2023 HockomockSports Girls Soccer Awards

 
King Philip senior Heidi Lawrence has been selected as the 2023 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The record-setting forward led the league in scoring this fall and was selected as the Hockomock League MVP and named All-New England after leading the Warriors to a share of the Kelley-Rex division title and to a spot in the Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen.

The Bentley University-commit broke the program’s single-season goal-scoring record, previously set by former HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Avery Snead, with 32 goals this year. Lawrence also added 14 assists and her 46 total points led the Hockomock League. She added a hat trick in the playoff win over Durfee to break Snead’s record.

“Our two-year captain exemplified the word leadership,” said KP coach Gary Pichel. “Heidi’s devotion to the sport, her team, and the pursuit of excellence was unmatched. Our Bentley-commit led by example, breaking King Philip’s all-time goal-scoring record in a single season with 32 goals!”

A physical presence up top, Lawrence used her speed, aerial ability, and accuracy to score goals in myriad ways. She was able to run onto balls played behind the defense, shrug off defenders to score from distance or make the right move to find space in the box and get on the end of a cross or set piece.

“Heidi just terrorized defenses this season,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She never gave up on a ball, never let defenders rest, and you always expected her to be right where she needed to be to get the final touch. Tap-ins, rockets to the top corner, Heidi scored all types of goals this year and was one of the reasons that KP was so relentless in attack.”

Lawrence is the third KP girls soccer player to earn Player of the Year, following Avery Snead (2017) and Chloe Layne (2019). She is also the seventh player from the Kelley-Rex to earn this honor, joining Snead, Layne, Franklin’s Kristi Kirshe (2012), Taylor Cogliano (2013 and 2014), and Victoria Stowell (2015), and Mansfield’s Hannah Reiter (2016).

Honorable Mentions: Dani Lomuscio (King Philip), Mekhala Costello (Canton), Kelly O’Connor (Franklin), Kara Santos (Mansfield)

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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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Anya Zub – Franklin – Forward
Franklin senior Anya Zub closed out her impressive four-year varsity career with another strong season leading the line for the Panthers. The Stonehill College-commit scored 23 times and had 10 assists playing down the middle for the league’s top attacking team. Zub helped the Panthers secure a share of a fourth straight league title (winning it all four years of her career) and earn a spot in the Div. 1 quarterfinal. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Anya is a playmaker who almost always finds a way to put the ball in the back of the net in high pressure situations. She is a leader on the field and her teammates look to her when the game is on the line.”

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Kelly O’Connor – Franklin – Forward
Franklin junior Kelly O’Connor was a terror on the left wing all season for the Panthers, helping bring them a share of a fourth straight Kelley-Rex division title and to a spot in the Div. 1 quarterfinal. The Fairfield University-commit scored 26 goals and contributed 14 assists this season, providing a constant outlet on the left side. She finished second in the league in scoring. O’Connor was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Kelly is a dynamic attacker with incredible speed, technical ability, and one-on-one skills. A player who is double-teamed in every game we play because other teams know how dangerous she is.”

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Heidi Lawrence – King Philip – Forward
King Philip senior forward Heidi Lawrence had a record-breaking final season with the Warriors, setting a new program record with 32 goals while dishing out 14 assists and leading the league with 46 points. The HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (see above) and Bentley University-commit was one of the main reasons that the Warriors secured a share of the Kelley-Rex division title and booked a place in the Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen. KP coach Gary Pichel said, “Our two-year captain exemplified the word leadership. Heidi’s devotion to the sport, her team, and the pursuit of excellence was unmatched. Our Bentley-commit led by example, breaking King Philip’s all-time goal-scoring record in a single season with 32 goals!”

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Dani Lomuscio – King Philip – Midfield
King Philip junior Dani Lomuscio ran the game from her midfield position, helping the Warriors earn a share of the Kelley-Rex division crown and reach the Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen for the second year in a row. Lomuscio scored 14 times and also set up 19 other goals, with her 33 points putting her among the top scorers in the league. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches and as a first team EMass all-star as well. KP coach Gary Pichel said, “Dani is one of the greatest playmakers I’ve ever had the pleasure to coach. Her tenacity and ball handling skills are exceptional. Maintaining control of the midfield and finding an open teammate was incredible to watch each and every game!”

