Baseball
Stoughton @ Attleboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ Taunton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Milford @ King Philip – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/28 at 3:45.
Sharon @ Mansfield – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to a Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Softball
Taunton @ Foxboro – Postponed to Friday, 4/12 at 4:00.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Friday, 4/12 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Monday, 4/22 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Milford – Postponed to Tuesday, 5/28 at 3:45.
Boys Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 7 @ Canton, 8 – Final – Canton’s Tommy Vaughan scored the game-winning goal with just a couple minutes left in the game, breaking a 7-7 game to give the Bulldogs the win. North Attleboro led 3-1 after a quarter and 4-1 at halftime but Canton exploded to six goals in the third to seize a 7-4 lead. The Rocketeers scored three times for knot the game before Vaughan tallied his fourth goal for the winner. Griffin Roach, David Allen, Brendan Clifford, and Dan Cohen each scored once for the Bulldogs. CHS coach Bill Bendell said sophomore Jeff Fitzpatrick dominance at the faceoff X and Brendan Albert’s fantastic effort on defense were huge factors in the win. Ryan Rajotte paced North Attleboro with two goals and two assists while Nick Ward added two goals. Jake McNeany made 16 saves in goal for the Rocketeers.
Attleboro, 5 @ Oliver Ames, 19 – Final – Click here for a photo gallery from this game. – Oliver Ames built an 8-3 lead at by halftime and never looked back in a win over visiting Attleboro. Hunter Costello had a team-high five goals while Shane Kilkelly, Sandro Mascierelli, Sam Stevens and Colin Bourne each scored three times. Remi Creighton (four points) won eight of 10 faceoffs for the Tigers. Attleboro’s Zach Thomas scored twice while Michael Strachan, Matt Perry, and Keigan Conley each scored once for Attleboro.
Sharon, 4 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro held just a one-goal advantage at halftime (4-3) but outscored the Eagles 4-0 in the third to pull away for the win. Shayne Kerrigan scored scored twice in the third while Brendan Tully (two goals) and Pete Conley each scored once to put the Warriors ahead 8-3 entering the fourth. Charlie Baughan finished with three goals for Foxboro.
Milford, 1 @ Franklin, 20 – Final
Stoughton, 3 @ King Philip, 17 – Final – King Philip improved to 3-0 on the season with a win over Hockomock League foe Stoughton. Colin DeVellis paced the offense with four goals and four assists while Andrew Sajdak added three goals and two helpers for the Warriors. Sam Mattson added a hat trick and Matt Minkwitz finished with two goals.
Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 14 @ Attleboro, 7 – Final – Five different players found the back of the net to help Oliver Ames earn a win on the road at Attleboro. Maddie Kullen also had a strong performance in net for the Tigers. Kyra Lyons and Sydney DiLiddo scored three goals apiece for Attleboro while Rylee Fontes added one goal.
Canton, 12 @ North Attleboro, 13 – Final
Foxboro @ Sharon – Postponed to Monday, 4/22 at 6:15.
Franklin, 16 @ Milford, 1 – Final – Kelsey MacCallum scored three goals and had one assist while Sara Carney found the back of the net twice to pace the Panthers to a win on the road.
Taunton, 3 @ Mansfield, 18 – Final – Mansfield coach Lauryn Wilkie credited the Hornets with a big improvement as a team from the season opener, as the hosts jumped out to a 12-3 lead at halftime and shutout the Tigers after the break. Lauren Whitman scored six times and Katie Garvin had four goals and four assists. Katie McCarthy made a pair of saves for the Hornets. Wilkie added, “We played very well in the midfield, winning draws and connecting on our transition.” She also praised the defense for holding Taunton to just three goals and causing a number of turnovers, while also praising Taunton’s goalie for making a number of saves against the Mansfield attack.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro @ Stoughton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45 at Attleboro.
Franklin @ Canton – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
Taunton @ Foxboro – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Oliver Ames @ North Attleboro – Postponed to Friday, 4/26 at 3:45.
Mansfield @ Sharon – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
King Philip @ Milford – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Girls Tennis
Stoughton @ Attleboro – Postponed to Monday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Canton @ Franklin – Postponed to Thursday, 4/11 at 3:45.
Foxboro @ Taunton – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
North Attleboro @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to Friday, 4/26 at 3:45.
Sharon @ Mansfield – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Milford @ King Philip – Postponed to Tuesday, 4/9 at 3:45.
Boys Volleyball
Taunton, 3 @ Brockton, 2 – Final – Taunton pulled out a five-set win on the road over the Boxers to improve to 3-2 on the season. Gage Kingman had a strong all-around game for the Tigers, registering 22 kills, 20 digs, two blocks, and an ace. Chris LaCourse finished with 41 assists, two kills, and two aces, Damir Santiago added 10 kills, two aces, and two blocks, and Tyler Stewart chipped in with nine kills and five blocks.
