09/03/201909/03/2019

Girls Soccer: 2019 Davenport Division Preview

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

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2019 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

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

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

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

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

Foxboro

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

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

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

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

Milford

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

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

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

North Attleboro

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

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

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

Sharon

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

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

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

Stoughton

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

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

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

09/03/201809/03/2018

Girls Soccer: 2018 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2018 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

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

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

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

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

Foxboro

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

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

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

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

Milford

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

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

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

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

North Attleboro

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

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

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

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

Sharon

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

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

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

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

Stoughton

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

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

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

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

09/11/2017

Second Half Adjustments Spark Bombardiers’ Comeback

Attleboro girls soccer — Attleboro’s Abigail Guardado and Stoughton’s Sarah Widrow battle for possession in the second half. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

STOUGHTON, Mass. – Attleboro used a slight adjustment in its formation and renewed energy in the second half to earn a 2-1 comeback win on the road at Stoughton.

The Knights came out with high energy, which resulted in a majority of the possession and play in their attacking third. It also resulted in a lead for Stoughton just over the midway point.

But Attleboro head coach Steve Santos tinkered with his five-member midfield at the break, pushing certain pieces forward to close down the space Stoughton was working with.

That change, along with a renewed energy and a pair of fortunate bounces helped the Bombardiers earn two points.

“Stoughton played really well in the first half, they wanted it and they came out with a lot more energy than we did,” Santos said. “They got the reward for working hard and we kind of put our heads down. We had a talk at half and the energy came in the second half, we had a little bit more intensity. The girls just worked for it, and we got the bounce in the end.

“We’re working on our confidence and being in situations we’re not used to being in. We got the bounce today and we’ll move forward and try to build on it tomorrow.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Attleboro had a pair of chances inside the first 20 minutes of the game, with senior Alison Wall tracking down a through ball and firing a shot from atop the area, but Stoughton keeper Emma Harrington was there for the save.

Just five minutes later, sophomore Sophia Salviatiplayed a through ball for freshman Briley Harnois, but her bid at the far post just slid wide.

Stoughton continued its pressure and began to register chances. Junior Elizabeth Kashian put the first shot on frame with a low big from the top of the area, but Attleboro keeper Madison Brown scooped up the shot.

But two minutes later, the Black Knights were able to break through. Mackenzie Manning delivered a cross that was flicked on by Sarah Widrow behind the defense. Stoughton sophomore Chinazo Odunza raced in and was able to slide her shot in to make it 1-0 in the 27th minute.

Stoughton had a chance to add to its lead in the 37th minute when a corner kick dropped just a yard off the goal line, but a scrum ensued and Attleboro was able to clear it. Harrington took away a chance from Attleboro’s Isabella Salviati on the other end by charging off the line.

“We had five midfielders but I felt like they were dropping too deep, giving Stoughton some space and they were using it to get forward,” Santos said. “I had them move up and take away that space and that helped us in the second half.”

The shift paid dividends right away as the Bombardiers put the pressure on early on in the second half. After a ball was cleared, Attleboro put a long ball back into the box that accidentally hit a Stoughton’s players raised hand, giving the Bombardiers a penalty kick.

Harnois stepped up and placed her shot into the bottom left corner to bring the Bombardiers level.

“In the first game against Canton, she had a couple of opportunities to put the ball away and she missed a couple that I’m sure she wished she had back,” Santos said. “But she showed it today, she has a promising future. She works hard and she knows how to be in the right spot to get things done.”

Attleboro kept the pressure up throughout the second half. Julia Hayes had a shot from distance turned away by Harrington off a bounce. Five minutes later, Morgan LaPlume played a perfect ball through Stoughton’s back line for Ashley Lauzier, but Harrington came charging off her line and made a great sliding save.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Shortly after Harrington came out for the sliding save, the Knights went on the counter attack. A touch from Manning put her in along with Odunze, but Attleboro defender Jordyn Foote thwarted the attack.

