Canton players surround Audrey Koen after her wraparound found the back of the net with less than three minutes remaining in the semifinal, sending Canton back to the TD Garden. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – It was at that stage of a tied hockey game when every shot towards goal was met with triumphant cheers from one end of the stands and a collective intake of breath from the other. Time was winding down and it felt like one goal would either end a team’s season or give it the chance to play for a state title.
With 2:38 left to play in Saturday night’s Div. 2 state semifinal at the Gallo Ice Arena, Canton seniors Audrey Koen and Ellie Bohane went flying into the Archbishop Williams zone. The Bulldogs pride themselves on their aggressive forecheck and the two senior forwards set the tone.
After forcing the puck to the end boards, Koen won the battle for possession and skated behind the Archies goal. She popped out on the other side and slid a backhand shot into the skates of the goalie, squeezing her shot through the five-hole and across the line.
That would be enough to lift Canton to a 1-0 win over the top seed and send the Bulldogs to the final at the TD Garden for the fifth time in six seasons.
Canton coach Nikki Petrich said, “Before the game, I saw [Audrey] briefly in between watching our boys team, she was literally over there in the corner, had her headphones on, and was just in her zone. I said, I guarantee she scores today. It just shows the work that she puts in and her senior leadership as a captain really taking on that responsibility of relentless effort and commitment to make her team better.”
Senior goalie Carolyn Durand said, “It’s amazing. It’s a different experience every single time because we have a new group of girls and it’s just so awesome because we get to go with the boys (who beat Duxbury in the game before). The whole town goes to the Garden. It’s just everybody’s dream come true. I’m so excited.”
Canton won the regular season meeting with the Bishops by a single goal, so it was expected to be another tight, hard-fought encounter. A physical first period played out as expected, with neither team able to create much in the attacking zone.
Bohane had one chance coming down the slot that was saved by Archies freshman goalie Evelyn Lacey (22 saves). Tori Carr had a shot from the point that Bohane tipped in front but Lacey kicked aside. The best chance for the Bishops in the first came in the final minute of the period, as Abigail Dunn fed Caroline Batchelder for a shot from the right wing circle, but Durand (18 saves) was equal to it.
After a period with very few notable scoring chances, both goalies were called into action early in the second.
Anna Lehan made a nice play at the blue line to get free on a shorthanded breakaway and tested Lacey with a slap shot from the right wing circle. A minute later, Grace Mottau teed up Dunn in the slot, but Durand held her ground and made the stop and then quickly recovered to block Mottau’s rebound effort as well.
Lacey needed to be on her toes again just seconds later when Koen found Bohane on the edge of the crease. Kate O’Toole would get two chances to try and beat Durand from about five feet away, but both of her shots were smothered by the Hockomock League MVP. Late in the second, Georgia Campbell threw the puck to the front of the net and Lehan whacked it just wide of the post.
Canton came out of the locker room intent on finding the breakthrough. Just 30 seconds into the third, Koen forced a pad stop with a backhand shot and Carr fired one from the point that Lacey was able to spot through a crowd of bodies.
A minute into the period, Bohane, who seemed to be everywhere on Saturday, was an inch away from the opener. She got free in the slot and ripped a shot off the inside of the top corner and back out. A couple of Canton players, and the Canton bench, raised their arms thinking that the puck had gone in.
Petrich said, “Ellie is almost underrated, sneaky fast. When she really goes after it, she flies and throughout the season you could really see some of her field hockey stick-handling skills come into play on the ice. There were a couple of great moves where she slid it through the D’s stick and cut to the middle.”
The chances kept coming for the Bulldogs. Freshman Izzy Cusack gained the zone and dropped a pass off to Bohane, who forced a blocker save. Soon after it was Koen that flew down the right wing and dropped a pass back to Cusack for another shot on target. Freshman Christina Curran dragged the puck out of the corner on her backhand and nearly found the corner.
With three minutes to go, Archies had its best chance of the third. Maggie Lynch played a nice give-and-go with Mottau and got free to fire a shot from the circle that Durand was able to glove and hold.
Just 30 seconds later, Koen found a way to get the puck through and put the Bulldogs in front. Archies started pressing, but a major penalty meant that the Bishops finished the game down a player. Durand was called into action once in the final minute, but calmly pushed the shot aside.
When the final horn sounded, the bench exploded onto the ice. The Bulldogs were back in the final.
“I don’t think I’ve ever yelled so loud in my life,” Durand said about the moment she saw Koen’s shot went in. “Normally I don’t really celebrate, but I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh, we only have two minutes left, we’ve got this, it’s over.’ It’s awesome.”
Although this is her first year on the Canton bench, Petrich is no stranger to state title games at the Garden. She was part of the coaching staff last winter at Austin Prep, which won the D1 championship.
“I was joking with them, we both went there last year, I know how it feels to win and I want you to experience that too,” Petrich said. “That feeling we just had today, now imagine that on the Garden ice. You’re going to remember that for the rest of your life. It’s really something special that we have here.”
Canton (19-2-4) will face No. 2 seed Duxbury in the championship game at the TD Garden next Sunday, at a time to be determined.
Senior Carolyn Durand made 21 saves, as Canton earned a shutout against Algonquin in a rematch of last year’s state title game. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
CANTON, Mass. – Although Canton won when the teams faced each other near the end of the regular season, the Bulldogs still remembered how it felt when Algonquin found the back of the net in overtime of the 2022 Div. 2 title game and there was still a desire to fully avenge that loss.
On Thursday night at the Canton Ice House, the Bulldogs got the opportunity for revenge and they took it.
Behind a stellar performance from senior goalie Carolyn Durand (21 saves) and a pair of goals from freshmen, Canton knocked Algonquin out of the tournament with a 3-0 victory and, in the process, booked a return to the D2 Final Four.
“This game was definitely our revenge game,” said senior Audrey Koen. “This time with the stakes and taking a little piece away from them that they took from us last year, I think everyone had it in their mind that this was our time and we’re the better team. We’ve all come so far and we work so hard together and we’re going to do it for each other.”
Canton got off to a strong start, putting the pressure on the Algonquin defense by getting the puck deep, letting the forecheck get to work, and using the defense to pinch in at the blue line to maintain possession. It led to a 9-4 edge in shots in the first.
The first good chance came after six minutes, when freshman Kayleigh Koen’s shot from the point was tipped in front by Anna Lehan. Algonquin goalie Kaitlin Mathews was able to get a pad on the puck and quickly covered up. It took more than 10 minutes for the Titans to create a quality chance, with Olivia Bower’s shot from the point forcing a late kick save from Durand.
Pressure started to mount in the closing minutes of the first, as Canton had a flurry of chances. Freshman Izzy Cusack won the puck along the right wing boards and fired a wrister that Mathews managed to get a blocker to, with Audrey Koen following up but not getting full purchase on the rebound.
Ellie Bohane forced another blocker save from a tough angle and then, with Canton on the power play, she found herself in the slot with shooting space, but narrowly missed the top corner. With just seconds left in the first, Algonquin nearly stole the lead, as Emily Johns took advantage of a turnover for a shorthanded breakaway, but Durand stood tall to make the stop as the horn sounded.
“Her biggest strength is she’s just cool and ready and willing and wants to win so badly for her teammates that she will do anything to stop that puck,” Canton coach Nikki Petrich said of Durand.
Canton came out strong to start the second. Three minutes in, the Bulldogs finally got the breakthrough. Koen, who had a good shot saved a minute before, created the chance when she circled behind the net and flicked a pass out in front. Cusack was in the slot and managed to not only settle the puck but then chip it up over the goalie to make it 1-0.
“These freshmen are incredible,” said Koen. “They came into this team and they just clicked right away. I think all of these freshmen have stepped right into place. They don’t play like freshman, they play like they’ve been here for three or four years.”
The hosts had some chances to try and double the lead. Bohane sacrificed herself to block a shot in the defensive zone and that gave Lehan the chance to get out into open ice. As the back check reached her, Lehan spun onto her backhand and forced a save out of Mathews.
With six minutes left in the second, Devan Spinale’s shot from the point skidded wide but Bohane chased it down and snapped off a quick shot that went off the goalie’s skates and stayed out.
