2023 HockomockSports Boys Soccer Awards

 
Franklin senior Rex Cinelli has been selected as the 2023 HockomockSports.com Boys Soccer Player of the Year. Cinelli anchored a terrific defensive unit for the Kelley-Rex division champion Panthers and provided key leadership both on and off of the field. A three-year starter at center back for legendary head coach Fran Bositis, Cinelli was a vital piece in leading Franklin to back-to-back league titles.

As a team captain, Cinelli led the Panthers to an undefeated regular season, including an impressive 11-0-5 record against Hockomock foes. Franklin reached the Division 1 state quarterfinals, allowing a total of just 10 goals in 21 contests. During the regular season, Cinelli’s play helped Franklin record 12 shutouts (and two more in the postseason) and an impressive 0.39 goals against average. His superb defending was highlighted by timely tackles, strong play in the air, and his ability to keep the Franklin back four organized. On top of his defensive skills, he added six goals and two assists this year.

“Rex is an outstanding leader and athlete,” Bositis said. “He has been the best player and our hardest worker for the last two seasons. He is the heart and soul of our team defense.”

For his efforts this season, he was also named Hockomock League MVP by the coaches. Cinelli is the first defender to earn HockomockSports.com Player of the Year honors. He also earned Eastern Mass All Star, All-State, and All-New England.

“Rex has everything you’d want in a center back,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “Franklin’s defensive unit had terrific back-to-back seasons under his guidance. His ability to read the play as it develops, make clean and timely challenges, and to play with the ball at his feet separated him from the rest. Opponents went into games against Franklin knowing how hard it would be to score against the Panthers, and Rex’s play is a big reason for that.”

Cinelli is the second player from Franklin to earn this award, joining midfielder Tim LaRowe (2014). Franklin’s Zach Scafati earned HockomockSports Kelley-Rex Player of the Year honors in the inaugural year of these awards (2012). King Philip’s Tyler Mann (2016) is the only other player from the Kelley-Rex division to receive this award.

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Rocchio (Attleboro), Ryan Linhares (Oliver Ames), Joey Carney (Oliver Ames)

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Editor’s Note: The HockomockSports.com Awards are selected strictly by our staff and have no affiliation to the official Hockomock League all stars. Please note players are listed by position.

 
 
 
 

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HockomockSports.com Best XI

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Javonte Fernandes – Taunton – Forward
Taunton senior Javonte Fernandes was among the most feared players in the Hockomock League this year. After playing just about every position on the field during his career, Fernandes tormented opposing defenses with his speed, his skill, and his strong finishing skills. When playing Taunton, the number one priority for opponents was making sure to track Fernandes at all times. Despite the attention he received, he managed to finish near the top of the league leaders with 11 goals and added three assists. “With numerous goals, crucial assists, and a steadfast leadership style, he left an undeniable mark on the team,” said Taunton head coach Jesue Lopes. “He left a legacy that will be remembered long after the echoes of the final match have faded.”

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Bryce Newth – North Attleboro – Midfield
North Attleboro senior Bryce Newth was one of the top attacking players in the Hockomock League during the 2023 season. When the ball got into the attacking third, defenses had to make sure to account for Newth’s whereabouts. His speed and skill on the ball made him a threat to go at goal, and he showed the ability to finish in a variety of ways. He was selected as Hockomock League All Star for his performances this year and finished with nine goals and four assists. “Bryce is a workhorse,” said North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess. “His motor is one of the best in the league. He was a dangerous target for many of our set pieces and was a real problem for opponents.”

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Ryan Linhares – Oliver Ames – Midfield
Oliver Ames senior Ryan Linhares capped a memorable high school career by leading the Tigers to a second straight Division 2 state championship. After a strong junior year, Linhares had a breakout season in 2023 and emerged as one of the top players in the league. His confident play allowed him to orchestrate OA’s offense from his spot in the midfield. He scored 14 goals, including five directly off a corner kick, and added 16 assists to finish his career with the Tigers with 50 points. He was selected as a Hockomock League All Star and to the All-State team. “Ryan Linhares was a crafty and dynamic midfielder that was a lethal weapon for OA,” said OA head coach John Barata. “He could score goals from set pieces and corner kicks.”

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Joey Carney – Oliver Ames – Midfield
Oliver Ames senior Joey Carney had another great season in the midfield for the Tigers, adding a second consecutive state championship to his impressive résumé. After battling back from an injury to start the year, Carney continued to get better as the season went on and put it all together for a fantastic performance in the state tournament. When the spotlight was the brightest, Carney stood above his peers and delivered the game-winning goal in the state final. He had 21 goals and seven assists this year and finished his career with 51 points. “Joey proved to be the best player in Massachusetts during the playoff run for Oliver Ames,” said OA head coach John Barata. “Joey is a phenomenal player with speed, grace, and skill. Looking forward to what the future holds for him at Bentley.”