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Mekhala Costello – Canton – Midfield
Canton senior Mekhala Costello finished off her third year on varsity by helping the Bulldogs make an unexpected run to the Div. 2 quarterfinal. Costello finished the regular season with nine goals and 11 assists, one of six players to eclipse 20 points this fall. That form continued into the playoffs, as Canton upset Westwood and Longmeadow to reach the final eight. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Canton coach Idris Senyonjo said, “Mekhala plays the game with passion and will play with the same intensity even when the game is already won. A true competitor and team leader who leads by example. It has been my pleasure to work with her and watch her express herself on the field game after game.”

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Erin Foley – Foxboro – Midfield
Foxboro senior Erin Foley contributed all over the pitch for the Warriors this season, providing energy and leadership whether lined up as a forward or in the heart of the midfield. The Stonehill College-commit, and member of the state championship-winning girls basketball team, led Foxboro with 16 goals and five assists this season to help the Warriors reach the Div. 3 Round of 32 (following a convincing win in the preliminary round). Foley was selected as a Hockomock League all-star by the coaches. Foxboro coach Jen Lippolis said, “Erin is a dynamic player. She sets the tone for the game and makes her presence on the field always known. She has great foot skills, speed, and vision of the game.”

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Olivia Dunham – Mansfield – Midfield
Mansfield sophomore Olivia Dunham excelled in a new role this season, as she stepped into defensive midfield and provided a shield for the Hornets’ back line. The HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year (see below) was instrumental in Mansfield reaching the state title game for the first time in program history. Dunham had five goals and 15 assists this year (already up to 26 assists in her two years), which was second on the team and eighth best in the league, and she was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said, “Her versatility to play in the back four or in the center of the field made her such a valuable player for us.”

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Lindsey Resnick – Foxboro – Defense
Foxboro senior Lindsey Resnick put in another impressive season in the middle of the back line, closing out her four-year varsity career by helping the Warriors win their preliminary round game and go all the way to penalties in the Div. 3 Round of 32 against Grafton. The Marist College-commit not only contributed on defense but was also a threat on set pieces, scoring three times and assisting on five other goals this year. Resnick was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Foxboro coach Jen Lippolis said, “As a center back, Lindsey has perfected when to make offensive runs allowing her to be an offensive threat this season. She is also calm under pressure and a difficult defender to beat.”

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Maddie Horton – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior Maddie Horton had her best season in the heart of the Panthers’ back line, helping them claim a share of a fourth straight Kelley-Rex division title and reach the Div. 1 quarterfinal. After missing significant time last year with an injury, Horton was a rock at the back this season, a major reason why Franklin held teams to just eight goals in 21 games. She was also a major presence on set pieces, scoring once and delivering three assists for the league’s top-scoring team. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Maddie is a phenomenal leader both on and off the field. She had control of our back line, keeping our defenders and midfielders organized and compact in order to keep the ball away from our goal.”

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Kara Santos – Mansfield – Defense
Mansfield senior Kara Santos started every game during her four-year varsity career and this season helped the Hornets reach the Div. 2 state title game for the first time in program history. Santos led a Mansfield defense that recorded 11 clean sheets this season, and 38 over the course of her career. She scored seven goals and recorded four assists, bringing her career totals to 20 and eight. Santos was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said, “Kara is an excellent leader and the rock of our defense. She is super strong in the air but also very skilled with dribbling and passing that she was also the focal point to start our attacks from the back as she is able to find passes all over the field or dribble into the midfield to create defensive imbalances in our opponents.”

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Janiya Matier – Oliver Ames – Goalie
Oliver Ames junior Janiya Matier emerged as one of the state’s top shot stoppers, helping the Tigers win the Davenport division title by a single point and reach the Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen. She had 12 shutouts this season and has 21 in just two seasons between the posts for the Tigers including two more in the state tournament before the Tigers bowed out on penalties at Melrose. Matier was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “Janiya is a great combination of athletic and technical abilities. She is definitely one of the top keepers in EMass. Seven career playoff starts over the last two seasons, giving up just one goal in last year’s state final.”

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HockomockSports.com Second XI

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Mikayla Thompson – King Philip – Forward
King Philip junior Mikayla Thompson started her varsity career as a defender but has become one of the league’s most prolific attackers. She scored 17 goals and chipped in with nine assists for the Warriors this season, helping them claim a share of the Kelley-Rex division title and reach the Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen. Thompson was one of four Warriors selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches and was chosen first team EMass all-star as well. KP coach Gary Pichel said, “Mikayla came out of nowhere to become one of the top-rated forwards in the league. Mikayla frames the net and finishes very well. Her strength, power, and true grit make her a forward to watch next year.”