Algonquin sensed that it needed to step up its work in the offensive zone and had several chances in the final five minutes of the period. The best opportunity fell to Harper Ruderman, but Durand was in perfect position to make the point-blank stop. Maya Battista nearly doubled the Canton lead shortly after when she fired one from the point but Mathews stuck out the blocker and got a piece of it.
There was a different intensity about Algonquin in the third. The defending champs were on the front foot for the first time in the game, with Johns coming closest on a redirection that slid just wide of the bottom corner.
While the visitors were pressing forward in search of an equalizer, Canton struck again. The Bulldogs had several chances in close succession and finally freshman Christina Curran pounced on a loose puck and slammed the rebound just inside the post to give Canton that crucial two-goal cushion.
“Depth is huge and we want to give every girl an opportunity to play,” Petrich said about Curran, the third-line center getting on the board. “To get the experience, you have to have the opportunity. When other girls can step up and provide scoring opportunities, as well as not get scored on, it’s great.”
Petrich also noted that two freshmen scored for the Bulldogs. She added, “The seniors have done an exceptional job off the ice of welcoming the freshmen and making them feel a part of the team, a part of a family. They’re able to really build that chemistry off the ice and translate that on the ice.”
Most of the remainder of the game was played in the Canton zone. Algonquin had three power play opportunities in the third and was playing with the desperation of a team that saw its season on the brink. But, Durand stood in the Titans’ way and the Hockomock League MVP was equal to the task, making 11 saves in the third, including one off the mask from Johns and then again sticking out the blocker to stop a fierce wrister.
“She definitely plays a huge role in why we’re so good,” Koen said about Durand. “We know that she’s going to make the big saves and that we’re going to make the big plays in the offensive zone. I love how we all come together.”
With just 22.5 on the clock, Koen got free at the blue line, skated the length of the ice, and deposited an empty net goal that finished off the Titans and sent the Bulldogs to the next round.
“It was incredible,” Koen said about scoring the final goal. “I was just trying not to miss. I just wanted to make sure that it went in and just being able to feel that feeling and know that we’re putting it away was awesome.”
Canton (18-2-4) will face top seed Archbishop Williams, who the Bulldogs also beat in the regular season, on Saturday evening at Gallo Ice Arena.
Canton senior Audrey Koen (17) celebrates her third goal of the night, on the power in the third period, leading the Bulldogs to a 5-2 win over KP. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
FOXBORO, Mass. – Since the Hockomock League introduced girls hockey six years ago, the games have always been competitive but Canton has stood above the others as the team to beat each winter. King Philip went into Wednesday night’s showdown at the Foxboro Sports Center looking to knock Canton off its perch and bring home its first league title in the process.
Canton’s title-winning experience proved to be too much to overcome. Behind an Audrey Koen hat trick, the Bulldogs pulled out a 5-2 victory, winning their fourth straight Hock championship and fifth in the past six years.
“Experience is everything and unfortunately the only way to get it is to get it and to go through it, so I couldn’t have asked for a better balance,” first-year Canton coach Nikki Petrich said about her roster’s blend of youth and experience.
She continued, “Having a more tenured player maybe working with some of the younger girls and walking them through, you’re going to feel this way, you’re going to feel that way, but remember what we do in practice, remember to listen for our voices. It’s been great to have their leadership and experience because big players step up in big games.”
The Bulldogs outshot KP 11-5 in the opening period (and 36-15 for the game), but each Warriors shot was a quality scoring chance.
Nicole McDonald had the first look when she reacted to a loose puck after a face-off and was stopped from close range by Canton goalie Carolyn Durand. McDonald also forced a turnover in the attacking zone and played a pass across the crease to Katarina Precobb, but Durand somehow got across to the far post to make the point-blank pad stop and keep the game scoreless.
“I was like okay it’s 1-0,” Petrich said, thinking about that moment. “Carolyn makes the save and we go down, and to me it’s always transition hockey, but a huge save like that really lifted our team and the momentum to fight some more. Every single game she makes a save like that and we’re able to get energy from it.”
Kelly Holmes would have another good chance for KP after keeping the puck in at the blue line, but Durand got her blocker to it. On the other end, Tori Carr had one of Canton’s best early chances with a steal in the neutral zone and hard shot that KP goalie Mallory Johnston knocked aside. Abby Stock also had a chance from the high slot that forced a glove save.
Things felt even in the early going, but Canton got the game’s first power play and made sure to take advantage of the opportunity. Maya Battista collected the puck just outside the right wing circle and played a diagonal pass across the zone to the back post. Koen was pinching in from the boards and collected the puck, despite a slight deflection, before roofing a shot over Johnston’s glove side from a tight angle.
With the lead, Canton came out of the intermission full of energy. Koen almost doubled the lead after two minutes when she won the puck on the left wing boards, cut hard towards the net, and forced Johnston into a good save.
About 30 seconds later and the Bulldogs did make it 2-0. Freshman Izzy Cusack had her shot from the slot saved. The rebound kicked out in front of Johnston, who attempted to dive out and cover the loose puck, but Cusack stayed with it and was able to slide it past the goalie. KP argued that the whistle had gone to blow the play dead, but the goal stood.
KP continued to create chances. Mara Boldy slipped a pass between a pair of defenders and Holmes was able to slam the puck towards goal, but Durand got the pads down to make sure of the save.
With 9:10 left in the period, KP was back in the game. Holmes intercepted an outlet pass at the blue line and skated in alone on Durand before flicking a shot into the top corner. About a minute later, Canton was back in control. Koen flew down the right wing and rifled a shot just under the bar to make it 3-1 and steal back all the momentum from the hosts.
“I always tell them hockey ebbs and flows like life,” Petrich explained. “I don’t like to say we need another goal, it’s always one shot. To me, when you say a goal, it’s so much pressure. Never get too low, never get too high, so when you come out next shift clear your mind, clear your head, and go after it. For her to score that fast, I couldn’t have written it better.”
The goal sparked the Bulldogs back into life and they dominated the rest of the period, creating a 14-5 edge in shots on goal. Ellie Bohane had a good two tries to extend the lead when she drove towards goal and forced Johnston into a stop and then fired the rebound on net only for the KP goalie to flash a pad out and make the save.
Canton opened up a three-goal cushion with 3:46 left in the second. Anna Lehan came from the right wing and attempted a wrap around that was saved, but the loose puck came right out into the middle where Stock was charging towards goal and the freshman buried the chance.
KP’s hopes of a comeback in the third period were blunted by starting on the penalty kill and Canton wasted no time putting the game away. Koen completed her hat trick just 13 seconds in, whipping a wrister into the bottom left corner and making it 5-1.
The next several minutes were played almost exclusively in the KP zone. The Warriors finally got some chances down the other end of the ice with less than five minutes to play. While falling down, Holmes was able to slide a pass across the crease to McDonald, but Durand made the save. About 30 seconds later, Holmes again drove towards goal and got the puck in front and this time McDonald was able to squeeze it home.
Canton finished with a flourish, getting scoring chances from Cusack and Kayleigh Koen, but the work had already been done. The Bulldogs swarmed Durand at the final horn, having retained their Hock title once again.
“That was more pressure on me, I couldn’t let them down,” Petrich joked when asked about how it felt to bring home a fourth title in a row. “It feels amazing to accomplish that with them in our first year. As I’ve said all year, we’re continually learning from each other. The girls that have been here on the team who know the players and the teams and (assistant coach) Kevin [Cleary] and I and our knowledge of hockey and the teams we’ve played. It’s coming together.”
Canton (11-2-2) will be off until Monday when it faces Archbishop Williams, currently the top-ranked team in Div. 2, and then follows that with a trip to Duxbury, the No. 2-ranked team in the division. King Philip (7-9) will host Arlington Catholic on Monday night.
2021-2022 Record: 18-7-0 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Final Coach: Nikki Petrich
Canton has won four of the five Hockomock titles since league play began, including three in a row, and last winter the Bulldogs went to their fourth state title game in the past six seasons. It was an incredible stretch of success under Dennis Aldrich, who stepped down in the off-season, and the Bulldogs don’t look ready to slow down anytime soon. First-year coach Nikki Petrich, a former Northeastern University standout, comes to Canton after being an associate head coach for Austin Prep, helping them win a pair of Div. 1 state titles, and she has an experienced roster aiming for another trip to the Garden in March.
