Hockomock Soccer Playoff Seeds & Matchups

Below are the seeds and matchups for the Hockomock boys and girls soccer teams in the MIAA playoffs, which are subject to change. We will update this post with any changes that are made.

Boys Soccer
Division 1
#22 Franklin (13-4-1) will host #43 Springfield Central (9-7-1) on Sunday, 11/3 at 12:00.

Division 2
#2 Mansfield (13-3-2) will host the winner of #31 Hopkinton (5-9-3)/#34 Southeastern (12-2-4) on Monday, 11/4 at 4:30.
#3 Oliver Ames (13-2-2) will host the winner of #30 Melrose (7-8-3)/#35 Chicoee Comp (8-8-2) on Monday, 11/4 at 5:00.
#19 Milford (10-4-4) will travel to #14 Dartmouth (11-2-3) on Monday, 11/4 at 4:00.
#25 Sharon (11-4-3) will travel to #8 Bedford (4-5-8) on Monday, 11/4 at 4:30.

Girls Soccer
Division 1
#6 King Philip (16-2-0) will host #27 Central Catholic (10-5-3) on Tuesday, 11/5 at 6:00.
#13 Franklin (12-1-5) will host #20 Wachusett (11-3-4) on Monday, 11/4 at 6:00.
#25 Attleboro (8-6-4) will travel to #8 Acton-Boxboro (11-2-2) on Tuesday, 11/5 at 6:00.

Division 2
#4 Mansfield (12-2-3) will host the winner of #29 Ashland (9-9-0)/#36 Chicopee Comp (8-7-3) on Monday, 11/4 at 7:00.
#9 Oliver Ames (9-3-4) will host the winner of #24 Whitman-Hanson (5-10-3)/#41 Southeastern (13-3-1) on Monday, 11/4 at 3:00.
#26 Sharon (6-7-3) will host #39 Lynn Classical (13-4-1) on Sunday, 11/3 at 12:00.
#27 Stoughton (5-9-4) will host #38 Amherst-Pelham (8-8-2) on Sunday, 11/3 at 6:00.

Division 3
#22 Foxboro (5-9-4) will host #43 Revere (9-7-0) on Monday, 11/4 at 5:00.

Hockomock Volleyball Playoff Seeds & Matchups

Below are the seeds and matchups for the Hockomock volleyball teams in the MIAA playoffs, which are subject to change. We will update this post with any changes that are made.

Division 1
#4 Attleboro (18-1) will host #29 Haverhill (7-11) on Friday, 11/1 at 4:30.
#9 Franklin (15-5) will host #24 Methuen (12-8) on Friday, 11/1 at 6:30 at Mansfield High.
#16 King Philip (13-7) will host #17 Chelmsford (14-6) on Friday, 11/1 at 4:00.

Division 2
#2 Oliver Ames (17-3) will host the winner of #31 Grafton (16-4)/#34 Somerville (13-7) on Sunday, 11/3 at 12:00.
#6 Canton (17-3) will host the winner of #27 Woburn (10-12)/#38 Chelsea (11-9) on Sunday, 11/3 at 5:00.
#14 Mansfield (8-9) will host #19 Milton (9-9) on Friday, 11/1 at 4:00.
#24 Milford (7-11) will travel to #9 Algonquin (11-9) on Friday, 11/1 at 5:00.
#28 Sharon (7-12) will host #37 Bristol-Plymouth (14-5) on Thursday, 10/31 at 3:30.

Hockomock Field Hockey Playoff Seeds & Matchups

Below are the seeds and matchups for the Hockomock field hockey teams in the MIAA playoffs, which are subject to change. We will update this post with any changes that are made.

Division 1
#7 Franklin (17-1-0) will host #26 Attleboro (10-7-1) on Monday 11/4 at 4:00 at Beaver St. Field.
#17 King Philip (11-6-1) will travel to #16 Durfee (14-4-0) on Friday, 11/1 at 3:30.
#26 Attleboro (10-7-1) will travel to #7 Franklin (17-1-0) on Monday 11/4 at 4:00 at Beaver St. Field.

Division 2
#5 Canton (16-2-0) will host #28 Bishop Stang (7-7-4) on Saturday, 11/2 at 3:45.
#20 Oliver Ames (10-6-2) will travel to #13 Hopkinton (9-7-2) on Saturday, 11/2 at 3:00.
#24 North Attleboro (8-9-1) will travel to #9 Duxbury (13-5-0) on Friday, 11/1 at 4:00.
#27 Mansfield (5-11-2) will travel to #6 Hingham (15-2-1) on Friday, 11/1 at 6:00.

