2021 HockomockSports Field Hockey Awards

 
Franklin junior Kaitlyn Carney has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Player of the Year. The midfielder led the league in scoring this season, helping the Panthers win a third straight Kelley-Rex division title and reach the Div. 1 state semifinal for the first time in program history.

Carney scored 37 goals and recorded 18 assists this season, finishing the regular season with nine more points than any other player. The 55 goals that she accounted for this year were more than all but two other teams scored this fall. Carney added seven points in four postseason games, scoring important goals to lead the Panthers into the semifinal against eventual champion Andover. It was the second straight season that she led the Hock in scoring.

With Carney leading the way, the Panthers scored 124 goals as a team, averaging nearly six goals per game and scoring more than double the next highest-scoring team in the league (Attleboro with 61). Carney now has 105 points in three seasons in the Franklin midfield and was selected as a league all-star for the second year in a row.

“Kaitlyn is one of the most talented athletes I have ever had the pleasure of coaching, but Kaitlyn also works very hard at her skills,” Franklin coach Michelle Hess said. “Kaitlyn has a drive and determination that is rather impressive, she never settles and is always working hard to get better with each and every practice, game, and season.”

HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry said, “There are few players in any sport that can match Kaitlyn’s intensity and that drive is one of the reasons Franklin reached the heights it did this season. Kaitlyn is also one of the most talented players in the Hock, able to move the ball past defenders and with a rocket of a shot.”

Carney is the second Franklin player to be chosen for this award, joining Annie Walsh in 2016. She is also the sixth straight player from the Kelley-Rex to be named Player of the Year, including Mansfield’s Caroling Maher (2015), Walsh, King Philip’s Alli Meehan (2018), and Christina Hathaway (2017), and Attleboro’s Anna Beck (2019). Carney is the third field hockey player to go from Underclassman of the Year to Player of the Year, following Walsh and Oliver Ames’ Hannah Friend.

Honorable Mentions: Carly Fitzgerald (Canton), Madison Ellis (Attleboro), Georgia Costello (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 alphabetical by position.

HockomockSports.com First Team

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Ava Haggerty – Attleboro – Goalie
Attleboro senior goalie Ava Haggerty stood tall between the pipes for the Bombardiers this season, helping them get back into the state tournament. Haggerty played all 18 games for Attleboro and allowed only 29 goals, which was the fifth-lowest total in the league. She made 151 saves this season, which was among the league leaders. Haggerty was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock coaches. Attleboro coach Lindsay Antunes said, “Ava is a mentally and physically strong goalkeeper, willing to face even the toughest of offensive challenges head on. She was an outspoken and well-respected leader on our defensive line, and was instrumental in ensuring that her teammates around her were covering, in position, and making the plays.”

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Carly Fitzgerald – Canton – Defense
Canton senior defender Carly Fitzgerald was a rock at the heart of one of the league’s top defensive units. A four-year varsity player and three-year starter, Fitzgerald helped turn a relatively inexperienced group into the strength of the team. After allowing nine goals in the opening two games, Canton only allowed three over the remaining 18. The Bulldogs recorded 15 shutouts in 20 games and advanced to the Round of 16 in the state tournament before losing to Reading on strokes. Fitzgerald was selected as a league all-star. Canton coach Chrissy O’Connor said, “Carly came in this season as only returning defender and really helped develop some new talent in the backfield with her leadership and tenacity.”

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Kendall Jones – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior Kendall Jones closed out her three-year varsity career by helping the Panthers continue their long unbeaten run in league play, win a third straight Kelley-Rex division title, and advance to the team’s first state semifinal. Jones was selected as a league all-star and picked to play in the Best of 60 Mass. State Coaches Association all-star game. As a threat at both ends of the field, Jones chipped in with eight goals and nine assists, while helping Franklin hold teams to just 14 goals in 22 games. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Kendall is a very skilled and fast defensive player. Kendall’s leadership skills both on and off the field are quite impressive and a huge reason we had so much success over this past season.”

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Lily Brown – King Philip – Defense
King Philip senior Lily Brown was a key contributor to the defense that allowed the third-fewest goals in the league, helping the Warriors finish in second place in the Kelley-Rex division and return to the state tournament. Brown had three defensive saves but also chipped in on the other end of the field, scoring four goals and assisting on another. As a team, the KP defense allowed only 17 goals in 19 matches this season. Brown was selected as a Hockomock League all-star by the coaches. King Philip coach Lisa Cropper said, “Lily was a stalwart defender all season always marking one of the strongest opponents, and was a regular on corners at both ends of the field while picking up five points.”

