff to a Haigh ball over the top.
After being on the back foot for much of the opening 40 minutes, North nearly scored twice in the first five minutes after the break. Caroline Ferrin’s through ball sprung McKenna behind the Attleboro defense but Alexis Campbell was able to make a good kick save. The ball rebounded to McKenna, who chipped the ball over the keeper and into the middle where Pratt nodded it home only to have the goal waived away for offsides.
Two minutes later, Campbell was called into action again. This time Ferrin’s ball over the top found Pratt on the left side of the box and again the Attleboro keeper showed quick feet to deny the chance. The rebound was knocked wide.
“It helps us feel a little more relaxed,” said Santos of Campbell, his junior netminder who was playing her first game back from an injury. “She brings a lot of that varsity experience back there with this being her second year.”
Nearing the midway point of the second half, a goal was disallowed on the other end. An Attleboro corner turned into a scrum in the box and the ball was eventually smashed in under the bar. The official quickly whistled to end the home team’s celebration, as the ball had crossed the end line (hitting the official that was stationed out of bounds) before the goal.
Wallace said, “They fed off the crowd. Both teams did. I think the energy we had was, to a point, more of an angry energy and we made mistakes that we don’t ordinarily make but it’s from playing with pride, playing with passion and I can’t fault them for that.”
Seven minutes later, Attleboro had the lead. Alves set everything up with a long free kick to the back post. Haigh rose highest and headed the ball down towards the penalty spot. The ball took a slight deflection off a North defender and fell to Khang, who buried the close-range chance.
North had a penalty shout with 11 minutes on the clock. Following a throw, Haley Sinacola chipped the ball into Autumn Hewitt, who was bundled over from behind. Although the players ended up on the ground in the box, the official ruled that contact started outside and gave only a free kick. “I’d rather he not blow the whistle and just play on,” said Wallace after the game. Pratt’s ball to the back stick just missed Ferrin and went wide.
Davies nearly put the contest to rest with a few minutes to go, but Maddie Ferrin was able to get a fingertip to a shot heading for the bottom corner and keep it a one-goal game. Despite North throwing everything forward, Attleboro held on for its first league win of the season.
“I think we played a lot more composed that first half,” Santos explained. The second half we started getting away from the way we should be playing. The panic started setting in a little bit and then once we got that goal it was adrenaline and it became fight time but we still never got to the point where we settled down and moved the ball.”
Attleboro (2-2) will try to carry the momentum Monday’s trip to Milford. North Attleboro (1-2) will try to rebound with a non-league game against Braintree on Friday.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – Attleboro found the back of the net early and that was enough to pick up two points on the road at Franklin. Senior Connor Adema tracked down a long punt from sophomore keeper Tyler Rocchio and buried it in the fourth minute to put the visitors ahead. Rocchio recorded his first shutout of the season in the win.
Stoughton, 2 @ Foxboro, 6 – Final – Stoughton scored less than a minute into the game but Foxboro responded with three first half goals and never looked back. Freshman Alex Kozak gave the visitors a 1-0 lead on an assist from senior Val Pierre but Foxboro’s Matt Angelini leveled the score before the 10-minute mark and Jorge Sanchez scored twice before the break for a 3-1 advantage. Sophomore John Hollis extended the lead to 4-1 before Angelini scored twice in three minutes to complete his hat trick. Stoughton junior Miguel Millis tacked on a late goal on an assist from Joao Marotti. Hollis also had three assists in the win and Jacob Tessier had two helpers.
King Philip, 1 @ Taunton, 2 – Final – Taunton scored once in each half to pick up its second win of the season. Sete Deletoile gave the Tigers the lead in the 28th minute, a lead that the hosts took into the halftime break. Early in the second half, Deletoile sent a corner kick in that was headed home by Quincy Jones-Sylvia. Riley Rebello and Delano Costa-Hanlon both played well in the win for Taunton. KP cut the deficit in half with a goal in the 70th minute.
Mansfield, 2 @ Milford, 0 – Final – After a scoreless half, Mansfield found the back of the net twice inside a 10-minute span to knock off Milford. Senior Matt Hyland blasted a shot from just under 40 yards out to put the Hornets ahead in the 48th minute. Grady Sullivan doubled the lead in the 57th minute, converted a feed from Liam Anastasia. Jack Lasbury-Casey made seven saves in net to earn his second straight shutout to start the season.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Sharon, 3 – Final
Girls Soccer
Franklin, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – The Panthers scored twice in the first half and it was enough to make it two straight wins to start the season. Freshman Kelly O’Connor added her first career goal to put the Panthers in front, assisted by Riley Fitzpatrick. Anya Zub then scored for the third time in two games, finishing a feed from Chloe Barca. Rachel Welch made eight saves for her second clean sheet of the season. Franklin’s midfield of Selene Hammad, Bridget Leo, Chloe Stavely, and Barca did well to control the game, and Norah Anderson, Katie Ewald, and Izzy Arnold had strong performances in the back line. Attleboro coach Steve Santos praised his team for battling through the second half and the Franklin defense for keeping the Bombardiers at bay. Emily Dunlea, Bethany Alves, and Kahlan Gray all played well for Attleboro.
Canton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final – Camryn O’Connor and Alexa Lane each scored twice to lead the Tigers to a big win against a Davenport title rival. Lauren Sellmayer opened the scoring with a long free kick and Lucinda Li Cotter had a pair of assists. Emily McCabe got Canton’s only goal with 10 minutes remaining.
Foxboro, 9 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – For the second straight game, Kailee McCabe scored three times and assisted on another to lead the Warriors to a win. Jordan Carman and Neve Taylor each had braces for Foxboro and Lauren Miley and Sophia Auclair (first varsity goal) both added one score as well. The Warriors have now scored 14 goals in the last two games since being shut out in the season opener. Makenzie O’Connor scored her second goal of the season, finishing off an Isabella Rodrigues corner. Olivia Tran got on the end of another Rodrigues cross for Stoughton’s second. Lauren Mitchell played well for the Black Knights in both defense and the center of the pitch.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 5 – Final – KP scored four times in a 12-minute span in the first half to put away the Tigers and make it back-to-back wins to start the season. Ella Pisani scored the first two goals, both of them assisted by Morgan Norrman. Pisani played provider for the third, setting up Paulina Baczkowski to make it 3-0. Rachel DeFlaminis added a fourth, assisted by Kylie Anderson, to put the Warriors in control heading to halftime. In the second half, Kylie Menendez made it 5-0, assisted by DeFlaminis.
Milford, 1 @ Mansfield, 3 – Final – Mansfield scored twice in two minutes to turn around a one-goal deficit and pull out a second straight win. Dani Atherton had given the Hawks the lead in the opening minute of the game. It took the Hornets 18 minutes to tie the game on an Avery Hawthorne goal. Lyla Nappa scored what turned out to be the game-winner two minutes later. Both Mansfield goals were assisted by Katie Miller. Nine minutes into the second half, Gabby Smith teed up Tarynn Smith for an important insurance goal. Bridget Hanley helped Mansfield control the game in the center of the pitch.