The Bulldogs can count on plenty of senior leadership this winter, starting up front with forwards Audrey Koen and Ellie Bohane. Koen is the team’s top returning scorer with 12 goals and eight assists last year and will be a focal point in the attack. Juniors Maggie Dailey, Lilah Spinelli, and Anna Lehan also contributed important minutes and important goals during last year’s playoff run and could be ready to step into bigger roles this season. As always, Canton can reload with talented underclassmen and freshmen Christina Curran, Abby Stock, and Izzy Cusack could also feature in a deep forward group.
Defense has long been a strength for Canton and it starts in goal with senior Carolyn Durand. The four-year starter has been one of the best shot stoppers in the state since her freshman year and gives the team a strong foundation in its own zone. Senior Maya Battista is another four-year starter and has emerged as a force on the blue line, both with her work in the defensive zone as well as her goals on the other end of the ice. Juniors Tori Carr and Devan Spinale will be back on the blue line with freshmen Kayleigh Koen and Georgia Campbell part of a talented rookie class that could contribute right away.
“We are looking to build off of the success of last year and continue to make sure that every single girl in our program has an incredible experience representing their town, high school, and family,” Petrich said. With a senior captain in net, a senior captain on the blue line, and two senior captains leading the way for your forwards, our team is going to compete every single game. A strong freshman class rounds out what is truly a team with extensive experience playing in meaningful games come the end of February.”
2021-2022 Record: 6-11-4 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Mike Lubin
Franklin is the only team other than Canton to have won a Hockomock League title and the Panthers come into the season with a more experienced, and deeper, roster to try and get back on top. Former assistant Mike Lubin has taken over as head coach after the retirement of longtime coach Margie Burke and he has a balanced lineup to work with this winter.
The Panthers will be hoping to be more solid on the defensive end of the ice this season, building on the structure they have created in all three zones. Senior Shaw Downing is a four-year varsity player and a dynamic skater along the blue line, not only being sure on the puck in her own zone but also capable of carrying the play into the attack. Junior Lindsay Dennett continues to improve each season and sophomore goalie Izzy Brown is coming off an impressive rookie campaign between the pipes.
Sophomore Julia Flynn was the team’s leading scorer last year and she is back to power the Franklin offense. Senior Lindsay Atkinson is also back, after missing all of last winter with an injury. Atkinson had a big sophomore season and will be a huge addition to the top line. Senior forwards Dana Stott and Molly Hurley bring two-way strength to the forward line.
“We’re a close group with great leadership and a good mix of young talent,” Lubin said. “We’re all excited to get the season started and build on our strong team chemistry from last year.”
2021-2022 Record: 3-16-1 (formerly Mansfield/Oliver Ames) 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32 Coach: Jamie Mullin
The biggest co-op team in the Hockomock League is getting bigger. The Mansfield/Oliver Ames Warriors, which also featured skaters from Foxboro, now includes players from Attleboro, Milford, North Attleboro, and Taunton and will be going by the name of Hockomock Stars.
Jamie Mullen returns for her second year at the helm of the program and now has some more players to work into her lineup. The Stars lost some key players to graduation, including longtime goalie Jess Widdop and speedy forward Sam Ledin, and also have to replace the production of last year’s leading scorer Kylie O’Keefe (20 points). Leading the offense will be a pair of Mansfield juniors: Cammy Shenteler, fresh off a 7-goal, 9-assist season, and Maeve Anastasia, who totaled 11 points with six goals last year.
North Attleboro has four players in the mix with junior Ava O’Dwyer, sophomore Grace Cabeceiras, and freshmen Brittany Nordbeck and Alana Rice. Attleboro (Emily Davignon, Avery Drainville, McKenzie Sullivan) has three players, Taunton (Hannah Albert, Kendell Scheralis) has two, and Milford has one (Lindsay Casman).
Foxboro’s Mya Waras (five points) and Mansfield’s Ava Adams (five points) will also be key pieces in the attack. Foxboro junior Macy Quinn is back to anchor the blue line for the Stars while Davignon will be between the pipes.
2021-2022 Record: 18-5-0 2021-2022 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32 Coach: Ken Assad
King Philip is coming off a really strong year. The Warriors won 18 games last winter but saw the season come to an end in the opening round of the state tournament. KP scored 93 goals in 23 games in 2021-22 but graduated the bulk of one of the state’s top scoring lines, so will need new players to step into bigger roles in search of the program’s first Hock title.
While the top scoring line may look a little different this winter, KP does return its top goal scorer. Junior Kelly Holmes is back to lead the offense and is one of the most dynamic players in the league. Senior Katarina Precobb and junior Nicole McDonald will add more punch to the top line this season. The Warriors will have decent depth in the attacking zone, with senior Sydney Cloutier, junior Rylie Ryan, and freshmen Cam O’Shea and Kate McGann each ready to provide an attacking punch. Eighth graders Tayla McDuff, Rylan McKillop, Ella Morgan, Erin Steck, and Molly Murphy should all get their chance to contribute.
In the defensive zone, KP will have plenty of experience to try and keep other teams out. Seniors Brielle Hearon, Mara Boldy, and Emma Sullivan will all be back on the blue line, providing leadership and physicality to slow down the opposition. Freshmen Lydia Maxwell and Grace Lehan-Allen both saw time as eighth graders and will build on that important year of varsity action. Eighth-grader Calleigh Brady should see time in defense this year. Goalie is another position of strength for the Warriors with senior Mallory Johnston in her third year as a starter and classmate Haley Bright backing her up.
“I never call it a rebuilding year,” said KP coach Ken Assad. “With the returning players and newcomers, I believe with hard work and not taking any nights off we can be in the hunt for the Hockomock title and get into the tournament.”
2021-2022 Record: 2021-2022 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Chad Kelley
Stoughton/Sharon continues to be a young program that is building up its numbers. With only one senior and two juniors in the program, the Black Knights will be focusing on youth and trying to build a foundation for future seasons. After a close loss in the season opener, Stoughton/Sharon continues to find ways to stay competitive even with a smaller roster of just 14 players.
Eighth-grader Sarah Scappaticci from Sharon will be the starting goalie this season. She made 34 stops in the opener against Cambridge and is already showing that she is a skilled player between the pipes. Brockton junior Molly Corvino will be one of the leaders in the defensive zone, along with classmate Samantha Calapai. Both players are solid in their own zone but can push the team into the attack. Stoughton freshman Addison Strunk will also be one of the defenders in the top two pairings.
Stoughton’s Ava Buckley is the lone senior on the team. The Assumption-commit will be the focal point for the Black Knights on the offensive end of the ice. Sharon eighth grader Ella Cummings has a lot of skill on the puck and already opened her varsity account with a goal against Cambridge. Sharon sophomores Peri Rodman and Heather Kelly and Stoughton sophomore Leila Uchani return to the forward lines. Stoughton freshmen Julia Monaghan, Meghan McGowan, Amanda Reid, and Stoughton eighth graders Nya’Lia Lindsey and Julia Henein will give the Black Knights depth up front.
“We are a young team with only one senior and two juniors in our program,” said head coach Chad Kelley. “Ava Buckley and Molly Corvino are our captains for this season. Both Ava and Molly have been tremendous with our young group. They are great examples for others to model.”
Baseball
Attleboro, 12 @ Foxboro, 9 – Final – Foxboro raced out to a lead with five runs over the first three innings, but Attleboro’s offense roared to life with 10 runs in a three-inning span to secure a win on the road. The Warriors sandwiched a pair of one-running innings around a three-run third to stake a 5-2 advantage. The Bombardiers responded with three in the fourth, five in the fifth, and two more in the sixth, before holding off a four-run bottom of the seventh from the hosts to get the win. Jamie Bloch, Owen Taber (RBI), and Peter DelPozzo each had one hit and scored three runs while Cooper Johnson drove in four runs on the day and scored once himself. Matt Harvie added two hits and two RBI for the Bombardiers. Freshman Tyler Dunlea tossed three shutout innings in relief, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out six to get the win. For Foxboro, Ryan LeClair had a pair of hits, including a double, with three RBI and two runs scored, junior Sean O’Leary drove in two runs, and freshman Ryan O’Leary had a hit and an RBI. Junior Kenny Mello blasted a solo home run and had two RBI on the day.