Canton junior Griffin Roach scored with 1:38 remaining in the first overtime to lift the Bulldogs to a dramatic victory over Scituate in 2018. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
2018 Record: 5-13 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Kevin Patton
The Bombardiers will boast a relatively young group in 2019 but are still ready to compete in a difficult Hockomock League.
With a total of 14 underclassmen – eight sophomores and six freshmen – there will certainly be learning curves and some ups and downs throughout the year, but those new faces are hungry to improve throughout the season.
Attleboro’s strong suit will be in net as Hockomock League All-Star Trevor Koppy, a captain for this year’s team, returns to the cage. Koppy is one of the most experienced netminders in the league and the Bombardiers will be relying on him for his play plus his leadership as a captain. Attleboro will also rely on the leadership on and off the field by junior captain Tom Shipman, who will be a key piece in the midfield.
Shipman will be joined by senior Zach Thomas and sophomores Michael Strachan and Aidan Diggin in the midfield. All four have plenty of varsity experience so Attleboro will certainly rely on them to guide the way as the younger players are incorporated into the lineup. Sophomore Matthew Perry returns up front while junior Jack Handy is back defensively.
The Bombardiers are hoping junior Bryson Friess and freshman Fred Wheaton will make an impact defensively while freshmen Keigan Conley and Jack Lamothe will bolster the attack. Freshman Ryan Betts will also be apart of the midfield unit this season.
We are a young team…but they’re all ready to contribute quality minutes,” said Attleboro coach Kevin Patton, who switched from the girl’s team to the boys this Spring. “With Trevor Koppy and Tommy Shipman, our captains, they are prepared to lead the team to the next level. I’m looking forward to the future of the program!”
2018 Record: 10-8 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinals Coach: Bill Bendell
After missing out on the playoffs in 2017, Canton put together a memorable 2018 campaign that ended in the D2 South Sectional Semifinals. The Bulldogs are looking to replicate that success and make another deep tournament run again this year.
And with a good amount of players back from last year’s squad, there is a lot of optimism that tournament run can happen. Senior Griffin Roach, a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection, will pace the offense again this year. Roach had 30 goals and 17 assists last year and his competitiveness is contagious to those around him. Roach will be joined by classmate Dan Cohen, a Hockomock League honorable mention selection. Cohen is a dangerous player, scoring 24 goals in the regular season last year.
David Allen, Chris Lavoie, Brendan Clifford, and Matt Martin are great athletes and capable scorers as well, while Tommy Vaughan will look to make an impact with his playmaking ability. On defense, the Bulldogs will turn to Brendan Albert and Nick Mackay, who head coach Bill Bendell called two of the most underrated players in the Hockomock League. Both possess a boatload of experience at the varsity level and will anchor the Bulldog defensive group. George Kent and James Murphy will also be apart of Canton’s defense while Shane Marshall, Sam Walsh, Jack Albert, and Carson Campbell will all see time and make key contributions this seasons, Bendell said.
Sophomore Dylan Coyne will take over in net for the Bulldogs and has had a strong preseason so far. Bendell believes Coyne is poised for a breakout year. Jeff Fitzgerald, Tommy Ghostlaw, and Mackay will all be in the running to handle faceoff duties.
“We are very excited about our offensive and defensive potential,” Bendell said. “Our varsity depth is not what we would like it to be at this point, but a few players have shown flashes of potential that make us think we will be much deeper come Memorial Day.”
Foxboro will have a young squad with just five seniors this year but that doesn’t mean there will be a lack of experience from the defending Davenport division champions.
Senior Brendan Tully sets the example with his work ethic but is also one of the most dangerous players in the Hockomock League. A Providence College commit, Tully has tormented defenses for the past two seasons. He had 44 goals and 22 assists last year and will be one of Foxboro’s main weapons. Tully will be joined by Bobby Yerardi, who had over 40 points as a sophomore and has improved his game in the offseason. His ability to finish right or left makes life difficult for opponents.
The Warriors bring back junior Shayne Kerrigan for faceoffs. Kerrigan is one of the best in the area on the draw and puts Foxboro in good positions time after time; he will be a key piece in the midfield for the Warriors. Junior Pete Conley, Aiden Stapleton, and Charlie Baughan will make the up the attacking group for Foxboro this year.
Pat Stapleton is one of the most experienced players in the league as well as one of the top defensive players. He will anchor a defensive unit that has been one of the best in the region over the past couple of seasons. He will be joined by juniors Ronnie MacLellan and Will Morrison. All three players have the ability to move up to LSM when needed.
One question mark for the Warriors could be goalie, as Foxboro graduated Hockomock League MVP Jake Addeche. Head coach Matt Noone is confident in his options this season, with four players competing for the time in the cage. Freshman Matt Tully is beginning the season as the starter.
“I am really looking forward to this season as we are young but dangerous,” Noone said. “The best thing about this team is our depth, there is competition for every spot and they love to compete! What more can you ask for?”
Franklin has had a lot of success in recent years, and that trend looks like it will continue in 2019.
“The outlook for this season is very good,” said Franklin head coach Lou Verrochi. “It could be one of the best teams we’ve had at FHS.”