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Lucinda Li Cotter – Oliver Ames – Forward
Oliver Ames senior forward Lucinda Li Cotter closed out her impressive four-year varsity career with another strong season leading the line for the Tigers. Cotter scored 11 goals and dished out seven assists this season, bringing her career totals to 24 goals and 19 assists. After helping OA reach the Div. 2 title game last year, Cotter was instrumental in the Tigers winning the Davenport title this fall and nearly reaching the D2 quarterfinal. She was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “Lucinda is one of the most dynamic 1v1 players I’ve coached at Oliver Ames. She has an unbelievable first touch and is always looking for ways to set up her teammates.”

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Jamie Davies – Attleboro – Forward
Attleboro senior Jamie Davies wrapped up her career with another strong season for the Bombardiers, playing up top as a striker or dropping into midfield to be the team’s playmaker. After helping Attleboro get back into the postseason each of the last two years, Davies continued to deliver up front this fall, scoring 14 goals and adding two assists to lead the team in scoring. She was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. Attleboro coach Steve Santos said, “She has led the team in points for the past two seasons. She is a natural scorer that finds a way to get to the right places at the right time.”
 

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Emma Gavin – Oliver Ames – Midfield
Oliver Ames junior midfielder Emma Gavin had a breakout season for the Tigers, showing off her strong finishing in the attacking third but also delivering energy and physicality to break up opposition attacks for the Davenport champions. Gavin scored eight goals and had four assists this season, upping her career totals to 19 goals and 11 assists, while leading OA to a league title and into the Div. 2 Sweet Sixteen She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “Emma Gavin is a midfielder who plays goal line to goal line. She combines a top level of fitness with technical ability to control the midfield for OA.”
 

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Selene Hammad – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin senior midfielder Selene Hammad stepped up with a breakout final season, controlling the center of the pitch and helping the Panthers take a share of a fourth straight league title and reach the Div. 1 quarterfinal. The Clark University-commit scored nine times and dished out 11 assists, while also providing cover for the Franklin defense. She was a major reason why the Panthers were the top-scoring and top defensive team in the league this fall. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Selene is an incredibly smart player with the ability to play an almost perfect through ball to our strikers every time. She makes great decisions with the ball and was the connection between our back line and our front line this season.”

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Aly Fernandes – Mansfield – Midfield
Mansfield sophomore winger Aly Fernandes led the Hornets in scoring for the second season in a row, powering them to within a point of the Davenport division title and a first-ever berth in the Div. 2 state championship game. The dynamic playmaker, who could line up at forward or in midfield, scored 15 times this season while providing six assists. She was tied for fifth in the league in goals and sixth in total points. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said, ” Aly has led our team in scoring for both her freshman and sophomore years. Aly has great speed and a powerful shot and nose to create scoring opportunities. She can play anywhere on the front line.”

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Morgan Cook – Stoughton – Midfield
Stoughton junior midfielder Morgan Cook controlled the middle of the pitch for the Black Knights this season, delivering killer passes to the forwards and providing a shield for the defense on the other end. Cook finished with four goals and four assists, contributing to more than half of the team’s 15 total goals this fall, as Stoughton narrowly missed out on a second straight playoff appearance. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Stoughton coach Jeff O’Sullivan said, “Morgan’s ability to create chances for her teammates and her vision on the field was excellent. She’s a passionate player with a lot of upside and should have a bright future going forward to her senior year!”

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Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn – King Philip – Defense
King Philip junior Addisyn Lamothe-Vaughn was a constant threat from her right back position, making big challenges in the defensive third and rampaging forward to create chances at the other end of the field. She was one of the reasons that the Warriors earned a share of the Kelley-Rex division title and reached the Div. 1 Sweet Sixteen while scoring the second-most goals and allowing the third-fewest in the league. Lamothe-Vaughn was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. KP coach Gary Pichel said, “Addi is one of the premier backs in the league. What makes her truly dangerous to play against is her ability to become a playmaker many times from the backfield during the game! Her prowess and aggressiveness as a defender makes it difficult for offenses to penetrate the 18.”

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Ava Gilmore – Canton – Defense
Canton senior defender Ava Gilmore stepped into a bigger role as the veteran leader of the back line and put together an impressive season to help the Bulldogs record two clean sheets in the playoffs and reach the Div. 2 quarterfinal. The Bulldogs allowed the fifth-fewest goals in the league and Gimore’s tenacity and reading of the game were big reasons why. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Canton coach Idris Senyonjo said, “She has been the heart of the team. She is a team captain and a leader on and off the field. Her contribution to the team over the past four years has always been unnoticed because she is a defender but I have pushed her hard and every year she met the challenge.”

