12/06/202512/06/2025

“He’s a Killer” – King Helps Deliver Super Bowl Title in Final Game for KP

King Philip senior Liam King tackles North Attleboro sophomore Nathaniel Robin in the backfield in the first half of the Division 3 state championship at Gillette Stadium. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FOXBORO, Mass. – Late in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s Div. 3 Super Bowl, North Attleboro quarterback Dylan Brousseau swung a pass out to running back Nathaniel Robin. King Philip senior Luca Angelucci was able to get a hand on the back to slow him down and classmate Liam King came through with a thumping hit, stuffing the play for a one-yard loss right in front of the Warriors bench.

Sometimes being in the trenches can make it hard to stand out, but this was a moment to shine for one of King Philip’s unsung heroes. Not for the first time during KP’s come-from-behind, 21-10 victory, King let out a roar as fired up coaches and teammates rushed to celebrate with him.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“He brings the emotion, you can definitely say that,” explained senior quarterback Zach Gebhard. “He’s loud and everyone else gets loud right behind him.”

King is one of the emotional leaders on both sides of the ball and an example to his teammates, even on a roster with 26 seniors who are just as committed to continuing KP’s amazing run of success.

“He is so awesome,” KP coach Brian Lee said of King. “He’s so athletic, so strong in the weight room, he’s a killer, and he’s got this personality that just makes you love him.”

Lee added, “He is, I thought, probably one of the best defensive players in the Hock this year and he’s not sure if he’s going to play next year so this was very emotional. You want it so bad for those guys. Kinger is such a dude, he works so hard, and I can’t say enough great things about him.”

It is well-known that KP relies on the running game, which makes the offensive line critical to the team’s success. On Friday night, King, the left guard, and the rest of the KP front controlled the line of scrimmage. The Warriors rushed for 281 yards and three touchdowns and the offense had 21 first downs.

“We all lift together and Coach Lee runs the o-line and gets the boys to know what we’re doing,” King, a two-year starter, said about the cohesiveness that has developed along the experienced front five (which includes seniors Aidan Lyons, Nate Crisci, Lex Chatham, Angelucci, and King). “Nate Crisci, our center, phenomenal player, and the communication up front is huge. Of course, our backs are absolute dudes.”

Putting in the work year-round has been a mantra for the program since Lee took over and King has embraced that mindset. He is a firm believer that the success on the field starts with the effort the team puts in off it. It also creates a lasting bond among teammates.

“It’s the grit,” King said about what makes KP so close. “It’s really a brotherhood – the coaching staff, the players. It’s really just another family. It’s crazy. The second we come to Gut Camp, we’re all together and we’re ready to work and motivated to get a ring.”

This is the fourth Super Bowl appearance in a row for King and the other seniors and they won a title as sophomores against Marshfield, but this year’s game was different (and not just because they were playing a league rival).

“I said yesterday to the team, that ring really didn’t mean as much to us as sophomores because that team was senior-dominated like it is now,” King explained. “Losing last year just absolutely killed me and getting the ring this year it’s just a great feeling to win one last time with my boys.”

Defense is a constant focus at KP and King has excelled this season. Senior running back and linebacker Tallan King (no relation) said that the team charts a variety of defensive stats and that Liam is always at the top.

“He has a huge impact on this team,” Tallan said. “This year, he took it to a whole new level. He’s been No. 1 on the D-chart for every stat leading up to this moment. He’s such a great teammate and he’s such a great captain and leader, it’s great to have him on this team.”

When it was mentioned that Tallan had been talking about the D-chart after the Super Bowl win, Liam quickly replied, “I think me and him are competing for the top of the D-chart after this game, so we’ll have to see who won it. I hope it was me but he made some big plays tonight too so we’ll see.”

There are a lot of intricacies to offensive line work, but his approach to defense is pretty straightforward. “Always have that mentality that I’m going to smash the person in front of me,” he said. “Just always work to get to the ball carrier and tackle him.”

It’s a simple approach but an effective one. He has been one of the team’s leading tacklers all season and he closed out the third quarter of the Super Bowl with a sack and started the fourth with another big hit on a short run.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Standing on the field at Gillette Stadium, having closed out his high school career with a perfect season and a state title, King was clear about what it takes for a program to go on the run that the Warriors have been on for a decade.

“Countless hours in the weight room, summer practices, always working, always have that mindset that we want to get back here,” he said.

“It’s what we do at King Philip – we get to Gillette and we win. That’s what we do.”

Liam King Liam King

12/06/202512/06/2025

King Philip Comes From Behind to Beat North in D3 Super Bowl

King Philip football — King Philip celebrates after beating North Attleboro to win the Division 3 state championship at Gillette Stadium. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FOXBORO, Mass. – Over the past decade, it has become commonplace for King Philip to be on the field at Gillette Stadium. Friday night’s Div. 3 Super Bowl was the eight time in the last nine opportunities (there were no playoffs in 2020 due to COVID) that the Warriors had reached the state title game.

This year was a little different, as the Warriors were playing in D3 for the first time and on the opposite sideline was a familiar foe – league rival and defending champion North Attleboro (10-3).

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

No surprise given the teams’ similar styles and rosters that the game was a grind. North twice took the lead in the first half, but KP battled back, getting touchdowns from three members of a large senior class that was playing in its fourth straight Super Bowl and pulling out a 21-10 victory.

With the win, KP improves to 4-4 in its eight Super Bowl appearances.

“Every morning, four days a week, these boys have been grinding in the weight room,” said senior running back Tallan King. “Blood, sweat, tears, everything, this team has poured everything into this. I’m just so happy to win it with the kids I grew up with. I’m on top of the world right now.”

Senior lineman Liam King (no relation to Tallan) added, “Countless hours in the weight room, summer practices, always working, always have that mindset that we want to get back here. It’s what we do at King Philip – we get to Gillette and we win. That’s what we do.”

After North was forced to punt to start the game, KP took over at its own 23 and started driving behind its two star running backs King (23 carries for 149 yards) and Keigan Canto-Osorio (22 carries for 103 yards). After Zach Gebhard (6-of-10 for 65 yards) hit Liam McGrath to convert on third and five, the Warriors were on the verge of taking the lead.

Ryan Thompson came up with a big play for the Rocketeers, stripping the ball loose and Sean Cornell jumped on it. Two plays later, facing third and five, Dylan Brousseau (5-of-13 for 147 yards) fired a strike deep downfield to Nathaniel Robin for 56 yards to the KP 13.

The game changed two snaps later. North’s leading rusher Frankie Strachan stayed down after a short run and was forced to the sideline with what turned out to be a broken foot. Brousseau would convert on fourth down to keep the drive going and Robin would dive in from the two to put Big Red in front 7-0.