The reason for the high expectations is the amount of talent returning from last year’s Kelley-Rex team that reached the D1 South Quarterfinals. Although the Panthers graduated two-time All-American and two-time HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Eric Civetti and starting goalie Connor O’Rourke, Franklin has experience and talent back at each position.
It all will start with senior Jacob Alexander, who has been arguably the best faceoff man in the entire state over the past couple of seasons. Alexander’s ability to consistently win draws gives Franklin a huge advantage and sets the offense in motion. Patrick Morrison, a second-team All-American selection last season, will anchor the defensive unit for the Panthers this year along with Will Harvey, who was one of the most underrated players last year. Will Davis, who saw time in net some last year, is set to take over in the cage and could be one of the top netminders in the league.
The Franklin midfield will consist of Nitin Chaudhury – one of the hardest working athletes in any sport – along with Owen Palmieri and Ben Kolb, who has really impressed in scrimmages during the preseason. Franklin’s attack could be among the most dangerous in the league this year with three legitimate options. Jake Davis (32 goals, 23 assists), Matt Lazzaro (30 points), and Ben Greco are all unselfish but can also finish.
2018 Record: 9-10 2018 Finish: Reached D1 South Quarterfinals Coach: Hal Bean
King Philip is hoping that a good amount of returning experience from last year’s team will result in a successful season and possibly a run through the D1 South bracket.
The Warriors have one of the most experienced attackmen in the league in Colin DeVellis, who has been one of the best finishers in each of the last two years. He finished fourth overall in points his sophomore year (22 goals, 36 assists) and again his junior year (45 goals, 29 assists) and is the top returning scorer back from last year. His ability to finish in close makes life tough for opponents but he’s also able to find teammates when the defense focuses on him. Andrew Sajdak and Sam Mattson will also be key pieces on the attack and the three showed good chemistry in their first game this year.
Wes Bishop, who is committed to play at UMass Boston, is a great leader that will anchor the defensive unit. He has a lot of varsity experience and is the type of player that leads by example. Luke D’Amico is another experienced defender that will stand out for KP this year. Tyler Bartlett, Aiden Bender, Chris Longobardi, and Garrett Maxwell give coach Hal Bean a large group of experienced players.
Junior Andrew McKinney is back in goal after splitting time in the cage last season.
2018 Record: 9-9 2018 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Tim Frias
Mansfield has made the state tournament in each of the last four seasons and will be looking to make it five straight in 2019.
It all starts in the midfield with senior Aidan Sacco. Sacco, who played quarterback this past fall for the Hornet football team, is like the quarterback for the Hornet boys lacrosse team. A lot of the offense will run through Sacco because of his vision and ability to share the ball. He is also a key part of the Hornet defense. His ability to get back and track opponents while also causing turnovers and transitioning defense into offense will be key for Mansfield.
On offense, the Hornets have an experienced stick in the hands of Mike Reed, who will be relied on to lead the Hornets into the playoffs down the stretch. Connor Quirk will also be a key cog for Mansfield this year while Joe Plath, Sean Weber, and Will Nelson are going to be important pieces in the defensive unit.
The Hornets have a strong piece in Nico Holmes at the face-off X. Holmes picked up varsity experience at the position last year and he will look to give Mansfield extra possessions this year in their push for the state tournament.
Coleman O’Brien and Brian Rockwell are battling for the starting spot in the cage.
2018 Record: 6-11 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Jacob Scordato
After increasing their win total from 2017 to 2018, the Scarlet Hawks will be looking to continue that trend in 2019.
With returning starters back in a lot of positions, second-year head coach Jacob Scordato is hopeful that Milford can make a run at a state tournament berth.
“Our Goal as a team is to make the playoffs, this program hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2012,” Scordato said. “But this group of extraordinary young men are highly motivated on achieving that goal.”
The Scarlet Hawks bring back their leading scorer in Brendan White, who had 45 points last season (31 goals, 14 assists). White is a strong, physical forward with a strong shot. His ability to finish through contact makes him one of the top attackmen in the league. In the midfield, junior captain Danny Farrell is back after a standout sophomore year. Farrell, an LSM, led the team last season with 64 ground balls.
Senior Ryan Pearl will anchor a defensive unit that is looking to improve on last season. Sophomore Evan Hazard had a standout freshman campaign between the pipes last year. He will be relied upon this season to help keep Milford in games as they make a push for the postseason.
2018 Record: 15-5 2018 Finish: Reached D2 Central/East Quarterfinals Coach: Kevin Young
After coming close to the Davenport title a year ago, the Rocketeers are ready to make another run at the division title and as well as a deep playoff run.
While the Rocketeers graduated some top talent in the league such as midfielders Jason McNeany and Max Fontes, defenseman Tommy Lockavitch, and attack Tommy Lindstrom, North Attleboro has talent and experience in every position. Juniors Nate D’Amico and Jake McNeany are back after splitting time last season and will be competing for minutes again this season.