Division 3
#17 Foxboro (10-6-2) will travel to #16 Oakmont (7-7-2) on Saturday, 11/2 at 5:30.

Foxboro’s Tepper Inducted To Salve Regina Hall Of Fame

Abby Tepper
Salve Regina Athletics

Former Foxboro standout Abby Tepper was recently inducted into the Salve Regina University Athletics Hall of Fame. Tepper, a 2012 graduate from Foxboro High, was a standout player on the Warriors’ field hockey and lacrosse teams. While at Salve, Tepper set the single season record at the time for goals (30) and points (68) in 2015, and still holds the program record for game-winning goals (7) in a single season.

Tepper (Salve Regina ’16) returned to the Hockomock League to guide Oliver Ames’ field hockey and lacrosse programs before moving onto the collegiate level. She served as an assistant coach at Stonehill for field hockey and Roger Williams for lacrosse, and went on to win a national championship with West Chester University as an assistant coach in 2019. She is currently the assistant coach for Merrimack’s women’s lacrosse team.

Below is a release from Salve Regina University on the Hall of Fame induction.

Salve Regina celebrated its longstanding tradition of honoring standout athletes, coaches and contributors at the Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sept. 27. Since its inception in 1998, the Hall of Fame has recognized the achievements and lasting impact of Salve’s athletic community. Inducted during the University’s Fall Festival and Homecoming Weekend, this year’s class includes Matt Kestler ’99, Lindsay Shorey ’12, Rachel Porter ’13, Abby Tepper ’16 and Steve Cirella.

The ceremony brought together former athletes and coaches from across generations, reinforcing the strong sense of community and shared history that continue to define Salve’s athletic program. With over 100 attendees, including family members, alumni, current students and coaches, the ceremony was a heartwarming celebration of Salve’s athletic history and the future of its ever-growing Seahawk family.

“A key word that comes to mind is ‘family.’ There is a culture of family and connectiveness here,” said Ed Habershaw, director of athletics communications. “It is magical when the class comes together for the induction because it really shows that these connections will last a lifetime.”

Tepper, a dual-sport athlete in field hockey and lacrosse, was initially drawn to Salve for the opportunity to play both sports at the Division III level. “I couldn’t decide which sport I wanted,” Tepper recalled. “Coach Jennifer Foster was willing to let me play both, and being able to double major in elementary and special education made Salve the perfect fit.” Her experiences as a student-athlete not only shaped her college years but also laid the foundation for her coaching career.

After graduating, Tepper pursued her passion for coaching, starting with field hockey at Stonehill College and lacrosse at Roger Williams University. She later coached a DII national championship team at West Chester University and currently serves as the assistant women’s lacrosse coach at Merrimack College. Throughout her athletic and coaching journey, Tepper’s relentless work ethic has been a defining characteristic. “I never wanted to miss anything,” she said. “I was driven by the fear of not making the team and always pushed myself to be the best version of me.”

Now a Hall of Fame inductee, Tepper reflects on the relationships and memories that made her time at Salve so special. “I met my best friends at Salve, and being a part of the University and both programs was an honor,” she shared. Her induction is a full-circle moment, as her legacy continues through the athletes she now coaches, passing on the values of teamwork, dedication and building lifelong connections.

Abby Tepper Abby Tepper Oliver Ames field hockey lacrosse Foxboro field hockey Salve Regina

Foxboro Announces 2024 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Below is a release from Foxboro High School announcing its 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees. It’s the second class for the Hall of Fame, following the inaugural class which featured six individuals and one team.

Foxborough High School is pleased to announce the 2024 class of inductees into the Athletic Hall of Fame, which was started in 2023 to honor former student-athletes, coaches, supporters, and championship teams. This year’s class of inductees will be recognized at an event at Foxborough High School on Saturday, December 7th.

“Foxboro High School has a long history and tradition of success in all areas of Athletics. Inducting our inaugural class last year was a great takeoff point, and our second class is full of people who also played an important role in helping create that tradition. We are thrilled to give these Warriors a place in the Hall of Fame. This is another opportunity for our community to celebrate, the inductees to take great pride in, and show our student-athletes a level of success to aspire to,” said Joe Cusack, Foxboro Athletic Director.

Accepting nominations has been ongoing for three years, and all nominations received remain active each year. After extensive discussion and research, this second class of inductees was selected by a six-person executive committee, which included the Foxboro High School Principal, Athletic Director, and four committee members who are former student-athletes, current or former coaches and/or school staff members.