In the final minutes, the Bombardiers got their reward for continual pressure. Harnois whipped in a cross in the 78th minute that took a deflection off a Stoughton defender and found the back of the net to make it 2-1.

“It was a well-fought game,” said Stoughton head coach Tara Daniels. “We just had two unlucky things happen in the second half and it cost us the game. The girls played tough, they played hard. I think this year is going to be a turning point for us looking at the two first results.”

Attleboro girls soccer (1-1 Hockomock, 1-1 overall) returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Sharon. Stoughton (0-2, 0-2) travels to Mansfield on the same day to take on the Hornets.

09/04/201709/04/2017

Girls Soccer: 2017 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2017 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

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

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

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

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

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

Foxboro

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

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

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

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

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

Milford

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

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

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

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

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

North Attleboro

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

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

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

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

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

Sharon

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

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

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

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

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

Stoughton

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

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

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

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

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

09/07/2016

Girls Soccer: 2016 Davenport Division Preview

By HockomockSports.com Staff

2016 Davenport Girls Soccer Preview

Canton

2015 Record: 13-5-1
2015 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinal
Coach: Kate Howarth

The Bulldogs will be happy to see Oliver Ames move on to the Kelley-Rex after finishing just behind the Tigers in the Davenport title race each of the past two seasons. Head coach Kate Howarth is now in her fourth season and Canton seems poised to make an even bigger impact this year with a number of returning players, despite still being a very young team that has only three seniors on the roster.

Canton’s strength starts at the back where senior goalie Kathryn Doody has developed into a solid shot stopper and also an extra sweeper who can cover when the defense steps up to press the play. Just in front of the keeper, Sarah Connolly will be in her third year on varsity and brings “loads of experience,” according to Howarth.

Junior Riley Duserick is back to run the middle of the pitch for the Bulldogs after a pair of all-star seasons. Her range of passing and her long-range shooting will force defenses to keep an eye on her at all times, which can open lanes for the pass into senior forwards Hannah Link and Tessa Cudmore. Both are in their fourth year on varsity and Howarth is counting on their experience to be in the right place to finish opportunities.

Howarth added, “We have some great depth this year. When we make subs I don’t think our quality will go down at all and that is very exciting.”

Foxboro

2015 Record: 9-9-0
2015 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round
Coach: Kaitlin Lamothe-Vaughn

The Warriors were one of several teams that battled injuries last season. Foxboro started the fall without its starting keeper, one of its primary forwards and with its star midfielder playing through an injury suffered in the off-season. The Warriors still reached the postseason but with a full roster set to start 2016, expectations are even higher.

The key player is junior midfielder Lily Sykes, who head coach Kaitlin Lamothe-Vaughn referred to as the team’s “rock.” Sykes has recovered from the injury problems she dealt with last year and will be the primary playmaker in behind the forwards. She will have plenty of experienced players to look for with the return of senior Kristen Bortolotti, who was one of Foxboro’s top scorers as a sophomore but missed all of last year with injury. Also up top, the Warriors will feature Olivia Dantona, Shaina Abbott, and Hannah Burns.

Another key returner is senior goalie Hallie Canfield, who missed significant time last year. She adds even more confidence to a returning back four of seniors Devon Mollica, Lauren Flahive, and Jamie Gorman and sophomore Alex Stamatos. With Hailey Maling and Riley Collins running the wings, Foxboro has plenty of familiar talent coming back to try and win the program’s first league title since 1993.

Milford

2015 Record: 8-9-2
2015 Finish: Reached D1 South Preliminary Round
Coach: Jay Mastaj

For the past several seasons, Milford has been incorporating younger players in an effort to get back to the postseason, but injury troubles have limited the Hawks in the ultra-competitive Hock. This year, the Hawks have a good balance between senior leadership and young talent and could be poised for a breakthrough season.

The key players for Milford are senior captains Nicole Dahlgren, who is a strong presence in the center of defense with the ability to step into the midfield, and Kristen Franzini, who was the team’s leading scorer from a year ago with nine goals. The four-year starters will have help from midfielder Maggie Boyle and defender Rachel LeBlanc.