Defensively, the Rocketeers bring back three starters from a unit that allowed a league-low 95 goals last year. Junior Brett Labonte had a terrific season and will be joined by classmate Will Yeomans and sophomore Tyler Sarro. Head coach Kevin Young said the trio is tough, vocal, active, and play very well together. In the midfield, senior captains Nick Ward and Ryan Boyle will be key pieces. Ward will also see time at attack while Boyle will be a defensive minded midfielder.
“Nick is a very smart, sneaky threat with great IQ and stick skills,” said North Attleboro coach Kevin Young. “Ryan is just a grinder that all coaches appreciate.”
Junior Dan Conroy takes over as the main faceoff guy and will be joined by Ryan Rajotte, Damien Curtis, Nick Morse, Jack Puccio, Cam Cornetta, and Joe Milosh in the midfield.
The attack will be spearheaded by junior Andy DeMattio, last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year. DeMattio had a tremendous season, scoring 52 goals and adding 22 assists for a team-high 74 points. “He should be fun to watch as he’s picked up some size and speed,” Young said. DeMattio will be joined by junior Jack Connolly and freshman Matt Antonetti.
2018 Record: 14-7 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South Semifinals Coach: Ben Devlin
Coming off the best season in program history, Oliver Ames is aiming to have another successful year and hoping to replicate last year’s playoff push.
The Tigers reached the D2 South Sectional Semifinals last season and bring back five of the top seven scorers from a year ago. While the top two scorers — Eric LeBlanc and Owen Gallagher — and their 146 points graduated, there is a lot of optimism in the program because they have reloaded for this year.
Oliver Ames will be young on the attack with junior Sandro Masciarelli and sophomore Remi Creighton, but there is still experience in the position. Masciarelli had 25 goals last year while Creighton will see more minutes this year. The strength of the program will be in the midfield with the likes of senior captain Colin Bourne (30 goals), junior Shane Kilkelly (32 goals), junior Sam Stevens (23 goals), and junior Frankie Ireland (29 goals). That group was a big reason for OA’s memorable season last year and now have a year of experience playing together under their belts.
Defensively the Tigers are looking for senior captains Shane Murphy and Matt Saba to lead the way. Both players were apart of the defensive unit last year and have been a big reason for the program’s improvement over the past couple of seasons. Senior LSM Cullen Gallagher will be a key defensive midfielder while junior Tyler Campbell will likely factor into the Tiger defense this year. Junior Nick Gillis returns as the starting goalie while senior Steve Heino is an experienced backup.
“Our goal is to keep improving each day and keep building on last year’s success,” said OA head coach Ben Devlin. “The kids have bought into the program and are excited and enthusiastic about the season. We don’t expect anyone or two players to replace the production we graduated, but if all our returners can progress like they did last year, we should be in the mix for a tourney berth.”
2018 Record: 12-7 2018 Finish: Reached D2 South First Round Coach: Jon Shocket
Sharon has a strong mix of returners and new faces and is hoping that combination will result in a return trip to the state tournament.
The Eagles will have an experienced defensive group with all three starting defensemen back this year, and all three are seniors. Sam Spencer, Coleman Loftus, and Ronin McCabe are back to give the Eagles a formidable defensive group. Having an experienced defensive in front of new goalie, sophomore Adam Rabb, will help as the season gets underway.
Sophomore Drew Litner is back after a terrific freshman year. Litner can score but he is one of the most unselfish players in the league and does a terrific job finding teammates on the move. He was among the league leaders in assists last year, dishing out 28 helpers. Litner will be joined by senior Brandon Buckman and freshman Zack Waxman in the attacking group.
The midfield will also have a good amount of experience with seniors Daniel Lillenfeld and Mitchell Director leading the way. Nick Stamm and Rowan Barnes have impressed this preseason and should be apart of the group as well. Junior Max Posner could be poised for a breakout year while sophomore Cobe Jacobson and freshmen Brady Daylor and Jace Nestler will be in the mix too.
Returning LSM Tyler Freedman is back after a terrific rookie campaign and could be a top player for the Eagles while there are high hopes for freshman faceoff specialist Ben Shocket, who could be an X-factor for the Eagles.
2018 Record: 1-15 2018 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Pat Healey
The Black Knights enter their third season as a varsity program and are looking to continue to grow as a program in a difficult league.
After being inexperienced last year, the Black Knights are hoping the lessons learned from last year will pay off this year. It starts with the four captains: Sean Doherty, Luke Bainton, Alex Wilson, and Nate Wilson. Doherty and Bainton will do a little bit of everything for the Black Knights and will be two of the top options offensively. Alex Wilson and Nate Wilson will anchor the defensive unit, bringing plenty of lacrosse experience to that group.
Stoughton is also looking for a big season out of junior Foster McLeod. McLeod has shown in the past the ability to beat defenders and create opportunities for others. Sophomores Max Huminik and Mike McLaughlin will also see increased roles after impressing during their rookie seasons in 2018.