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North scored twice in the second half to seal its first win of the season. Steph McKenna and Emma Pratt each scored once and assisted on another for the Rocketeers. Pratt opened the scoring midway through the first half, running onto a ball over the top from McKenna and then finding the corner. Haley Sinacola doubled the lead 14 minutes into the second half with a 35-yard free kick. It was her first varsity goal. McKenna capped the scoring when she got on the end of a Pratt cross with nine minutes to play. Maddie Ferrin earned the clean sheet for North with Summer Doherty and Meaghan Dowd playing well defensively. North coach Bill Wallace also praised midfielders Sophia Bostock, Autumn Hewitt, and Brooke Sullivan.
Field Hockey
Franklin, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Franklin scored with no time left in the first half to level the scoring and pumped in three second half goals to run away with a win on the road at Attleboro. After a scoreless opening quarter, the Bombardiers took the lead in the 27th minute on a goal from Madison Ellis. Since Franklin earned a penalty corner, play continued after time expired in the second quarter. Kendall Jones converted a pass from Kiera Kotwicki to bring the Panthers even. Shaw Downing put the Panthers ahead on a pass from Kaitlyn Carney in the 43rd minute, and Kaeley Dubriske made it a 3-1 advantage after another assist from Carney. Sydney Rogan put the game away (assisted by Downing) in the 58th minute. Ava Haggerty was strong in net for Attleboro with 19 saves.
Canton @ Oliver Ames, 6:30
Foxboro, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final
Taunton, 1 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – Sophomore Mara Boldy continued her strong start to the season, scoring a hat trick to pace the Warriors to a win over visiting Taunton. After scoring the first goal and assisting on the second in KP’s win over Foxboro last week, Boldy scored three times on Monday. Freshman Makenzie McDevitt scored for the second straight game for KP’s other tally. Haley Bright made four saves in the win while seniors Sydney O’Shea, Lily Brown, Haley Izydorczak, and Molly Piller.
Milford, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – North Attleboro put the ball into the back of the cage in each quarter, taking advantage of 17 penalty corners against visiting Sharon. Julia Puccio opened the scoring in the 10th minute on a feed from Ava Spencer, and then made it 2-0 in the 19th minute off a pass from Caroline Folan. Folan scored two goals of her own in the second half, first in the 33rd minute (assisted by Caitlin Vacher) and then again in the 48th minute (from Spencer). Gracie Leary posted the shutout in net for North. Sharon coach Paulina Kosmadakis said Kayleigh Connolly had incredible game defensively for the Eagles while Tanya Wadekar and Samantha Newbold both played well.
Volleyball
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – Franklin fended off a good push from Attleboro in the second set and went on to complete the sweep (25-9, 25-20, 25-14). Cailyn Mackintosh dished out 19 assists and had a huge day at the service line with 10 aces. Cate Roberge and Taylor Lacerda both notched three aces to go along with six kills apiece. For Attleboro, Lilly Boedeker recorded 17 digs while freshman Julia Leonardo had 15 digs and nine kills.
Foxboro, 1 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Foxboro battled to win a close third set to avoid the sweep and keep the match going, but Stoughton but the game to rest with a win in the fourth set for a 3-1 decision (25-23, 25-11, 22-25, 25-12). For Foxboro, Mallorie Meyer had 17 digs, Sami Sloan added 12 digs, and Juliana Pettigrew finished with seven kills and eight digs.
Canton, 0 @ Oliver Ames, 3 – Final – All three sets were tight but Oliver Ames came out victorious in all three, taking each one by five or fewer points. The Tigers battled to a 25-20 win in the first set, edged out the Bulldogs 25-22 in the second, and completed the sweep with a 25-21 decision in the third. For OA, Maddie Homer was everywhere defensively with 17 serve receptions and 25 digs. Hadley Rhodes added 18 assists and five kills while Sarah Hilliard added nine kills to go along with 15 serve receptions. Canton Talya DeGraw played well in the loss with five digs, four kills, and three aces while sophomore Fatima Sidibay was a spark off the bench, playing well at the net for the Bulldogs.
Taunton, 0 @ King Philip, 3 – Final – King Philip took care of business at home, recording a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-12, 25-9) to improve to 2-0 on the young season. Junior Sami Shore put down nine kills to pace the Warriors’ offense while Emily Sawyer added six kills. KP had a strong game at the service line with Stella Bailey picking up four aces and 11 service points while Ahunna James added 15 service points.
Sharon, 0 @ North Attleboro, 3 – Final – North Attleboro went the distance to secure a win in the second set and went on to complete the sweep (25-19, 26-24, 25-14) in the third against visiting Sharon. Madelyn Corsetti paced the offense for the Rocketeers with 13 kills while Katherine McHoul dished out 15 assists. Ava Dunlevy and Julianne Chen anchored the defense with six digs apiece.
Golf
Milford, 169 @ Attleboro, 156 – Final – Attleboro’s Brendan Raymond and Leo Lombardo shared match medalist honors to help the Bombardiers sink Milford at Stone-E-Lea. Raymond and Lombardo each shot 38 on the day while Evan Houle chipped in with a 39 and Dane Holske recorded a 41. Nate Lawrence led the Hawks with a team-low round of 40, Jacob Hipolito added a 41, and Anthony LaPierre shot a 42.
Taunton, 101 @ New Bedford, 105 – Final (Stableford) – Taunton’s Jack Gobin shot a team-low round of 40 to score 23 points but the Tigers fell to New Bedford in a match determined by Stableford scoring. Logan Letourneau added a round of 41.
Franklin, 161 @ King Philip, 145 – Final – King Philip had all four of its scorers come in with a round under 40 to help the Warriors sweep the season series with rival Franklin. Mike Matheson was the match medalist, shooting a round of 35 that included a birdie. Gavin Croke, who had an eagle on the fifth hole, and Jared Curran each shot 37 while Pat Reardon finished at 38. Franklin’s CJ Steele had a team-low round of 38.
Boys Soccer
Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBD.
King Philip, 4 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Foxboro scored three goals in the opening 20 minutes but had to hold off a furious second half rally from the visitors to get the two points. Junior Alex Penders opened the scoring in the first minute off a cross from Matt Angelini, and Foxboro newcomer Jorge Sanchez made it 2-0 in the third minute. Angelini scored on his own in the 20th minute before sophomore John Hollis pushed the lead to 4-0 less than five minutes into the second half. KP scored back-to-back goals but Cam Barreira scored what turned out to be the game-winner int he 65th minute. KP scored twice in the final 10 minutes to make it a one-goal game.
Mansfield, 1 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Junior Connor Palinski’s looping shot from just over 30 yards out was the difference as Mansfield secured a win on the road in the season opener. Palinski took a pass from Ian Leeds and launched one from distance that found the back post. Mansfield head coach Steve Sheridan praised his defensive unit of Leeds, Dylan Buchanan, Michael Caridi and Kevin McCarthy for their stellar play in front of Jack Lasbury-Casey (seven saves).