It was a great start for the defending champs, but losing Strachan, who had done so much to get the Rocketeers back to Gillette, made things significantly tougher on both sides of the ball.

“He’s been the heart and soul of our team all season,” Mike Strachan said about losing his star. “He makes everything calm down, he’s just been a great leader for us all season. But, I’m proud of our kids for bouncing back. We didn’t quit and they’re a great football team and they were better tonight.”

KP head coach Brian Lee commented, “It just sucks. It’s just the worst part about football. A kid like that is obviously the heartbeat, everybody looks to him, he’s a winner, he’s so much more than just a player – he’s the team. To see him go out is just heartbreaking.”

KP answered right back with an 11-play, 67-yard drive. King took a stretch play 17 yards to get the ball to midfield. Gebhard hit a wide open Kyle Danson in the flat for another 17 into North territory. Canto-Osorio found a seam for 12 yards to the 11 and, three plays later, on fourth down Gebhard was able to sneak in from the two. Nate Crowley tacked on the tying extra point.

Without its workhorse back, North leaned on big plays in the passing game. Brousseau was able to get rid of a pass seconds before being crushed by Tallan King and hit Ryan Gustafson in stride for the second 56-yard completion in as many drives. He just missed a touchdown pass to Thompson on first down and the KP defense would hold, forcing North to settle for a 27-yard kick from Nick Torres to move back into the lead.

It wouldn’t last to halftime. KP responded with another impressive drive (10 plays, 68 yards). Gebhard again found Danson in the flat for nine, then King then bounced a run to the outside for 13 to the North 34. McGrath made a great catch against two North defensive backs for 15.

Gebhard scrambled to his right, getting around the corner and taking off down the sideline. He was met at the pylon by Joseph Ruggiero and forced out at the one. Both players stayed down, so Brody Zolak came in for the next snap. Ryan Greenwood got the inside handoff and powered into the end zone to make it 14-10.

North had only 43 seconds left in the half but gave itself a shot to add more points. Brousseau (11 carries for 34 yards) gained 21 on two plays and Milo House made a terrific grab while falling on the far sideline for 19 to the KP 38. Danson would ensure KP held its lead with a sack to end the half.

The Warriors got the ball to start the third quarter and nearly scored again. After Gebhard hit Greenwood in the flat to convert third and six on the 10th play of the drive, KP had first down at the North 14. Canto-Osorio went around the left side and found the end zone, but holding and a personal foul meant that instead of six points KP now faced first and 30.

Gebhard nearly turned it into a touchdown anyway but Kenny Jean laid out to tip a pass away from Connor McDonald and prevent the score.

It could have been a momentum-turning stand for the Rocketeers but on the second play of the next series Patrick Terio stepped up and picked off a pass to give KP the ball right back.

This time, the Warriors would finish off the drive. King went for 13, Canto-Osorio gained eight, and then King muscled his way for 10 more. on first and goal, Canto-Osorio found a hole and burst through it for an eight-yard TD.

“It started freshman year,” King said about the one-two punch of him and Canto-Osorio. “We were the two star running backs, both splitting the carries, and we’ve created such a good chemistry and bond. That’s my brother right there.”

Lee noted, “Holding them to that field goal was huge for us and then we could get [into halftime] with some breathing room. Once we were up 11, I felt alright. If we can get the ball back and grind a little bit, we’re going to be okay.”

Brousseau made another great throw, dropping a pass into Gustafson for 18, and then called his own number for 11, trying to keep North in the game. Tallan King came up with another big defensive play, sacking Brousseau for a loss of eight. McGrath intercepted a pass on third down to end the drive.

North got it back one more time with a chance to cut into the lead but Luca Angelucci and Liam King stuffed a swing pass to Robin for a loss and Brousseau had a pass broken up by Zion Dumay.

“They’re physical, but I think our kids did great,” Strachan said. “We started six sophomores tonight, so our future is looking really good. We were very proud of what they did and how we got back here. It’s really hard to get back here and it’s hard to win here.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

King Philip was able to run out the clock, completing a perfect season (13-0), and sealing its second Super Bowl title in the past three years.

“I wanted it so bad for them,” Lee said about getting back on top for his 26 seniors. “The kids work so hard, I love them. I asked them tonight, what can you give extra? Because it’s going to take extra, it can’t be what you gave the first time, it’s going to be a harder game.

“I am so blessed and lucky that I found KP, and these kids, and I’m just so fortunate.”

King Philip Football King Philip Football King Philip Football King Philip Football King Philip Football

11/18/202511/18/2025

Sarney Secures D1 All State Title With Stunning Surge

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com

In a dramatic final charge, Landon Sarney powered past John Bianchi and claimed the MIAA Meet of Champions Division 1 individual title right at the finish line.

Sarney entered the final stretch behind Bianchi, but as the finish line inched closer, so did Sarney. He made his move, passing Bianchi and leaning across the finish line to win by 0.26 seconds as seen in dramatic video captured by MetroWest Daily News reporter Tim Dumas.

“I knew he had a pretty sizable gap on me, but I knew from last spring track that I could kind of close a race pretty hard,” Sarney said in an interview with BayStateRun after the race. “I knew I had some leeway and I knew I could kind of close it up a little more and I was able to get it right at the line.”

“[Winning] was definitely a goal coming into it. I never really thought anything else, you know. It’s nothing to lose at this point in the season.”

It capped a dominant season for Sarney, who went undefeated in all five Hock dual meets, set three course records, took first place at the Hockomock League championship, and was second overall in the D1C race where the Tigers took first as a team.

“For an athlete like Landon Sarney, every day, he’s trying to find a way to get just a little stronger, a little faster,” OA head coach Kyle Sousa told HockomockSports.com. “He’s trading miles for inches — hours of training for a few precious seconds on the race course. There is something special about a moment where all those sacrifices add up to achieving something amazing. I watched him pay the price of that win a thousand times over, and it was a historic moment for the team to watch Landon put it all together into such an incredible race.”

Sarney (15:33.28) is the third Tiger all-time to win an all-state title, joining Andy Powell in 1998 and Mike Moverman in 2008, who both took first in the Division 2 All State race.

Oliver Ames finished seventh overall as a team with a score of 250. Brookline had all five of its runners finish inside the top 30 and won the team title with 67 points. Devon McStowe (16:22.64) took 30th while Lawrence Dear (16:54.17) was 72nd. Colin Donahue (17:03.45) and Jake Hauvuy (17:17.58) also scored for the Tigers.

North Attleboro junior Anthony Malakidis capped a strong season with a sixth place finish in the Division 1 race, crossing in 15:58.29. Sharon’s Alex Pinnix (17:02.61), Franklin’s Kyle Twomey (17:03.38), and Attleboro’s Owen Lacaillade (17:04.82) all cracked the top 100 in the Division 1 race at Fort Devens.