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Kate Collins – Foxboro – Midfield
Foxboro senior Kate Collins was once again one of the top players in the Hockomock League and the engine in the heart of the midfield that drove the Warriors to second place in the Davenport division. Collins scored nine goals and had nine assists during the season, capping an impressive career with the Warriors. Her high work rate was contagious as she was involved on both ends of the field. “Kate was my most poised offensive player and one of our most pivotal players…she didn’t break while under defensive pressure,” said Foxboro coach Melissa Bordieri. “Kate has an awesome field awareness and game sense, together with her stickwork she was a massive part of our attack this year. She is a very smart, strategic, well rounded player…a totally unselfish playmaker on the field.”

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Julia Puccio – North Attleboro – Midfield
North Attleboro junior midfielder Julia Puccio was the catalyst for the Rocketeers returning to the state tournament this fall. The three-year varsity player led the team with 23 goals and five assists, which was in the top five in the league for scoring during the regular season. Quick and skillful, Puccio not only got North moving forward but was regularly found tracking back to help on the defensive end of the field. Pucci was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. North coach Karen Folan said, “Julia rarely tires on the field. She is quick with the ball on her stick even after a long run up the field. She moves by defenders with quick pulls and smooth spins to get a step in front of them to send off a hard shot or difficult to defend lift on net.”

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Madison Ellis – Attleboro – Midfield
Attleboro senior Madison Ellis closed out her impressive four-year varsity career by helping the Bombardiers make a return to the state tournament. The East Stroudsburg University-commit scored 27 goals (including one in the playoffs) and had 13 assists. Ellis had hat tricks in six games, including a 6-goal game, and was second in the league in scoring this season. She was selected as the Hockomock League MVP by the coaches. Attleboro coach Lindsay Antunes said, “Madison is one the strongest offensive players I’ve ever seen. Though patient and thoughtful in her play, she’s incredibly aggressive and determined to flawlessly carry out each and every play from beginning to end.”

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Kaitlyn Carney – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin junior midfielder Kaitlyn Carney put together an incredible individual season to help the Panthers win a third straight league title and advance to the first state semifinal in program history. With 37 goals and 18 assists this season (including seven points in the playoffs), Carney was the top scorer in the league for the second straight season. She has more than 100 points in her first three years and was selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (see above). Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Kaitlyn is one of the most talented athletes I have ever had the pleasure of coaching but Kaitlyn also works very hard at her skills. Kaitlyn has a drive and determination that is rather impressive, she never settles.”

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Ellie Bohane – Canton – Forward
Canon junior forward Ellie Bohane was one of the top scorers in the league this season, helping the Bulldogs return to the top of the Davenport division and advance to the Round of 16 in the state tournament. She scored 13 goals and had nine assists in the regular season, which was tops on the team in both categories and in the top 10 in the league for points. With Bohane leading the line, Canton finished as the fourth-highest scoring team in the league this season. Bohane was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Canton coach Chrissy O’Connor said, “Ellie came into the season ready to play. Her stickwork and speed along with her aggression inside the circle gave us an advantage offensively.”

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Shaw Downing – Franklin – Forward
Franklin junior forward Shaw Downing was a key part of the league’s top offense. Downing scored 20 goals and had nine assists this season and was sixth in the league in scoring during the regular season, helping Franklin score 124 goals as a team, on its way to a third straight league title and the program’s first-ever state semifinal appearance. Downing was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Shaw can put the ball in the net once she gets it in the circle. Shaw is a fast and highly skilled forward that is aggressive to the ball and has the ability to find the net and collect rebounds off the goalie’s pads and redirect them skillfully into the goal.”

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Georgia Costello – Oliver Ames – Forward
Oliver Ames senior forward Georgia Costello capped off her career with her best season in front of goal, helping OA reach the Div. 2 Round of 16. Costello scored 20 goals and had 16 assists this season and was third in the league in points during the regular season. She finished her career with 44 goals and 28 assists, including the game-winning goal in overtime to beat Scituate in the first round of the playoffs. The Salve Regina-commit was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. OA coach Sharon Lawrence said, “Georgia is a dominant power forward with speed, strength, vision, and ball control, that created goal scoring opportunities. She was our go-to scorer and delivered under pressure for some clutch wins. She was an incredible leader on and off the field.”