Head coach Jay Mastaj is excited about a strong crop of freshmen, including Maddie Boyle, Ashleigh Starks, Annie Flanagan, and Juliana France. Mastaj said that the team has plenty of depth this season. He added, “This is the most talented team that we have fielded in my four years here at Milford.”

North Attleboro

2015 Record: 13-5-3
2015 Finish: Reached D1 South Semifinal
Coach: Glenn Pasquel

While the Rocketeers had a solid regular season under first-year head coach Glenn Pasquel, not many expected North Attleboro to make a run through league rivals OA and Franklin to reach the Div. 1 South semifinal (a 2-1 loss to Whitman-Hanson). Key players like Hana Caster and Grace Guertin are gone, but North has a lot of returning talent for its first season in the Davenport and expectations are high at Kelly Field.

Much of the excitement around the program is in the attacking third where junior Haley Guertin will try to have another season like 2015 in which she scored 19 goals, led the league in scoring, and was named HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. She will receive help up top from winger Felicity Monfils, who emerged last year as a threat on the right wing for the Rocketeers. Emily Schromm and Julianna DiRenzo will try to fill the holes in midfield from the strong crop that graduated.

Goals are important but it was the development of the North defense that propelled the Rocketeers to a tournament run. The move of Rachel Labonte to sweeper turned into a masterstroke as she seemed to block every attack and move the ball quickly back into the attack. Emily Chiasson will join Labonte in the back line in front of new goalie Emma Noreck. Pasquel said, “Great start to the season, plenty of returning players…Looking forward to a great season.”

Sharon

2015 Record: 3-13-2
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Brad Furnival

First-year head coach Brad Furnival has spent the preseason installing his style of play and building the organization needed to compete in the Hockomock League. So far, he said that results have been positive and he is excited to get the season underway. It may be a new coaching staff, but the Eagles have plenty of familiar names from last year’s young and talented squad.

Senior captains Anna Crosby and Ally Steinberg will be the players that Furnival is expecting to be leaders on and off the pitch and both have the potential to make an impact in the midfield. Ally Filipkowski has the foot skills and moves to create scoring chances for herself and her teammates.

In addition, Sharon will also have St. Michael’s College-commit Victoria Zambello and Ithaca College lacrosse commits Alex and Samantha Rabb back this season to add aggressiveness and energy to the team. There is a lot of talent on hand and Furnival is trying to find the right “vision” to mold the talent into a competitive team. He said, “I’m looking to have the perfect balance this season between players with a technical and physical prowess, which will make Sharon a much harder team to play against.”

Stoughton

2015 Record: 4-14-0
2015 Finish: Missed playoffs
Coach: Tara Daniels

Head coach Tara Daniels enters her second season with the Black Knights looking to continue the development of the program to compete in the very competitive Davenport division. Stoughton has several players that Daniels believes could make a big impact this season and see the Black Knights make a move up the standings.

The key for Stoughton will be the midfield where Emerson Sprague will try to run things from the center of the pitch. Daniels praised Sprague’s distribution and her ability to keep the Black Knights in possession. On the outside, senior captain Amelia Cochran will be racing up and down the wing and junior Mia Greene will be helping Sprague with the playmaking duties. Up front, sophomore Gabby Diaz will try to build on a solid freshman campaign.

The defense is led by junior captain Sarah Wildrow. Daniels said of the vocal outside back, “I’ve never seen Sarah get out-hustled.” Daniels added, “Hard work and staying healthy will be key to our success. Our goal this season is to keep our mind focused on teamwork and connecting passes.”