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Billy Badger – Attleboro – Midfield
Attleboro senior Billy Badger used the combination of speed and skill to emerge as one of the top players in the Hockomock League this season. His speed was a true weapon for the Bombardiers as he was able to race into space, both with the ball and onto through balls, and his skill was on display with his ability to take defenders on one-on-one. He was one of the toughest players to cover in the league and created a lot of opportunities for teammates with a team-high eight assists. He also scored scored six goals and was named a Hockomock League All Star, an Eastern Mass All Star, and to the All State team. “William is the perfect soccer player, fantastic attitude, great skills, awesome speed, super high work rate,” said Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira.

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Noah Cain – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin senior Noah Cain was a vital piece in the center of the pitch for the two-time Kelley-Rex division champion Panthers. His presence in the midfield provides a sense of calmness and consistency that allowed Franklin to control possession in most of their games. With the ball at his feet, you knew there was a chance for the Panthers to spring into attack with his ability to find open teammates, and he was very dangerous on set pieces. He scored five goals this season and registered a team-high 11 assists. “Noah has excellent technical ability,” said Franklin head coach Fran Bositis. “He has tremendous field vision and was without question our most dangerous passer. He does a great job of breaking down the other team’s defense.”

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Diego Rivera – Oliver Ames – Defense
Oliver Ames senior Diego Rivera was a vital piece for head coach John Barata and the Tigers this season, moving to center back and anchoring one of the best defenses in the state. Rivera had a terrific junior year as an outside back and made the transition to center back look easy this year as OA recorded 11 shutouts to win the Davenport division title and a second straight Division 2 state championship. His impact went far beyond stats, though he scored once and had a pair of assists this year. The Tigers only allowed one goal against in five playoff games and Rivera was a big reason why. “Diego is our unsung hero,” said OA head coach John Barata. “He proved to be one of the best defenders in the state anchoring our backline to our back-to-back state championships. He has an incredible ability to read the game. We will miss him.”

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Rex Cinelli – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior Rex Cinelli capped a terrific career with an impressive final year with the Panthers. He was named HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (above), Hockomock League MVP, and earned All-New England status after guiding the Panthers to their second straight Kelley-Rex title. He was a vital member of Franklin’s defense which only allowed seven goals during its 18-game regular season with a dozen shutouts. He jumped into the attack, mainly on corners and set pieces, and added six goals and two assists. “He has been the best player and our hardest worker for the last two seasons,” said Franklin head coach Fran Bositis. “He is the heart and soul of our team defense.”

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Ryan Keller – King Philip – Defense
King Philip senior Ryan Keller was one of the most versatile players in the Hockomock League this year and that made him one of the top players. With the ability to stand out just about anywhere on the pitch, Keller contributed in a variety of ways for the Warriors, who qualified for the state tournament. He stood tall at center back and when the Warriors needed to bolster their attack, he stepped in and spearheaded the push forward from an attacking midfield role. He scored five goals and added three assists throughout the season. “Ryan Keller proved this season that he is a truly versatile player,” said King Philip head coach Mike O’Neill. “He played the first half of the season at center back and then moved up to attacking midfield. He was indispensable to us in both positions.”

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Derek McGrath – Mansfield – Defense
Mansfield senior Derek McGrath has been a mainstay in the back four for head coach Steve Sheridan and the Hornets over the past couple of seasons. Inserted into Mansfield’s back line, McGrath immediately established himself as a leader in that unit and backstopped a group that secured 10 shutouts over the past two seasons against some of the most dangerous offenses in the state. Mansfield finished second in the Davenport this year, thanks in large part to a defense that only allowed 21 goals in 19 games played and a lot of credit for that goes to McGrath’s leadership and play. “He just has a knack of knowing where everyone should be defensively and makes sure that his teammates are where they should be, if not, he’ll take up the slack and clean up their mistakes,” Sheridan said. “His speed and ability in the air for head balls is remarkable.”

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Tyler Rocchio – Attleboro – Goalie
Attleboro senior Tyler Rocchio put a bow on a fantastic career with another stellar season for the Bombardiers. Rocchio established himself as a top goalie over the past two years but really cemented his legacy with another great year in net, propelling Attleboro to a 14-2-4 record with a measly 14 goals against and a whopping 12 shutouts. It’s rare to get a game-changer in net but that was what Rocchio was throughout his career, making his mark as one of the top keepers the league has seen in recent history. He recorded 35 wins in net in his career, which set a new program record. “Tyler had a fantastic career at AHS,” said Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira. “He possesses all the qualities of an outstanding goalie.”