Sophomore Thomas Ratcliffe, a Hockomock League honorable mention last year, returns in the cage and gives the Black Knights a steady presence between the pipes. Sophomore Marty Barrett returns as a long pole and will be a key piece of the Knights’ defense.
2016 Record: 4-13 2016 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Kevin Koppy
Now in its fourth year at the varsity level, Attleboro boys lacrosse is looking to take the next step in the 2017 season. First year head coach Kevin Koppy made it clear what the goal is for Big Blue: the postseason.
Koppy has plenty of experience at the youth level so he’s very familiar with a lot of the players on the team.
“With the experience and leadership of this team, I fully expect us to make the playoffs this year which would be a first for this relatively young program,” Koppy said. “If the kids work hard and play as a team we have enough talent to make this happen.”
Offensively, seniors Seth Lombardy and Zach Viau, along with junior Alex Banner, will see a lot of time. They’ll be bolstered by the midfield help of seniors Andrew Milliken, Sam Carrado and Jay Mota and sophomore Zach Thomas in the midfield. Juniors Kyle Henry and Aidan McKenna will man the face off X while Jim Nordberg and Chris Reynolds will be long stick midfielders.
Defensively, four year starter and captain Tyler Koppy will anchor the backline alongside juniors Dan Perry and Matt Potter. Sophomore Trevor Koppy returns as the starting goalie again this season.
2016 Record: 11-8 2016 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinals Coach: Bill Bendell
The Bulldogs will rely on its athleticism, and be bolstered by depth this season, having more players in the program this season than in the last couple of years.
Canton looks to have one of its most athletic squads from top-to-bottom in recent years and will certainly be in the mix for the Davenport title after winning it twice in the past four seasons.
Offensively, the Bulldogs lost one of the top scorers in the league and in program history in Ben O’Neill, but the good news is that four of the team’s six top point producers from a year ago are back: Ryan Lodge, Joe Mulkay, Dan Dillon and Mike Shaw, all of which reached double figures in points.
Michael Pigeon has been one of the top LSMs in the league the last two years and will be a key piece for Canton defensively this season. Canton will rely on experience to fill the positions around him. The starting goalie spot is up for grabs between Dylan Cunningham, CJ Martin and Jack Connolly.
“The Davenport division is wide open again this year so we know every game is going to matter…we can’t wait to get going,” said head coach Bill Bendell.
The Davenport division looks like it will be wide open this year, but Foxboro could have a slight advantage because of the experience they return this season.
On offense, junior Andrew Whalen is a three year starter and junior Louis Piccolo led the team in scoring a team ago. Junior Mike Moses and sophomore Pete Conley will also factor into the attack or could see time in the midfield. Seniors Trey Guerini and Colin Spinney not only bring a wealth of experience to the midfield, but they have a lot of talent. Sophomore Brendan Tully will relocate to the midfield this season while junior Sam Blake, Lou Blake and Mike Collins will all factor in the midfield as well.
Defensively, it all starts with goalie Jake Addeche, one of the top netminders in the league and the area. Pat Kaveny is a two year starter, as is senior Padraig Farmer and will provide plenty of experience to the back line. Sophomore Pat Stapleton and freshman Ronnie MacLellan will also factor in defensively for the Warriors.
The Panthers are going to be young compared to past years, and compared to other teams in the league, but what they lack in age, they more than make up in skill.
There aren’t much better in the offensive end than junior Eric Civetti, and he’s only been in the league for two years. Already committed to Rutgers, Civetti will be one of the most dangerous scorers in the league. Senior captain Sam Arsenault will also be a top option in the offensive end while midfielders Packie Watson, a senior and Nitin Chaudhury, a sophomore, will also be viable options.
Defensively, the Panthers have a second Rutgers commit in sophomore Patrick Morrison. Senior Wyatt Arsenault will give the backline some experience while senior Jack Platner will be the team’s LSM. Junior Connor O’Rourke is back in the cage after a breakout sophomore year.
“We are young as compared to past years, but I feel we’ll be very competitive,” said head coach Lou Verrochi. “We’re very fortunate to have a strong youth program and many boys playing club lacrosse which provides us with talented players every year.”
The Warriors had another strong season in 2016 and will be looking to do the same in 2017.
King Philip was strong in league play, posting a 7-3 record and will try to carry that success over to its non league schedule, which include games against Bishop Feehan, Newton North, Hopkinton, Westwood and more.
Paul Macrina has been one of the top goalies in the league over the past couple of seasons and is now ready for his senior year.
Replacing leading scorer Sam Agricola will certainly be a tough test, as well as replacing the production of Harry Fallon. But Tim Watson (27 goals, 21 assists) brings a lot of experience back to the offensive end for the Warriors.
2016 Record: 15-4 2016 Finish: Reached D1 South First Round Coach: Tim Frias
Coming off one of the program’s best seasons in recent history, the Hornets will be looking to replicate that success in 2017.
The challenge will be replacing some of the top talent that graduated, including midfielders Billy Grant and Connor Finerty, and defenseman Josh Schafer.
