By HockomockSports.com Staff

2024 Hockomock League Boys Lacrosse Preview

Attleboro

2023 Record: 5-13
2023 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Jim Black
Attleboro begins a new chapter in team history as Jim Black takes over at the helm as the program enters its 10th season at the varsity level.

Black is joined by program founder and former head coach Kevin Koppy on the sideline along with Hunter Andruzzi, a former All-American from the Wheeler School, as the defensive coordinator with the hopes of getting a Bombardiers squad — that was just a few spots outside of the state tournament a year ago — into playoff contention. The strength of the Bombardiers’ returners lies in the defense. Senior captain John Wheaton has a ton of experience and is very strong defensively while twin brother Harry Wheaton is one of the top returning goalies in the league and already has 660 career saves.

Senior Matt Silva is another key piece defensively and provides a lot of leadership, and along with both John and Harry Wheaton, gives Attleboro a strong defensive foundation defensively. The Bombardiers graduated the majority of its offensive production from last year, losing its top four point producers. But that means there is plenty of opportunity for new faces to step up. Juniors Cam Willard and Nate Conroy are two potential candidates along with sophomore Landon Vieira, who had a strong rookie season, while senior Tyler Graney will be a welcome addition when cleared. In the midfield, senior Nick Fernandes sets the pace with his speed, while juniors Logan Pembroke, Brody Shaw, Dean Knutson, and Mikey Sawyer are all in the mix to make an impact.

“We are very focused on our ‘New Chapter’ and building collectively not individually,” Black said. “Our mantra is ‘Be The We’ with the emphasis on team, not individuality. In the past, it has seemed that the focus was on individuals and specific matchups. My staff and I are focused on building through our season, understanding that one game doesn’t make or break us. We will be the hardest working, best in shape, positively focused crew in our league with our eyes on breaking into the MIAA D1 playoffs.”

Canton

2023 Record: 8-13
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Tommy Galvin
As Canton looks to build off last year’s playoff appearance, it will lean heavily on its defense to do so.

The Bulldogs lost three of their top four scorers from last year from graduation and other departures so second-year head coach Tommy Galvin will need his veteran defensive group to help keep the team competitive as new faces emerge on the offensive end. Senior captain Pat Drury will be the backbone of the squad this year and is one of the top returning goalies in the Hockomock League. Canton also boasts a lot of experience returning in front of Drury with Seamus Brown, Nick Crowe, Colin Blake, Brannen Morris, and Oisin Brogan all back in the mix while sophomore Jake Marcell is a new addition to that unit who can contribute right away.

With most of its offensive production gone, Canton will look for senior Brendan Tourgee to anchor the attacking group. Tourgee, a captain and a four-year starter, was third on the team in points a year ago with 19 goals and 30 assists. Junior Dillon Albert will be another player to keep an eye on offensively and sophomore Cullen O’Brien will look to spark the Bulldogs attack as well. Nolan Harney and Max Eagles are also in line for increased roles this season.

“I am excited to see what this group can accomplish this year,” Galvin said. “This year’s captains Brendan Tourgee, Pat Drury, and Colin Blake are fantastic leaders and I am very fortunate to have them as role models for my younger guys. I am looking forward to the season.”

Foxboro

2023 Record: 8-12
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Round of 16
Coach: Greg Keefe
It’s a brand new chapter for the Foxboro lacrosse after program founder Matt Noone stepped down following 20 years at the helm. There will still be a familiar face on the sidelines for the Warriors though as longtime assistant Greg Keefe takes over the reigns.

Despite finishing under .500 during the regular season, the Warriors proved they were better than their record by not only earning a home game in the tournament but picking up a win; then nearly knocked off #3 Newburyport in the next round. Losing leading scorer Conor Noone (67 points) will be tough but the Warriors have their next two top scorers back in the mix. Junior Jon Sacchetti had a great sophomore year and had 23 goals and 10 assists in the regular season and Tony Sulham, who is out due to injury to start the season, had 34 goals and five helpers. Foxboro also gets a big boost with the return of senior attack Lincoln Moore, the 2022 HockomockSports Underclassman of the Year. Moore missed nearly all of last year before returning to bolster Foxboro’s playoff run.

Senior Adam Addeche returns in the cage for the Warriors and is one of the top returning goalies in the Hock. That will give Foxboro a solid foundation defensively while the experience of three-year starter Jack Sullivan and two-year starter Jaiden Jean will give the Warriors a stout defensive group. In the midfield, senior Ian Foley will look to contribute on the offensive end while senior Ryan Cotter is a strong two-way middie that will provide a lot of leadership for a young group of midfielders.