In the Division 2 race, Foxboro’s Timmy Chase (17:10.55) took 42nd overall and Canton’s Tristan Grant finished in 18:09.61.

On the girls’ side, Canton junior Lauren Raffetto secured fifth overall to lead the Bulldogs to a second place finish as a team. Raffettoclocked in at 18:28.08, sophomore Adileh Azar crossed in 19:49.51, Lexi Piazza was 35th overall in 20:31.48, Isabella Holland crossed in 20:47.21, and Madeleine Driscoll was the fifth Bulldog across the line in 21:39.46.

Boston Latin Academy took first with 115 points while Canton finished with 149 points.

Foxboro sophomore Emma Dorich capped an impressive season for the Warriors with a 26th place finish, clocking in at 20:06.01.

Junior Kathleen Beaulieu was once again the leader of the pack for Hock runners in the Division 1 race, clocking in at 19:48.58 for 44th overall. The Tigers finished 18th as a team with 454 points with Devin Thomas (20:31.29), Ashley Powers (20:52.08), Erin Reilly (21:42.76), and Norah Dupill (21:49.00) also factoring into the scoring.

Franklin’s Victoria Courtright-Lim capped her senior season with a time of 20:18.69 while King Philip junior Ashley Cleverdon crossed the finish line at 20:57.44.

11/16/202511/16/2025

Kuykendall Caps Storied Career With State Championship

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor

BILLERICA, Mass. — Makayla Kuykendall‘s tank is officially empty.

The senior gave every last ounce of energy and effort on Saturday night in the Division 1 championship game against powerhouse Newton North. But she had just enough left for one more swing.

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

That swing hammered to the floor in the back corner, the clinching point to finish off Franklin’s comeback and secure a 15-12 win in the fifth set to clinch a 3-2 (25-15, 25-27, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12) victory over the Tigers. It was the final point of the season, and fittingly, it came off the hand that has steadied the Panthers over the past four years.

“I’m feeling great, but I’m dead [tired],” an exhausted Kuykendall relayed after the marathon match inside a quite warm Billerica gymnasium. “That took so much out of us. You could tell how badly we wanted it at the end. Personally, I did not want to lose that game at all. It was the last game of the season no matter what, so you may as well go out giving everything you have. And everyone did.”

Kuykendall has been a starter since she first put on a Franklin uniform, growing from a promising underclassman into the program’s heartbeat. When the Panthers trailed 2-1 in the match, it was the senior who kept demanding the ball, kept taking the tough swings, and kept pulling her teammates back into the fight with words of wisdom and encouragement after each and every point.

“She wanted that one [before] really badly,” said first year Franklin head coach Chris Ridolfi. “Then she went and she made a really good shot up to win it for us. So, you know, I’m proud of her. She’s the kind of kid that just makes everybody better. And she’s willing to do whatever she has to do to make us better. So it’s great that she got the chance to have that last one.”

From the start of her career, Kuykendall has been a massive bright spot in the lineup. Not only has she been one of the best players the program has seen, her energy has been infectious. Whether it was a Tuesday evening in September, or the state championship game, Kuykendall has brought the energy for four years.

“Anytime there’s a good point or a bad point, she brings us together,” said sophomore Emerson Delleo, who started last year as a freshman like Kuykendall did in 2022. “When it’s tense, when we’re nervous, she helps us get through it and figure out how to get those points back.”

“She has so much energy. I look up to her so much and I love playing with her. She’s amazing.”

Statistically speaking, there haven’t been many in the program, or in the Hockomock League, that have contributed across the board. She finished her career with over 950 kills on over 2500 attempts, over 200 aces, over 1,000 digs, and nearly 300 sets played.

“I’m so fortunate to have this as my town volleyball team,” Kuykendall said. “You don’t have to go to a club to find a good team — we have so much talent in Franklin. Every year we bring in strong players. Even the eighth graders coming up, you can tell we’re going to have another good team. The Franklin volleyball program is just great, and I’m excited to see what comes next.”

Kuykendall smacked down a kill on the third point of the fifth set, and then had back-to-back kills, including a nice roll shot that dropped in, as Franklin’s lead jumped to 6-2. Delleo added a kill to put the Panthers ahead 8-4 at the switch.

As Newton North continued to push back, a kill off the block brought the Panthers within two at 13-11, but Kuykendall got a set and made no mistake with her swing, hitting the back corner to make it 14-11. The Tigers got one point back, but the final serve was received by junior Gianna Laurello, freshman Phoebe O’Connor put it up in the air to the outside, and Kuykendall flew through the air, drilling one to the floor one final time as a Panther.

“I didn’t want to lose,” Kuykendall said. “Every chance I saw to get a kill, I took it. Just swing until it doesn’t work anymore, and for me it worked. And Phoebe knows exactly where to put the ball. She makes it easy to just go up and kill it.

“I just wanted to end it. I was confident in myself that I could get that last one for us. You could hear me screaming, ‘Give me the ball!’ I wanted it so bad. Literally this has been on my mind all season. Since August, we’ve been saying state championship.”

Kuykendall also had five key kills in the fourth set, the one that kept the match going for the Panthers. She slammed a pair early, had two in a row midway through — one off the block, and another on a roll shot, and then when Franklin’s once-eight-point lead was cut in half, the senior rose up once again and delivered to keep Franklin a safe distance ahead.

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

“I feel like it’s just like the perfect way that it could have ended,” said Franklin senior and fellow captain Olivia Alberti. “Because like she came in here like as a freshman, starting outside. She did so good then and she’s just continued to be so good every year. So for her to close it out was just like the perfect way to end everything.

“She really kept us in it, making sure that we were pushing hard throughout the whole game. She wanted to make sure that we were there mentally because we knew that we could be there physically but you just have to have the right mindset.”

Kuykendall is taking her energy, skill, and championship pedigree to Bentley University next year.

Makayla Kuykendall Makayla Kuykendall Makayla Kuykendall Makayla Kuykendall

11/16/202511/16/2025

Franklin Dethrones Newton North, Wins First State Title in Thriller

Franklin volleyball — Franklin senior captains Makayla Kuykendall (9) and Olivia Alberti (16) hoist the Division 1 state championship trophy after knocking off three-time champions Newton North. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

BILLERICA, Mass. – When Franklin won its Final Four match against Newton South on Wednesday, first-year head coach Chris Ridolfi smiled when his next opponent was mentioned. As he remarked, if you want to be the best, then you need to beat the best, and three-time defending champion Newton North certainly qualifies.

On Saturday night at Billerica High, Franklin, playing in its first-ever state title match, took down one of the state’s premier programs in a 3-2 (25-15, 25-27, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11) thriller. Franklin (23-2) took the crown from the Tigers and for the first time in program history are the Div. 1 champions.

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

Ridolfi said, “It was a heck of a first year. You come into a good team and that’s what you get.”