Taunton, 5 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Itching to get on the field for the first time in nearly a year, Taunton exploded for five goals in a win on the road at Stoughton. The Tigers struck for a pair of first half goals before pumping in three more after the break, Devin Poe opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Conal Scully doubled the lead in the 31st minute. Riley Rebello made it 3-0 with a 49th minute strike, Scully bagged his second just two minutes later, and Quincy Jones-Sylvia capped the scoring in the 71st minute.
Girls Soccer
Oliver Ames @ Attleboro – Postponed to Friday, September 10 at 3:45.
Canton, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final – Anya Zub scored a pair of goals to lift Franklin to a win in a battle of last year’s league champs and give interim coach Jodi Klein a debut win. Riley Fitzpatrick opened the scoring for the Panthers, finishing off a pass from freshman Kelly O’Connor. Zub then doubled the lead after combining with Fitzpatrick and sealed the two points with her second goal with just five minutes to play. Izzy Arnold had the assist on Franklin’s third. Rachel Welch made nine saves to preserve the clean sheet. Klein praised the effort of defender Norah Anderson and midfielders Stella Regan, Bridget Leo, and Selene Hammad.
Foxboro, 0 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – KP scored once in each half to pick up two points in the season opener. Sophomore Heidi Lawrence notched her first career goal when she took a nice pass from classmate Alyssa Legere and managed to squeeze a shot through a scrum in the box. Ella Pisani sealed the victory by firing a second-half free kick into the top corner for her first of the season. Lauren Casper stopped eight Foxboro shots to earn the clean sheet. KP coach Gary Pichel also praised freshman Dani Lomuscio, who made her varsity debut by marking reigning MVP Kailee McCabe. He also credited Legere for a great game in the midfield and the back line for doing its best to frustrate the Warriors attack.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final – Carly Devine was first to a rebound three minutes before halftime and scored the only goal of the game to lift the Hornets to a season-opening win. Olivia Homsi had the first shot and Devine reacted first to knock in the loose ball. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith praised the play of his back line, Gabby Smith, Kara Santos, Anna Darlington, and Kayla Doherty, for limiting North’s chances. Olivia Salisbury made four saves to record the clean sheet. North nearly had the equalizer on a shot from Steph McKenna but a Hornet defender made the goal line clearance. Haley Sinacola, Lily Adams and Charlotte Moynihan all played well defensively for North.
Sharon @ Milford – Postponed to Friday, September 10 at 3:45.
Stoughton, 2 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Stoughton coach Hermes Lima picked up his first win with the Black Knights thanks to goals from freshmen Makenzie O’Connor and Lauren Mitchell. Lima praised O’Connor and Shayla Ford for their aggressive play up top that made it difficult for Taunton to get out of the defensive third easily. Mitchell and classmate Morgan Cook both played well in the midfield, while freshman Emma Tran had a great varsity debut in central defense. Abigail Durand earned the shutout in goal.
Field Hockey
Sharon vs. Norwell – Postponed to TBD.
Cross-Country
Canton @ Nauset – Postponed to Friday, September 10 at 4:30.
Golf
Foxboro @ Attleboro – Postponed to Thursday, September 16 at 2:30.
King Philip @ Taunton, 3:00
Sharon @ Stoughton – Postponed to TBD.
The Hockomock League kicked off its girls soccer season and we have the team-by-team rundown of how everyone stacks up this year. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2020 Record: 5-5-5 Coach: Steve Santos
Attleboro has been on the brink of tournament qualification for the past several seasons, but narrowly missed out. Last fall’s team had the potential to end head coach Steve Santos’ wait to get back into the playoffs only for the pandemic to force an abbreviated season. After graduating the team’s leading scorers and playmakers (Bella Salviati, Jessica Gates, and Briley Harnois), the Bombardiers will count on new faces stepping in and giving them a chance to taste the postseason.
The Bombardiers will be hoping to build on a strong defense. Senior Olivia Calderone and junior Ella Stromfors will be the anchors in the heart of the back line and their leadership will be critical. Attleboro will miss senior Olivia Cook, who had a strong preseason at outside back but suffered an injury that will keep her out for the season. Junior goalie Alexis Campbell also has an injury at the start of the season but will hopefully be back soon to take over in net.
In midfield, Attleboro has several returning players who will be looking at slightly different roles this year. Junior Emily Dunlea is a dynamic and versatile midfielder and could be the team’s playmaker this season. She will get help from senior Emily Khang, who missed the 2020 season. Another skillful midfielder, Khang will give Attleboro an attacking boost. Sophomore Bethany Alves can play as a holding or attacking midfielder, depending on the situation. Up top, junior Kacey Parker and sophomore Jamie Davies will be counted on to make up some of the goals that were lost to graduations.
“We graduated a solid core of players who brought a lot to the team, so we’re trying to figure out who’s going to embrace those roles,” said Santos. “We have some good talented players who can keep the ball on the ground and play some solid soccer. We have some more to grow on and learning how to play aggressive, Hockomock soccer.”
2020 Record: 8-3-1 Coach: Idris Senyonjo
Last season, Canton edged Foxboro by a single point to win its first league title since 2012. The Bulldogs graduated a strong class of seniors, particularly in the midfield and the attack, but there is plenty of returning talent on both ends of the pitch and second-year coach Idris Seyonjo to feel confident of another title challenge this fall.
The attack will look very different this season after graduating prolific forward Olivia Rodman and Elisa Diletizia (17 goals combined in 2020), but senior Gabriella Herivaux returns after scoring five times last year and could be poised for a breakout season as the primary target up top. Seniors Fay Gallery and Anne Hoban (who played at outside back last season) will also join in the attack and freshman Emma Cahill is a newcomer that could provide creativity in the final third. Sophomore Emily McCabe will step into the attacking midfield role and try to provide the killer pass from the center of the pitch.
Defense should be a strength for the Bulldogs this season with a mix of veterans and several incoming freshmen who could step in right away and contribute. Senior Allie McCabe continues to be the lynchpin of the Canton defense, commanding the heart of the back line with her strong play and leadership. There is plenty of experience in goal as well with senior Elyse Broderick back and healthy and junior Marissa Staffiere ready to step in, after being the starter all of 2020.
Seyonjo said, “Most important thing about this season is that I believe all teams are looking forward to what will hopefully be a normal season. I am excited. I look forward to my first full season as head coach. Every game will be different and we hope to be able to match or even better our performances from last season.”
2020 Record: 7-2-2 Coach: Katie Stalcup
Foxboro was just a single point short of a three-peat last season, dropping to second in the Davenport behind Canton, and the Warriors will have a lot of new faces this fall as they try to get back on top in the division. The Warriors graduated 10 seniors, but still have a lot of varsity experience, especially in the midfield, that will make them a tough challenge for their title rivals.