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Casey Butanowicz – North Attleboro – Defense
North Attleboro senior defender Casey Butanowicz was a force at the heart of the Rocketeers back line this season, her no-nonsense defending part of the reason for North allowing only 39 goals as a team. Butanowicz also stepped into midfield or played other roles as needed, with one of her two assists leading to the game-winning goal in North’s lone victory. North coach Dan Burdick said, “Casey was a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. Not only is she strong, but her ability to use her body to shield off opposing players is tremendous. She is a tenacious defender who forced turnovers and won the ball in the air. She always seemed to make the big plays when they mattered most. She was voted team MVP by the girls on our team, an honor of which she was most deserving.”

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Rachel Welch – Franklin- Goalie
Franklin senior goalie Rachel Welch closed out her three-year career as a starter with one of her strongest seasons yet. With Welch between the posts, Franklin allowed only eight goals in 21 games and that strong defensive record was one of the reasons they clinched a share of a fourth straight league title and reached the Div. 1 quarterfinal. The UMass Lowell-commit had a career goals against average of 0.51 and recorded 10 clean sheets this year. She was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. Franklin coach Jodi Klein said, “Rachel was the voice of our team this season and an incredible leader on the field. She is incredibly athletic and her field awareness, decision making, agility, and reaction time kept us at just 10 goals against this year.”

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Mansfield sophomore Olivia Dunham has been selected as the 2023 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year, as the top performing freshman or sophomore player. The sophomore midfielder played a key role in helping Mansfield reach the Div. 2 state title game for the first time.

Dunham had an impressive rookie season in the heart of the Mansfield defense, but this fall she moved forward to play defensive midfield and her ability to read the game, put in a challenge, and make accurate passes to the forwards was a big reason for the Hornets having the best season in program history.

Her versatility to play in the back four or in the center of the field made her such a valuable player for us,” said Mansfield coach Kevin Smith. “She has speed and quickness to cover a lot of ground, tenacity to break up opponents’ attacks before they reach our back line, a wide passing range to reach all over the field as well as very good foot skills to work herself out of crowded space.”

Dunham scored five goals and dished out 15 assists. She already has 26 assists in her two years on varsity. Her 15 assists were the second most in a single season in program history. Dunham was second in the league for assists and eighth in points. She was selected as a league all-star for the second straight year and was named a first team EMass all-star this fall.

“Olivia was outstanding this season,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry, “She covered so much ground in front of the back line, breaking up attacks all over the pitch, and her quality of passing meant that she could create opportunities from deeper positions. Forwards get a lot of the publicity, but Olivia’s play in midfield was crucial to Mansfield making the run it did.”

Dunham is the third player from the Davenport division to win this award, following OA’s Francesca Calabraro (2014) and Foxboro’s Kailee McCabe (2018 and 2019). She is also the third female athlete from Mansfield to be named Underclassman of the Year after Caroline Maher (basketball, 2013-14) and Meg Hill (volleyball, 2015).

Honorable Mentions: Tatum O’Brien (Attleboro), Morgan Lovell (Franklin), Siena Fabrizio (Oliver Ames), Jessica Li (Sharon)

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Mansfield head coach Kevin Smith has been selected as the 2023 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Coach of the Year after leading the Hornets within one point of a first Davenport division title and to the program’s first state championship game.

The Hornets started five sophomores this season, but battled for the league title to the final game of the regular season, drawing with Canton to drop a point back of Oliver Ames. Mansfield bounced back quickly to become the first soccer team (boys or girls) at the school to reach a state final. The Hornets scored 15 goals in the first three games of the playoffs to reach the semifinal and knocked off No. 2 seed Nashoba 1-0 in the Final Four to face Notre Dame Academy in the title game.

Over the course of the season, Mansfield was the third-highest scoring team in the league with 62 goals in 22 games while allowing the fourth-fewest goals against (20).

“Mansfield was a team with loads of potential but had to put the pieces together in the right way to make it to the final,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Kevin was able to move players into different positions, find the combination and style that worked, and empowered his players to read and adapt to how the game was being played. They were a fun team to watch.”

This is the second time that Smith has been named Coach of the Year and the first time since 2016. He is the fourth coach to be honored multiple times, joining Foxboro’s Katie Stalcup (2018 and 2021), Franklin’s Tom Geysen (2012 and 2013), and King Philip’s Gary Pichel (2017 and 2019).

Honorable Mentions: Jodi Klein (Franklin), Gary Pichel (King Philip), Idris Senyonjo (Canton), Britt Sellmayer (Oliver Ames)