“That took so much out of us,” senior hitter Makayla Kuykendall said about battling back over the final two sets. “You could tell how badly we wanted it at the end. Personally, I did not want to lose that game at all. It was the last game of the season no matter what, so you may as well go out giving everything you have. And everyone did.”

Sophomore hitter Emerson Delleo added, “We all stayed together and lifted each other up. We’ve dreamt of this since the beginning of the season in August, and we’re just so incredibly proud of each other. We have each other’s back no matter what.”

Franklin came out firing in the opening set, going on a 7-0 run to take an early 11-5 lead. Delleo kickstarted the Panthers with three kills, senior libero Emma Cunningham fired in an ace, and junior Gianna Laurello followed a big block on the outside with a kill.

The Panthers were dominating play at the net and the block was swallowing up Newton North’s attackers. Senior Olivia Alberti dropped a nice tip into space for a point and freshman setter Phoebe O’Connor added a block, one of three she had in the opening set.

After the Tigers got a couple of points, Alberti had a big swing and Delleo dropped a serve just inside the back line for an ace, pushing Franklin’s lead to 17-10. The Tigers were starting to come to life and rattled off four straight points to trim the deficit but Franklin closed the first on an 8-1 run. Kuykendall smacked one off the block and O’Connor had back-to-back aces.

Laurello got a big kill, Kuykendall followed with an ace, and Delleo was aggressive at the net to send one back at the Tigers. When Kuykendall’s serve wasn’t returned, Franklin had a one-set lead.

While Franklin had momentum, there were signs of the Tigers starting to figure things out. Junior setter Sasha Selivan was putting the ball wherever she wanted it and the hitters were getting into a little rhythm.

After a back-and-forth start to the set, Nora Hamel fired one off the block, Selivan came up with a huge block, and Ella Tulimieri had a kill to give the Tigers an 18-14 lead in the second. Laurello got one back but Selivan was able to push a shot into an open space. Kuykendall scored from the back row and Delleo found the corner with a bump. After another block from O’Connor, Franklin battled back to tie things up at 19 apiece.

Freshman Pepper Johnson started to heat up for the Tigers and she fired a pair of kills to put them back up by three. Kuykendall answered, as she so frequently does, with a block and a kill. Facing three set points, Franklin rallied. Kuykendall started it with a swing through the block and O’Connor followed with an ace. After a long rally ended with an error, O’Connor fired in another perfect serve to put the Panthers in front 25-24.

The chance was there to put the champs in a 2-0 hole, but the Tigers found a way back. Hamel blasted a shot inside the back line and Selivan pushed a shot into the corner. Hamel closed out the second with a spike off the top of the net and Newton North was right back in the match.

“It’s hard and we had it,” Ridolfi said about the emotional impact of losing that tight second set. “We’re serving to close that set out, so it’s tough. You try not to think it’s slipping away and reset. I’ve got mature athletes on this team and really great leaders that pulled us through today.”

The Tigers carried momentum into the third set, although things remained tight until the end. Franklin led 14-12, but the Tigers scored three in a row. Delleo knotted the score at 16-16 but again Newton North went on a 3-0 run. Alberti and Hamel traded two kills apiece, then Hamel served up an ace to start pulling away.

Johnson got another big swing and from looking like they might be a set away from a loss, the Tigers suddenly were a set away from the title.

Franklin wasn’t going to go quietly and stormed out to a lead early in the fourth. The Panthers led 9-3 and then, following a roll shot from Kuykendall, were up 16-8. A pair of kills from Selivan helped the Tigers claw back, but sophomore Charlotte Yeulenski’s block restored a six-point cushion (18-12).

Newton North kept fighting back, but a hitting error made it 20-16 and Franklin seemed to be in the driver’s seat in the fourth. The Tigers had other ideas and rallied with five straight points, including a pair of kills from Hamel, who really heated up over the middle sets.

An error tied it and the Panthers regained the lead on an Alberti kill. The senior middle hadn’t been involved in a lot of points to that stage, but she came through with a run of clutch plays. Following a Hamel kill, Alberti deftly tipped it over the block and then got a block of her own to make it 24-22.

“I just have to play for my team,” Alberti said about delivering key points when called upon. “I know I’m not going to get every point, so I have to be ready when they set me. It’s all about the team, so I’m just ready all the time, no matter what.”

Charlotte Pernisie cut the deficit to one but a shot went long and the Panthers remained in the final, winning the fourth set 25-23. Coaches will always say that winning the fourth is a massive momentum swing and Franklin roared into an early lead in the decisive fifth set.

An O’Connor block, a kill from Laurello, and back-to-back points from Kuykendall put the Panthers up 6-2. Delleo picked the perfect time for a roll shot over the block, dropping in an important point that made it 8-4 and forced a Newton North timeout.

“We talked to them about that good teams are going to get theirs and we can’t stop them all and we have to be patient and do what we do,” Ridolfi explained. “We were patient enough in the fourth set to close that out and we had a really good start in the fifth set. That’s the difference in the match right there.”

The Tigers reset and came right back. Selivan got it started with a heads-up swing on two and Hamel had a big kill. After an error, the score was tied up at 9-9.

It was Franklin’s turn to go on a run. Alberti came up with a big block to restore some energy and Delleo added an ace to help push the lead to 13-9. Hamel answered back with a pair of kills and forced Ridolfi to call a timeout to speak to his team.

Kuykendall, the four-year starter, set up match point with a pinpoint swing to the back corner. After Newton North stayed alive with a big block, O’Connor again looked to the outside for the senior captain and Kuykendall fired a shot down the line to seal the win and the title.

“It was the same mentality — I didn’t want to lose,” Kuykendall explained. “Every chance I saw to get a kill, I took it. Just swing until it doesn’t work anymore, and for me it worked. And Phoebe knows exactly where to put the ball. She makes it easy to just go up and kill it.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

Alberti added, “I think this is the best way that we could go out. We’ve been working all season for this specifically. We really wanted to win states. I’m so happy to leave Franklin on this big of a win. It’s just the best thing ever.”

With a strong crop of underclassmen returning, Ridolfi is going to look for the Panthers to build off this history-making accomplishment.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “These guys built a legacy here that every other team is going to chase now and we have kids who were part of that legacy, so that will help us chase it a little bit easier. We’ll just keep passing it on I hope.”

Franklin Volleyball Franklin Volleyball Franklin Volleyball Franklin Volleyball Franklin Volleyball Franklin Volleyball

11/15/202511/15/2025

Dynamic Duo Delivers for Oliver Ames to Complete Perfect Season

Taylor Donohue Chelsea Wagner — Oliver Ames juniors Taylor Donohue (left) and Chelsea Wagner each had 27 kills in the championship match. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

BILLERICA, Mass. – All season, the combination of junior outside hitters Taylor Donohue and Chelsea Wagner has provided Oliver Ames with one of the state’s most dynamic attacks. Saturday morning at Billerica High, facing championship point, the duo delivered once again to lift the Tigers to a first state title.