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HockomockSports.com Second Team

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Carolyn Durand – Canton – Goalie
Canton junior goalie Carolyn Durand took her strong play from the rink to the turf this season and helped the Bulldogs become one of the league’s top defensive teams. In her first year as the starter, Durand recorded 15 shutouts and allowed only 12 goals in 20 games, nine of those goals coming in the opening two games of the season. She had 140 saves in the regular season and a goals against average well under one. With the defense becoming a strength of the team, Canton was able to win the Davenport division title and reach the Round of 16 in the Div. 2 state tournament. Canton coach Chrissy O’Connor said, “Carolyn stepped in and did a fantastic job. She is coachable, well liked, and has such a natural instinct in the goal.”

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Caitlin Dumouchel – Mansfield – Defense
Mansfield senior defender Caitlin Dumouchel was a rock at the back for the Hornets this season, using her speed and instincts to cut out dangerous attacks all year. In addition to her work in the heart of the back line, Dumouchel was able to spark the Hornets into the attack with her accurate passing. She was selected as a Hockomock League all-star by the coaches. Mansfield coach Theresa Nyhan said, “Caitlin is an instinctive player, without a doubt – the cornerstone of our defense! She is a marvelous combination of smart and athletic and uses both equally. Evidence of this is how she steals the ball – she scans the field and intercepts the ball instead of tackling an opponent. She can read the play as well as anyone in the league!”

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Molly Piller – King Philip – Defense
King Philip senior Molly Piller closed out her four-year varsity career with another strong season at the back for the Warriors. Piller helped KP finish in second place in the Kelley-Rex division and reach the Round of 32 in the state tournament. Piller made three defensive saves and scored one goal this season. Her presence at the back was one of the reasons that the Warriors only allowed 17 goals in 19 games this season, which was the third-fewest allowed by a Hock team. She was chosen as an Honorable Mention for all-star by the league’s coaches. King Philip coach Lisa Cropper said, “Molly was our rock back at the Sweeper position directing the defense and a key player on corners.”

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Kate O’Rourke – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior defender Kate O’Rourke was integral to the success of the Panthers defensively this season. With O’Rourke on the left side, Franklin allowed only 14 goals in 22 games this season on its way to a third straight league title and a spot in the state semifinal for the first time. O’Rourke was selected as an all-star by Hockomock League coaches and chosen to play in the Best of 60 Senior All-Star Game by the state coaches association. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Kate is a very smart and highly skilled player who relies on her speed, skill, and aggressive play to keep her opponents out of the circle. Kate is our trail on our defensive corners and makes it very difficult for teams to execute their corner plays against us.”

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Ava Costello – Oliver Ames – Midfield
Oliver Ames senior midfielder Ava Costello was instrumental in the Tigers putting together a run to the Div. 2 Round of 16. She scored four goals and had six assists this season, while also contributing on both ends of the field for the Tigers. She popped up with a late, tying goal from a corner in the opening tournament game against Scituate that OA went on to win in overtime. The Regis College-commit was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. OA coach Sharon Lawrence said, “Ava is a versatile player that moved into center midfield her senior year. She has exceptional skill offensively and defensively, the athleticism to cover the field, and the vision that allows her to be a dynamic playmaker for the offense.”

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Emily Carney – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin freshman Emily Carney stepped right into the heart of the midfield this season and became a crucial piece of the Panthers winning a third straight league title and making a run to their first state semifinal. She scored six times and had 18 assists, as part of the league’s top offensive unit, but also helped shield the back line as part of the league’s top defensive group. In one of the most difficult positions on the field, Carney never looked out of place and showed a game sense beyond that of most freshmen. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Emily’s presence on the field at center midfield was noticed immediately. Emily’s field hockey IQ and her ability to play both offensively and defensively were instrumental in the success of our team this year.”

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Kelly Holmes – King Philip – Midfield
King Philip sophomore midfielder Kelly Holmes had a stellar season as the top playmaker for the Warriors, helping them take second place in the Kelley-Rex division and reach the Div. 1 state tournament. Holmes was one of the league’s top scorers in the regular season, finishing with eight goals and 10 assists, while also covering a lot of ground to help out defensively. After displaying her all-around game this season, Holmes was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. King Philip coach Lisa Cropper said, “Kelly set the pace for our team from the middle of the field throughout the season while being our team MVP and a key player on both offensive and defensive corners.”

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Kylie Thorpe – Taunton – Midfield
Taunton senior midfielder Kylie Thorpe was the top playmaker on the Tigers this season, providing a link between the defense and the attack and covering a lot of ground between breaking up attacks to spearheading transitions the other way. Thorpe finished the season with two goals and an assist. She was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Taunton coach Liz Hathaway said, “Kylie is such a versatile, hard-working player. She was the catalyst that sparked our offensive pushes. She excelled at transitioning the ball from the defense to offense, has great sense of field awareness, and locating her teammates. She is a great kid, that goes above and beyond for her team.”

