2017 HockomockSports Girls Soccer Awards

 
King Philip sophomore Avery Snead has been selected as the 2017 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The versatile forward helped lead the Warriors to their first league title since 2002 as well as the Div. 1 South title. Snead was also named the Hockomock League MVP and named to the all-state team.

Snead, the reigning HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year, followed up her stellar rookie campaign with a dominant second season, helping KP clinch a share of the Kelley-Rex title and rack up 20 wins overall. She finished the season with a league-high 31 goals and added 17 assists for a league-best 48 points, including five goals and three assists during the playoffs. Snead already has 45 goals in her two seasons on varsity.

“Avery doubled her goal output for the season providing our team with much needed fire power and offensive leadership!” said King Philip coach Gary Pichel.

Versatility was a key for Snead, who used her size to be an aerial threat on set pieces, her ball skills to create openings in opposition defenses, and a powerful, accurate shot that made her a scoring threat from distance. Despite facing multiple defenders, Snead and classmate Chloe Layne seemed impossible to stop and made KP the league’s top scoring team this season.

“No matter where she is on the pitch, it seems Avery has a way of creating a scoring opportunity,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “You look away for a second and could miss a 30-yard blast into the top corner. But the most impressive aspect of her game is the way that she can create space in the midfield and on the edge of the box and pick out the right pass to set up her teammates. She can score from anywhere, but Avery and Chloe are also really unselfish, which is why the combo works so well.”

Snead is the first King Philip player to be named Girls Soccer Player of the Year and sixth straight player from the Kelley-Rex division to earn this honor. Snead is only the third player outside of Franklin to win the award in the six years it has been handed out following Lauren Berman of Canton in 2012 and Hannah Reiter of Mansfield last year. Snead also joined Franklin’s Victoria Stowell as the second player to win both Underclassman and Player of the Year in girls soccer.

Honorable Mentions: Chloe Layne (King Philip), Rachel LaBonte (North Attleboro), Emily Vigeant (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.

 
 
 
 

HockomockSports.com Best XI

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Chloe Layne – King Philip – Forward
King Philip sophomore forward Chloe Layne more than quadrupled her goal total from freshman season, finishing second on the team and in the league in goals (28), assists (13), and points (41), and was selected as the HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year (see below). With Layne’s help, the Warriors won the league title for the first time since 2002 and won the Div. 1 South title. King Philip coach Gary Pichel said of Layne, “Chloe dazzled the defense of opposing teams, which often left two to three defenders chasing from behind as she made her way through the back line!”

 

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Avery Snead – King Philip – Forward
King Philip sophomore Avery Snead doubled her goal-scoring output from freshman season to provide the Warriors with team and league highs in goals (31), assists (17), and points (48) in helping KP to its first league title since 2002 and to the Div. 1 South title. KP coach Gary Pichel said of Snead, who was chosen as the Hockomock League MVP and as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (see above), “Avery doubled her goal output for the season providing our team with much-needed fire power and offensive leadership!” With Snead leading the line, KP won 20 games overall and lost only twice this season.

 

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Ashlyn Gaulin – North Attleboro – Forward
North Attleboro junior forward Ashlyn Gaulin continued the momentum from her stellar sophomore season to lead the Rocketeers in scoring this fall and help North clinch its second straight Davenport division crown. Gaulin led North with 18 goals and 11 assists this year and her total of 29 points was third-best in the Hockomock this year. She was selected as an all-star by the league’s coaches. North coach Bill Wallace said of Gaulin, “Ashlyn works hard at every aspect of her game and became one of the elite scorers in the league this year. Her love of the game is infectious with her teammates and coaches.”

 

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Ally Filipkowski – Sharon – Midfield
Sharon senior midfielder Ally Filipkowski had another strong individual season for a young Eagles squad and helped Sharon compete with some of the top teams in the league, while also having the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico at the youth international level. Despite being the focal point of opposing defenses, Filipkowski scored 17 goals and recorded five assists this fall, both team highs. Sharon coach Brad Furnival said of the George Washington-commit, “When the team needed her most Ally was able to produce moments of magic with her feet, which helped the team gain positives results in games against the league’s best teams.”