Donohue received the serve with a pass to junior setter Lyla McDonough, who looked to Wagner on the left. Nearly a year to the date after OA lost in four sets in the final against Westboro, Wagner rose up and blasted a shot down the line, dropping it into the back corner to secure a thrilling, come-from-behind 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-14, 15-11) win over No. 7 Wayland.

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

The Tigers had been calling this season “the revenge tour” and that swing was the exclamation point at the end of a perfect (25-0) season.

“We came out scared the first two sets but we looked at each other and said we’ve worked too hard for this all year, we need to finish,” Wagner explained. “We wanted it so bad. Nerves and emotions were high but we’ve been to a fifth set and we know what we need to do.”

It was an especially poignant moment for Wagner, who mentioned that she wasn’t able to return the serve on Westboro’s final point a year ago. Now, she was scoring the final point to clinch OA’s title.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “Being able to return that and get a kill on the last point meant the world to me. I’m so happy that I could do it for the team.”

Donohue added, “It was revenge tour for her too. Seeing her get it back with all that we’ve learned in practice and all that we’ve been working on, it was really good to see her get that last point.”

The Tigers swept 20 of the 25 matches they played this fall, only dropping seven sets combined. Having a pair of hitters who control the net regardless of the rotation has been a major factor in OA rampaging through the season.

OA coach Chelsea Cunningham said, “They’re lights out. I cannot think of a better lineup with both of them, knowing that one of them is consistently on the outside…and we have a chance at a kill. That makes us full of confidence all the time.”

McDonough, who finished with a career-high 57 assists in the final, including the 1,000th of her career, said, “It makes it so much easier for me to just know that I can put the ball there and I know they’re going to do something good with it. They’re going to put it down.

“I really give them all my trust and really relied on them to put that ball down and get us all the points that we got.”

Donohue, Wagner, McDonough, libero Molly Milliken, and middle Claire Kenney all play on the same club team. Their off-court friendships help build the on-court chemistry.

“Being able to rely on her is the best feeling ever because I know she’s going have my back when I don’t swing in the front row and she’s going to get us points and I can get us points on defense,” Donohue said of Wagner. “She’s literally my best friend.”

Wagner agreed, “When one of us is in the back row, the other is in the front row and ready to take on all those sets and those points. I trust her with my life and I know that she’s going to put her all into it.”

Communication is key for the two star hitters. When one is on the front row, the other is ready to call out the right angle to take on the swing or to provide a confidence boost after an error. That support system makes both players better and allows them to come through in the biggest moments.

“When I’m in the back row,” Donohue said, “I’m like you have one blocker up, you have cross, you have line, you have deep line and she’s always there for me too. I know she’s not playing in back row but she still sees those open spots whether she’s on the bench or on the court.”

Wagner added, “We communicate a lot on the court, telling each other the open spots and when we’re tipping and we’re scared I can go to her and say, I trust you and I know you can get those kills so swing away.”

Over the past 364 days, OA has been focused on this moment. The Tigers have put all of their efforts to not only getting back to the state title game, but bringing home the trophy. It didn’t look good early in the match, but they stuck with it, got into a rhythm, and turned the match on its head.

For the two good friends, there is no better feeling than winning the title together.

“It feels amazing and it’s really a reflection of what we do in practice and really we wanted it so bad,” Donohue said. “Words can’t even describe it.”

“The revenge tour is complete,” Wagner remarked. “Undefeated, it feels amazing. We knew that we didn’t want to feel how we felt one year ago and we did everything in our power to make sure we won.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

Taylor Donohue Taylor Donohue Taylor Donohue Chelsea Wagner Chelsea Wagner Chelsea Wagner

11/15/202511/15/2025

Oliver Ames Captures First State Title Following Epic Comeback

Oliver Ames volleyball celebrates after completing an epic comeback against Wayland to win the program’s first ever state championship. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor

BILLERICA, Mass. — The revenge tour is complete.

A year after falling in their first-ever appearance in the Division 2 state title game, Oliver Ames completed a perfect season in dramatic fashion, rallying from a two-set deficit to stun Wayland, 3-2 (22-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-14, 15-11).

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Riding a 24-game win streak into the finals and having only lost one set in its last eight matches, the Tigers had an uncharacteristic start filled with nerves and unforced errors. The Warriors, who knocked off #2 Duxbury and #3 Longmeadow on their way to the final, took advantage and stormed out to a 2-0 lead, just one set away from the upset.

But then the real Tigers showed up.

A dominant start to the third set the tone — the first seven points going in favor of Oliver Ames. And the rest was history — the Tigers closed out the third, dominated again in the fourth, and took an early lead in the fifth that they never surrendered.

“You have no idea,” said a relieved Chelsea Cunningham, who finished her 10th season at the helm of the Tigers with a state championship. “They’re kids, there are emotions, they knew the season was coming to an end. It didn’t hit them until they hit the court. So after we shook the feeling, we got to work.

“We had been in this spot before and we had said all season how we were going to change how it ended — so let’s do it. Taylor Donohue came in after the second set and said it’s time for a reverse sweep and that’s what we did.”

Taylor Donohue helped set the tone early in the final set for the Tigers. After getting blocked on her first swing, she tipped over the double block, and then used a short push shortly after to find a hole in the defense. After a nice pass from junior Molly Milliken (20 digs, 25 serve receptions), junior Chelsea Wagner smashed a kill between the block and Wayland had a hitting error to give OA an early 5-2 advantage.

Chelsea Wagner had two more kills, the latter coming on the third swing of a rally, and a two-touch call on the Warriors had the Tigers ahead, 8-4, at the switch. Wayland got a point back on a kill from Audrey Nugent but a huge dig from senior Evan Casey set up a strong swing from Donohue for a point. Another push from Donohue and good net defense from junior Claire Kenny increased the lead to 11-6, forcing a second Warrior timeout.

Another Nugent kill was canceled out by a serving error and then Kenny came up with a massive block. Wayland made it interesting with two points, including a big block from Fiona Strehle, but Wagner put down another kill to put the Tigers on the brink.

For the clinching point, Donohue (27 kills) took the serve with her hands, junior Lyla McDonough pushed a set to the outside, and Wagner smashed one — her 27th kill of the match — down the line to the corner to clinch the state championship.

“We started to play our game,” Cunningham said of the final three sets. “Playing with confidence, supporting one another on the court and whether it’s an earned point for us, or we lose a point. This is a game of mistakes — we have to make less.”