Taunton, 8 @ Canton, 0 – Final
Franklin, 4 @ North Attleboro, 7 – Final – North Attleboro senior Brody Rosenberg blasted a second inning grand slam and classmate Tyler Bannon had a strong showing on the mound as the Rocketeers knocked off visiting Franklin. Danny Curran had a lead off single, Bannon followed with a single, and Christian Bates walked to load the bases for Rosenberg’s home run. North added three more in the bottom of the fifth as Dillon Harding and Derek Maceda singled, and pinch runner Kyle Conroy scored on an RBI double from Tyler DeMattio. Maceda came home to score on a wild pitch and DeMattio eventually scored on a double steal to make it 7-0. Franklin plated four runs in the top, including a pair of two-out singles. Bannon finished with 6.1 innings pitched, striking out six with two hits allowed, retiring the side in order in the first three innings. Chris Goode had two hits and an RBI for the Panthers, Evan Raider added a hit, a walk, and an RBI, and Jack Marino chipped in with an RBI and a run scored.
Sharon, 2 @ King Philip, 12 – Final (6 Inn.) – King Philip moved to 4-0 on the season, scoring in double figures for the third time this season in a win over Sharon. The Warriors didn’t waste any time getting the bats going with five runs in the first inning. Shawn Legere knocked Travis Crawford (single) in with a base hit, Matt Kelley (single) scored on a wild pitch, and both Rudy Gately and Brendan Sencaj scored on a throwing error. Matt DiFiore brought in the fifth run with an RBI single to score Nick Viscusi. In the second, Gately had an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Gately drove in Legere with a RBI base hit, and Kelley came in to score on a wild pitch for the second time in the game. Luke Nixon and Will Astorino each drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth and Brendan Weddleton had a two-run single to end the game in the bottom of the sixth. Viscusi got the win in the mound, tossing six innings with two earned runs while striking out eight.
Stoughton, 6 @ Mansfield, 7 – Final – Mansfield scored two insurance runs in the top of the seventh that proved pivotal as the Hornets had to hold off a furious rally by the Black Knights in the bottom of the seventh. Mansfield scored two runs in each the first and third, and a single run in the fifth to carry a 5-1 lead into the final inning. Two runs in the top of the seventh ended up being the difference as Stoughton sent five runs home in the bottom half before Mansfield got the final out for the win. Anthony Sacchetti had three hits and scored three runs while sophomore Matt DeShiro had three hits, including two doubles and two stolen bases, and drove in three runs to pace the Hornets’ offense. Conner Zukowski added two hits (both doubles) and a run scored, Jimmy Gilleran had a pair of hits and two RBI, and Connor Curtis added two doubles. Gilleran tossed six innings on the mound, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits and two walks, striking out six.
Softball
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 14 – Final – Attleboro’s Lily Routhier got her third win of the season in the circle while the Bombardiers belted out 14 hits for 14 runs in a win over visiting Foxboro. Routhier tossed a complete game, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out six. Offensively, Lindsey Perry had a pair of doubles with three runs scored, adding a pair of walks. Lauren Eby collected four hits with three runs scored and Routhier helped her own cause with a pair of hits and three runs scored. Peyton Feldman had a pair of hits for Foxboro with two runs scored while Emma Callahan had six strikeouts in five innings of work.
Canton, 1 @ Taunton, 21 – Final (5 Inn.) – Taunton exploded for 14 runs in the second inning and scored more than 20 runs in a game for the second time this week. Ava Venturelli paced the Tigers offense, going 4-for-4 with two homers, a triple, and a double. She drove in six runs and scored four times. The top five hitters in the Taunton lineup combined for 15 hits and 14 RBI. Kyleah Plumb was 2-for-5 with two RBI, Kaysie DeMoura was 3-for-4 with two RBI, Brooke Aldrich was 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Hayley Krockta went 4-for-4 with two RBI. Liv Mendonca and Cate Larson combined on a four-hitter. Taylor Reynolds, Anna Lehan, Jess Wright, and Chloe Guershony each had hits for the Bulldogs.
North Attleboro, 10 @ Franklin, 0 – Final – North’s bats came alive to back up a stellar performance in the circle from Zoey McDonough. The Rocketeers totaled 16 hits including four from Kelly Colleran, who blasted a pair of homers and drove in seven of North’s 10 runs. McDonough was lights out, striking out 14 and holding Franklin to five hits. Ally Levine had three hits for North, which also got two hits apiece from Mandi Hanewich (two runs scored), McDonough, and Emma Hanwell. Maryellen Charette had a hit and an RBI and Grace Simmons made a nice catch in right and assisted on an out at second.
Sharon, 0 @ King Philip, 20 – Final (5 Inn.) – King Philip pushed across eight runs in the first and nine more in the second while Emma Sheehan and Taylor Regan combined to toss a one-hitter in a win over Sharon. Sarah Cullen had a big day for the Warriors from the leadoff spot, collecting four hits, two RBI and four runs scored. Meg Sherwood (homerun) added three hits, five RBI and three runs, and Maddie Paschke (homerun) had four RBI on two hits with three runs scored. Sheehan (2IP) and Regan (3IP) each had five strikeouts.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Milford, 2 – Final (8 Inn.) – Oliver Ames pushed across three runs in the top of the eighth inning and held on as the Scarlet Hawks had the tying run at the plate in the bottom half. Milford took the lead in the bottom of the second after a bunt from Jianna Fernandes was thrown away, allowing Sarah Wengal (walk) to score. OA struck back in the top of the fifth in similar fashion as Katherine Farley (dropped third strike) scored after a throwing error after a bunt from Madison Monteiro. OA took its first lead in the top of the seventh when Farley (single) scored on a double from Caitlin Miller to make it 2-1. Sophomore Grace Bonina hit a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, moved to second on a sacrifice, and came to score on an effor to make it 2-2, sending it to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, freshman Emily Martin led off with a double and moved to third on a grounder from Lexi Galsband (two hits). Junior Katie Melendy, who also tossed an eight inning complete game for the Tigers, smacked a single up the middle to take the lead. Freshman Devon Morris followed with a single, and both Melendy and Morris scored on a single from Farley. Melendy worked around back-to-back one-out walks to get the win. Maeve Driscoll had 11 strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work for the Hawks.
Boys Lacrosse
Sharon, 14 @ Attleboro, 10 – Final – Brady Daylor found the back of the net eight times to lead Sharon to a win on the road over Attleboro. Along with Daylor’s eight goals, Ben Shocket (23-for-28 faceoffs) and Sam Rothbaum each added a pair of goals while Jacob Kaufman and Jordan Weizmann each scored once in the win. Matt Powers made 10 saves in net for the Eagles.
Girls Lacrosse
Attleboro, 14 @ Sharon, 6 – Final – Bailey Garte had a hat trick for the Eagles, who also got goals from Anna Hertzel, Keira Lydeard, and Serena Bien-Aime.
Boys Tennis
Foxboro, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 – Final – Foxboro’s Bo Canfield didn’t drop a game at second singles and the Warriors won four matches in straight sets to get a victory over Attleboro. Canfield won 6-0, 6-0 while Garrett Spillane added a first singles win (6-2, 6-1) and Raj Jetty secured a win at third singles (6-2, 6-0). Foxboro added a win from Nate Cote and Luca Meyer at second doubles (6-1, 7-5). Attleboro’s Tyler Rocchio and Kyle Neuendorf continued their strong season with a 6-3, 6-1 win at first doubles.
Canton, 4 @ Taunton, 1 – Final – Canton won all three singles matches in straight sets and added a fourth point with a win at second doubles to secure a victory on the road at Taunton. Max Kupferman, Suraj Ramanathan and Justin Ngan all won in straight sets in singles for Canton in singles action, and the team of seniors Kevin Moltenbrey and Luke Romano took the win at second doubles. Taunton’s Andrew Letourneau and Derek Desseault took the first doubles for Taunton in straight sets.
Sharon, 5 @ King Philip, 0 – Final
Stoughton, 0 @ Mansfield, 5 – Final – Mansfield took all five matches in straight sets to defend home court against visiting Stoughton. Freshman Neema Khosravani and sophomore Kailash Elumelai both won 6-1, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while sophomore Iniyan Karruppusami grabbed a 6-3, 6-0 win at third singles. Junior Benson Delaney teamed with senior Jonah Fine for a 6-1, 6-0 first doubles win while sophomore Nikhil Nain and senior Pratham Tallam grabbed a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles.