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HockomockSports.com Second XI

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Corvengdjimy Thomas – Attleboro – Forward
Attleboro sophomore Corvengdjimy Thomas made an immediate impact in his first season dawning the blue and white. Sitting in the No. 9 role, Thomas quickly established himself as a top scoring threat against any defense. His ability to use his body to keep possession allowed strong hold up play and time and time again, he displayed strong finishing skills from all over the pitch. He earned HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year honors (below) after scoring a team-high 10 goals along with six assists, finishing with a team-best 16 points.
 

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Kaden Burns – North Attleboro – Forward
North Attleboro senior Kaden Burns wrapped up a memorable career with the Rocketeers with a strong final year. A four-year starter for North, Burns made an impact for the Big Red each and every time he touched the pitched. He was a top player in the league with the ball in his feet with his ability to take defenders on, and did a great job at both finishing and finding open teammates. He was selected as a Hockomock League All Star as well as an Eastern Mass All Star. He scored 11 goals and added three assists in 2023. “Kaden possesses the rare and valuable gift of being able to score goals and create opportunities for himself in 1-v-1 situations,” said North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess. “If we were able to get him the ball in space, he was very good at creating opportunities for himself or his teammates.”

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John Hollis – Foxboro – Midfield
Foxboro senior John Hollis has a terrific final year with the Warriors, playing at a high level all over the pitch. To say he was a vital piece for Foxboro this year would be an understatement as Hollis factored into almost every goal, and registered a point in all but five. He’s proven his defensive ability in the past and this year showed off great vision and the ability to find open teammates to create chances. He scored twice and was among the league leaders with 11 assists. “Hollis demonstrated poise day in and day out and opponents regularly double teamed him to make sure he wasn’t able to showcase his patented creativity,” said Foxboro co-head coaches George Argyrou and Colin Meiselman.

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Will Bowen – King Philip – Midfield
King Philip senior Will Bowen was a player opposing defenses had to account for each time out because of his dangerous attacking abilities. His speed on the wing often created an advantage for the Warriors and his veteran presence up top was something head coach Mike O’Neill could rely on. He scored three goals and added six assists as his ability to get past defenses caused havoc all year. “Will Bowen is one of the best attack dribblers in the Hockomock League,” O’Neill said. “He is a creative and thoughtful attacking player, who can create scoring chances even when defenses are rolling two and three defenders at him.”

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Luke Hagopian – Attleboro – Midfield
Attleboro senior Luke Hagopian was one of the most creative players on any team in the Hockomock League this season. Hagopian helped the Bombardiers to a terrific season that included an 11-1-4 league record, just one point shy of the Kelley-Rex crown. His ability to create chances and opportunities for teammates made Attleboro one of the top offensive teams in the league, finishing third in goals scored. While he factored into the scoring with two goals, his strength was setting up teammates as he finished second on the team with seven assists. He also earned Hockomock League All Star and Eastern Mass All Star. “Luke was the most skillful player on the team, great knowledge of the game, and an awesome team leader on and off the field,” said Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira.

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Garrett Scagliarini – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin junior Garrett Scagliarini built off a strong rookie year to have a memorable second year with the Panthers, helping the squad win a second straight Kelley-Rex division title. Sitting as the eight, the junior covered a lot of ground for the Panthers and logged a lot of minutes. His ability to not only get back and help defend was a big reason why Franklin only allowed 10 total goals in 21 games. His strength came offensively with his ability to orchestrate the play with the ball at his feet, finishing with seven goals and seven assists. “He was our box-to-box midfielder,” said Franklin head coach Fran Bositis. “Rarely did he come off the field and he was one of the main reasons why we had lots of success in controlling the midfield.”

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Neel McGrath – King Philip – Defense
King Philip senior Neel McGrath emerged as a top player throughout the 2023 season, a standout player at both outside back and in the attack when needed. The league was loaded with top center backs this year but McGrath really stood out on the outside with his ability to deny opponents, matching their speed, and often winning 50-50 battles. With just 21 goals against in 20 games this year, KP’s defense was among the best in the league and McGrath’s play factored in heavily. “Neel is a smart, tough, intense competitor,” said King Philip head coach Mike O’Neill. “An outstanding one-on-one and team defender, he can play outside or inside and impacts the play at both ends of the field.”

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Joe McSweeney – Stoughton – Defense
Stoughton senior Joe McSweeney was a constant and consistent piece for the Black Knights and head coach Ruben Teixeira this season. Sitting in the heart of the defense, McSweeney provided top performances all throughout the year. A two-time captain, his leadership both on and off of the pitch was vital and his play helped the Knights compete against some of the league’s best, including a shutout win over Attleboro and one-goal losses to division champs OA and Franklin. “Most of our wins came from the hard work from the defenders and Joe was a big factor in contributing,” Teixeira said. “He is someone who coaches can always count on is well respected by players and coaches…and someone who will put the team first rather than himself.

