By HockomockSports.com Staff
Oliver Ames senior Jackson Mercieri has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, for Nov. 18 through Nov. 24. Mercieri is the 12th athlete chosen as Player of the Week for the 2024-25 school year.
Mercieri scored the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute of Saturday afternoon’s Div. 2 state championship game against Hingham at Worcester State’s Coughlin Memorial Field. It clinched a third straight state title for the Tigers, the second in a row to be decided in overtime. After scoring three times in the regular season, the senior center back tallied twice in OA’s playoff run.
“He sacrificed individual glory for the team, and it was only fitting that he finished it for us,” said Oliver Ames head coach John Barata. “Jackson’s versatility in the playoffs made a huge difference for us.”
OA opened its playoffs with a 3-1 win against Melrose. After Nick Babanikas put the Tigers in front, Mercieri doubled the lead, taking a pass from Luke Churchill off his chest and finishing on the run. In the quarterfinal, Mercieri added an assist when he picked out Babanikas with a long ball from the back just two minutes into the game. His scoring is only part of his impact, as Mercieri is also part of one of the best defensive units in the state. The Tigers allowed only six goals in 22 games this year, including just one (to Melrose) in the tournament. The lone returning defender from last year, Mercieri was critical to the back line’s success.
In Saturday’s final, Mercieri showed his versatility, producing important moments at both ends of the pitch. He started at center back but was moved up front to partner Babanikas midway through the first half, helping OA tilt the field and control possession for the final 20 minutes of the first half. He moved back into defense after the break, helping the Tigers keep another clean sheet. After Hingham came close to a winner in double OT, Mercieri was moved back up top. Seconds later, Cyrus Hanjani’s dropped a perfect pass between the center backs to Mercieri, who brought it down, patiently waited a beat to create a shooting lane, and sealed the state title.
Click here for a Recap from OA’s win over Melrose.
Click here for a Recap from OA’s win over Milford.
Click here for a Recap from OA’s win over West Springfield.
Click here for a Recap from OA’s overtime win against Mansfield in the Final Four.
Click here for a Recap from OA’s state final match against Hingham.
The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at 8:00PM. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision.
Jackson Mercieri
Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision. Jackson Mercieri The Player of the Week, presented by Morse Insurance, is selected by the HockomockSports.com staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at
midnight. There may be a poll posted on every Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the
decision.