This year’s Induction class includes Natalie McComb, Dave Comeau, John Stather, Brian Gallagher, John Manning, Kevin Martin, Alison Culley, and the 1977 State Champion Boys Soccer team. (Individuals are listed by their year of participation.)

Natalie McComb, best known to her players as “Coachie,” was an important part of the Foxborough High School community from the 1950s into the 1980s. Natalie started as the head coach in field hockey and girls’ basketball in 1954 and took on the same role for softball in 1955. While coaching just 11-12 games per season, “Coachie” won 245 career field hockey games and 12 Hockomock League championships, 143 softball games, and had a basketball winning percentage of 75%.

Dave Comeau was a 1966 graduate of Foxboro High School who was widely known for his contributions to youth and interscholastic athletics. Dave was a sportswriter for the Foxboro Reporter from 1972-1997 and was the sports editor starting in the 1980s. Dave covered all the teams at Foxborough High School with genuine interest and enthusiasm. He also received numerous awards for both sports writing and photography while covering the Warriors, including consecutive years as the best sports section in New England.

John Stather is a 1978 graduate of Foxboro High School who was a three-sport star who played soccer, basketball, and baseball. John’s true specialty was on the soccer field, where he was arguably the most dominant soccer player of his era. John scored 108 career goals, which was a state record at the time, and was a three-time All-State selection. During his senior season, John scored 35 goals and led the Foxboro boys’ soccer team to the 1977 State Championship.

Brian Gallagher is a 1981 graduate of Foxboro High School, who played football and wrestling. “Gal” was the head wrestling coach at Foxboro from 1990-2001. During that eleven-year stretch, the Warriors won seven consecutive sectional team championships, six state team championships, and numerous individual champions at the sectional, state, all-state, and New England level. He was inducted into the MA Interscholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014.

John Manning is a 1984 graduate, who played football, basketball, track, and tennis. In football, he was a four-year starting quarterback and led his team to a Hockomock League championship as a senior in the 1983 season. In basketball, John was an important member of the 1983 Hockomock League championship team and was Foxboro’s 4th all-time leading scorer at the time of his graduation. John was also the first Foxboro football player selected to play in the Shriner’s Game.

Kevin Martin was a 1993 graduate, who was one of the most talented all-around athletes ever at Foxboro High School. Kevin was a three-sport standout in soccer, basketball, and track, and he led each team in numerous statistical categories. Kevin was an excellent two-way player at basketball, leading the team in both assists and steals as a senior. On the track, Kevin was a two-time Hockomock League champion in the 300-meter hurdles and won a Class championship. Even more talented on the soccer field, Kevin was the first Foxboro boys’ soccer player selected as an All-American and went on to play at UMass-Amherst.

Alison Culley is a 1998 graduate of Foxboro High School who set the standard to which all other Foxboro High School sprinters are held. At a time when Foxboro High School was 8th through 12th grade, Alison was a five-year varsity track athlete, both indoors and outdoors. During her five-year career, Alison was undefeated in the Hockomock League in every distance from 55m through 600m. Alison won numerous individual and team championships at all levels, including at League, State, New England and National competitions. Alison still holds three individual school records and one relay record. Alison was inducted into the MA State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2018.

The 1977 Boys’ Soccer Team won the MIAA Eastern Mass state championship over Dover-Sherborn for Foxboro’s only boys soccer state title. In that post-season, Foxboro defeated Wilmington, Scituate, and defending champion Duxbury before beating Dover-Sherborn in overtime 2-1. The final was scoreless through regulation, which led to two five-minute overtime periods. Andy Jameson scored the lone goal of the overtime sessions, which gave the Warriors a 1-0 victory.

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Mansfield Announces 2024 Hall Of Fame Inductees

Mansfield Hall of Fame
The Mansfield High School All Sports Hall of Fame spring 2024 inductees take a group photo at the induction banquet. (Photo courtesy Mansfield Public Schools)

Below is a release from Mansfield Public Schools announcing the Mansfield High School All Sports Hall of Fame fall 2024 inductees. The class is highlighted by longtime field hockey coach Theresa Nyhan, who retired following last season, as well as three first-ballot inductees: Jimmy Murphy (2013 HockomockSports Best XI), Kyle Wisnieski (2013 HockomockSports Player of the Year), and Rocky DeAndrade (2014 HockomockSports Player of the Year).

MANSFIELD — Superintendent Teresa Murphy, the Mansfield Hall of Fame Committee and the Mansfield High School Athletic Department are pleased to announce the Mansfield High School All Sports Hall of Fame fall 2024 inductees.