Senior Kailee McCabe, the reigning league MVP, is back in the middle for the Warriors this season. The four-year starter tied for the team (and league) lead with 11 goals in 2020 but she may have to take on a bigger scoring role this fall with Jordyn Collins now at Bryant. She should have a lot of help in the middle of the pitch. Senior Brooke Barreira, junior Lauren Milley, and sophomore Erin Foley all played significant minutes last year and capable of the quick combination passing that has been a hallmark of Foxboro’s play. Senior Jordan Carman will bring her versatility to the forward line this season, after playing pretty much every position (including goalie) last year.
Defensively, senior Meghan Burke will be the leader in the back line. An aggressive, solid defender, Burke has regularly been tasked with marking the opponent’s best attacker. Sophomore Lindsey Resnick had a strong rookie season and will add some game experience to the defense. Senior Maddie Maher and sophomore Alexis Sougaris will be the goalies tasked with replacing Morgan Sylvestre between the posts.
Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said, “We had some major losses with our 10 graduating seniors last year, but I am very excited about this team and what I have seen from them so far and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do against the tough competition in this league.”
2020 Record: 6-4-2 Interim Coach: Jodi Klein
Long-time head coach Tom Geysen is dealing with a medical issue, so former JV coach Jodi Klein will take over this season and is emphasizing pressure high up the pitch and keeping possession in attack. Franklin returned to the top of the Kelley-Rex last season and Klein has an experienced squad to work with this fall, as they look to go back-to-back in what should be a wide-open title race.
The Panthers have built a lot of their recent success on a strong defense. This season should be no different. Junior Norah Anderson has been a mainstay in the heart of the back line for the past two seasons and she’ll be joined by junior Reilly Lorenzo and sophomore Maddie Horton. Senior Izzy Arnold and junior Katie Ewald give the Panthers speedy outside backs to provide width in attack and cover in the defensive third. Sophomore Rachel Welch will get the nod in goal after splitting time as a freshman and her reading of the game will help direct the defensive unit.
Franklin’s midfield has the potential to control games. Seniors Stella Regan and Chloe Barca and junior Bridget Leo bring plenty of experience to the middle of the pitch. Each are quick and solid in possession. Juniors Avery Greco and Chloe Stavely and sophomore Selene Hammad will step into the midfield to add depth. The Panthers will be looking to use the speed of the forward line to create chances. Senior Riley Fitzpatrick is the most experienced player up top and sophomore Anya Zub had three goals and four assists as a freshman. Freshman Kelly O’Connor is a new player to watch out for in the forward line.
“This is an exciting season for all of us,” said Klein. “I am a new coach to all of our returning varsity players and any of these girls who have played for me in the past have never played at the varsity level before. We are working through a brand-new system and style of play and we’re all very eager to see what we can accomplish together this season.”
2020 Record: 7-5-2 Coach: Gary Pichel
After graduating a large, talented group of seniors, including the top two scorers in program history, last year was bound to be transitional for King Philip, but it was also an opportunity for several players to step up into bigger roles. As it turned out, the Warriors had plenty of talent still on the squad and stayed in the hunt for a league title right to the final week.
The Warriors will be hoping last year’s game experience will pay off with a title challenge this season. The midfield should be a strength for KP. Junior Ella Pisani had a breakout 2020 season, showing off her skills as both a forward and midfielder and leading the team in scoring. She will be at the center of the KP attack again this year. Senior Paulina Baczkowski will give the Warriors width on the outside and delivers accurate crosses. Senior Morgan Norrman is an accurate passer who can push the Warriors into quick counterattacks.
Senior Brooke Mullins has improved every year in the KP defense, and she adds aggression and a willingness to get the ball forward quickly. After an impressive rookie year, junior Grace Lawler missed all of 2020 with an injury, but she is back and gives KP an instant upgrade in the back line with her ability to mark the opposing team’s best attacker. Freshmen Dani Lamuscio (midfield), Mikayla Thompson (defense), and Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn (defense) should make an instant impact and add extra energy for the Warriors this season.
“I see this team keeping up with our KP tradition of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication to the cause,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “Our team will be competitive in every game as we go through the gauntlet of the Hockomock League.”
2020 Record: 6-4-3 Coach: Kevin Smith
Mansfield entered the abbreviated 2020 season with a relatively inexperienced group, and it showed during the early parts of the fall, but the Hornets put things together quickly and finished only a point back of Franklin for the division title. With nine starters returning, including most of the defensive corps, the Hornets should be in the mix for the title again this year.
Although the Hornets will definitely miss the on-field leadership and versatility of senior Maria Sevastos, who was injured in the spring, Mansfield has plenty of experience in the back line. Senior Anna Darlington will be the leader in the defense alongside sophomore Kara Santos, who is coming off an impressive rookie season at centerback. Junior goalkeeper Olivia Salisbury brings two years of experience in net and classmate Caitlin Zajac is a capable backup.
Senior Katie Miller will control the middle of the field. A four-year starter, Miller provides an extra layer of protection for the back line and can get the Hornets into the attack as well. Up front, senior forward Tarynn Smith is a willing runner, who can give opposing defenses a physical challenge. Sophomore Carly Devine is a creative playmaker that will give the Hornets an offensive spark.
“We are still very young with only four returning seniors,” Mansfield coach Kevin Smith explained, “but it’s a good core of players who have multiple years of varsity experience already.”
2020 Record: 3-6-3 Coach: Lou Colabello
Milford closed the 2020 season on a strong run, going 2-1-1 over its final four games that included two hard-fought games with Mansfield. Only three seniors are returning from last year’s roster, so the Hawks will be young this fall, but not necessarily inexperienced since many of the underclassmen stepped into the lineup last year.
The key to the Milford attack is junior Dani Atherton. She was the team’s leading scorer with eight goals last season (more than half of the team’s total) and most of the offense will flow through her feet. The Hawks will hope for more creativity and goals from the rest of the team, including juniors Brooke Ferreira and Amy Oliveira, a pair of players who can start up top or in the midfield. Junior Brianna Guerreiro is also back in the center of the pitch.
At the back, seniors Aubrey Korpi and Aislinn Bennett will provide much-needed leadership for this young crew and senior Jill Araujo can jump into the back line or help supply cover from the midfield. Junior Catarina Mestre is another returning defender from last season’s squad.
2020 Record: 5-5-3 Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro battled to a .500 record in 2020 and did it thanks to a strong defensive foundation. The Rocketeers allowed only 11 goals in 13 games last year and had five clean sheets. After graduating 15 players from that squad, and losing a starter to an injury, North coach Bill Wallace is enthusiastic about the potential for this year’s team to make a playoff push.
The Rocketeers return both of last year’s leading scorers. Senior Steph McKenna and junior Emma Pratt each scored five times last season and they will be counted on to improve those numbers with a full season (and without the restrictions that were in place in 2020). Behind the strikers, North’s midfield got a lot of experience last year. Senior Brayden Rice and junior Caroline Ferrin will be in the middle, while senior Autumn Hewitt and juniors Brooke Sullivan and Lily Adams provide the width.