“An increase in numbers in the program from the previous years is cause for a lot of optimism,” Keefe said. “We will have a good mix of upper and underclassmen playing important roles this season. We have a challenging non-league schedule and the new coaching staff is excited to be working with this group of players led by our seniors and we are looking for a better outcome in 2024 than in 2023.”

Franklin

2023 Record: 19-2
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 8 (Kelley-Rex champions)
Coach: Lou Verrochi
The Hockomock League has run through Franklin for a long stretch but if the Panthers are to secure an 11th straight Kelley-Rex crown, they will need a lot of players to step up.

Franklin graduated a sizable and incredibly talented group that featured four All-Americans, including the three-headed attack monster of Luke Davis, Jayden Consigli, and Tyler Sacchetti who combined for over 200 goals last year. The good news is Franklin has a lot of talent ready to take their turn including a new talented trio of attackmen in seniors CJ Perro, Dylan McEvoy, and Zach Langevin. The other All-American that is gone is faceoff specialist Justin Alexander; seniors Ben Paterson and Anthony Lampasona will both factor in there and be key two-way middies for the Panthers. Franklin will also get a boost from a talented group of underclassmen eager to contribute.

There’s a lot of talent in the midfield for Franklin with senior captains Drew Hansen (Quinnipiac) and Eddie O’Brien (Saint Anselm) leading the way. Both players were key contributors last year, combining for nearly 70 points during the regular season, and should be even more vital on both ends of the field this year along with senior Ryan Grasso. Franklin brings back a talented senior in Matt Corvi (UMass Boston) in the cage with junior poles Drew McCarthy and Flynn Baker anchoring the defensive unit in front of him.

“We’re looking forward to having a successful season with this group of players,” said Franklin head coach Lou Verrochi. “We have an excellent core of underclassmen that will complement our group of returners.”

King Philip

2023 Record: 13-6
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 8
Coach: Hal Bean
King Philip is coming off a strong 2023 campaign with an impressive 8-2 league record but it came to an abrupt end with an upset in the playoff opener.

With only five seniors graduating from that group, expectations are high going into the 2024 campaign for head coach Hal Bean and the Warriors. King Philip has its top five scorers from last year, including senior Donovan DeVellis who was just one of two Hock players to go over the 100-point plateau during the regular season. DeVellis, who had over 50 goals as a junior, is one of the most experienced and one of the most dangerous attacks in the league. He is joined at attack by sophomore Mason Thompson, who enjoyed a successful rookie season with 25 goals and 27 assists. Junior Pat Weiblen, who missed a good chunk of last year, will give the Warriors another boost offensively.

The midfield also features a bunch of familiar faces with senior captain Noah Minkwitz (40 goals, nine assists), senior Hayden Schmitz (36 goals, 31 assists), and Tommy Kilroy (six goals, 22 assists) all back in the mix. Senior Cullen McCarthy is a strong two-way player in the midfield and will help out a veteran group of defensemen. Seniors Tyler Douglas (three-year starter) and Jack Berthiaume (returning starter) return alongside sophomore Brodie McDoanld to protect the cage, which is now manned by sophomore Finn Cunningham after the graduation of standout James Boldy. Junior Henry Leclair returns to handle faceoffs after winning nearly 60% of them last year.

“This KP team has solid depth and a lot of talent while also being a great group of young men,” said head coach Hal Bean.

Mansfield

2023 Record: 14-7 (Davenport champions)
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Tim Frias
After going 10 seasons between league titles, Mansfield doesn’t plan to wait that long to win another. With a strong core of players back from last year’s 14-win Davenport division winning squad, the Hornets are strong contenders to win it again.

Mansfield will need to fill the voids left by the graduation of leading scorer Drew Sacco and all-league goalie Ryan DeGirolamo, but there are some eager candidates ready to step up. Up front, senior captain Will Riley will lead a relatively young group that will feature returning sophomore Andrew DeGirolamo (19 goals, 32 assists) and freshman Cole Hogencamp. In the cage, the Hornets will turn to sophomore Cam Goff and junior Dillon Butler to battle for time. There is a lot of depth in front of the cage in the defensive unit, anchored by seniors Nolan Bordieri (captain) and James DeGirolamo along with junior Thomas Gormely. Sophomore Nate Pailler will also be in the mix with a trio of LSMs in junior KJ Mahoney, junior Cole Gibson, and freshman Michael Genovese all helping out.

There are a lot of familiar faces in the midfield, starting with captain Andrew Burnham and also featuring fellow seniors Dante Spivak, Logan Pereira, and Ben Grella. Sophomore Nico Smith had a terrific rookie campaign (28 goals, 17 assists) and quickly established himself as one of the best at the faceoff ‘X’ in the league. Sophomore Tommy Vallett is also back with a year of experience and the Hornets will look to get additional contributions from junior Bill Doherty, sophomores Donovan Minton and Will Killroy, and freshmen Walter Stock and Thomas Donovan.