The fall induction class features 14 outstanding student-athletes from boys and girls basketball, field hockey, boys and girls soccer, golf, football, track and field and gymnastics.

This year’s honorees will be celebrated during an induction banquet on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Chateau Restaurant in Norton. A reception will begin at 4:30 p.m., with the ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend, including family and friends of the inductees, former coaches, teammates and alumni. To purchase tickets for the fall 2024 induction ceremony, visit this link.

Highlighting this fall’s inductees is Theresa Nyhan, a longtime coach and teacher at Mansfield High School who will be inducted for softball and as a coach for the field hockey program. Nyhan will become just the third female athlete inducted into the Hall of Fame in three different sports. Nyhan was previously inducted into the Hall of Fame as an athlete in basketball and field hockey.

Meg Carroll, a 2012 graduate of Mansfield High School, will also be a dual inductee this fall as she’s honored for her field and ice hockey accomplishments.

The fall class includes two siblings, Ben and Tom Grant, who are being inducted into the Hall of Fame for golf. The class also includes three first-ballot inductees who became eligible this year: Jimmy Murphy, boys soccer; Kyle Wisnieski, football; and Rocky DeAndrade, boys basketball.

“We look forward to celebrating these outstanding inductees at our fall banquet,” said Mansfield High School Assistant Athletic Director Michael Redding. “This group includes some of Mansfield’s most extraordinary student-athletes from 1980 to 2014, many of whom went on to compete successfully at the collegiate level.”

The fall 2024 inductees are Tom Grant (Class of 2010, golf); Ben Grant (Class of 2007, golf); Leslie (Mastone) Keady (Class of 1995, field hockey); Meg Carroll (Class of 2012, field hockey and ice hockey); Theresa Nyhan (Class of 1983, field hockey coach and softball); Jimmy Murphy (Class of 2014, boys soccer); Ashley (Baker) Fortune (Class of 2003, girls soccer); Laura Angers (Class of 2007, gymnastics); Shawn Doherty (Class of 2010, football); Ben Selchan (Class of 1998, football); Kyle Wisnieski (Class of 2014, football); Hilary Crook (Class of 2006, track and field); Rocky DeAndrade (Class of 2014, boys basketball); and Colleen Hooper (Class of 2010, girls basketball).

These new inductees into the Mansfield High School All Sports Hall of Fame were often team MVPs, Hockomock League All-Stars, Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastics, team captains, record holders and members of championship teams.

“These student-athletes performed at the highest level and represented Mansfield with class and pride,” said Superintendent Murphy. “We are so excited for their return home to Mansfield for the fall induction ceremony.”

The Mansfield Hall of Fame Committee is seeking sponsors for the banquet. If you want to become a gold, silver or bronze sponsor to help defray the event’s administrative costs, click here.

The spring 2025 banquet will feature inductees from boys and girls track and field and cross-country; boys and girls swim and dive; baseball; softball; boys and girls tennis; boys and girls lacrosse; and boys and girls ice hockey.

The Mansfield Hall of Fame Committee continually accepts nominees from all sports. To submit a nominee, use this form.

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Stoughton’s Ais Brothers Charged Up For Final Season

Christopher and Christian Ais
Former Stoughton stars Christopher (21) and Christian (1) Ais are wrapping up their collegiate football careers together at the University of New Haven. (Geoff Bolte, Clarus Multimedia)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

Last Saturday afternoon, the University of New Haven football team celebrated homecoming with a dominant 56-0 win over American International. Among the Chargers celebrating a fourth straight victory, including a third straight conference victory, were former Stoughton High standouts Christopher and Christian Ais.

The twins impact play on both sides of the ball, with Christopher racking up another 100-yard rushing day against AIC and Christian locking down receivers in the secondary. The Ais brothers aren’t just experiencing college football together, but they’re excelling.

Christopher was an all-conference running back as a sophomore, named to the New England Football Writers All-New England and the Div. II Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 1 second team. He was the eighth player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season and finished with the fifth highest single-season total (1,105).

After injuries limited him to seven games last season (where he still rushed for 582 yards), Christopher is flying this fall. He rushed for 227 yards against Bentley and another 123 against AIC, has scored six touchdowns, and already eclipsed last year’s rushing total. He earned Golden Helmet honors from the New England Football Writers on Sept. 28.

Christian has been just as effective on the other side of the ball. He was named to the NE-10 second team defense after recording 35 tackles (24 unassisted and 11 assisted) and tying for second on the team with three interceptions. Christian also had a team-high six breakups and forced a fumble.