Defense was a strength last year and it should be again in 2021. Senior Summer Doherty returns after missing a lot of last season with an injury. Her leadership and athleticism will be important in the middle of the back line. Seniors Meaghan Dowd and Charlotte Moynihan and junior Haley Sinacola make up the rest of the starting back four with junior Maddie Ferrin in goal.
“Right now, we are organized and making opponents work hard to develop their offense,” Wallace said. “Our goal is to play faster and with more urgency. The work rate is high, and the girls are looking forward to competing in the always tough Hockomock League!”
2020 Record: 8-1-5 Coach: Britt Sellmayer
Oliver Ames lost only once in 2020 and avenged that defeat by beating Canton in the Hock Cup final. The Tigers did draw five matches last season, but with eight starters returning, and several younger players who got valuable experience, OA will hope to turn those single points into two and bring home its first league title since 2016.
The Tigers pride themselves on being a tough team to break down and the defense should be stout again this fall. Senior Emily Meyers is back in goal and will be a vocal leader at the back. Senior Allison Evin moved from up top to the heart of the defense last season and her speed and understanding of the game made her a tough marker for opposing forwards to get away from, while juniors Mary Cross and Sophia Byron are looking to build off strong sophomore seasons. Senior Kyla Melton has transferred in from Milton Academy and her versatility will be a boost to the back line or in midfield.
Midfield will continue to provide cover for the back line with the likes of seniors Katie Gibson and Lauren Sellmayer not only giving the Tigers a physical, aerial presence, but also consistent delivery on set pieces. Senior Camryn O’Connor, a Boston University-commit, adds creativity to OA’s bite in the center of the pitch and will be a key to turning defense into attack. Junior Jenna Gilman will also provide playmaking and width and speedy sophomore forward Lucinda Cotter has been in good scoring form during the preseason.
“We have eight starters returning from last season, plus some younger players pushing for playing time,” said OA coach Britt Sellmayer. “We are hoping our depth will be an advantage for our team this year.”
2020 Record: 2-8-2 Coach: Catherine Sullivan
Sharon won a pair of games in 2020, but was also competitive in several losses that showed there was potential for improvement heading into the new season. The Eagles will be young this year, particularly after a pair of preseason injuries cost them returning starters, including junior Sally Brouhard, but there is still reason for optimism about the athleticism in the squad.
The Eagles will lean on the midfield, as the most experienced group. Junior Sofia Goclowski stepped in last year and had an all-star-caliber season and will be the primary playmaker in the center of the pitch. Junior Amber Marcus-Blank is moving up from the back line and her aggression will be key to shielding the defense. Junior Olivia Soby combines physical presence with technical skills and will be an important piece to the attack.
Senior forward Wendy Wooden will be the team’s primary threat up top and her speed will stretch opposition defenses to open space for the midfielders. On the other end of the field, the Eagles will be very young. Senior Amanda Hu is the only returning player in the back line and she’ll be counted on to keep everything organized. Sophomore Jordanna Morris will add much needed speed and athleticism to the defense and already looks comfortable at the varsity level.
“We have a very young squad this year, but I am excited about our mix of talent and athleticism,” said Sharon coach Catherine Sullivan. “As always, the league looks to be extremely competitive, but we welcome the challenging matches that help us grow and continue to move our program in the right direction.
2020 Record: 0-11-1 Coach: Hermes Lima
Second-year Stoughton coach Hermes Lima is still looking for his first win, but he is confident that this year’s team has the right combination of skill and speed to give teams problems. The Black Knights are counting on increased depth and the pairing of experienced players and talented newcomers to get back in the win column.
One of the key players for Stoughton this season is junior Shayla Ford. Blessed with great speed, Ford can either stretch the opposition and attack the space behind the defense or drop into the Stoughton back line and give cover for her teammates. Freshman Makenzie O’Connor is going to step in up top and will add another dynamic element to the attack, while classmate Morgan Cook can slot in as a forward or in the back line to add aggression and a physical element. Junior Isabella Rodrigues gives the Black Knights speed on the wings and gives more speed for the forwards to run into.
The Black Knights will have experience in defense. Senior Abigail Durand is back in goal and provides vocal leadership for the back line. Senior Samantha Tran can play anywhere across the back line and her versatility is important. Junior Emma Tremblay and freshman Lauren Mitchell will both play in the center of midfield and can protect the back line or facilitate the Stoughton counter attack. Both can also slot in at central defense when needed. Junior Sabrina Rodrigues is another versatile player, jumping in at wingback or in the heart of the midfield.
“Every player bought into the culture last year and the new/returning players have bought in to every word/thing said and given to them this year!” said Lima. “The players are ready to fight for one another, represent their school and make this program proud of every achievement in their path. As a coach, I cannot ask anything else of them! This will be an intriguing but yet good step in the right direction for this program.”
2020 Record: 0-3-7 Coach: Mike Couture
Taunton coach Mike Couture only got four games to assess his team in 2020 before the season came to an abrupt end. Now in his second year, Couture is building around a young roster, composed mostly of sophomores, and is excited about the talent and the potential. The Tigers will be hoping to get off to a good start and end their wait for a nearly two-year wait for a league win.
Senior Isabella Anslow will be the leader of the defensive unit. She has been a busy goalkeeper in the past but has come up with several big games against big opponents. An example of that was being able to hold Mansfield to a scoreless draw in the first meeting between the teams last year. Junior Emily Calderon will lead the Tigers on the other end of the field. The forward is quick and experienced and she’ll be counted on to give Taunton a cutting edge in attack.
“This is a strong group and how quickly this good group of less experienced players develop, will determine the degree of our progress and we are off to a good start,” said Couture.
Reigning league MVP Kailee McCabe leads the players to watch at the start of the new Hockomock girls soccer season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
Defense has been Franklin’s hallmark for a while now. The Panthers finished 2019 with clean sheets in 11 of their final 12 games, allowing only an extra time goal to Oliver Ames in the playoffs, and opened last season with a string of shutouts. Goals are hard to come by against Franklin and Anderson has been a major reason why. The junior has been a mainstay at the heart of the defense for the past two seasons, coupling her physical presence with a good reading of the game. Tall and strong, Anderson is willing to mix it up with opposing forwards but she’s also just as capable of making a key interception or cut out an attack without the need of stepping into a challenge. A strong aerial threat at both ends of the pitch, Anderson is important on set pieces and has grown into a leadership role in the defensive corps. She has also shown increasing calm in possession, which will help the Panthers build from the back. Franklin is looking to defend its league title and Anderson will help keep things strong at the back to give the Panthers a solid foundation.