Donohue added, “This feels good, like really, really good. We worked extra hard this year. It couldn’t be any better. We’ve wanted this so bad, words couldn’t even describe. We had some trauma from last year in this building but we wanted to get rid of that.”

Nerves were on full display early for the Tigers, who have kept mistakes to a minimum throughout the season. Instead, OA had nine unforced errors — half of Wayland’s 18 points in the opening set — as the Warriors jumped ahead 18-12. It seemed OA found a little momentum late after fighting off five straight set points to pull within 24-22 — including three straight kills from Wagner — but the Warriors closed it out to go up 1-0.

OA had a bright start to the second with McDonough landing a pair of early aces and catching the Wayland defense off guard with a dump on the second touch, as the Tigers had an early 10-4 lead. But Wayland kept swinging and clawed back into it. A block from Willa Suratt and a kill from Nugent brought the Warriors within two, and then Wayland went on a 4-0 run to surge ahead, 20-18.

OA battled back with three straight points, including another ace from McDonough (57 assists, including her 1,000th assist, four aces, 35 service points), but Wayland once ahead had a 4-0 run, including two aces from Anna Yalli, to take it 25-22, and go up 2-0 in the match.

“We came out scared the first two sets and we looked at each other and said ‘we have worked so hard for this all year — we need to finish,'” Wagner said. “We reverse-swept and every single one of us on our team did everything they could to win because we wanted it so bad.”

The Tigers had another strong start in the third, and this time, kept their foot on the gas and never let the lead slip. Donohue slammed a pair of kills early and Wagner had another. Then came the separation in the form of a 5-1 run — kills from Wagner and Donohue, and a perfectly placed tip from freshman Lyla Yurrita. When Wayland pulled within two (14-12), Wagner had two kills and Kenny dropped an ace just inside the far line for a 17-12 lead.

OA won the final five points of the match, including a dump on two from McDonough for the 24th point, and an ace from McDonough to clinch it.

“We’ve been waiting for this for a year,” McDonough said. “It’s been so long. We were not going to go down without a fight. We wanted this. After we won that third set, we weren’t stopping. We were like, all gas and no brakes. We did not want to stop.”

The fourth set couldn’t have started any better for the Tigers. Kenny and Angelina Romeiro combined for a block, Donohue and Romeiro each had a kill, and a pair of errors from Wayland to give OA a 7-0 lead.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

Kenny, Wagner, and Donohue each added kills in the run, and senior Lindsey Solomon served up an ace as OA’s advantage ballooned to 14-6. Fatigue seemed to set in for the Warriors, who made three straight errors. Romeiro smacked one off the block, and two more Wayland errors put the Tigers on the brink. Wagner finished it off with a kill off the block, 25-14, to make it 2-2.

“The redemption is there,” Cunningham said of her seniors. “The tears, the celebration…they contributed to an undefeated season which we’ve never had before. And I just could not be more proud of all of the kids on this team.”

Oliver Ames finishes the season with a perfect 25-0 record.

Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball

11/12/202511/13/2025

Franklin Sweeps Aside Newton South to Reach First State Final

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

WESTWOOD, Mass – Newton South, the No. 16 seed, put together an improbable run to the Final Four, including a win over the tournament’s top seed Chelmsford in the Sweet Sixteen. The Lions went into Wednesday night’s state semifinal at Westwood High looking to complete their magical postseason with a trip to the program’s first final.

Instead, the clock struck midnight on this season’s Cinderella.

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

Franklin continued to roll, earning a dominant, 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-16) victory. It was Franklin’s 17th straight win, with 15 of them being sweeps (including all four postseason matches). The Panthers fulfilled their preseason goal of reaching the program’s first state title game in style and will face perennial power Newton North in the final.

“We’re so excited,” said Franklin senior hitter Makayla Kuykendall. “Our goal wasn’t just to win the league but it was to win it all. [Coach Ridolfi] asked us what we wanted to get from this season and we said, a state championship. We’re so lucky and grateful to have this privilege to play.”

“We were cleaning the closet,” first-year Franklin coach Chris Ridolfi explained, “way before preseason and Mak and Liv said they wanted to be in the state final. So, we’ve coached them that way the whole year and they’ve taken me on the ride.”

Each of the three sets started close until Franklin put together a run to open up a cushion. Once the Panthers got onto the front foot, it was hard for Newton South to keep up.

Leading 8-6 in the first, senior Olivia Alberti (nine kills, three digs, and six blocks) found the court with a deft tip and freshman setter Phoebe O’Connor (31 assists, two aces, and 10 digs) had a huge block to open up a four-point edge. The Lions halved the deficit but Franklin won eight of the next 11 points to pull away.

Alberti’s control of the net in the middle was key to Franklin’s success early on. She came up with a huge block and followed it with a kill and a tip that dropped just inside the line. Alberti added an ace to push the lead to six (15-9).

“The whole year, she’s been that way,” Ridolfi said of Alberti. “She’s fast off her feet, she’s strong at the net, she can just change a game that way. We count on her to do that for us.”

Kuykendall (15 kills, 12 digs, two aces, and two blocks) rolled a shot down the line for a point, the Panthers had multiple blocks during a long rally that ended in a Newton South hitting error, and junior Gianna Laurello (five kills, two aces, and five digs) smacked one off the block to give Franklin a commanding 18-11 lead.

Senior libero Emma Cunningham (three aces and 22 digs) fired in an ace and Alberti followed with another block. Cunningham again picked out the perfect spot with serve to the back corner for a second ace to keep the Panthers in charge. Newton South cut the lead down to seven, but sophomore Emerson Delleo (nine kills, three aces, and 15 digs) drilled the ball down the middle and Laurello’s serve clipped the top of the net for a set-clinching ace.

The second set didn’t start all that well for either team, as a series of service errors kept it close through the early stages. With the set level at 9-9, Franklin went on one of its standard runs to break things open. This time, the Panthers won nine of 11 points and 16 of the final 20 points in the second.

“We talk to them a lot about game plan and approach,” Ridolfi said. “We game plan and they have to execute, but our approach is we find a spot in the game where we can separate ourselves and play with the lead. Through the tournament, that’s what we’ve been able to do.”

Kuykendall got things started with a pair of kills and sophomore middle Charlotte Yeulenski stuffed a shot for a point. O’Connor hit a laser serve that couldn’t be handled cleanly, Laurello scored off the block, and Kuykendall added an ace to make it 15-10. After Annabel Kohler got one back for the Lions, Delleo closed out a rally with a shot inside the back line and Kuykendall scored with a swing from the back row.

Newton South was reeling and, after a shot into the net, Delleo’s powerful swing scored a point and Laurello added an ace. Alberti came back with an accurate tip and she and O’Connor combined to smother a shot at the net. O’Connor would add a second block two points later and Delleo’s ace delivered the Panthers a 2-0 lead.