“It definitely gives me confidence, but at the same time it makes me want to work even harder just to get to the first team level,” Christian said in a phone call during the team’s bye week. The desire to do better is not just in his personal accolades but also in comparison to his brother.

“I think it puts a fire in us,” he continued. “It just makes the one work 10 times harder to get the same award or a better award. It feels great but at the same time it makes us even more competitive.” Christopher chuckled in agreement, “That’s just our competition coming into play right there.”

The New Haven coaches, like the Stoughton coaches before them, have benefitted from the brothers wanting one-up each other although the twins had different plans initially for college. Christian’s dream school was Michigan and Christopher’s Ohio State, but instead of being part of one of the most bitter rivalries in college, the brothers landed together in New Haven.

“Just simple things like moving in, our mom being able to come watch our games, all of that stuff,” Christopher explained when asked how the decision to go to the same school came about. It’s a decision that has worked out on and off the field.

“I love the fact that every time I come off the field I see pretty much my duplicate going on the field on defense,” Christopher said. “When we’re done with offense and defense it’s cool to go over to Christian and just start chatting it up. It’s just like having your best friend with you on the field.”

Christian added, “Going around on campus, just walking around with your brother, it’s a feeling that not a lot of people can experience, especially having a brother who plays football with you, so having a best friend here on the same team as you, same college, is just a great experience.”

When Christopher was going through his injury struggles last season, he knew that he could turn to his brother for guidance, support, and just to explain how he was feeling. Having someone close who understands all that you are going through is a blessing that neither brother takes for granted.

“When I don’t know anybody else that would understand me, I can just talk to Christian and he’ll tell me what he thinks about something that I’m going through,” Christopher said. “It’s nice to have a separate brain that can really understand me like nobody else does.” Christian added, “It’s great that we can make each other’s lives better just by talking. We’re stepping into that stage where we’ve got to go to the real world soon, so just having that person to talk with is important.”

Of course, once they’re on the field in practice, one on offense and the other on defense then it becomes less about support.

Christian joked, “I don’t get to see Christopher that much because I’m out covering receivers. If I was a linebacker, I’d probably be meeting him in the hole a little bit more. When I do get a chance to get a hit on him, I do try to hurt him a little bit…but it’s all brotherly love.”

Their football careers began playing together in Stoughton Pop Warner. Now, all these years later, they’re closing out their competitive careers together. Both took a second to reflect on the incredible journey that they’ve shared.

“I was like, okay, I think this is really what I want to do for my life,” Christopher said, noting with a laugh that in his first year he lined up at tackle but moved to running back the next season. “ I’ve come a long way and I’m really happy that I’ve just stuck with it.”

Christian said, “It doesn’t feel real at some points. As a kid, I just knew what I wanted to do and once I started football I just felt like I was made to play. Every year, I just focused on getting better from Pop Warner to high school and now in college, it’s great to see the progression I’ve made.”

That progression has made them standouts at the collegiate level and ready to try and bring home the program’s second straight NE-10 title, and its third in their four years in New Haven. The Chargers are off to a strong start, bouncing back from a loss on opening day at No. 11 Slippery Rock by winning four straight. After the bye week, New Haven travels to (currently 0-3) Southern Connecticut State. The twins aren’t looking too far ahead, but only focusing on the improvements they need to make to help the team stay on its current path.

“The team’s really good this year,” Christian said. “The first couple of games we (the defense) struggled a little bit but we’ve been coming along. It just takes working every week, just getting better about our assignments, and working on our techniques.”

Even though they want to take everything week-by-week, it’s hard not to acknowledge the end is rapidly approaching. While Christopher said it still hasn’t really sunk in, Christian admitted that he felt it right from the opening game.

“When I was a freshman, I remember looking up to the older guys and thinking it seems like it’s going to be a long way until I get to that point but it just flew by like that,” he explained. “It’s just flown by quick.”

Another ring and another shot at the NCAA playoffs (New Haven lost in the opening round at Charleston (W.V.) last November) would be the perfect way to cap off their careers.

“We definitely are 100% capable of winning another NE-10 title, without question,” Christopher said, “but a run in the playoffs is going to be everything that we’ve been working on since the start of the summer. It would mean a lot you know because of the amount of work that everyone has put in.”

“Just keep working and you’ll be rewarded.”

Christopher Ais Christopher Ais Christopher Ais Christopher Ais Christian Ais Christian Ais Christian Ais

The Campus Report: September 2024 Round Up

Campus Report
NEC/Stonehill College

By HockomockSports.com Staff

If you have an update for a former Hockomock League athlete now competing at the collegiate or professional level, or involved in athletics in some capacity, please contact college@hockomocksports.com.