The good news is that the Hornets return two of the top talents in the league with Sean Powers back in goal and Hunter Ferreira back patrolling the midfield. Joe Cox and Danny DeGirolamo will flank Ferreira in the midfield with Aidan Sacco, Brett Kessler and Brad Grant factoring in as well.
Offensively, seniors Cullen Murphy, Sam O’Connell and Jon Reed will be one of the most experienced units in the league. On defense, Grant Milas, Mike Zampine, Josh London and Tommy Donnelly will hold court in front of Powers.
“We are going to go out there this season and try to improve on the aspects we were weak on last season and just try to compete in every contest,” said head coach Tim Frias.
The Hawks are hoping for a turnaround season after going without a win a season ago. First year head coach Doug Gallant has taken over at the helm and is looking to make Milford a participant in the Davenport race.
The heart of the lineup could be in the midfield, with junior Andrew Gallagher bringing experience to the table and sophomores Ryan Hazard and Josh Ligor, as well as freshman Dan Farrell, providing the Hawks with skill and speed.
In the attacking end, Gallant will look to senior Alex Wood and sophomore Ryan Pearl, both with varsity experience, to pace the offense. LSM Nick Lurie and defenseman Harrison Bliss will be key pieces on defense in front of goalie Drew Mirisola.
“We have a great group of kids who are very eager to be successful,” said Gallant. “The reception from the players has been outstanding and they have bought in to my system.”
2016 Record: 8-10 2016 Finish: Missed playoffs Coach: Kevin Young
After just missing out on the postseason a year ago, North Attleboro returns a lot of key pieces and will not only make a push for the playoffs, but should be in the mix for the Davenport crown.
The entire attacking corps is back this season Zach McGowan, Owen Costello and Colin Young all back again this season. Tim Lindstrom, who missed last season with an injury, will also be a key piece offensively for the Rocketeers.
Jack Dakin, the team’s leading scorer a season ago, will be a team leader from his midfield position while Nick Ward, Hunter Sarro, Nick Moore and Jason McNeany will all get minutes in the midfield as well. Poles David James, Zach Doucette and Tom Lockovitch, along with LSM Max Fontes, bring a combination of speed and size for the Rocketeers.
Dan McDonald is back for another year in goal and will be like a coach on the field for North Attleboro.
“He’s very solid in net and a great team leader,” head coach Kevin Young said of MacDonald. “Dan is that rare player that is like having a coach on the field. I think Dan is as good a goalie as you’ll see playing anywhere in Massachusetts this year.”
2016 Record: 10-10 2016 Finish: Reached D2 South Quarterfinals Coach: Chris Digiacomo
The Tigers not only made the playoffs a season ago, but won their first ever postseason game as a program. Oliver Ames will face new challenges this season with the switch to the Kelley-Rex division.
While the Tigers face the task of going head to head with some of the top teams in the league, Oliver Ames will rely on team chemistry to try and get back to the postseason.
Offensively, juniors Owen Gallagher and Eric LeBlanc are back as two of the team’s top point producers. They’ll be helped by midfielders Liam Brown, a senior captain, and Jack Lang, a junior. Defensively, senior captain Phil Saba and senior Max Howe are two experienced players that will man the space in front of senior goalie Sean Cosgrove.
“The boys have worked very hard, and bought into our program,” said head coach Chris Digiacomo. “We play in an extremely tough league, but the boys are excited to get started.”
2016 Record: 9-10 2016 Finish: Reached D2 Central/East First Round Coach: Peter DeSisto
Sharon just made it into the postseason a year ago, punching its ticket on the last game of the season with a win over North Attleboro.
This season, the Eagles are expecting to qualify for the state tournament again because of the experience they have returning for the 2017 season.
Josh Rotman, who registered 35 goals a season ago, is one of the top midfielders in the league and will be relied upon to lead the Eagles this season. Spencer Hall and Chase Waxman are also back and should make an impact on both ends of the field. Jack Lesser has the ability to get forward and play as an attack or can drop into a midfield role.
“We have a lot of guys with experience at this level returning, so we have set our expectations high,” said head coach Pete DeSisto.
2016 Record: N/A 2016 Finish: N/A Coach: Pat Healey
The Black Knights are the new kids on the block, entering their first year at the varsity level after playing at the JV level the last couple of seasons.
Combining the JV experience and a budding youth program, Stoughton won’t be starting from scratch. However, the Black Knights are ready for what could be a roller coaster ride of a season.
Leading the way for the Black Knights are captains Dave Cellucci, Ryan Pierri, Harry Leal and Matt St. Clair. Leal will anchor the team from the cage, Pierre is the leader of the team’s poles and Cellucci and St. Clair are standout members of the Black Knights’ midfield.
“The team knows we’re going to be getting our share of bumps and bruises,” said head coach Pat Healey. “And winning here in the Hock is no easy chore. But it wouldn’t be much of a challenge if it was easy.
After getting its feet wet last season, Taunton is looking to improve now in its second year at the varsity level.