Milford

2023 Record: 9-10
2023 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Austin Costa
Milford took a big step forward in its second year under head coach Austin Costa and now the Hawks will try to take another one in year three.

The Hawks posted a program-best record a season ago and finished only a couple of spots outside of a tournament berth for the Division 2 state tournament. Milford started seven underclassmen during last year’s campaign, which featured an 8-1 non-league record. Having gained that experience, the Hawks will now look to compete at a higher level against Hockomock foes. Up front will feature a familiar face in junior Jayden Martins, who enters his third year as a starter and is coming off a successful sophomore campaign with 40 goals. On the other end of the field, sophomore Anthony Mastroianni will take over as the starting goalie in the cage and already has some varsity experience coming into the year.

Milford has a lot of experience in the middle of the field, starting with sophomore specialist Henry Baldic, who emerged as a reliable option at the ‘X’ with a 64% win rate last year and will help aid Martins in the attack. Sophomore Jason Stokes led the Hawks in assists a year ago and is back in the midfield along with juniors Anthony Maietta and Robbie DeGasperis, who are both strong two-way players who help on both ends of the field. Sophomores Garren Fraunfelter, Ricky Nashawaty, and Sullivan Driscoll will all be in the mix to help out in the midfield as well. Patrolling in front of the Hawks goal, Costa has returning sophomores Ryan Burns and Dylan Burns, who both started last year and will look to bolster the Hawks defensively while newcomer sophomore Thomas Sousa should contribute right away.

“Last year, we made big strides as a program,” Costs said. “Finishing the season with a school best, 9-10 record, we are looking to only build on that and continue to make strides in the right direction. This year we are looking to take the next step to be more competitive in the Hockomock League and look to challenge teams in both the Kelley-Rex and Davenport. We maintain a very young core, with no seniors returning on the roster.”

North Attleboro

2023 Record: 10-9
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Ryan Izzo
With key pieces returning to the lineup all over the field, North Attleboro is aiming to get back to the postseason under second-year head coach Ryan Izzo.

The Rocketeers graduated a sizable senior class — over a dozen — from last year’s squad that won 10 games and earned a postseason berth in the D2 tournament. Izzo will be leaning on the group of returning players and a strong group of new additions to compete in a competitive Kelley-Rex division. Senior captains Connor Rajotte and Lucas Mattson will be counted for their leadership both on and off of the field this season. Rajotte will anchor the defense while Mattson returns as one of the top faceoff specialists in the Hock. The Rocketeers will turn to sophomore Conor Casey to take over in the cage this season.

There are a lot of familiar faces in the midfield and attack this year. While the Rocketeers will need contributions from all over, junior Luke Antonetti returns to spearhead the attack up front. Junior Brady Backner has a lot of varsity experience and will feature both in the attack and in the midfield while junior Andrew Schmidt and sophomore Ryan Backner are key pieces back in the North Attleboro midfield group. Senior Chris Hanewich joins the team and will look to bolster the midfield unit, sophomore Frankie Strachan will work along with Rajotte defensively, and sophomore Nathan Rivera could be a spark offensively for North.

“This year’s team will need key contributions from everyone,” Izzo said. “Our emphasis is on ‘Do your job.'”

Oliver Ames

2023 Record: 10-9
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Ben Devlin
Oliver Ames got back to the state tournament last year after a short hiatus and with a majority of its lineup back in the mix, the Tigers will try to make it two years in a row in the postseason.

It’s hard to ignore that OA graduated some key pieces from its 10-win squad a year ago including the program’s all-time leading scorer in Ben Reardon (66 goals in 2023) and three-year starter Noah Isleib, who is now playing collegiately at the University of St. Joseph. But in total, the Tigers only graduated six players so the majority of the roster is back for head coach Ben Devlin. Offensively, there is still plenty of production back in the mix including senior captain Ryan Jaco (29 goals, 18 assists), senior captain Evan Jaco, senior attack Alex McAndrew (12 goals, 15 assists), and senior Owen Bourne. Junior Shaun Teehan had a tremendous sophomore season with 30 goals and 19 assists and the Tigers have a couple of new additions in freshmen attack Lucas Gangi and freshman midfielder Thomas Hern that could make an immediate impact.

There is a lot of experience on the defensive end for the Tigers, including three returning starters. Jack Corey is back for a second season at LSM, Landon Grothe is a four-year starter on defense, and Liam Dunlap has been a solid contributor for the past two seasons. On top of experience, there is a lot of depth defensively for OA with freshman Colin Howarth expected to contribute right away while juniors Bryce Deibel and Rory Gallagher along with sophomore Lawrence Dear all competing for playing time. Junior John Pedro also adds a layer to the defense from his defensive middie spot. Replacing Isleib will be one of the big questions but Devlin has some capable choices. Ethan St. Jean has served as the backup for the past couple of seasons and played well in limited minutes while sophomore Ryan Billie and freshmen Logan McAndrew and Jason Campanella are all in the mix.