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Haley Wernig – Franklin – Forward
Franklin freshman forward Haley Wernig jumped right into the varsity team and provided a boost to the league’s top offense. In her first season, Wernig scored 16 goals and added six assists. Her 22 points were in the top 10 in the league this season and helped the Panthers win a third straight Kelley-Rex division title, extend their long league win streak, and reach the state semifinal for the first time. Wernig played on both wings and showed the speed and skill to compete with the top teams in the state. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Haley has a bright future ahead of her especially because her work ethic is impressive. Haley is always coming to me for feedback and asking how she can execute her skills better, she is very reflective and a pleasure to coach.”

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Sarah McMahon – Attleboro – Forward
Attleboro senior forward Sarah McMahon had a strong season for the Bombardiers, finishing just outside the top 10 in the league in scoring and helping Attleboro make a return to the state tournament. McMahon scored nine goals and added nine assists, as part of the league’s second-best attacking unit. She was selected as an Honorable Mention for all-star by the coaches. Attleboro coach Lindsay Antunes said, “Sarah is a very strategic forward, not only able to carry the ball but also able to use her field vision to determine both where to send the ball and where to be to make big plays happen. Sarah’s strength, speed, and field awareness allowed our team, and specifically her, to score on some of the toughest defenses we saw this season.”

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Mary Collins – Foxboro – Forward
Foxboro sophomore Mary Collins had a tremendous first full season for the Warriors, leading the squad in scoring, helping them take second in the Davenport division, and go on a memorable playoff run to the state quarterfinals. She was among the best offensive players out there, even as just a sophomore, which earned her HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year honors (see below). She was first on the team with 13 goals and was third in the entire Hockomock League with 14 assists during the regular season, finishing in the top five for total points.
 

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Foxboro sophomore forward Mary Collins has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Underclassman of the Year. Collins was one of the most dangerous players in the offensive end this season, finishing the regular season in the top five for scoring.

Collins emerges as a go-to option on the offensive end for head coach Melissa Bordieri. Her speed and strong stick stills helped her carve up opposing defenses, scoring 15 goals this year. She also showed the ability to set her teammates up for success, registering 18 total assists between the regular season and playoffs.

“Mary was one of our biggest offensive threats this season,” said Foxboro head Melissa Bordieri. “An extremely versatile player she was crucial on our corner attack and was a strength in our midfield. Mary is quick and deceptive with the ball, and certainly has the knack to score. Just like her sister she is an unselfish player with the ability to contribute on both attack and defense.”

“Mary is the type of player that defenses have to pay attention to for the entire game,” said HockomockSports.com Editor-in-Chief Ryan Lanigan. “She showed no fear going against some of the toughest defenses in the league and always seemed to be involved in the play, whether it was setting it up or scoring herself.”

Collins is the first sophomore to be honored as Underclassman of the Year since 2017, and fourth overall. She’s the first Foxboro player to receive this honor since 2016 when Lily Daly won it.

Honorable Mention: Kelly Holmes (King Philip), Emily Carney (Franklin), Haley Wernig (Franklin)

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Franklin’s Michelle Hess has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Coach of the Year. Hess led the Panthers to their third straight Kelley-Rex division title and to the program’s first-ever Div. 1 state semifinal.

“Coming into the season, it wasn’t obvious that Franklin would be the dominant team they turned out to be,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Michelle fit players into the right spots and built a team that was not only a league power but a statewide one. Talent helps, but Michelle kept the Panthers focused on the goal from the start of the season and they made program history.”

Despite returning only three starters from last year and beginning the season with three freshmen in the starting lineup, the Panthers finished as the top scoring team in the league with 124 goals, which was more than double that of second-place Attleboro (61). Franklin also allowed only 14 goals in 22 games all season (and five of those goals came in the semifinal against Andover). With a goal differential of plus-110 in a competitive league, Franklin put together a historically dominant season.

Franklin went a perfect 16-0 in league play and extended its long unbeaten streak in the league to 45 games. During that stretch, the Panthers have won all but four (and two of the draws were Covid-related cancelations). Franklin’s only losses this season were to the two teams that played for the D1 state title, Andover and Walpole.

Hess is the second Franklin coach to receive this honor, following current King Philip coach Lisa Cropper, who was the first Coach of the Year recipient in 2013. She is also the first coach to win the award two seasons in a row and just the second coach to earn this honor twice, following Foxboro’s Melissa Bordieri who was named Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2018.

Honorable Mention: Melissa Bordieri (Foxboro), Chrissy O’Connor (Canton), Karen Folan (North Attleboro)