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Sean O’Leary – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior Sean O’Leary was a welcome return to the lineup for the Panthers this fall. After taking a year off following a strong sophomore campaign, O’Leary came back and immediately bolstered an already strong Franklin defense. Partnering with Rex Cinelli in the middle, O’Leary and Franklin had the best defensive unit in the league, only allowing seven goals during its undefeated regular season. He also became a key piece on set pieces and corners, recording seven goals this year. “A terrific athlete and an excellent defender,” said Franklin head coach Fran Bositis. “He has great communication skills and those skills helped him anchor our back line and was a big reason why we only gave up seven goals in 18 games.”

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Nate Dinis – Milford – Defense
Milford senior Nate Dinis did a little bit of everything for the Scarlet Hawks throughout the 2023 season. It was par for the course for the versatile, who has played every position on the field for head coach Antonio Pinto, including goalie in a previous season. Capable of playing with both feet, Dinis could fit in at any position and make an impact. When the Hawks were in need of an offensive boost or a calming presence, Dinis moved into an attacking role but when Milford needed to fill a void defensively for the tournament, he was there to step in. He finished the 2023 season with four goals and four assists. “Nate would do whatever it took to put his team in a position to win, he found most of his success at right back,” Pinto said. “After four seasons on varsity, it will be tough to find a replacement for him.”

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Owen Goeller – North Attleboro – Goalie
North Attleboro senior Owen Goeller emerged as one of the top keepers in the Hockomock during his final year with the Rocketeers. His steady play in the net and terrific reaction saves made him stand out among the competition. He was strong in the air and came up with timely saves throughout the season, finishing with 80 saves and a 1.67 goals against average for North, who made it to the state tournament. “Owen is excellent at reaction saves from shots at close range,” said North Attleboro head coach Geoff Burgess. “He is a very good shot-stopper that can also distribute the ball to his teammates at a high level. He was also an integral part of us being able to play out of the back as he was excellent with his feet.”

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Attleboro sophomore Corvengdjimy Thomas has been selected as the 2023 HockomockSports.com Boys Underclassman of the Year. A first-year player with the Bombardiers, Thomas had an instant impact with his offensive skill and finishing ability.

The combination of skill, size, and speed allowed Thomas to fit right in at the varsity level despite being just a sophomore. With a build and skillset similar to former Milford standout and Underclassman of the Year Walisson de Oliveira (who went on to win Player of the Year), Thomas quickly drew the attention of opposing defenses and coaches.

“He improved every game,” said Attleboro head coach Peter Pereira. “He has great field vision and understanding of the game. Looking forward to what he will do in the next two years.”

As the season went on, teams had to game plan for how to defend him and often man-marked him throughout the game. Even with that extra attention, he scored a team-high 10 goals for an Attleboro squad that lost just one all regular season. He also added six assists.

“There were some question marks regarding Attleboro’s offensive options after some offseason departures but they were quickly answered with Corvengdjimy as the target striker,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “The game seems to slow down for him and his ability to shield off defenders and create his own space really gave him an advantage. He’s a handful to deal with.”

Thomas is the second consecutive Attleboro boys soccer player to win the HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year following Alex Vecchioli in 2021. He’s the fifth Bombardier across all sports to do so. He joins Kyle Murphy (football, 2013), Sarah Deyo (basketball, 2015), and Eoin Kelleher (baseball, 2017).

Honorable Mention: Mason Prive (Attleboro), Danny Da Silva (Milford), Diego Martinez (Sharon)

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Franklin head coach Fran Bositis has been selected as the 2023 HockomockSports.com Coach of the Year. Bositis led the Panthers to their second consecutive Kelley-Rex division title and an undefeated regular season.

Even with sky-high expectations, Bositis kept his team level-headed throughout an impressive 2023 campaign that started with a tie with eventual D2 state champs OA and ended with a run to the Division 1 state quarterfinals. Franklin finished the season with a 15-1-5 record, scoring the second most goals in the Hock with 54 and allowing the least with 10 against.

“It’s not always easy to play with a target on your back but the Panthers accomplished a lot of success this year while doing just that,” said HockomockSports.com Editor Ryan Lanigan. “Every single year, Fran has his team ready to play, and they play the right way. He’s achieved a lot over his long tenure leading this program and this was one of the best seasons.”

Honorable Mention: Peter Pereira (Attleboro), Mike O’Neill (King Philip), John Barata (Oliver Ames)