Former Oliver Ames standout Colin Milliken continues to be a key piece for the Stonehill men’s soccer team. After earning All-Northeast Conference Second Team honors last year in his first year with the program, Milliken had a strong start to his senior season. In the second week of the season, he was selected as the NEC Player of the Year after tallying three points (one goal, one assist) in a win at Fairfield. He also had a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win over Iona and was named the TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Week just three days later. In 11 games this year (all stars), Milliken is tied for a team-best nine points. Franklin’s Terry O’Neill (10 appearances) and Ethan Cain (two appearances) and Attleboro’s Alex Vecchioli (one appearance) have also played for Stonehill this year.

Franklin’s Sophia Cuneo picked the perfect time to score her first collegiate goal. Now patrolling the midfield for the University of Rochester, Cuneo scored with just 26 seconds left in the game to hand the Yellowjackets, who were ranked #21 at the time, a dramatic 2-1 win over Hamilton (ranked #24 at the time). Cuneo, who has started in all 11 games so far this year, redirected a shot from Zoe Conomikes to put Rochester ahead. Rochester sits at 9-2 on the season.

On the gridiron, Mansfield’s Nico Holmes is having a terrific season for Worcester State. On top of being one of the running backs in the MASCAC, Holmes garnered some individual accolades throughout September. He was named the MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week on September 23rd after running for 151 yards on 27 carries (5.6 avg) with a pair of touchdowns, helping the Lancers land a comeback win over Fitchburg State. He was also named to the MASCAC Honor Roll the week prior after scoring a touchdown and rushing for 121 yards against Plymouth State.

Former HockomockSports Player of the Year Avery Snead made an immediate impact in her first year with Indiana University as a graduate student. In her first action with the Hoosiers, Snead played 149 minutes in two games with one goal and one assist. Snead’s second goal of the year helped Indiana land a win over Wright State, and for her efforts she was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.

King Philip’s Stella Bailey is at the very top of the leaderboard for assists in the MASCAC while orchestrating the offense for the Framingham State volleyball program. Bailey, who leads the conference with 363 assists, was named to the MASCAC Honor Roll at the end of September for her efforts in four matches, which included a five-set win over WPI. In those four matches, Bailey averaged 22 assists and 10.7 digs, highlighted by a 40-assist performance in the win over WPI.

Another former KP Warrior achieving success at Framingham State is Kate Buban, who was named the MASCAC Runner of the Week in early September. Buban finsihed inside the top 20 in both her junior and senior years at Hocks, and is now a top runner for the Rams. In the week she was named Runner of the Week (9/10), she was the Rams top finisher at the University of Hartford Invitational as she finished ninth. Buban completed the 3K course with a time 12:02.6 and was just three tenths of a second behind the eighth place finisher and the second DIII finisher in a field that included DII teams.

Up at Springfield College, there are some familiar faces throughout the lineup for the field hockey team. In the attack, Attleboro’s Anna Beck is second on the team in points, scoring three goals while starting in all 11 games so far. Franklin’s Molly Collins is a mainstay in the defensive third and is tied foe the team-lead with 639 minutes of action, having scored a pair of goals. And in the cage, Franklin’s Neilee Hess hit a milestone recently with her 100th career collegiate save. Hess has a 3-2 record with five starts and eight total appearances, making 34 saves so far this year.

Joe Tirrell is no stranger to earning accolades from the Conference of New England (formerly Commonwealth Coast Conference). The Franklin grad was named to the conference first team as a freshman and the second team as a sophomore. He’s picked up right where he left off and was named the CNE Defensive Player of the Week back in mid-September. In an important 13-7 win over Ithaca, Tirrell racked up a game-high 10 tackles (6 solo, 4 assisted, 1 sack, and 2 tackles for loss). His 10 tackles set a new career-high and helped force four punts with three tackles and one pass breakup on third down plays.

The Colgate University cross country program has a little Tiger flair to it this season. On the girls side, OA alum and current freshman Annie Reilly has quickly established herself as a top runner for the program. At the Rochester Yellowjacket Invitational held on September 21st, Reilly clocked in at 23:18.0 in the women’s 6K race which was good for 10th overall. Mansfield’s Anna Moore, another first year with Colgate, ran in 25:22.8 for 85th. On the men’s side, former OA standout Owen McMorrow was in the middle of three straight Colgate runners to cross, taking fourth individually in the 8K race (25:58.8) and helped the team to a first place finish overall.