Oliver Ames, 5 @ Milford, 0 – Final – Oliver Ames sophomore Nick Westerbeke didn’t drop a set at first singles while seniors Kylash Gannesh and Raphael Vache both won in straight sets as the Tigers took a 5-0 win on the road at Milford. Westerbeke won 6-0, 6-0, Gannesh grabbed a 6-1, 6-4 win at second singles, and Vache earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at third singles. OA’s first doubles team of freshmen Patrick Dolan and Alex Efremidas secured a 6-1, 6-4 win at first doubles while junior Ben Dias and sophomore Alex Vasiliou emerged with a 4-6, 7-5, 12-10 win at second doubles in a great match with Milford senior Pedro DeSouza and freshman Todd Ostertog. Both coaches praised the effort of the second doubles players, with the both sides hitting great shots and earning key points.
North Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 5 – Final – After splitting the first two sets, Franklin senior Thomas Broyles won a 10-point tiebreaker to complete the sweep for the Panthers. Broyles ended with a 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 win at second singles, Vashnav Malhotra added a 6-0, 6-1 first singles victory, and senior Drew Mahoney won 6-1, 6-3 at third singles. The team of senior Tim O’Keefe and sophomore Jay Gorgas notched a 6-1, 6-0 win at first doubles, and senior Sameen Shaik and sophomore Ahan Shetty won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.
Girls Tennis
Attleboro, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 – Final – A sweep in singles action plus one doubles win gave Foxboro a 4-1 win over visiting Attleboro. Athena Li (6-0, 6-0), Hailey Kornbluth (6-0, 6-1), and Analise Jia (6-0, 6-3) won at first, second, and third singles, respectively, while Abby Costa and Juliana Preston added a 6-2, 6-2 first doubles win. Attleboro’s Allison Rebelo and Presley Biller added a 6-4, 6-4 win at second doubles.
Taunton, 1 @ Canton, 4 – Final – A pair of wins from singles action plus two more in doubles play gave Canton a win at home over visiting Taunton. Camila Cutter battled to a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win at first singles while Laura Correal secured a 6-4, 6-3 win at second singles for the Bulldogs. The team of Olivia Durham and Grace Powers emerged with a 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) win at first doubles and Canton’s second doubles team of Olivia Maloney and Allie Wong rallied for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 win. Taunton’s Ava Alves notched a 7-5, 6-2 win at third singles.
King Philip, 0 @ Sharon, 5 – Final – After two very tight battles in singles action, and a three-set doubles battle, Sharon took home a 5-0 decision over visiting King Philip. Navya Shukla and Hannah Faberman both emerged from hard-fought matches with identical 7-6, 6-4 wins at first and second singles, respectively, while freshman Judy Song added a 6-1, 6-1 third singles win. Junior Sophia Oh and senior Sasha Fein grabbed a 6-1, 6-3 win at first doubles while Sharon’s second doubles tandem of juniors Ellie Zhao and Wenxin Lu prevailed with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 win for the Eagles.
Mansfield, 3 @ Stoughton, 2 – Final
Milford, 1 @ Oliver Ames, 4 – Final – Both of Oliver Ames’ doubles teams won in straight sets without dropping a game to secure a 4-1 victory over Milford. The team of Caroline Peper and Morgan Vasiliou won at first singles while Marina Mierzwinski and Olivia Querzoli grabbed the win at second doubles, both matches finishing 6-0, 6-0. OA freshman Hannah Farber added a 6-1, 6-0 win at first singles and Elizabeth O’Brien prevailed from third singles with a 6-0, 2-6, 10-2 win. Milford’s Paige Gaulik rallied for a 1-6, 6-4, 10-8 victory at second singles.
Boys Volleyball
King Philip, 1 vs. Millis, 3 – Final
Milford, 3 vs. Medfield, 0 – Final
Taunton is coming off a state championship and a perfect season, but there will be plenty of competition for the league crown this season. Read team-by-team previews below. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com) By HockomockSports.com Staff
2021 Record: 9-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Mark Homer
Last spring, Attleboro was an inning away from upsetting crosstown rival Bishop Feehan and reaching the Div. 1 South quarterfinal. The Bombardiers were also the only team to score on state champ Taunton. That is a good foundation to build on coming into a new season, as Attleboro brings back a strong core of players looking to challenge the top two in the Kelley-Rex and make another state tournament push.
Senior Lindsey Perry, who can also play second base, will be in the circle for the Bombardiers to start the season and will be throwing to sophomore Rylie Camacho, who had an impressive debut campaign at the plate and in the field. Senior Hailey Perry is coming back from a knee injury but should be at shortstop early in the season. Attleboro added pitching depth this season with junior Lily Routhier transferring in from Wheelock School (R.I.). Routhier will also play center field when she’s not pitching.
Sophomore Kayla Goldrick is another player coming off a standout rookie season and she will be at third and in the middle of the order. Junior Lauren Eby will return at the other corner and junior Sarah Maher gives Attleboro versatility by being able to play multiple positions. The Bombardiers have a balanced lineup and will be able to incorporate new faces to the program and players pulled up from JV to find the right combinations.
“The team’s goal is to stay competitive for every practice and game, and qualify for states,” said Attleboro coach Mark Homer. “We must be consistent in every aspect of the game. It’s always a tall order, but this team has the potential and determination to make it happen. We’re gonna have fun doing it.”
2021 Record: 5-11 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South First Round Coach: Sandy Lombardi
Canton returns seven players from last year’s team, which went on the road to beat Cardinal Spellman in the first round of the state tournament. After Dave Bohane stepped down, Sharon girls basketball coach and former Duxbury softball coach Sandy Lombardi has taken over the Bulldogs hoping to take the mix of experience and new talent on another trip to the postseason.
The Bulldogs will have depth in the circle this season with seniors Gillian Gordon and Sophia Santos bringing experience to the position and sophomore Jess Wright adding another option. Senior Taylor Reynolds brings a strong bat to the top of the order and will play in left field. Senior Emily Ciampa will return at second base, with Wright playing mostly at first, and junior Olivia Mackwell behind the plate. Sophomore Laura Valkanas will be at shortstop.
Freshman Chloe Guerschuny is a new face at third base and classmate Klara Redquest will take over from Liz Bickett in center. Senior Jessica Vo, junior Sam Vrabel, and sophomore Anna Lehan are all newcomers on varsity who will give Canton additional options in the outfield and in the lineup.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Lombardi said, “We have a good mix of upper and underclassmen. The girls are working hard and we are looking forward to competing in a tough Hockomock League.”
2021 Record: 11-6 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 2 South Quarterfinal Coach: Mark Maguire
With two eighth graders in the starting lineup, including one in the circle, no one was quite sure how good Foxboro could be last spring. As it turned out, the Warriors were good enough to make a run all the way to the Div. 2 South quarterfinal. With additional pitching depth and critical varsity experience, Foxboro will try to build on that momentum and make another deep tournament run.
Senior Peyton Feldman was one of the top hitters in the league last season and she will be moving to shortstop while continuing to lead off. Senior Allie Willis will add leadership from the catcher position, as she is in her third year behind the plate. Her experience is critical when working with Foxboro’s young pitching staff. Freshman Emma Callahan had a breakout season as the starter last year and she will get the chance to play some second and third base as well to make sure her bat stays in the lineup. Freshman Vittoria Cuscia and sophomore lefty Angelina Rifai will give Foxboro more options in the circle.
Foxboro will have plenty of speed in the lineup this season. Freshman Jillian Slattery and Natalia Leach are athletic outfielders and will add production from the bottom half of the order. Freshman Ava Hill is back to start at first base after a solid eighth grade season and Fiona Dunn will get the start in right field.
“We are a young team that is looking to compete for the Davenport division,” said Foxboro coach Mark Maguire. “We have some very good athletes that look to take their softball skills to the next level. They are a group of kids who are a pleasure to coach.”
2021 Record: 6-9 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Preliminary Round Coach: Katie Holbrook
Last season, Franklin showed that it could score runs in bunches, hitting double digits in five of its 15 games, but the Panthers could also allow runs in bunches with teams reaching double digits six times. With seven returning players, second-year coach Katie Holbrook is hoping that experience and depth will carry the Panthers back up the standings and into the postseason.