Sophomore goalie Ryan Williams was a bright spot for the Tigers a season ago and now, with a year under his belt, will an important part of the Tigers’ defense this season. Senior captain Mason Baacke and sophomore LSM Dylan Nichols will be key pieces in front of Williams.
Offensively, Shawn Campbell will try to ignite Taunton from the face off X while senior captain Andrew Wellington, who had a solid season a year ago, will be a vital piece in the midfield for first year head coach Brendan Chambers.
Today’s games are listed below. We will update this post with any changes we receive.
Baseball
Attleboro, 9 @ Canton, 4 – Final – Attleboro senior Tyler McGovern tossed four-plus innings with just one hit allowed, striking out six to earn the win. Sophomore Troy Van Vliet paced the offense, connecting for a pair of doubles, knocking in three runs and scoring two runs of his own.
Franklin, 5 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Five different Panthers recorded a hit and junior Jake Noviello shined in his season debut on the mound to lead Franklin past North Attleboro. Noviello tosses six inning, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven. Bryan Woelfel struck out two in a shutout inning in relief. Noviello also recorded a hit and scored a run on offense. Sophomore Alex Haba went 1/3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, senior Cam Lupien added a hit, a run and an RBI, senior Josh Macchi had a double and a run scored and senior Jake Lyons had an RBI and a hit for the Panthers.
Milford, 2 @ King Philip, 4 – Final – King Philip senior Chris Wing tosses six innings, allowing just a pair of hits while retiring the side in order in each the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Sophomore Jack Webster recorded the save. Offensively, the Warriors notched eight hits as a team with Collin Cooke (RBI) and Ryan Coulter each recording two. Ben Furfari knocked in a pair of runs and Webster also had an RBI.
Stoughton, 2 @ Oliver Ames, 6 – Final – Oliver Ames scored a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings while tacking on single runs in the first and sixth innings to open the season with a win. Junior Matt Muir went 2-for-4 with a pair of triples and a pair of runs scored while senior Kyle Gagliardi was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Sam Burr earned the win on the mound, scattering six hits over 6.1 innings with two runs allowed.
Sharon @ Taunton – Postponed to Friday, April 21 at 11:00AM.
Softball
Attleboro, 7 @ Canton, 5 – Final
Franklin, 1 @ North Attleboro, 2 – Final – North rallied from a run down in the bottom of the seventh inning to open the season with a win. Sam Courtemanche led-off the inning with a double. Ashley Cangiano came in to run and scored on an Abbie Gallagher grounder. With the bases loaded, Meg Barlow (2-for-3) provided the walk-off hit with a double. Bella Erti threw a complete game for North with four strikeouts and five hits allowed.
King Philip @ Milford – Postponed to Friday, May 5 at 3:30.
Oliver Ames, 0 @ Stoughton, 6 – Final – Gina Carafa threw a five-hit shutout for the Black Knights, striking out eight and only walking one. Alessandra Loffredo provided Stoughton with offense from the nine-hole, hitting a two-run homer in the sixth. Victoria Ziner went 2-for-2 and reached base three times for OA.
Sharon, 0 @ Taunton, 19 – Final (5 inn.) – The Tigers got off to a dominant start behind three, one-hit innings and six strikeouts from Courtney Fisher, who also went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Jamie Brown went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, and an RBI and Kya Enos, Jaylin Couto, Hannah Aldrich, and Rebekah Lajoie each had two hits apiece for Taunton. Lajoie drove in four runs.
Boys Lacrosse
Attleboro, 6 @ Oliver Ames, 5 – Final (2OT) – Zach Thomas scored his second of the game with less than a minute to play to tie the game and junior Alex Banner netted the game-winner in double overtime to lift the Bombardiers past OA. Cam Littig added a pair of goals for Attleboro while senior Andrew Milliken scored once. Banner, Seth Lombardy and Zach Viau each notched an assist as well. Sophomore Trevor Koppy made 14 saves in net for the Bombardiers, who battled back from a 3-1 deficit at halftime. Head coach Kevin Koppy credited the play of defensemen Jim Nordberg, Matt Potter, Chris Reynolds and Tyler Koppy for holding the Tigers to just two goals in the second half. For Oliver Ames, Eric LeBlanc scored a pair of goals while Owen Gallagher, Jack Lang and Colin Bourne each scored once.
Foxboro, 17 @ Norwood, 2 – Final
North Attleboro, 7 @ Bishop Feehan, 6 – Final (OT) – North Attleboro senior Colin Young scored his lone goal of the game in the overtime period to lift the Rocketeers. Tommy Lindstrom netted a hat trick while Zach McGowan added a pair of goals and one assist and Jack Dakin notched three assists. Nick Moore scored once and set up Young for the game-winner. Dan McDonald had 13 saves in the cage for Big Red.
Sharon, 6 @ Westwood, 10 – Final
Taunton, 3 vs. Norton, 12 – Final
Girls Lacrosse
Oliver Ames, 16 @ Attleboro, 2 – Final – Eight different players found the back of the net as Oliver Ames cruised to a non-league win on the road. Kendall Clifford accounted for five goals while Sofia Masciarelli scored our and Liv Piazza had three goals. Ariana Waldorf recorded 13 saves in goal for the Tigers.