The Hawks had a relatively young squad last season, trying to build experience while also moving into the Kelley-Rex division. The switch in divisions didn’t seem to have any effect on Atherton, who continued to score goals at an impressive rate, despite being the focal point of some of the league’s top defensive units. Atherton scored a team-high eight times last year, which was good for third-best in the Hock. A player who seems to be just as fast with the ball as without it, Atherton is hard to contain. Her skill in possession and low center of gravity allow her to make quick cuts and find small seams in the defense that you don’t see until she’s through. Don’t let her size fool you, Atherton may not be the biggest striker in the league but she is willing to take the contact and keep moving towards goal. Once she gets in the box, there are few better in the league at finding the back of the net. Having a player like Atherton leading the line will give the Hawks a big boost as their still young squad faces up to a full season and a possible playoff push.
Attleboro has been on the brink of a playoff run the past couple of seasons, narrowly missing out on the postseason. This fall, the Bombardiers will have to reload with the loss of top scorers Briley Harnois and Bella Salviati and top playmaker Jessica Gates. Dunlea has the potential to be a player Attleboro can build around. Tall and strong, with quick feet, Dunlea showed glimpses of being a creative force last year, whether playing up top or dropping into the midfield. She has a good eye for a pass and reads space well, finding spots to collect the ball as well as angles to slip a pass into her teammates. Her physical play in the box makes it hard for defenders to dislodge the ball from her and Dunlea has demonstrated a cool finish when she gets a look at goal. This season should see Dunlea step into a bigger role, and see more of the ball, giving her more opportunities to find the killer pass or try and find the back of the net. Attleboro is still looking to find that elusive postseason berth and there will be a lot of new faces in new spots this fall, but Dunlea is one of the players the Bombardiers hope will be ready for the challenge.
Last fall was a tough one for the Black Knights, who picked up one point in the shortened season, but Ford continued to be one of the team’s standout performers even as the results were hard to come by. The team’s leading scorer in 2019, Ford showed the versatility in her game in 2020 by dropping back from her striker position to utilize her speed in the defensive third. Ford’s ability to cover a lot of ground helped her cut out dangerous attacks and her skill on the ball made her comfortable in possession even under pressure. One of the leaders on the team, Ford can play multiple positions and produce wherever she’s lined up. As a striker, she can take on defenders one-on-one and makes smart runs into space to open passing lanes for her teammates. Ford has definitely been a handful for opposing defenses since her freshman year and now she has shown that she can be a handful for their attacks as well. Stoughton will be looking for growth under second-year coach Hermes Lima and, wherever she is positioned, Ford will be instrumental in getting the Black Knights back into the win column.
Last fall, Canton’s attack was loaded and the Bulldogs won the Davenport title and advanced to the first-ever Hock Cup final. This year, Canton will move on from high-scoring forwards Olivia Rodman and Eliza Diletizia, but that could open up more opportunities for Herivaux. The senior striker has played in the shadow of her fellow attackers for the past couple of seasons but will have the spotlight to herself in 2021. Quick and skillful, Herivaux can play through the middle or drift out to the wings and take on the outside backs. She scored five times and had four assists last year but Herivaux could find more chances in the box this season as the team’s top returning scorer and the focal point of the offense. Herivaux’s size makes her the match of opposing center backs, especially on set pieces, but she’s also got the speed to race past them, the touch to slip through small spaces, and the creativity to pick out a finish even from tough angles. This could be a breakout year for Herivaux and the Bulldogs will be hoping that she can hit new scoring highs to help them retain the league title in what should be a crowded top of the Davenport table.
Even in a strange, abbreviated season, Foxboro could count on McCabe to continue dominating the middle of the pitch, as she earned league MVP and All-New England honors with her third straight impressive season. For the third straight year, McCabe reached double digits in goals, tying teammate Jordyn Collins with a league-high 11 tallies in 2020. Her aggression in midfield is hard to match and she propels the Warriors forward, whether carrying the ball out of the defensive third, making a key interception and turning it into a quick transition, or making a run through the heart of the opposition defense. With Collins plying her trade at Bryant this fall, McCabe may be counted on for even more in the attack, and with her strength, shooting ability, and skill in possession, she’s capable of being among the league’s top scorers again this year. Foxboro should be right in the mix for the Davenport title this fall and McCabe is the engine that keeps the Warriors going.
North Attleboro bounced back from a rebuilding season in 2019 and finished at .500 in 2020, winning more games in the shortened season than in the previous fall. One of the reasons for North’s turnaround was increased goal scoring and McKenna provided the attacking impetus early on with all five of her goals and her lone assist coming in the opening two weeks of the season, including a hat trick against Stoughton. A hard-working forward, McKenna consistently ran into the channels, giving the midfield an outlet pass when pressured. She rarely gave up on a ball, keeping defenses on their toes and starting the North press high up the pitch. On a team that tried to keep things compact and be solid defensively, McKenna worked hard to create chances on the break and her hold up play enabled the Rocketeers to get up the field and allowed her teammates to get involved. It was a relatively inexperienced North roster last season and expectations are higher this fall, even in a league that looks as balanced as ever, so McKenna’s goal-scoring threat will be crucial to the Rocketeers moving up the Davenport standings.
Some players to watch are easy to pick out just by looking at the stat sheet at the end of the season and others play different roles for their teams that are harder to quantify. Miller won’t lead the league in goals or assists but she is a key to the Mansfield midfield, covering tons of ground in front of the Hornets defense to break up opposition defenses and play the right pass to transition into the attack. A lanky, physical presence in the center of the pitch, Miller doesn’t shy away from a tackle and is smart about her positioning to intercept passes and knows when she needs to step into a challenge. Her position keeps her from creating a host of chances in the final third, but Miller’s passing accuracy makes it difficult for the opposition to get turnovers that would put the Hornets under pressure. Mansfield has a chance at regaining the league title this fall and Miller will be at the heart of the Hornets’ success.
Last season, the Tigers brought home the inaugural Hock Cup title with a win against Canton and this year OA will be looking to beat the Bulldogs to the Davenport title as well. One of the key players in that title quest will be O’Connor, who is the most dynamic playmaker that OA has in the middle of the pitch. Capable of playing as a striker, in behind the forward line, or in the center of the park, O’Connor’s range of passing and vision help the Tigers spring into the quick transitions that they like best and get the ball out to OA’s host of speedy wingers. With skills to take on defenders and create passing or shooting space, coupled with her aggression and physicality, O’Connor is hard to take the ball off of and can be the driving force in OA’s midfield. On her day, she is capable of taking over a game. OA’s direct style of play is no secret, and O’Connor is solid on set pieces, and if they can get consistent performances from O’Connor in the midfield it gives the Tigers an added dimension to their attacks.