Brendan Adams’ roster for the Bridgewater State men’s soccer team once again features a heavy dose of former Hockomock players. Milford’s Nick Ribeiro was named to the MASCAC Honor Roll on September 23rd after scoring once and recording a pair of assists to help the Bears go 1-0-1 on the week; his assist set up a late game-tying goal in a 1-1 result against UMass Boston. OA’s Hector Bucio was selected to the MASCAC Honor Roll twice in September, first for his offensive success to start the season with two goals as BSU beat Saint Joseph (CT) and tied Wentworth. He joined Ribeiro two weeks later after scoring the game-winning goal against Worcester State.

HockomockSports.com Student Reporter Jack Campbell contributed to this report.

If you have an update for a former Hockomock League athlete now competing at the collegiate or professional level, or involved in athletics in some capacity, please contact college@hockomocksports.com.

Taunton Announces Inaugural Hall of Fame Class

Taunton Hall of Fame
 
Taunton recently launched its Athletic Hall of Fame which was established to “recognize and remember the outstanding accomplishments of student-athletes, teams, coaches, administrators, and contributors while participating in and contributing to the success of athletics at Taunton High School.” Below is a press release announcing the inaugural class for the THS Athletic Hall of Fame.

TAUNTON – The Taunton High Athletic Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the inaugural class of inductees. The class of 2024 includes eight student-athletes, one team, and one coach.

Inductees are nominated by members of the public and voted on by the Hall of Fame Committee.

The inductees for 2024 are:

Student-Athletes

• David Arieta: Football
• Eric DeMoura: Baseball
• Jeff Gallagher: Hockey
• Kendra Lund: Basketball
• Katlyn Mallette: Softball
• Scott Mitchell: Basketball
• Erin Wade: Softball
• Bonnie Yuen: Cross Country, Indoor & Outdoor Track

Team

• 1967 Football Team

Coach

• David Lewry: Softball

“The committee was truly impressed by the outstanding achievements of these student-athletes, team, and coach,” said Committee Chairman Mike Fox. “Their dedication to their respective sports has left a lasting impact on the Taunton High athletic community, and we are proud to honor them as our first inductees.”

David Arieta: Football, Class of 1981

Arieta was a member of the champion and undefeated 1980 Football Team. That year, the Tigers upset Lynn Classical in the Super Bowl. Arieta, who played as a wide receiver and a cornerback, was named Division Two Player of the Year by the Boston Globe. That season, he caught 20 passes for 520 yards and seven touchdowns. He also recorded 13 interceptions.

Eric DeMoura: Baseball, Class of 1992

DeMoura had an impressive three years for the Tigers at the varsity level, winning the 1991 Old Colony League Championship. The United States Baseball Federation and Topps named him the Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year in 1992. That same year, DeMoura was invited to the US Junior Olympic Team Trials. DeMoura was named to the All-Scholastic Team by the Boston Globe and Boston Herald in 1991 and 1992. During those same years, he was also named to the Old Colony League All-Star Team and the All-State Team.

Jeff Gallagher: Hockey, Class of 1994

Gallagher played four years of varsity-level hockey for the Tigers, totaling 69 games. Despite an injury-shortened sophomore season, Gallagher still racked up an impressive 139 points, averaging two points per game. He holds the record for the most points in a season, 64, the most assists in a season, 42, and is the school’s all-time leading scorer, 36 goals, and holds the record for most assists, 103. Gallagher is a two-time All-Scholastic from both the Taunton Gazette and the Brockton Enterprise.

Kendra Lund (Drake): Basketball, Class of 1999

Lund holds the school scoring record for girls’ basketball, racking up 1,437 points over the course of four varsity seasons. She is a four-time Old Colony League All-Star and was named Old Colony League MVP in 1999. The Taunton Gazette and Brockton Enterprise also named her a first-team All-Scholastic from 1996-1999. In addition to her impressive performances on the basketball court, Lund also won a State Softball Championship in 1997.

Katlyn Mallette (Gauthier): Softball, Class of 2003

Mallette is the 2003 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year and was a key player in a dominant Tigers team in the early 2000s. She holds the school record for lowest ERA, 0.19, fewest runs allowed, 19, and perfect games, 5. Mallette’s trophy cabinet includes four Old Colony League Championships, three South Sectional Championships, two City Championships, and two Division One State Championships. Mallette was also a mainstay in All-Scholastic Teams from the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Taunton Gazette, and Brockton Enterprise.

Scott Mitchell: Basketball, Class of 1985

Mitchell scored a school-record 1,615 points in his four years of varsity basketball for the Tigers. He was twice named All-Scholastic by the Taunton Gazette and Brockton Enterprise and a second-team All-Scholastic by the Boston Globe. Mitchell was also a perennial Old Colony League All-Star.