“I’ve been in those shoes as a freshman,” Kuykendall, a four-year starter, responded when asked about helping the team’s talented younger players thrive in the tournament atmosphere. “I know how they feel, I know where they’re coming from. Obviously in these games, there’s a lot of stress, a lot of pressure, so I think it’s good to remind them that we’re all in this together.”

Ridolfi praised his seniors, particularly Kuykendall, Alberti, and Cunningham, for being the foundation for the team’s run. He said, “The team as a whole is a mature team. Those three are exceptional leaders. So, you have a mature team willing to follow and you have three great leaders willing to lead, it makes for a good combination.”

The Lions started the final set well, leading 5-2 early to give their fans a little hope, but Franklin chipped away and grabbed the lead at 10-9. Alberti’s block and a roll shot from Kuykendall but the Panthers up 15-11 and starting to feel like the final was in their grasp.

Newton South tried to push back and closed the gap to three, but Franklin went on a 3-0 run that gave it a more comfortable advantage. Kuykendall ended Newton South’s mini-comeback with a blast and then she finished off a rally with a shot that dropped inside the back line. A block from Yeulenski made it 19-13.

Sofia Hellstrom tried to keep the Lions alive with a nice tip and a big swing on the outside, but the Panthers continued to close down the angles with their block and keep everything alive along the back row.

Two shots into the net gave them match point and a final swing that went long sealed Franklin’s place in the final. Franklin (22-2) will now face three-time defending state champ Newton North at Billerica High on Saturday. As Ridolfi noted, “Might as well play the best.”

“It’s a big task ahead of us,” he added. “We have two days to get ready. I know they’re up for the challenge, so we’ll do what we can do.”

Click here for a photo gallery from this match.

11/12/202511/13/2025

Oliver Ames Sweeps King Philip To Return To Division 2 Final

By Ryan Lanigan || HockomockSports.com Editor

STOUGHTON, Mass. — Since the moment last year’s state final ended, Oliver Ames has been building toward another shot.

On their road back, they haven’t lost since.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

The Tigers have done it with the same formula every match: rock solid defense, a variety of offensive weapons, and relentless effort.

On Wednesday, that combination delivered again as top-seeded Oliver Ames swept Hockomock League rival #5 King Philip, 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-12) to book a return trip to the Division 2 state championship game.

“This is their revenge tour,” OA head coach Chelsea Cunningham said. “They’ve been planning this since we were in that classroom [at Billerica High School] one year ago [after the state final], and they never wanted to feel like that again. And they meant it. A lot of teams will come in and say it. They’ve kept their focus on this. This has been on our whiteboard in the team room — like, we’re going back. We went one game at a time, took everything, positives and negatives from every match, to be able to craft how we were going to get here. And they’ve done nothing but stick to their work.”

The Tigers were met by a game Warriors squad at the start of the match. Unsurprisingly, the two squads went back-and-forth for the first half of the set. OA had a couple of small two or three point runs, and then King Philip took its turn. The result, a slim 11-10 lead for the Tigers.

But like OA has done to teams all season, they just kept coming. A tip from junior Taylor Donohue (16 kills) preceded a kill off the block from classmate Chelsea Wagner (15 kills), and then one from junior middle Claire Kenny. Earlier in the set, Kenny had a big block and senior Evan Casey floated a short serve just over the net and down for an ace.

After a service error, OA came back with three straight points including an ace from Kenny and a big block from freshman Lyla Yurrita shortly after junior setter Lyla McDonough made a terrific save on a ball flying out of play and OA’s lead was suddenly 17-11.

Another block from Yurrita kept the momentum with the Tigers and then senior Lindsey Solomon toed the service line, dropping in a pair of aces around a kill from Donohue as the lead ballooned to 22-14. KP battled: a kill from senior Cece Kilroy, who earned her 500th kill earlier in the set, a perfectly placed tip from junior Amie O’Neil, who then teamed up with senior Alli Cleasby for a block to get within six at 23-17. But Donohue, who usually swings from the outside or the right side, popped up with a kill from the middle and OA sealed the set win after a KP hitting error.

OA’s balance and depth was on full display in that first set. McDonough (26 assists) was responsible for setting up the majority of the Tigers’ kills and junior libero Molly Milliken (21 digs) was super steady defensively, helping OA get into its offense seamlessly.

“Everybody contributes and that’s what makes us such a great team,” Kenny said. “It’s not one person winning the games. It’s all of us contributing together. Lyla knows that we have such a strong offense and that she can rely on setting anybody. She knows whoever she sets, they can work with it no matter what.”

Cunningham added, “Any point of those six rotations, we’re comfortable. We have learned to adapt to whatever we have to do, with whoever is out there, knowing who connects well, knowing we can switch it up. The trust, you can see it on the court. If they make an error, they acknowledge each other right away to move on, and they do it. Volleyball is a game of mistakes. We try our best to make less of them, and we came out on top of this game, which is great.”

OA played from ahead for the entire second set, though it was hard to fully pull away from KP. Early kills for Donohue and Wagner sparked the Tigers, though Kilroy landed three early kills, including a great shot down the line to keep pace.

But once again, OA just kept going with its relentless play. Yurrita found a hole in the defense, Donohue landed a kill after a long back-and-forth rally, and Solomon had an ace. A kill from KP sophomore Molly Sweeney off a set from classmate Charlotte Bailey brought the Warriors within five at 13-8, but in a blink, OA’s lead reached double digits. Kenny dropped in a tip, McDonough had an ace, Donohue and Wagner each had a kill, and senior Angelina Romeiro went up and put down a block on a loose pass as the advantage peaked at 19-9.

The Warriors refused to go quietly though. Senior Cece Mullen set Kilroy for a kill out of a timeout, OA had a hitting error, and then Mullen got a deep free ball pass to hit the line after a nice dig from Mya McCormick. Kilroy had two more kills and O’Neil, after a nice dig from Caleigh Shore, put one down from the middle as KP crawled back into it at 21-17.

“We never really had control at any point of the match,” King Philip head coach Kristen Geuss said. “There’s a reason why they’re undefeated. They’re a phenomenal team, kudos to them. They’re a really great team. I thought we played well in the first set, just couldn’t keep up with them in the next two sets.

“I’m really proud of my team. I admire how hard they’ve worked. They’re practicing six days a week and they haven’t had a day off — they’re tired. We had to work super hard for all our points. It’s almost like we have to play perfect to beat a team like that. We wanted to see what we could do, and we got this far, it was really fun.”

Yurrita had another block, Solomon had another ace, and Donohue another kill, as OA closed out the second, 25-18.