11/20/2015

Saturday's Schedule & Scoreboard – 11/21/15

Today games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
D2 State Final
#3 Oliver Ames, 3 vs. #9 Masconomet, 1 – Final – Masco took the lead in the 13th minute but goals from Chris Romero and Nathaniel Cardoza put Oliver Ames up at halftime. Thomas McCormick added a third for the Tigers in the second half off an assist from sophomore Matt Alvarado. This is the first time in program history Oliver Ames has won a state title.
HockomockSports.com Soccer Charity All Star Event
Attleboro High School
Boys Soccer
White/Blue Team, 7 vs. Gold Team, 1 – Final – Milford’s Justin Borges scored the lone goal of the first half in the 28th minute to give White a lead at the break. Nine minutes into the second half, Foxboro’s Anthony Barreira doubled the lead and just four minutes later Stoughton freshman Fabio Ponce de Leon got on the end of a cross from North Attleboro’s Matt Coscarella to make it 3-0 White. Stoughton’s Tyler Melo flicked in Barreira for his second of the game and three minutes later, Melo touched to Franklin’s Austin Kent who found Barreira for his hat trick to make it 5-0. Sharon’s Jake Goloboy and King Philip’s Cam Mullins added goals within a minute to make it 7-0. Taunton’s Austin Botelho got on the end of a scramble inside the area in the final minute to get Gold on the board. Thank you to Stoughton head coach Aaron Salter and Attleboro assistant Steve Rodrigues for coaching. Rosters for the game can be viewed here.
Girls Soccer
White/Blue Team, 5 vs. Gold Team, 3 – Final – North Attleboro’s Hana Caster put White up five minutes into the game but Franklin’s Victoria Stowell leveled the match in first half extra time off a free kick from Oliver Ames’ Zoe Chazan. Attleboro’s Rebekah Entwistle pushed White ahead shortly after the break but Victoria Stowell pulled it even within a minute. Mansfield’s Jen Kemp have White another lead in the 50th minute but Canton’s Sarah MacQuarrie linked up with Attleboro’s Paige Medeiros to make it 3-3. Kemp grabbed her second of the game to make it 4-3 and with 10 minutes to play, Franklin’s Alexis Stowell added a fifth goal for Gold. Thank you to Stoughton’s Tara Daniels and Taunton’s Edie Dixon for coaching. Rosters for the game can be viewed here.

11/20/2015

Saturday’s Schedule & Scoreboard – 11/21/15

10/06/2015

Tuesday's Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/06/15

Today’s games are listed below.
Boys Soccer
North Attleboro, 0 @ Foxboro, 5 – Final – Anthony Barreira, Devante Teixeira, Joey Morrison and Hussein Kafel each scored a goal and recorded an assist while freshman Nic Biegel scored a goal and sophomore Cam Cass had an assist.
Franklin, 3 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Franklin’s Kevin Hall scored 10 minutes into the second half off an assist from Brian Czuba to break a scoreless stalemate. Farley Asmath doubled the lead off an assist from Austin Kent and Czuba then created an opportunity that resulted in an own goal.

King Philip, 1 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final – Sophomore Tyler Melo scored the game’s opening goal for the Black Knights and Loubensky Lucas added a second late in the half to double the lead. Head coach Aaron Salter said Josh Mitchell and Brian Peoples both played very well.
Girls Soccer
Foxboro, 2 @ North Attleboro, 4 – Final – For the second time in as many games, North Attleboro senior Hana Caster and sophomore Haley Guertin were the two primary players in three goals. Each Caster and Guertin scored twice with Guertin assisting on both of Caster’s goals. Guertin’s first goal was assisted by sister Grace Guertin.
Milford, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – Victoria Stowell scored two goals and had an assist for Franklin. Alexis Stowell, Jess Kroushl and Emily Mastaj each had goals for the Panthers and Megan Georges had a pair of assists. Brianna Braza and Rachel LeBlanc played well for the Hawks, according to head coach Jay Mastaj.
Stoughton, 3 @ King Philip, 2 – Final – Taryn Bates’ first career goal off an assist from Sarah Quattrucci proved to be the game winner for the Black Knights. Sam Tullis converted a penalty kick for Stoughton and Elizabeth Kashian scored the second goal for the Black Knights off an assist from Shanel Ford. Head coach Tara Daniels credited Samantha Tullis and Sarah Widrow with strong games on defense and said goalie Marissa Williams played outstanding. Rachel Hogan scored for KP to tie the game at one and Emma Corcoran gave KP its lone lead off a PK in the first half.
Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Taunton picked up a 25-17, 25-17, 25-10 win on the road. Aimee Kistner had 19 service points, including five aces and a pair of kills, Emily Moor had 12 kills and four aces and Meghan Navarro played well with eight digs and three aces.
Field Hockey
Franklin, 2 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final – Alex Sullivan gave Franklin the lead 10 minutes into the game and Dana Lewandowski doubled the lead with just 12 minutes left to give the Panthers a key win on the road. Head coach Lisa Cropper said Samantha Jones made four big saves on excellent scoring chances to get the shutout. With the win, Franklin qualified for the state tournament.