Franklin will have depth in the circle this season with senior Aislinn Lavery taking the bulk of the innings and junior Kiera Kotwicki able to step in when needed. Both will mix pitches and keep teams off-balance. Junior Hailey Fales will be back behind the plate, adding another layer of experience to the pitching staff. Senior Julia White battled an injury all spring in 2021 but she is back healthy and back in the middle of the infield and the order. Junior Georgia Harvey is a versatile player who can fill in at multiple positions and batted 0.426 as a sophomore.
Sophomore Carly Johnson-Pellegri had an impressive rookie season and will be moving from second to short and senior Hannah Cacciapaglia is back at first, and in the middle of the order, after recovering from an injury that kept her out all of last spring. The outfield looks strong for the Panthers this season. Senior Kelly Moussa has a strong arm in right and juniors Reece Allen and Dana Stott are two newcomers that could play big roles for the team this season.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
“We have a lot of different players who can jump in and be the spark at any given moment,” Holbrook said. “There are a lot of new players in the mix, but they are already showing signs of coming together as a team and leadership is not lacking in this group. If they can remain poised and confident and play their game, we should do well this season.”
2021 Record: 14-3 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Semifinal Coach: Kate Fallon-Comeau
King Philip lost only three games last season and all of those were to league and state champion Taunton. The Warriors bring back a lot of players from last season and that has put high expectations on one of the state’s perennial powers to get back on top not only in the Kelley-Rex division but also once the tournament kicks off.
A year of varsity experience might be most beneficial in the circle where senior Emma Sheehan and sophomore Jordan Bennett give the Warriors a lot of depth for a long season. Both saw plenty of action last year, including in the playoffs and they should be ready for the challenge of the new season. Junior Sarah Cullen will also be back behind the plate for the Warriors after an impressive debut season in which she batted nearly .500.
Infield defense was a strength for the Warriors, even after an injury to junior shortstop Libby Walsh. Senior Mia Bennett returns at second base and sophomore Maddie Paschke will be back at third base, after an impressive playoff run at the hot corner. Senior Meg Sherwood will add leadership in the outfield, while juniors Charlotte Raymond and Ava Lanza provide a spark in the lineup.
KP coach Kate Fallon-Comeau said, “We’re hoping to have a solid season, make the tournament, and see where it goes from there!”
2021 Record: 9-8 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South Quarterfinal Coach: Lori Letendre
Mansfield made a surprising run to the quarterfinal of the South sectional last spring, winning at Needham and at No. 2 seed Natick before falling to perennial power Silver Lake. With seven starters returning, the Hornets will be aiming at another tournament run this year and building the confidence that they can challenge the top teams in the Kelley-Rex.
Pitching will be a question mark for Mansfield this year after graduating last year’s starter Ashlyn Conley. Senior Julia Kelly, better known for her exploits on the volleyball court, will join the team for the first time in her career and will get the chance in the circle. Junior Amanda Schwarz will also be given time in the circle, as she makes the jump up from JV.
The lineup was young and inexperienced last season, but still proved to be dynamic and most of the players who came through with big at-bats have returned. Seniors Alanna Conley, Olivia DeTrolio, and Casey Moussette are all back along with sophomores Molly Kucharski, Callie Lake, Jill Koppy, and Liv Madeira, who all had impressive rookie seasons.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
“It’s been fun to get back on the field and start working with a great group of girls and we are looking forward to the season!” said Mansfield coach Lori Letendre.
2021 Record: 0-14 2021 Finish: Missed postseason Coach: Steve DiVitto
The Kelley-Rex division is loaded every year and a young Milford roster is hungry to move past a couple of tough seasons to be more competitive in a difficult league schedule. While the Hawks went winless in 2021, they lost twice to Mansfield by a combined five runs and lost by only two runs to Franklin and Sharon, so the Hawks had opportunities to come out on top. Now, with a year that is closer to normal, Milford hopes to take the next step and turn those close defeats into victories.
While the roster is almost all underclassmen, Milford does return seven players from last year. Only two of the returners are upperclassmen, senior pitcher and outfielder Olivia Morelli and senior third baseman Gianna Cacciola. Both captains are entering their third seasons on varsity and going to be expected to provide leadership for the rest of the lineup, which is almost all freshmen and sophomores.
Also returning this year are sophomores Maddie Burns (catcher and first base), Camille Bonina (first base and outfield), Grace Bonina (middle infield), Maeve Driscoll (pitcher, shortstop, and outfield), and Sarah Wengel (outfield and first base). Each player gained valuable experience as freshmen and provide a lot of versatility in how the team will line up. The Hawks will also look to a trio of freshmen for instant impact as starters or off the bench, including pitcher Cae Pellegrini, outfielder Jianna Fernandes, and shortstop Olivia Baglione.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
“With such a young crew, we will rely on our two seniors, our captains, who have four years of experience to help lead the way,” said Milford coach Steve DiVitto. “We pride ourselves on keeping strong team chemistry; something that will be an important part of this season. We’re hungry to get back on the field!”
2021 Record: 12-4 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Bill Wallace
North Attleboro has won back-to-back league titles for the first time in program history and would love to make it a three-peat before moving to the Kelley-Rex division next season. The Rocketeers graduated four starters, so there will be opportunities for underclassmen to step in and contribute right away, but North also has a strong core, particularly with two strong starting pitchers, to make a run in the Div. 2 tournament.
Juniors Zoey McDonough and Kelly Colleran are back and give North an impressive one-two punch in the circle. Both players were all-stars in their debut seasons, and both are Div. I college recruits. Since they’re also important to the lineup, McDonough will play first and Colleran will play short when they’re not pitching. Senior Mandi Hanewich is battling a hand injury at the start of the season, but the four-year varsity player will add leadership in center, while senior Ally Levine will be behind the plate working with North’s staff. Junior Grace Simmons is the fifth returning starter and the right fielder will also get the chance to produce at the plate as well.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Senior Shaelyn Burns will take over at third after being the DP for most of last season, while freshman Maryellen Charette gets the nod at short or at first, depending on who the starting pitcher will be. Junior Emma Hanwell and senior Grace Barry will both get chances in the outfield, while juniors Maddie Bailey and Julia Forman will play second and be the DP. Freshman Aryanna McDavitt provides much-needed versatility, as she can play anywhere in the infield and pitch when called on.
“Our goals don’t change – what does change is the approach to get there,” said North coach Bill Wallace. “We’re working at it, let’s see if we retain it. The girls are focused – they know what’s in front of them!”
2021 Record: 4-10 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Lindsey Allison
Despite having no seniors on the roster this season, Oliver Ames has set a goal of getting back into the state tournament picture and moving up the standings in the Davenport division. The Tigers return five players from last year’s team but there is excitement about the underclassmen who will be stepping into the lineup this year and the energy that they’re bringing to the team.
Junior Maddie Homer is the team’s top returning hitter and was also an all-star at shortstop last spring. She will provide leadership in the infield. Junior Katie Melendy has a year of varsity experience in the circle and will look to build on her four wins as a sophomore. Lexi Galsband will be at first base and fellow junior Caitlin Miller returns in center, while sophomore Katherine Farley is stepping in behind the plate.
The underclassmen will give OA important versatility to find the right spots for everyone in the lineup. Sophomores Madison Monteiro, Paige Taylor, Sammy Johnson, and freshmen Emily Martin and Devon Morris will fill out the roster this season. Although young, there is a lot of club experience that they will add to the Tigers.
“Overall, I am impressed with the attitudes, hard work, and teamwork that I have seen so far this season and I am looking forward to watching them grow together as a team,” said OA coach Lindsey Allison. “We expect to be competitive in the Hockomock League and get back to the culture of making tournament an expectation.”
2021 Record: 2-12 2021 Finish: Missed Postseason Coach: Heather Poliferno
For Sharon to move up the Davenport division standings, the Eagles are going to need to produce more runs this season. Sharon was last in the league with 31 runs scored in 14 games last year, but there is optimism around the team this spring that the combination of returning players and talented new faces is making good contact, being aggressive on the base paths, and look ready to create more opportunities to manufacture runs.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
Senior Trinity Payne will be a second-year captain for the Eagles, and she will need to produce in the circle (60 strikeouts last year) and at the plate (0.343 average in 2021). Senior catcher Ciara McAuliffe can hit for power and is an experienced battery mate for Payne, which will be a key to Sharon limiting the opposition’s base runners. Senior Savannah Gray is another power hitter in the middle of the Sharon order and a leader at first base.