Canton, 6 @ Mansfield, 19 – Final
Foxboro, 16 vs. Norwood, 4 – Final
Franklin, 13 vs. Lincoln-Sudbury, 7 – Final – Franklin built a 6-3 lead by halftime and then continued its strong offensive showing in the second half. Sophomore Annie Walsh and freshman Erin Walsh each scored goal goals apiece and Caroline Lounsbury added a pair for the Panthers. Dana Lewandowski played well on defense with three ground ball and freshman Gianna Cameron made nine saves in net.
Sharon, 19 @ Milford, 6 – Final
Taunton, 16 vs. Norton, 8 – Final – Delaney Powell scored six goals and Alana Tavares added five for the Tigers, who opened the season with a non-league win. Annie Tate and Abbey Kingman both had hat tricks for Taunton and Lorna Li had 12 saves.
Boys Tennis
Attleboro, 0 @ Canton, 5 – Final
Mansfield, 3 @ Foxboro, 2 – Final
Franklin, 4 @ North Attleboro, 1 – Final – Senior Rahul Herur and freshman Rohan Herur each won in singles while while the Panthers swept doubles in a victory over North. Rahul Herur won 6-3, 6-1 at first singles while Rohan Herur took third singles, 6-1, 6-1. The team of James Johnstone and Derek Wu won 6-3, 6-1 at first doubles and Tyler DiPalma and Saketh Saripalli won 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 at second doubles. North Attleboro’s Barsomo Nuay won 6-4, 6-1 at second singles.
King Philip, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – An experienced King Philip team opened the season with a sweep on the road at Milford. Cole Ginter won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles, Martin Martous won 6-0, 6-2 at second singles and Blake Ginter took third singles 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Ryan Gemelli and Sam Colella teamed up for a 7-5, 6-4 win at first doubles and Jake Webster and Marco DiStefano took a 6-4, 6-0 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 2 @ Stoughton, 3 – Final – Stoughton got wins at first and third singles as well as first doubles to earn the program’s first win in two seasons. Senior Stevens Bontemps won 6-2, 6-3 at first singles and sophomore Alex Bernstein picked up a 6-3, 6-4 win at third singles. The team of senior Jon Podesta sophomore Erik Anderson clinched the win with a 6-2, 7-5 win at first doubles. Oliver Ames junior Joseph Lorizio won 7-5, 6-1 at second singles and Greg Mueller and Michael Souza won 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 at second doubles for the Tigers.
Taunton, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final
Girls Tennis
Canton, 2 @ Attleboro, 3 – Final – Attleboro picked up wins at first and second singles and another at first doubles to edge Canton. Torey Lussier won 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 at first singles while Brianna Aronne won 6-1, 6-2 at second singles. The team of Taylor Palermo and Merri Piazza came back to claim a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win at first doubles. Canton’s Jamie Cree won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at third singles and the team of Stelina Michaelidis and Kiki Karavas won 6-2, 6-3 at second doubles.
Foxboro, 4 @ Mansfield, 1 – Final
North Attleboro, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final – North Attleboro didn’t drop a game at either second singles or first doubles while also getting victories at third singles and second doubles. Jordan Willis won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles and the team of Gabby Duva and Azka Siddiq won with the same score at first doubles. Shurobhi Nandi won 6-1, 6-2 at third singles and the team of Katie Demontigny and Hana Hershey won 6-1, 6-0 at second doubles. Franklin’s Hannah Sweeney won 6-0, 6-1 at first singles.
Milford @ King Philip, 3:45
Stoughton, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Oliver Ames swept singles play and also got a win at second doubles to earn the win over Stoughton. Sarah Leger won 6-0, 6-3 at first singles, Claudia Ferrara won 6-2, 6-1 at second singles and Mandi Miller swept third singles 6-0, 6-0. The team of Kristin Bloumbas and Olivia Groebe won 6-2, 6-1 at second doubles. Stoughton’s Alex Soto and Amanda Gallant won 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 at first doubles.
Sharon, 5 @ Taunton, 0 – Final – Sharon didn’t drop a single game in singles play and also won both doubles matches to get the sweep. Sophomore Nupur Shukla, freshman Emily Zhang and junior Lulu Yuan all won 6-0, 6-0 at first, second and third singles, respectively. The team of juniors Katie Merport and Emily Wen won 6-4, 7-5 at first doubles while junior Rithic Neti and sophomore Sophia Fein won 6-1, 6-1 at second doubles.
Boys Volleyball
Milford, 3 vs. St John’s Shrewsbury, 1 – Final
Taunton, 3 @ New Bedford, 0 – Final – Taunton notched its second won of the season with a 26-24, 25-18, 25-17 win on the road over the Whalers. Lance Law led the way with 10 kills, four aces, six digs and one block while Lens Esquil had nine kills and two blocks and Nate Grant had 30 assists, three kills and a block.