Milford, 0 @ Ashland, 3 – Final

North Attleboro, 4 vs. Durfee, 2 – Final
Taunton, 2 @ Sharon, 0 – Final – Liana Duarte opened the scoring for the Tigers in the first half and then assisted on Kya Enos’ goal with just over a minute to play. Duarte’s opening goal was assisted by Abbey Kingman.

Stoughton, 4 @ Brockton, 0 – Final – Olivia Schlehuber and Mia Russell scored two goals apiece for the Black Knights.
Cross Country
Boys
Attleboro, 41 @ Mansfield, 18 – Final

Canton, 30 @ Stoughton, 25 – Final – Stoughton’s Colin Cochran finished second, Cameron Bean was third and Zachary Ferreira finished fourth to pace the Black Knights. Jonathan Lessa was sixth and Nick Quattruci finished 10th for Stoughton.

Milford, 20 @ Foxboro, 35 – Final

Taunton, 37 @ Franklin, 23 – Final – Franklin’s Ryan Spelman finished first in 16:26 and then the Panthers took fourth through eighth place. Tyler Marchioni (4th, 17:03), Jeff Wu (5th, 17:09), and Jimmy Robbins (6th, 17:10) all finished within 10 seconds. Taunton’s Trevor Wysong finished second and Dylan Lynch finished third.
King Philip, 40 @ North Attleboro, 18 – Final
Sharon, 33 @ Oliver Ames, 23 – Final
Girls
Attleboro, 42 @ Mansfield, 17 – Final
Canton, 24 @ Stoughton, 33 – Final – Stoughton got top five finishes from Jennifer Billo (3rd), Sara Vera-Cruz (4th) and Julia Bobeck (5th)

Milford, 33 @ Foxboro, 24 – Final

Taunton, 48 @ Franklin, 15 – Final
King Philip, 26 @ North Attleboro, 31 – Final – North Attleboro’s Annie Roberts dominated the three mile course with a time of 18:55 to finish first but King Philip took the next four spots. Erin Quinn finished second (19:59), Nina Sitarski finished third (20:06), Erica Layne was fourth (20:30) and Leia Quinn was fifth (20:39).

Sharon, 27 @ Oliver Ames, 28 – Final
Golf
Foxboro, 180 @ Franklin, 170 – Final – Franklin Sophomore Bryan Woelfel shot a 41 for the Panthers and David Hardin shot a 42. Tim Luciano and Brandon Wasserman each shot 44 for Foxboro.

Canton, 162 @ Oliver Ames, 139 – Final – Jack Green shot a one under 33 to lead the Tigers while Brian Lambert shot a par 34, Ryan McGarry shot 35 and Steven Tasho carded a 37. Jack Goyetch and Griffin Jerrier each shot a 40 for the Bulldogs.