Junior Ally Foulsham gives Sharon important versatility, being able to play solid defense at several positions and even jump in the circle to give Payne a breather. Foulsham, who will start at third base this spring, played third, short, and pitched last year and had a fielding percentage over 90 percent. Sophomore Maddie Hu will be the new shortstop this season and junior Natalie Kessler will start in the outfield but could see time at a few positions, including catcher.
“Our players have worked incredibly hard the last couple of weeks,” Sharon coach Heather Poliferno, “and we are all eager for them to get out on the field and show everyone what Sharon High softball is capable of.”
2021 Record: 8-7 2021 Finish: Reached Div. 1 South First Round Coach: Deb Parker
After a year off, Stoughton got to experience the postseason in 2021, and a playoff win, and now the Black Knights will enter a normal spring with confidence that they can build on that foundation to make another run for a state tournament spot. With depth and talent throughout the lineup, Stoughton will be hoping to be back in the mix in the Davenport division standings as well.
Senior Sydney Menz will be the anchor for the team in center and as one of the top hitters in the middle of the order. She will be joined in the outfield by classmate Kate Bulger and freshman Angie Berry, who is going to get the chance to step right into the lineup this spring. Pitching is always critical and junior Kerry Driscoll will get the nod as the starter after getting a taste of facing varsity lineups last season.
2022 Hockomock League Softball Preview
The infield will be led by senior shortstop Melody Casna. Surrounded by underclassmen, Casna will give a dash of experience and is a vocal leader. Sophomore Alyssa Edwards is back at the corners, primarily at third, after a freshman season that saw her lead the team with a 0.417 batting average.
“I have so much confidence in this team and I expect big things from them this year,” said Stoughton coach Deb Parker. “They have come together really quickly and have chemistry that I have not seen in a long time. I am excited to see what this team will accomplish together this season, they have talent, depth, and personality, and they are willing to work. They are really fun to coach!”
2021 Record: Won Div. 1 State Title Coach: Carrie Consalvi
Not every team rebuilds in the same way. After graduating five starters from last year’s state championship-winning team, including in the circle and the heart of the order, Taunton will have plenty of new faces stepping into big roles this spring, yet the expectations remain high for the Tigers to challenge for a third straight league title and make another tournament run.
Senior Kylie Thorpe will be the anchor in the middle of the infield and add strong leadership at the top of the order. Freshman Brooke Aldrich will take over for her sister Hanna at shortstop and has already shown off a strong arm and a strong bat. Junior Kaysie Demoura will give the Tigers vocal leadership from behind the plate and looks set for a breakout season at the plate, while senior Angie Lynch was one of the stars of Taunton’s playoff run as a leadoff hitter and center fielder.
Junior Ava Venturelli is back in the fold this spring and the University of Louisville-commit will bring her big bat to left field, having hit a pair of homers during the preseason jamboree at the PAL fields. It won’t be easy to fill the shoes of Kelsey White in the circle, but senior Olyvia Mendonca will get that assignment and has had a strong preseason.
“We have a great crew this year, very different team from last year,” said second-year coach Carrie Consalvi, noting her team will have plenty of personality and rely on key leaders this year.
Canton junior Maya Battista clears a puck in front of goalie Carolyn Durand in the second period. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)
BOSTON, Mass. – For the first six minutes of overtime in Saturday afternoon’s Div. 2 state title game at the TD Garden, Canton had dominated. The Bulldogs had five shots on goal in the extra period and had a flurry of chances while on the power play, but they couldn’t find the winner.
Algonquin had one chance in OT, but that was all it took for the Titans to end Canton’s reign atop the division.
Sophomore Mallory Farrell raced up the right wing, got a step on the Canton defense, and cut straight towards the goal. She dragged the puck through the crease and just past the stick of Canton goalie Carolyn Durand before depositing the title winner into the open side of the net. The 2-1 come from behind win clinched Algonquin’s first state championship and ended a seven-game postseason win streak for the Bulldogs.
“It came down to a really outstanding power move by Mallory,” Canton coach Dennis Aldrich said. “That was a top-notch move. She had a little more in the tank than our forecheckers anticipated on that, we took our angle, and it was just a little bit off. I’m glad it ended like that, if it had to end against us, a great move like that rather than a trickler or something like that.”
The game started in Canton’s typical style, with the Bulldogs making sure to get the puck deep, aggressively forechecking, and staying compact in the defensive zone. It took the Titans 13 minutes to register their first shot on goal.
Payton McDonough created the first opportunity for Canton, forcing a save with a shot from the slot. Thirty seconds later, Ellie Bohane picked the pocket of an Algonquin defenseman behind the net and played it front to Maggie Dailey, but the shot went just wide. Allie McCabe then went on a long rush from the defensive zone and teed up McDonough for another shot that was stopped by Algonquin’s Lana Pacific.
Canton grabbed the lead after nearly 10 minutes. Maya Battista was able to knock down a puck at the blue line and found tons of space open in front of her. The junior defenseman skated into the slot and then sniped a wrister high to the stick side to make it 1-0.
“She just has a knack of getting pucks through,” Aldrich said of Battista. “That was a really nice shot. I’ve gotten used to seeing that nine or 10 times this year. She does a really good job, she shoots with her head up, she shoots strong, and there was a good screen on that too.”
Algonquin tried to respond and tested Durand with a shot by Lauren O’Malley from the point that was comfortably gloved. McCabe then went on another long rush through all three zones before firing a shot from the right-wing circle that Pacific kicked aside.
Searching for a second goal, Canton continued to put pressure on the Algonquin defense. Tori Carr’s shot forced Pacific into a pad save and Bohane hustled to collect the rebound but the Titans goalie stayed tall to block the backhand effort. McCabe hit Tess Khoury with a long, angled pass that gave the forward to try a slap shot, which was gloved.
The Titans were struggling to get looks at goal but nearly took advantage of a bounce off the boards behind the net to tie the game. A shot ricocheted straight back and into the crease where Alexandria Davies pounced only to have Durand react quickly to smother the shot.
Canton’s best chance of the second came with four minutes left in the period. Battista threw another testing shot on net from the blue line and the rebound fell to Anna Lehan, but she flipped her backhand shot just wide of the top corner. Durand needed to be awake to glove a shot from Farrell in the closing seconds of the period to keep it 1-0.
There were plenty of chances for Canton to give itself a cushion early in the third. McCabe had a shot from the point saved and Algonquin just about managed to clear the rebound before it was squeezed over the line. The puck came out to Devan Spinale and she also forced Pacific into a pad stop. Battista’s shot was tipped in front by Lehan but again the Algonquin goalie was equal to it.
“Especially in the third period, there were a couple of tips and there was one that was tipped off her shoulder,” Aldrich said. “I think both teams are totally tapped out, they left everything out there. It was a great high school hockey game. It was kind of what both coaches anticipated.”
The Titans made Canton pay for not taking its chances. Farrell cut in from the left wing boards, dragging the puck past two Bulldogs before forcing a save with a backhand shot. Durand wasn’t able to secure it and the Bryn Domolky was in the right place to tip it home just before Canton’s defense could clear.
After tying the game, Algonquin had a good stretch where it looked like it might grab the lead. Emily Johns set up Farrell for a one-timer that fizzed wide, Davies got free after a slip at the blue line but sent a shot high, and Durand made a stop on Farrell as she cut across the zone.
With weary legs from the big ice at the Garden, the game was slowing down but Canton had enough in the tank to nearly win the game in regulation. Battista hit Audrey Koen with an angled outlet pass. At first Koen struggled to bring it under control, but she chased after the puck, beat the defense, and flicked a near-post backhander that somehow slipped past the post.
Aldrich said, “It was anyone’s game. I thought we had it in the third. We’ve had a lot of puck luck up to this point and they ended up having a little bit more today.”
Ninety seconds into the overtime, Canton had a power play opportunity, the first for either team in the game. The Bulldogs took advantage of the extra skater to put the pressure on Pacific. Battista had a shot saved from the point, McCabe had another chance in the right wing circle knocked aside, and Carr cut inside from the left wing boards and forced a blocker save with a rising shot.