 

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Lily Sykes – Foxboro – Midfield
Foxboro senior Lily Sykes put in another outstanding season in the heart of the Foxboro midfield, leading a young Warriors roster to the Div. 2 South playoffs with 12 goals and 11 assists. Over her four-year career, Sykes scored 50 career goals and became the first player (male or female) to be named to this site’s Best XI all four years of her career. First-year Foxboro coach Katie Stalcup said of the Tufts University-commit, “She is an amazing player who can control the tempo of a game all on her own, she has a very high soccer IQ and she is a strong leader. She will be missed.”

 

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Samantha Tichelaar – Taunton – Midfield
Taunton senior midfielder Samantha Tichelaar closed out her four-year varsity career with six goals and two assists for the Tigers this fall, including a four-game scoring streak in the middle of the season. Tichelaar moved from forward to midfield to be more of a playmaker for the Tigers and is a two-year captain. Taunton coach Edith Dixon said of Tichelaar, “As much as she has been a scoring threat, her real value to the team has been in her leadership and work ethic. She’s a dominant defensive presence, a constant offensive threat, and probably one of the fastest players in the Hock. She makes everyone around her better.”

 

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Melissa Reef – Mansfield – Midfield
Mansfield junior midfielder Melissa Reef continues to be a rock in the center of the pitch for the Hornets, both breaking up opponents’ attacks and also providing solid distribution to help Mansfield transition into attack. With Reef, a University of Massachusetts-commit and all-state performer, in midfield, Mansfield clinched a share of its second straight league title. She was also named an all-star by the league’s coaches. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said of Reef, “She is the engine to our team as she links all aspects of our attack together. Melissa is an excellent defender who breaks down many of the opposition’s attacks.”

 

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Emily Vigeant – Mansfield – Defense
Mansfield junior central defender Emily Vigeant put in another excellent season in the heart of the Hornets backline, which allowed a league-low 14 goals all season. A two-year starter in the middle of the Mansfield defense, Vigeant has also provided 14 goals and 14 assists (10 goals and two assists this fall alone) as the team’s set piece specialist. Over those two seasons, the Hornets have won their first two league titles. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said of Vigeant, “She is a great one-on-one defender helping our team to the two best defensive records in program history over these two years.”

 

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Rachel LaBonte – North Attleboro – Defense
North Attleboro senior Rachel LaBonte was once again a dominant presence in the middle of the Rocketeers defense and helped them clinch the Davenport division title for the second season in a row, while allowing only 21 goals in 20 games this season. LaBonte also chipped in on set pieces and provided a pair of goals and three assists. North coach Bill Wallace said of LaBonte, “Rachel is arguably the strongest player I have ever coached. She led a defense that had nine shutouts (a team record) and transitioned from her sweeper role to a central defender in a flat back defense.”

 

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Emma Corcoran – King Philip – Defense
King Philip senior central defender Emma Corcoran provided another standout season in the heart of the KP defense, while also giving the Warriors an accurate delivery on set pieces to help KP claim a share of the Kelley-Rex division title, its first league title since 2002. The Wesleyan University-commit recorded 11 assists for the Warriors and scored one goal to be the team’s third-leading scorer. KP coach Gary Pichel said, “Emma’s ability to place balls inside the six was a real weapon for our team. Her defensive prowess and total command of the backfield helped hold our goals against through 24 games to just 23 goals.”

 

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Regan Benton – Oliver Ames – Goalie
Oliver Ames senior goalkeeper Regan Benton started in goal for the fourth straight season for the Tigers and put in another stellar year, despite having several inexperienced players in the OA defensive unit this fall. Benton started 19 games this season and allowed 1.22 goals against with five shutouts. Over the course of her career, Benton had a goals against average of 0.70 with 20 shutouts. OA coach Britt Sellmayer said of the Salisbury College-commit, “Regan has worked very hard at her craft the past four years. She has improved in every aspect: conditioning, technical, and tactical.”