“I think our depth is better this year than it’s been in the past, led by our largest incoming freshman class in at least eight years,” Devilin said. “Our goal is always to win enough games to qualify for the tourney and see what happens from there. The Hock continues to be one of the best lacrosse leagues in the state making it a difficult run during the season. Going up against some of the best players and coaches in the state on a daily basis, will make our program better in the long run.”

Sharon

2023 Record: 14-5
2023 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Jon Shocket
The Eagles return their entire starting lineup from last year and have plans on being a top contender in the Davenport division after finishing in a tie for second in 2023.

Sharon had one of the top defenses in the league last year with just over seven goals allowed per game and the Eagles have all of the pieces back there. Junior Matt Powers is back in the cage and ready to build off a solid sophomore campaign and will have an experienced group of veteran defensemen in front of him. Junior Zach Bernstein was one of two Eagles to earn all-league status last year and has senior Jaden Segal and junior captain Ben Goldberg with him in what should be one of the tougher units to score against.

The midfield is loaded with seniors, starting with senior captain Ryan Brown. Brown was the other Eagle to be named a Hockomock all star last year and was the team’s leading scorer with 41 goals and 27 assists in the regular season, finishing top 10 in the Hock in points. Also returning are Gabe Korn (16 goals, 12 assists) and Jordan Weisman (20 goals, 27 assists) to aid the attack while defensive middies Ronan Widland (captain), Edward Bondar, and Duncan Seaman — all seniors — are all strong two-way players that will be important pieces on both ends of the field.

Up front, Sharon boasts a talented trio of seniors in Sam Rothbaum (34 goals, 22 assists), Jake Kaufman (24 goals, four assists), and Dylan Cummings (35 goals, 19 assists). Look for Ian Ford, Jordan Burt, and Elijah Carmody to also contribute this year for the Eagles.

Stoughton

2023 Record: N/A
2023 Finish: N/A
Coach: Sean Rockwood
After two years away from the varsity level, Stoughton is back with a new coach and an increased number of participants in hopes of growing into a competitor in the Hockomock League.

First-year head coach Sean Rockwood has nearly doubled the number of players in the program from the past two years, highlighted by a large senior class that features 18 players. Combine that with some promising sophomores and a healthy number of freshmen in the program and the Black Knights look to be headed in the right direction. The Knights have leadership all over the field with senior captain Sean McGowan, a Norwich commit, as the backbone of the defense in net, senior captain Jack Carr as an attackman, and senior captain Jonathan Goncalves anchoring the midfield.

Stoughton also has seniors Anthony DeSousa and Zac DeSousa to provide a punch offensively in the attack. While the Knights do have a large senior class, they will need some younger players to step into the lineup and contribute. Sophomore transfer Sean Hutchinson Rockwood should provide a boost on the offensive end, while the underclassmen trio of sophomores Xavier Vicente and Jackson Arnold along with freshman Aidan Moriarty will be counted on defensively.

“Our guys have a strong leadership within the large senior group, the young guys are assuming the role in the varsity world very well,” Rockwood said. “We will have a strong group returning next year, along with a healthy number of freshmen incoming as well.”

Taunton

2023 Record: 4-12
2023 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Brendan Chambers
Taunton picked up four wins in its return to varsity last year and now the Tigers will try to build upon that during the 2024 campaign and beyond.

Of course, that next step will come with obstacles as Taunton graduated the majority of its offensive production from last year. That means longtime head coach Brendan Chambers will look for some new faces to take advantage of the opportunities presented. Senior captain Blake Mitchell will be a focal point in the midfield and he will be a big piece of the offense after missing all of last year due to an injury. Junior Dylan Simmons saw more time as the season progressed last year and will be in line for an expanded role in 2024. A pair of sophomore newcomers will also be key on the offensive end with Braden LaChance and Jake Pereira looking to make some noise up front for the Tigers.

Taunton will lean on its defense because of the experience there, starting with returning goalie Oren Cullins. Cullins, just a sophomore, had some big performances against some of the top teams in the league and will be among the top goalies in the Hock this year. In front of him, junior Landen Rodrigues and sophomore Riley Mellin highlight a young but hungry defensive unit. Chambers is also looking for a large group of first-year seniors to fill in the gaps from graduation.

“In our second year as returning to varsity we look to close the gap and compete with other Hock programs in similar positions as ours, and elevate our compete level against those who set the high standards of play the Hock is known for,” Chambers said.