Last season was always going to be one of transition for the Warriors, as they moved away from a class headlined by the program’s two all-time leading scorers, Chloe Layne and Avery Snead. During the shortened 2020 year, Pisani emerged from the shadows of that talented class and showed that KP has plenty of playmaking ability left on the roster. Pisani scored seven times and racked up four assists for the Warriors last year, showing off an array of skills on the ball to elude markers and create space for a shot. Her close control on the edge of the box will keep all defenders on edge and also open lanes for her teammates to run into. Pisani also showed composure in the box and a talent for finishing off her chances. The Kelley-Rex looks wide open this fall and with Pisani returning after a year of experience at the varsity level, KP knows that it has strength in attack to take on the best teams in the league.
Below are the official 20020 Hockomock League Girls Soccer All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.
Kelley-Rex Division MVP
Briley Harnois, Attleboro
Kelley-Rex Division All Stars
Briley Harnois, Attleboro
Isabella Salviati, Attleboro
Jessica Gates, Attleboro
Erin Quaile, Franklin
Sydney St. Marie, Franklin
Julia Bertone, Franklin
Kiera Lindmark, King Philip
Paige Varvarigos, King Philip
Maria Sevastos, Mansfield
Cathryn Cooney, Mansfield
Katie Miller, Mansfield
Dani Atherton, Milford
Catherine Madden, Milford
Davenport Division MVP
Kailee McCabe, Foxboro
Davenport Division All Stars
Mia Gilmore, Canton
Sarai Costello, Canton
Olivia Rodman, Canton
Elisa Diletizia, Canton
Allie McCabe, Canton
Kailee McCabe, Foxboro
Jordyn Collins, Foxboro
Jordan Carman, Foxboro
Camryn O’Connor, Oliver Ames
Emma Pereira, Oliver Ames
Stephanie McKenna, North Attleboro
Kaylah Seavey, North Attleboro
Sofia Goclowski, Sharon
Cass Barbera, Sharon
Honorable Mentions:
Eleanor Graber, Attleboro
Morgan Sylvestre, Foxboro
Anya Zub, Franklin
Ella Pisani, King Philip
Kara Santos, Mansfield
Alyssa Monahan, Milford
Summer Doherty, North Attleboro
Allison Evin, Oliver Ames
Molly McAlevey, Sharon
Sabrina Rodrigues, Stoughton
Isabella Anslow, Taunton
Boys Soccer
King Philip, 2 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final – King Philip scored twice in the fourth quarter to secure two points on the road, grabbing a victory at Attleboro. Evan McEvoy opened the scoring after a short corner, taking three touches towards goal before blasting a shot into the side netting. With two minutes left, McEvoy set up a key insurance goal with a long ball over the top. Caleb Casetta-Waxman raced onto the ball and beat the oncoming keeper, lobbing a volley that found the back of the net.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Canton, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames clinched the Davenport division title outright with a 2-0 decision on the road over the Bulldogs. Colin Milliken gave the visitors the lead, converting a chance from Anthony DaCosta in the first half. Milliken then set up Matt Nikiciuk for a goal in the second half. Drew Nickla had the shutout in net, getting help from Ben Cohen, Hector Bucio, Jimmy Keane, Brady deVos and Mathias Taylor.
North Attleboro, 2 @ Foxboro, 1 – Final – North Attleboro broke the deadlock midway through the third quarter to earn two points on the road. With the score tied 1-1, North Attleboro senior Eddy Mendoza took a pair of touches before dishing off to Matt Conley, who one-touched Mendoza through on a textbook give-and-go and Mendoza finished in alone on the keeper to make it 2-1. The Rocketeers took the lead in the opening quarter when Connor Ward smashed a 30-yard bomb off the crossbar that bounced down and deflected off the keeper and in. Foxboro drew level in the second quarter when freshman John Hollis played Max Beigel into space and he cut his shot past a defender from just inside the 18-yard line. Big Red keeper David Floyd had a strong day in net, making two big saves in the fourth to preserve the win.
Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – A well-played, competitive match ended up with both Mansfield and Franklin earning a point on Wednesday night. Both coaches praised the work ethic from both sides and agreed it was a hard-fought match from both squads. Eric Sullivan earned the shutout in net behind a strong defensive performance from the Hornets. Franklin’s Luc Boudreau picked up his first shutout, earning the praise of head coach Fran Bositis for his continued improvement throughout the season.
Sharon, 2 @ Stoughton, 0 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game – Sharon scored a pair of second half goals to earn a pair of points on the road with a win over the Black Knights. Playing under the lights on the new turf at Stoughton, the Eagles peppered the Black Knights with a handful of good chances in the third quarter but Stoughton goalie Nolan Gerome stood on his head to keep Sharon off the board. Finally in the 56th minute, senior Bryce Nathan rifled a shot from distance that went just under the bar for a 1-0 lead. In the fourth, junior James Zhang took advantage of time and space atop the area and placed a perfectly weighted shot into the top corner to make it 2-0.
Girls Soccer
Attleboro, 1 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Attleboro scored midway through the first quarter and put in a solid defensive performance to get the road win and split the series with KP. Meghan Panzer got credit for the game’s only goal, when her cross deflected off a KP defender and into the back of the net. KP coach Gary Pichel said of Attleboro, “They played great defense all game long.”
Canton, 3 @ Oliver Ames, 1 – Final – Oliver Ames took an early lead but Canton responded with three unanswered goals to earn the win on the road. Lauren Sellmayer (from Emma Pereira) scored in the first quarter to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Elisa Diletizia scored a pair of goals and Mia Gilmore had a goal and an assist to bring the Bulldogs back on the road and keep Canton atop the Davenport division. Marissa Staffiere saved a penalty kick late in the second half to keep Canton ahead by two. Sarai Costello added an assist in the win.
Foxboro, 3 @ North Attleboro, 0 – Final – Jordyn Collins scored twice and assisted on another, as Foxboro swept the season series with North and kept the pressure on league-leading Canton. Collins had a hand in all four goals that Foxboro scored against North this week. She opened the scoring in the third quarter, assisted by Jordan Carman, and doubled the lead in the fourth, assisted by Kailee McCabe. In between the first two goals, North nearly equalized. Steph McKenna struck the crossbar and the ball went straight down but not over the line. Collins also set up McCabe for the third goal that sealed the points and keeps Foxboro within a point of Canton heading into two games against the Bulldogs next week. North coach Bill Wallace said that Summer Doherty, Charlotte Moynihan, and Jordyn Sullivan played well defensively.
Stoughton, 0 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Stoughton went on the road and earned its first point under first-year coach Hermes Lima. Shayla Ford moved from striker into defense for most of the game to try and slow down the Sharon attack. Lima said, “Shayla was by far my best player on the field today and played a heck of a game. We had our chances but could not capitalize but I am proud of the way the girls played today!” He also highlighted Isabella Rodrigues for her play moving from center mid to forward.
Field Hockey
Stoughton, 6 @ Sharon, 2 – Final
Golf
Franklin, 154 @ Mansfield, 145 – Final – Mansfield set a new home course record and finished undefeated against division opponents, clinching the Kelley-Rex division title outright with a win over Franklin. Mansfield senior Ryan Dow fired a two-under par round of 33 to pace the Hornets to the division title clinching win while Cian Goulet added a 36, and both Nate Morreale and Jason See shot 38. Franklin’s Nolan Norton shot an even par round of 35 while Pat Dolan added a 38 and Jack Paterson shot a 39.