The power play and the aggressive attack may have just taken that little extra out of the Canton defense and Farrell exploited it, speeding down the wing, and not stopping until she was in the arms of her teammates streaming off the bench.
Canton (18-7-0) was playing in its fourth state title game in the last five seasons (not counting the shortened 2021 season). The Bulldogs saw a trip to the Garden taken away in 2020, had a season halved by the pandemic, have battled with illnesses, and early season injuries, but through it all still managed to be there at the end, playing on the final day.
“A lot of them were young when we were able to last play a tournament game,” Aldrich explained, “but to have them play back in 2020 and not be able to get here, no one on either team had been here before. I was smiling as soon as the whistle went in the Natick game, knowing that the girls were finally going to get experience it.
“It’s always tough, you tell the kids, you’re always going to look at this as like a crash ending but so much that these kids have done to get here to this point is just incredible. They were here and they stuck together.”
Canton celebrates Audrey Koen’s opening goal against Natick in the Div. 2 state semifinal at Gallo. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – The final two minutes of Monday night’s Div. 2 state semifinal at the Gallo Ice Arena felt like an eternity.
Natick pulled its goalie and, with the extra attacker, seemed to have the puck confined to the Canton zone. Shot after shot was thrown towards the front of the net, most finding the way blocked by a green jersey or a well-positioned stick or skate. A few found their way through but ended up hitting a pad or finding their way into Carolyn Durand’s glove.
With less than 10 seconds remaining, senior Payton McDonough leaned over one last defensive zone face-off. She was able to tie up the puck, eating precious seconds off the clock. When it finally got kicked loose a wild shot sent the puck behind the net long enough for the horn to sound and send the Bulldogs racing off the bench.
Canton’s defense of its Div. 2 state title will continue to the final day of the winter season, as the Bulldogs held on for a 2-1 win over the Redhawks and a return to the TD Garden for an opportunity that the pandemic denied them in 2020.
“I’m just really excited for these girls,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “Two years ago these seniors were on a team that didn’t get to go to the Garden and we didn’t know if it was going to be in the cards again. You just don’t sell these kids short.”
McDonough said of the final sequence, “Eight seconds is a long time, so it was just pure determination. We’ve come this far, we’re not going to end it here. We were locking onto the girls, just trying to protect Carolyn, make sure she could see the puck.
“I think it’s really awesome what we did two years ago, but it didn’t really seem tangible. We never got to experience it. We really used that as motivation to hold on for that whole third period.”
The game didn’t start well for the Bulldogs, as Natick controlled play for much of the opening period. Tess Khoury, who scored twice in the quarterfinal win over Duxbury, got Canton’s first shot on goal three minutes in but the Bulldogs couldn’t build momentum as they were forced to kill off almost six minutes of Natick power play time.
After the kill, Canton got a boost of energy and went to work on the forecheck. Ellie Bohane and Audrey Koen pinned Natick behind its own net and then forced a turnover. The loose puck fell to Koen, who patiently moved into the slot before firing a shot past the shoulder of Natick goalie Elli Beigel.
It was a goal against the run of play and the Redhawks went right back onto the front foot. A spinning shot from leading scorer Colleen Quirk forced Durand into a pad save and then Bohane raced out to block a slap shot from Hadley Green. In the final minute of the period, Caroline Gates pinched in from the blue line and fired a shot that smacked the outside of the post.
Natick’s momentum carried over into the second and, only a minute into the period, Quirk got loose in the slot and placed a wrist shot high to the blocker side to tie the game.
The goal seemed to wake the Bulldogs up. After being outshot 9-5 in the first, Canton would outshoot Natick 13-3 in the second, creating chance after chance and keeping the Redhawks locked inside their defensive zone.
“It was definitely a wake-up call,” junior defenseman Maya Battista explained. “Natick is a great, aggressive team and we realized that if we didn’t play to our best then we were going to get beat and we came out flying after that and now we’re here.”
Battista was especially active in the attack, moving the puck well and getting shot after shot on target. A rebound from a Battista shot fell to Khoury, who flicked a shot high to the glove side. Beigel made the stop but the puck got loose behind her and Gates had to come through and clear it off the line. McDonough also had a good chance from the edge of the crease that Beigel kicked aside.
Midway through the period, Canton’s pressure turned into the go-ahead goal. Battista again created the opening with a shot from the left point. Anna Lehan was left all alone on the edge of the crease and she pounced on the rebound and buried the close-range chance.
“Something like that happens, they don’t go into a shell,” Aldrich said about his team’s reaction to the game being tied. “They tighten their belts and just go to work. Kids are doing everything they can.”
Canton had a power play and created a flurry of chances but couldn’t extend the lead. That continued into the third, as Bohane forced another turnover in the attacking zone and put a low shot on goal from the left wing circle, but Beigel got a pad to it. Quirk nearly pulled her team level with a great hustle play, racing all the way into her zone on the back check and then carrying the puck the length of the ice before forcing Durand (17 saves) into a good stop.
The Bulldogs nearly put the game away with three minutes to go. Bohane won the puck in the corner and played it out to the point. Devan Spinale angled a shot towards the far post where Lila Spinelli was stationed. Spinelli got a piece of the shot to direct it on goal but Beigel did very well to get a pad across in time to make the save.
“Coach calls us a blue collar team,” said McDonough. “We’re not really flashy, scoring a lot of goals, we’re just making sure we’re all doing our jobs, getting the puck out of the zone, getting the puck in deep, and hopefully getting some shots on net.”
A one-goal lead meant a test of Canton’s nerves over the final few minutes.
Durand snagged a blast from Gates and kept her calm in the tumultuous final seconds. Every player on the ice was throwing themselves in front of shots and even standing a few feet from the play it was difficult at times to see what direction the puck was headed. In the end, it was enough to secure the win and to book a place in the state final.
Aldrich said, “We asked them, what will you do to come out on top? You kind of saw it. Even when we didn’t get the blocks, I was proud of them because we didn’t want it going on net and for the most part it didn’t. I was really proud of how they stuck together.”
“This team is a family and everything we do is centered around being together and playing our best together,” Battista remarked. “It’s a great opportunity to do what we never got to do freshman year. I’m just happy to be back going to the Garden. It’s an exciting time.”
Canton (18-6-0) will take on No. 10 seed Algonquin, which beat No. 11 Medfield in overtime, at the TD Garden on Sunday at a time to be determined.
Boys Basketball
Canton, 59 vs. Southeastern, 46 – Final – Canton had its double-digit halftime lead shrink to seven going into the final quarter, but the Bulldogs held Southeastern to nine points in the final quarter to pull away for the win. Senior Lanse Dorcelus matched a career-high with 27 points, helping Canton establish a 36-23 lead at halftime by scoring 17 points in the first half. Dillon Nguyen (nine points) and Nate Mei (seven points) hit three-pointers in the fourth to keep Canton ahead.
Franklin, 86 vs. New Bedford, 60 – Final – Franklin poured in 22 points in the second quarter and then 28 more in the third to score a blowout win over visiting New Bedford. Justin Allen (nine points), Will Tracey, and Sean Vinson (12 points) all hit threes in the second quarter to help turn Franklin’s lead after one quarter (18-10) into a 40-28 advantage going into halftime. Sophomore Henry Digiorgio scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the third while sophomores Bradley Herndon and Sean O’Leary (13 points) each hit threes to extend the Panthers’ edge to 68-50 going into the final quarter. Evan DaSilva hit a pair of threes in the fourth and finished with 11 points to help the hosts pull away.
Mansfield, 65 @ King Philip, 35 – Final – Mansfield opened the game with a big run and never let its foot off the gas pedal on its way to a comfortable win on the road at King Philip. The Hornets turned their 16-7 lead at the end of the first into a 39-14 advantage going into halftime. Senior Matt Hyland scored 16 points and hauled in 20 rebounds while junior Chris Hill also recorded 16 points.
Girls Hockey
Canton, 2 @ Sandwich, 0 – Final – Anna Lehan and Tess Khoury scored goals and Carolyn Durand picked up the shutout in goal, as Canton earned a huge win over previously undefeated Sandwich at Gallo Arena.
Gymnastics
Attleboro @ Mansfield, 7:30 (@ Butler’s)
North Attleboro @ Canton, 7:00
King Philip @ Canton, 7:00