Erin Wade (Hernandez): Softball, Class of 2008

Wade holds an impressive number of school records, including wins, 67, strikeouts, 942, no-hitters, 12, and innings pitched, 588. Wade was impressive at the plate, too, with a career batting average of 388, 11 doubles, 14 triples, four home runs and 61 RBI. Throughout her four-year career, the Tigers won 10 championships: one Division One State Championship, one South Sectional Championship, four Old Colony League Championships, and four City Championships. Wade is the 2007 & 2008 Boston Globe Player of the Year, the 2007 Brockton Enterprise Player of the Year, and was named to 12 first-team All-Scholastic Teams, including the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Taunton Gazette, and Brockton Enterprise.

Bonnie Yuen (Belfield): Cross Country, Indoor & Outdoor Track, Class of 1985

Yuen was a dominant runner, holding school records in several distances for both indoor (600m, 800m, 1,000, and mile) and outdoor track (500m, 1,500m and mile). 800m was her specialty, and she won three consecutive championships at that distance at three different levels: Class A, All-State, and New England. A six-time Boston Globe All-Scholastic, she was undefeated in the 800m for three consecutive years. She placed second at the US Junior Nationals, qualifying her for the US Junior Team in 1985.

1967 Football Team

The 1967 Football Team won Taunton High School’s first state title, winning the Class C Championship. The team was undefeated, outscoring opponents 221-81 in nine games. Head coach George Hemond led the team to the City Championship and the Bristol County League Championship.

David Lewry: Coach, Softball

Lewry’s incredible coaching career at Taunton High spans 20 years. His 407 wins is a Taunton Softball record and qualified the Tigers for the playoffs every year. Under his leadership, Taunton won four Division One State Championships, multiple South Sectional Championships, and several League Championships. Lewry was named Northeast Sectional Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2003, Boston Globe Division One Coach of the Year (2001), Hockomocksports.com Coach of the Year (2014 & 2015), Taunton Gazette Coach of the Year (2007) and Brockton Enterprise Coach of the Year (2003).

The induction ceremony will take place on November 9 at Taunton High School. Detailed information about the ceremony will be released later this summer.

“On behalf of the Taunton Public Schools, I want to congratulate the inductees for their tremendous achievements and well-deserved recognition,” said Superintendent John Cabral. “I’d also like to thank retiring Athletic Director Mark Ottavianelli and the entire Hall of Fame committee for their time, dedication, and hard work to bring this first class to fruition.”

The Hall of Fame will be located in the hallway connecting the Joseph Rabouin Field House to the athletics wing and will include plaques honoring each inductee.

There are six categories for induction into the Hall of Fame: Student-Athlete, Team, Coach, Administrator, Contributor, and Classic. Each category has specific criteria for consideration, including a five-year waiting period. Other criteria may include league, sectional, or state championships, win-loss records, and individual awards and records.

Nominations are considered for five years from initial submission. Nominees who were not selected for induction this year will be eligible for the next four classes. At that point, nominations will need to be resubmitted. For more information about the Taunton High School.

For more information about the Taunton High School Athletics Hall of Fame, please contact thshalloffame@tauntonschools.org

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Sharon Names Vitelli As New Athletic Director

Mike Vitelli

By HockomockSports.com Staff

Sharon has hired Mike Vitelli as its next athletic director for the upcoming school year. He will also serve as an assistant principal.

Vitelli has administration experience at both Xaverian Brothers High School and Norton Middle School as an assistant principal but is no stranger to the Hockomock League. Vitelli was the head coach for King Philip girls lacrosse from 2002-2007 and guided the Warriors to five straight Hock titles without losing a league game (73-0-1). He returned to coach at North Attleboro for two seasons in 2016 and 2017, going 13-7 in both years including the program’s first playoff win in his first season.

“I’m excited to move into this role after a very rewarding 27 years of coaching lacrosse,” Vitelli told HockomockSports.com. “As my own kids transition out of high school and into college, I’ve got the time now to really dive into being a part of a great community and overseeing an awesome group of teams and coaches. The Hock is such a competitive and passionate league and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

After coaching at KP, Vitelli spent three seasons at the collegiate level as an assistant coach at Stonehill College. Vitelli also coached for Bishop Feehan after his stint with North Attleboro, leading the Shamrocks to a handful of successful seasons. He was an assistant principal at Norton Middle School before moving on to Xavieran – his alma mater – in 2017 where he served as the Assistant Principal for Student Life.