Sharon, 181 @ Stoughton, 179 – Final – Stoughton earned its first win of the season with a two-stroke decision over Sharon at Easton Country Club. Max Huminik led the way for the Black Knights with a team-low round of 44. Anthony Hern, Jake Curtis, and Patrick Smith all chipped in with a 45. Eric Carter was the match medalist, leading Sharon with a low round of 42. Nathan Daley added a round of 45 for the Eagles.
King Philip, 149 @ Attleboro, 163 – Final
Oliver Ames, 166 @ Canton, 145 – Final – Canton completed an undefeated regular season with its second straight win over Oliver Ames. Nate MacDonald was the match medalist, shooting a low round of 35 to pace the Bulldogs. Thomas Singleton added a 36 while Will Gefteas and Ryan Doucette each shot a 37. Noah Isleib and David Rodgers led the way for OA, each carding a round of 41.
Foxboro, 154 @ North Attleboro 150 – Final – North Attleboro senior Aidan Weir and sophomore Dillon Harding both a great day on the links at Heather Hill Country Club, leading the Rocketeers to a win over visiting Foxboro. Weir and Harding split match medalist honors, shooting a one-over round of 36. Sam Gallagher and Tyler DeMattio each shot 39 in the win. Foxboro’s Dylan Quinn, Jack Watts, and Dylan Pothier each shot 38 while Mat Sullivan and Matt Fossella finished at 40.
Olivia Rodman (10) scored a pair of first quarter goals, propelling Canton to a win over North Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
CANTON, Mass. – On Monday night, it took Canton almost the full 80 minutes before they found the breakthrough goal and picked up a crucial two points. Two days later at WWII Veterans Memorial Field, the Davenport division-leading Bulldogs did all their scoring in the first quarter to make it a sweep of the series with North Attleboro.
Olivia Rodman scored twice in the opening nine minutes on Wednesday and the Canton defense recorded its third clean sheet of the season, leading the Bulldogs to a 2-0 win over North that keeps them two points clear of Foxboro at the top of the league standings.
While the attack, which is tied for the league lead with 25 goals this season, will get a lot of the attention, first-year coach Idris Senyonjo praised his defense for continuing to make things difficult for the opposition.
“That’s how we’re going to be able to win games like this, if you play as a whole team, defend as a team,” he said. “We’ve come a long, long way. You can’t win games if you don’t defend and for me that’s a key. Defensively, I’ve got to make sure we stay compact all the way from the forwards all the way to the back.”
Momentum seemed to carry over from the first meeting, as Canton jumped all over North in the opening quarter. The Bulldogs found a lot of success down the right wing. Alexandra Lopez found a lot of space out by the touchline and it was her crosses that led to the goals.
The first came after just five minutes. Lopez got free down the wing and played a low cross right to the foot of Rodman eight yards from goal. The Providence College-bound senior didn’t bother taking a touch, smashing a first-time shot inside the post, giving North keeper Kaylah Seavey no chance.
Five minutes later, another Lopez cross wasn’t fully cleared at the top of the box. Rodman harried the North defenders and kept the play alive. When the ball popped loose, Rodman was the first to react and hit a left-footed shot back across goal into the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead.
“This time, we played a different formation so we could counter what they were doing,” Senyonjo said about how his team adapted from the first game against North. “I wanted to be unpredictable. I put Alex there and they thought she wasn’t going to be a threat, but that’s where all the balls came from.”
North looked sluggish in the opening 20 minutes and struggled to put pressure on the Canton back line. A long ball from Autumn Hewitt nearly found the run of Emma Pratt but Canton goalie Elyse Broderick was out quickly to collect. Pratt also had a go from 20 yards that went wide, but that was about all that the Rocketeers could muster in the first.
“We were playing a little bit back on our heels,” North coach Bill Wallace explained, “so the space between midfield and forward was just too big and it’s something that we have to win more of those 50-50 balls in the middle of the field because if we’re constantly chasing then we’ve got two kids up top hung out to dry.”
There was a notable increase in energy from North after the first break. Two minutes into the second, Charlotte Moynihan’s free kick dropped in the penalty area but Anne Hoban was able to clear for the hosts.
Canton had one good look in the second. Sarai Costello played a through ball to Gabriella Herivaux, who fed Elisa Diletizia. She cut from left to right across the top of the box and forced Seavey into a diving save.
Chances continued to be few and far between for both teams in the second half as the aggression level increased in the midfield and both teams made it difficult for anyone to have time on the ball.
Moynihan had another good set piece midway through the third quarter trying to pick out the run of Steph McKenna but again Hoban was there to clear. North got its first shot on target with three minutes left in the quarter. HHaley Sinacola’s long free kick forcing Broderick into a leaping catch.
The Rocketeers kept battling and nearly got an equalizer early in the fourth. Moynihan’s corner from the right side hit Caroline Ferrin at the near post and freshman Ava Gilmore was in the right place to clear it off the line.
“I was very encouraged about the way we came back after that first period,” Wallace said. “The good news is they learned from it. We’re still a fairly young team and hopefully they can take this and say, we need to play a full 80 minutes.”
With six minutes to play, Diletizia came close to adding a third. A Costello corner picked out the forward in traffic and Diletizia’s flick came back off the post.
“For me coming in as a new coach, step by step you can see what we’re trying to do,” said Senyonjo about his team’s progression this season and about the challenge of facing the three teams (North, Oliver Ames, and Foxboro) who have accounted for the last seven Davenport titles. “I told them if we can get through this then we’ll be even better prepared for Monday.”
Canton (6-0-0) will continue its run against unbeaten teams when it hosts Oliver Ames for senior night on Monday. North Attleboro (2-2-2) will look to get back on track when it travels to defending champ Foxboro.
North Attleboro junior Steph McKenna has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for Oct. 11 through Oct. 17. McKenna is the second player chosen as Player of the Week for the 2020-21 school year.
North has bounced back from a tough season by earning points in each of its first four games and entered Monday’s games just two points back of league-leading Canton. McKenna was a key to a two-win week, scoring five goals and recording an assist as North followed up its two hard-fought draws against Oliver Ames to beat Stoughton twice and moved to 2-0-2 this fall.
“Steph has improved her one-on-one skills and winning the 50-50s,” said North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace. “What makes her fun to coach is how hard she works to continue to improve.”
After North scored one goal in its opening two games, the Rocketeers found its attacking groove this week. McKenna notched her first career hat trick on Wednesday, as North scored seven times and recorded its first win of the season. Two days later, in the rain, McKenna’s scoring touch continued with a brace and an assist and the Rocketeers added another seven goals as a team heading into this week’s showdown with the current division leaders.
The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision.
Steph McKenna
Steph McKenna The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision.