 

HockomockSports.com Second XI

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Molly Duncan – Franklin – Forward
Franklin senior midfielder Molly Duncan closed out an impressive four-year varsity career with another all-action fall in the center of the pitch for the Panthers and helped Franklin make a return to the state tournament despite a relatively young roster. Duncan scored eight goals and had six assists this year but also provided energy and leadership in the heart of midfield or at forward, her versatility an example for the younger players. Franklin coach Tom Geysen said of Duncan, “She is well skilled, knowledgeable, accomplished and has a very high soccer IQ; she will continue to play at the next level in the fall.”

 

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Olivia Rodman – Canton – Forward
Canton freshman forward Olivia Rodman emerged onto the scene with a strong rookie campaign that helped Canton finish second in the Davenport division, total 10 wins, and qualify for the playoffs again this fall. Rodman finished the season with team highs in goals (14) and assists (seven) cutting in from the left wing and combining up top with classmate Elisa Diletizia (nine goals) to provide a consistent outlet for a Canton attack that was the fifth-highest in the league. Rodman was also selected as a Hockomock all-star during her rookie season by the
league’s coaches.

 

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Jacqueline Mills – Oliver Ames – Midfield
Oliver Ames senior midfielder Jacqueline Mills had another strong fall for the Tigers to close out her impressive four-year career and help OA return to the postseason. Mills scored four goals and had three assists running down the wing for the Tigers, but also demonstrated the ability to pinch in and provide help in the center when needed. For her career, Mills scored 20 goals and had 12 assists and was named a league all-star two years in a row. OA coach Britt Sellmayer said, “Jacqueline has been a great teammate and role model for the past four seasons. Her skill set allows her to play multiple positions.”

 

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Riley Duserick – Canton – Midfield
Canton senior midfielder Riley Duserick was selected as a Hockomock all-star for the fourth straight season by the league’s coaches after leading the Bulldogs to second place in the Davenport division and a return to the Div. 2 South playoffs. This fall, Duserick chipped in with three goals and five assists from the center of the Canton midfield. Canton coach Kate Howarth said of Duserick after the 2016 season, “Riley is an anchor in the midfield for us. One of the Riley’s best qualities as a player is her consistency and best quality as a person is her desire to play the game well.”

 

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Bryn Anderson – Mansfield – Midfield
Mansfield junior Bryn Anderson was once again a critical piece of the midfield that helped the Hornets earn back-to-back league titles. As a two-year starter, Anderson has shown the ability to be a box-to-box player, not afraid of getting stuck into a challenge but also popping up on the edge of the penalty area to provide a shot or defense-splitting pass. She scored three goals and had five assists for the Hornets and was named a league all-star for the second year in a row. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said of Anderson, “She is an excellent passer with a great work rate.”

 

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Aine Mendonca – North Attleboro – Midfield
North Attleboro senior midfielder Aine Mendonca helped the Rocketeers to a second straight league title with another solid season in the center of the pitch as a shield for the back line and as a distributor for North’s lethal counter attack. Mendonca also provided a physical presence for the Rocketeers both in the midfield and on set pieces. She finished with five goals and two assists on the season. North Attleboro coach Bill Wallace said, “Aine has always had skill, strength, and intelligence but this year she added leadership which made her invaluable to our success.”

 

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Haley Guertin – North Attleboro – Midfield
North Attleboro senior Haley Guertin closed out one of the most prolific careers in the program’s history with another strong season as a forward and midfielder for the Davenport division champions. Guertin scored 12 goals and recorded nine assists this fall, in the process becoming the program’s all-time leader in career assists and the second Rocketeer to eclipse the 100-point mark for her career. North coach Bill Wallace said of the Marist College-commit, “Haley is one of the few players that plays just as fast with a ball on her feet. She has left quite a legacy in North soccer in her four-year career.”

 

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Sarah Connolly – Canton – Defense
Canton senior central defender Sarah Connolly provided Canton with leadership at the back and the ability to jump start the dangerous Bulldogs counter-attack, which proved successful for Canton to make a return to the Div. 2 South playoffs. Connolly also chipped in with two goals and three assists for Canton, while demonstrating the ability to read plays, the speed to cover across the back line, and the presence of mind to pick out the right pass to get the ball forward. The Lafayette College-commit was also selected as a Hockomock all-star by the league’s coaches.