Sharon, 172 @ Stoughton, 178 – Final
King Philip, 179 @ Mansfield, 168 – Final

North Attleboro, 162 @ Milford, 164 – Final – Robbie Congdon led the Rocketeers with a 39. Milford’s Ryan Tomaso was the match medalist, shooting a one under 34.
Taunton, 158 vs. Coyle & Cassidy, 176 – Final – Jason Stern carded a team-low 37 for the Tigers while Mario Wilson and Mike Volkmann each shot 40.

10/01/2015

Friday's Schedule & Scoreboard – 10/02/15

Today’s games are listed below.
Game of the Week – Football
Foxboro, 10 @ Canton, 7 – Final
1st Quarter: (C) Woanyen Mahn 4 yard rush, Thomas Monagle XP good.
2nd Quarter: No scoring.
3rd Quarter: (F) Mark Clagg 43 yard pass to Ronnie Martin, John Cronin XP good; J. Cronin 29 yard field goal.
4th Quarter: No scoring.
Football
Attleboro, 42 @ Taunton, 6 – Final
1st Quarter: (A) Brendan Nunes 14 yard rush, Lewis XP good; (A) John Burns 35 yard rush, Lewis XP good.
2nd Quarter: (A) B. Nunes 51 yard rush, McKenna XP good; (A) J. Burns 4 yard rush, McKenna XP good.
3rd Quarter: (A) Ethan Dubeau 15 yard rush, McKenna XP good.
4th Quarter: (A) Sam Corrado 2 yard rush, XP failed; (T) Jason DaRosa 1 yard rush, 2pt failed.
Mansfield, 7 @ King Philip, 15 – Final
1st Quarter: No scoring.
2nd Quarter: (M) Brian Lynch 40-yard pass to Nick Graham, D. DeSousa XP good; (KP) Giovanni Fernandez 1-yard rush, Z. Boari XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (KP) Alex Olsen 1-yard rush, John DeLuca 2-point rush.

Oliver Ames, 8 @ Milford, 42 – Final
1st Quarter: (M) Zach Lanzetta 19 yard pass to Blake Hill, Sean Lehane XP good.
2nd Quarter: (M) Z. Lanzetta 30 yard pass to B. Hill, S. Lehane XP good; (M) Z. Lanzetta 14 yard pass to Leo Moronta, S. Lehane XP good; (M) Z. Lanzetta 23 yard pass to Jack DeSantis, S. Lehane XP good.
3rd Quarter: No scoring.
4th Quarter: (M) B. Hill 1 yard rush, S. Lehane XP good; (M) Shapel Feaster 45 yard rush, S. Lehane XP good; (OA) Aidan Connly 4 yard rush, Kyle Gagliardi 2pt rush.

Sharon, 14 @ Stoughton, 34 – Final
1st Quarter: (Sto) Christian Hill 4 yard rush, XP failed.
2nd Quarter: (Sto) Ryan Sullivan 7 yard rush, 2pt failed; (Sto) C. Hill 5 yard rush, R. Sullivan 2pt rush.
3rd Quarter: (Sto) Jordan Taylor 1 yard rush, Guy Eddy 2pt rush.
4th Quarter: (Sha) Juvan Elisma 1 yard rush, 2pt failed; (Sto) Nick Hardy 10 yard rush, XP fail; (Sha) J. Elisma 25 yard rush, 2pt good.

Franklin @ North Attleboro – Postponed to 10/3 at 4:00
Boys Soccer
North Attleboro, 0 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Zach Rodrigues scored once in the first half and then again in the second half to pace the Bombardiers over rival North. Junior Coca also scored a first half goal for Attleboro.

Foxboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBA

Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 0 – Final – Hatim Brahimi put the visitors in front off an assist from Brian Czuba and Franklin took a 1-0 lead into the break. Senior Nick Parent then iced the game with a late goal in the second half off an assist from senior Austin Kent.

Taunton, 1 @ Mansfield, 4 – Final – Five minutes into the game, sophomore Sean Lanzillo put the hosts on the board off an assist from Jack Rielly. Just over 15 minutes later, senior Jared Miller doubled the lead for the Hornets off an assist from Charlie Rogers to take a 2-0 lead into the break. Five minutes into the second half, Lanzillo set up Rogers for Mansfield’s third goal and just 10 mintues later Brendan Sullivan finished off a pass from Jareme DiLoranzo to make it 4-0. Austin Botelho scored a late goal for Taunton.