OA put any thought of a comeback away pretty early: the Tigers won 11 of the first 13 points for a commanding lead. Romeiro rolled in a kill, Donohue had two aces, and Wagner found a gap to land a roll shot. Sweeney had a block and Bailey dropped in an ace to cut it to 13-7, but the Warriors didn’t win consecutive points the rest of the set.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“If you watch the first match we played [KP] two months ago, we’re both completely different, and I had a completely different lineup and so did [KP],” Cunningham said. “You don’t know what to expect and you prep as best as you can. You still have to show up prepared. We scrimmaged Needham and Franklin, and now playing Canton and KP, that’s the level of play we want to be at.

“This group is so smart. They’re able to reflect immediately and adjust if they have to. They adapt, they talk, they communicate. And like I said, the trust is unmatchable right now. It’s fantastic. This is the best group I’ve had to date.”

Oliver Ames will look to finish off its revenge tour in the Division 2 state championship right back at Billerica against #7 Wayland on Saturday.

“It’s very nerve-wracking, obviously, but also so exciting,” Kenny said. “We’ve been here before so we know what to expect, and we’re all very eager to claim that title this year.”

Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball Oliver Ames volleyball

11/11/202511/13/2025

Taccini Delivers in Clutch, Franklin Edges Hopkinton to Reach Semis

Franklin field hockey Cade Taccini — Franklin field hockey players mob freshman Cade Taccini (left) after her game-winning goal in double overtime. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor

FRANKLIN, Mass. – Franklin took the lead in Monday afternoon’s Div. 1 quarterfinal at Beaver Pond Field midway through the second quarter. When the horn sounded at the end of the fourth quarter, the scoreboard showed that the Panthers were still in front by a goal, but Hopkinton forced a corner so even though the clock read 0:00 the game wasn’t over.

Senior Ella Fowler got space and time at the edge of the circle and hit a rocket into the far corner, tying the game in the most dramatic (or devastating, depending on your perspective) way possible.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

It was the kind of moment that could derail a team, especially one as young as Franklin, but the Panthers regrouped, reset, and regained control of the game. The hosts dominated in 7-on-7 and one minute into the second overtime period freshman midfielder Cade Taccini was tripped while driving at goal.

The officials gave a penalty stroke for denial of a clear scoring opportunity. Taccini was the pick to step up to the spot to try and win the game. She coolly rifled the ball into the top corner, giving the goalie no chance, sealing a 2-1 win, and sending the Panthers to their third state semifinal in the past five seasons.

“Wild, wild,” said Franklin coach Michelle Hess. “In all my years, I’ve never experienced anything like that. Them scoring with no time left was pretty crushing but I walked over to my team and they were like, ‘We’ve got this.’ They were almost too excited, we did some reset breaths to get them back down.

She added, “As soon as they called that stroke, I knew it was going to be Cade. She’s got the strongest shot on our team and I had faith in her. They played out of their minds tonight. They really wanted this game and they wanted to send a message to show that we can get back to the Final Four.”

Taccini explained, “I knew that was my moment. I had to capitalize on it and if I didn’t I’d have to be running back and forth some more. I just remember putting the ball on the line and I knew my spot and I just knew I had to score that.”

Franklin started slowly in each of its first two playoff games but on Monday, even without leading scorerElla Marzullo who picked up an injury in warmups, the Panthers got onto the front foot early on.

Jossie Camp forced a turnover and stepped up into the attack. The ball swung to the right for Tori Cahill, who fed it to sophomore Penelope Brady on the right side of goal. Her shot was kicked aside by Riley Curtin. The rebound was cleared at the far post with freshman Lily Aparo lurking.

Late in the first, on a corner, Taccini slipped a pass to Addi Weiss but her shot was deflected out. Sophomore Clara Blongastainer followed with a drive through the crowd but there was no touch.

Hopkinton had a scoring opportunity early in the second quarter. Avery Quebec fired a shot towards goal but Abby Burke’s tip went wide. Taccini had another scoring chance at the other end and Brady saw her round cleared off the line with the rebound popping out to the other side the Hillers again managed to clear one right on the line.

The breakthrough came with 6:50 left to halftime and it came from an unlikely source. Taccini again played the initial pass into a crowd in front of goal and in the scrum, with Brady and Ava Lucenta also in the vicinity, junior Kiley Silvestri got the final touch to push the ball over the line, just her third goal of the season.

Fowler had a shot through a crowd blocked just in front of Franklin goalie Devon Barry, who didn’t face a shot on target until the Hopkinton goal, and Blongastainer managed to squeeze the rebound out of danger.

The best chance for the hosts came with no time left in the third quarter, as they created a pair of corners. On the second one, Taccini fired the ball into the crease and Brady got a piece of the shot but couldn’t steer it on goal.

In the fourth, Lucenta started a corner routine with a pass to Taccini, who found Brady in space to the right of goal. Her shot found Blongastainer’s stick but the deflection took the ball into her body. A couple minutes later, sophomore Samantha Feigen made a nice steal to keep Hopkinton pinned back. Brady fired the ball across the face of goal and Weiss wasn’t able to get a touch despite being at full stretch.

Searching for a second goal that could put the game away, Caydence Canavan found Taccini for a shot off a corner, but Curtin made the save.

Franklin had only allowed nine goals in 20 games coming into Monday, including a pair of shutouts in the playoffs, and hadn’t allowed a shot to get through to Barry since the opening round, but the Hillers got one more chance and Fowler did not miss with her unstoppable blast.

When the game went to 7-on-7, Hess threw out a lineup that included two seniors (Barry and Lucenta), a junior (Camp), two sophomores (Brady and Blongastainer), and two freshmen (Aparo and Taccini), with freshman Amelia Manning coming off the bench. In the biggest moment, it was a freshman that stepped up.

It comes as no surprise to Hess, who has leaned on her underclassmen right from the start. “They showed right from the get-go that they were going to buy into our culture and tradition,” she said. “We did graduate so many good players but these guys just believed from the very beginning and they knew we could get back.”

The Panthers don’t often have a chance to show off their resiliency but it was on full display on Monday, as they quickly righted the ship and found a way to win.

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.

“It definitely impacted our team a lot,” Taccini said of the Hopkinton goal, “but our coach, she really calmed us down. We do breaths, they really work. We knew this was our moment, we can’t lose. We never lose on the Beav, we just had to come out as strong as we can.”

Franklin (16-2-3) will face No. 3 Wellesley in the Final Four on Wednesday night at Westboro High. Five years ago, the program reached its first state semifinal. Now, it is headed to its third. The Panthers have reached the quarterfinal every year under the new tournament format.

“I’m very blessed with players who just love this sport and they just come out every day and work hard,” Hess said, emotion creeping into her voice as she thought about what it takes to keep the program at this level. “The expectation every year is to get back here and they buy into it.”

Franklin Field Hockey Franklin Field Hockey Franklin Field Hockey Franklin Field Hockey Franklin Field Hockey Cade Taccini Cade Taccini Cade Taccini Cade Taccini