 

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Taylor Smith – Mansfield – Defense
Mansfield senior center back Taylor Smith moved cross-country from Seattle this fall and quickly became a starter in the center of the Hornets defense and helped them to a share of the league title and a league-low 14 goals allowed. Smith, a University of Minnesota-commit, added two goals and four assists and showed off the strength and passing ability that made her a DI recruit. Mansfield coach Kevin Smith said, “Taylor is an exceptionally talented player. She is a great defender who is a strong tackler and strong in the air but she can also start an attack with pinpoint passes or by dribbling up the field.”

 

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Jordyn Forte – Attleboro – Defense
Attleboro senior central defender Jordyn Forte closed out her career with another Hockomock League all-star performance in the middle of the Bombardiers’ back three. A quick defender who reads the game very well, Forte was one of the reasons that Attleboro was always a tough team to play against and stayed organized at the back. Attleboro coach Steve Santos said of Forte, “Her knowledge of the game and ability to read situations is tremendous. She is a great leader and one of the hardest workers on the field every game. She is that key player any coach would want to build his backline around.”

 

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Cat Robbins – Franklin – Goalie
Franklin senior goalie Cat Robbins closed out her four-year career with a second straight strong season as a starter, holding things together behind a relatively inexperienced Franklin back line. Robbins finished the season with a 1.80 goals against average this season and held six clean sheets, as the Panthers returned to the Div. 1 South tournament. Stepping in after the successful career of Dani Lonati, Robbins has proven to be a solid shot-stopper with the athleticism to make saves in either corner and she is committed to play soccer next year at Plymouth State University.

 

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King Philip sophomore Chloe Layne has been selected as the 2017 HockomockSports.com Girls Soccer Underclassman of the Year, as the top performing freshman or sophomore player. The forward was a constant menace in the Warriors attack and helped them clinch the program’s first Hockomock League title since 2002 and reach the state semifinal.

Layne jumped up from six goals as a freshman to 28 goals this past season and also added 13 assists. Her 41 total points were second best in the Hockomock. Only teammate Avery Snead had more goals, assists or points than Layne did this fall and that effort led to her being named a league all-star and to the all-state team.

“Chloe dazzled the defense of opposing teams which often left two to three defenders chasing from behind as she made her way through the back line!” said King Philip coach Gary Pichel.

With Layne and Snead leading the line, KP became the league’s top scoring team and clinched a share of the Kelley-Rex division title. In addition, Layne scored both goals for the Warriors to beat top seed Natick in the South semifinal and added a goal against Newton South in the final as well.

“Chloe is one of the most gifted players in the league with the ball at her feet,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “She could take on any defender one-on-one and create the space to get a shot off. It’s not just tricks and flicks for the fun of it, she always knows where the opening is and has a move that can get her there.”

Layne is the second straight Underclassman of the Year from King Philip, joining Avery Snead as the only two KP players to earn this honor. All but one of the six players selected for this award has been a sophomore (Snead was the lone freshman).

Honorable Mentions: Olivia Rodman (Canton), Juliana France (Milford), Isabella Salviati (Attleboro)

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King Philip head coach Gary Pichel has been selected as the 2017 HockomockSports.com Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to a share of the program’s first league title since 2002 and to the Div. 1 South crown.

With a team loaded with talented underclassmen, Pichel put the pieces together and produced one of the program’s most successful teams. The Warriors lost only once in the league this season and recorded a program-best 20 wins overall on their way to the state semifinal, while averaging more than three goals per game as a team.

“Coming into the season, there was potential for KP to put together this type of run but finding the right spots for all the players was crucial for getting to the top of the league,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “KP played a fun, exciting, attacking brand of soccer, but was also solid and organized on the defensive side of the ball.”

Pichel is the fifth different coach selected in the six seasons that the award has been given out and the fourth coach from the Kelley-Rex division. The lone Davenport coach chosen was Oliver Ames coach Britt Sellmayer, who now also coaches in the Kelley-Rex.

Honorable Mentions: Kevin Smith (Mansfield), Bill Wallace (North Attleboro), Kate Howarth (Canton)