Milford @ Stoughton – Postponed to TBA
Girls Soccer
North Attleboro, 5 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Sophomore Haley Guertin and senior Hana Caster linked up three times for the Rocketeers to get a big win on the road over rival Attleboro. Caster set up Guertin for North Attleboro’s first and third goals while Guertin set up Caster for the Rocketeers’ fourth goal. Leah Jette scored North Attleboro’s second goal off an assist from Felicity Monfils and Caster added her second on a breakaway. Paige Medeiors scored Attleboro’s goal.

Canton @ Sharon – Postponed to TBA

Foxboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to TBA
King Philip, 0 @ Franklin, 2 – Final – Bailey Knous and Alexis Stowell each scored goals for the Panthers.

Taunton, 0 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – Jackie Carchedi had a goal and an assist for the Hornets. Jen Kemp had the second goal and Emily Gaumond made four saves to record her fifth shutout of the season.

Stoughton, 0 @ Milford, 2 – Final – Katie Brown and Kristen Franzini each scored for Milford and Maggie Boyle had her fourth assist of the season. Stoughton goalie Marissa Williams made 12 saves in her first game back from injury. Stoughton head coach Tara Daniels said Samantha Tullis, Sarah Quattrucci, and Sarah Widrow kept Stoughton’s back field strong.
Volleyball
North Attleboro, 3 @ Attleboro, 0 – Final
Oliver Ames, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final – Oliver Ames picked up its third straight win with a 25-20, 20-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-9 win on the road. Bridget McCarthy led Oliver Ames with 48 assists and Emma Petrillo controlled the offense with 22 kills.

Franklin, 3 @ King Philip, 1 – Final – The Panthers picked up a key Kelley-Rex win with scores of 28-26, 26-24, 19-25, 25-21. Dayna McCue had 30 digs and four aces, Aubrie Kutil and Beth Neal each had 10 kills while Kutil added an ace and Neal had a pair of aces and blocks and 13 assists. Franklin Head coach Kate Horsmann said Caroline Maguire had a huge role defensively at the net with four blocks and three kills. For King Philip, Josie Rowean led the team in attacks and had six service points in game one, Gwen Uyrus added seven service points in game two, Emma Lopez had eight service points in game three, and Amanda Loewen had five digs.

Taunton, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 – Final – In a back and forth affair, Taunton snapped its three game skid with a 11-25, 29-27, 25-20, 16-25, 15-12 win. Tatum Speicher wa the catalyst for the offense with 39 assists, six digs and three kills. Molly Sullivan had 29 serve receives and 16 digs while Meghan Navarro solidified the back row with 15 digs and three aces. Mansfield sophomore Meg Hill had 13 hills, Juliana Newell added eight kills and Jess Haradon had 17 digs.

Milford, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton rallied from a 2-1 deficit to pull off a 13-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13 win in thrilling fashion. Stoughton senior Bianca DeSousa had 20 assists, 15 digs, 27 service points and 10 aces and sophomore Valerie Whalen had 15 blocks and 6 kills. Stoughton head coach Ken Gay said Elizabeth Slade had outstanding defensive play for the Black Knights. For Milford, Jill Powers had a team-best 12 kills while Kara Halpin, Aleye Momodu and Kayla Antonellis each had seven kills apiece. Lauren Zouranjian and Allie Collins combined for 41 assists.
Field Hockey
Taunton @ Mansfield – Postponed to 10/30 at 3:30
Golf
Mansfield, 160 @ North Attleboro, 166 – Final

Canton, 171 @ Franklin, 180 – Final – Canton sophomore Jack Goyetch was the match medalist, shooting a 40 for the day. Bryan Woelfel shot a 43 for the Panthers.