By HockomockSports.com Staff

2023 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Attleboro

2022 Record: 12-5-3
Coach: Peter Pereira
With only four returning starters and the majority of its offensive production gone from the roster, legendary head coach Peter Pereira knows this could be a bit of a building year for his Bombardiers.

Attleboro lost four of its five leading scorers, with three gone to graduation and leading scorer and potential MVP candidate Alex Vecchioli electing for MLS Next. That means Pereira will start the season by leaning heavily on his returning starters, and he’s got a good group of them. Senior Tyler Rocchio returns for his third season starting in net and is one of the best keepers in the league while senior Zack Diffenderfer will be the veteran among the defenders. There’s some real good skill in the midfield with seniors Luke Hagopian and Billy Badger, who both had really strong 2022 seasons.

With departure comes opportunity so Pereira has been looking for some players to step into the lineup. Senior midfielder Kyle Neuendorf and forwards Nick Ticas and Clay Tyler are all good candidates to see more time after making an impact for the Bombardiers a year ago while senior Josh Codella is another reliable defensive choice. Junior Lucas Pereira and freshman Jaedyn Beland are candidates for roles along the back four, junior Corvengdjimy Thomas and sophomore Drew Ribeiro are looking to bolster Attleboro’s attack, and sophomore Mason Prive is in the mix in the midfield.

“Attleboro boys are going to have a building year since we only have four starters back from last year,” Pereira said. “After losing five players [from the program] to MLS next, we have a lot of work to do.”

Canton

2022 Record: 9-7-4
Coach: Danny Erickson
After graduating some dozen seniors from last year’s team that reached the state tournament, head coach Danny Erickson’s 2023 squad will feature plenty of new faces.

The Bulldogs boast some returners in key spots like senior captain Nick Ruggeri, who had a solid year in net for Canton during the 2022 campaign. In the field, seniors Matt DeVito and Zaza Francoeur along with junior Owen Morrissey have the most varsity experience, and they are the key players that Erickson will be relying on as new faces are incorporated into the lineup. Francoeur was tied for second on the team in assists last year with eight, Morrissey was fourth on the team in points with four goals and two assists, and DeVito chipped in with a goal and an assist.

Erickson is looking for senior Connor Harney to add energy and explosiveness for the Dogs this fall while sophomore James Howard is expected to add some size, grit, and a high soccer IQ to the middle of the pitch.

“We will certainly be a team that is looking to grow throughout the season,” Erickson said. “A true rebuild that we are all up for and excited about.”

Foxboro

2022 Record: 2-13-2
Coach: George Argyrou & Colin Meiselman
Foxboro begins a new chapter in program history with co-head coaches George Argyrou and Colin Meiselman coming over from Wayland to take over the program. And the new chapter has a lot of promise after the Warriors had a very successful offseason.

Foxboro took home the championship in August at the Forward Thinking summer league out of Norton, which features a handful of Hock squads. Argyrou and Meiselman have been impressed by the strong senior leadership thus far as they look to bounce back from last year’s two-win season. Senior captain Ryan Cotter is back in net after a breakout junior campaign in which his efforts earned him Hockomock League All Star honors. The Warriors midfield will have some veteran leadership as well with captains Ryan Flaherty and Pradyu Gubbala back in the mix.

While the Warriors look to try and fill some holes in the lineup, the new coaches are leaning on the seniors to lead the way. Nate Cote and Jake Anello are two options for minutes on defense, Ian Foley can play either in the midfield or in the back, and Jack Sullivan is vying for minutes on top in the attack.

“[We] are impressed with how the seniors have helped build chemistry over the first week of the preseason,” Meiselman said. “Their ability to bring in new members to the program will be key as we get into the regular season.”

franklin

2022 Record: 16-4-1 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Head Coach: Fran Bositis
With over a dozen experienced returners back this season, the reigning Kelley-Rex champions have a good chance of making it two in a row, and maybe even more.

Hall of Fame coach Fran Bositis has 13 players back who played a significant role on last year’s team that won 16 games and its first Kelley-Rex division title since the program won four in a row from 2011-2014. With the talent on the roster this year, it’s possible we see another run of success atop the division. There’s experience all over the field but maybe none more than senior center back Rex Cinelli, a standout defender who has anchored Franklin’s defense for the past couple of seasons. Senior Andrew O’Neill had a strong junior season up front (four goals, six assists), an area of the field the Panthers could be very dangerous with fellow senior Hansy Jacques (seven goals, two assists) back and the return of senior Sean O’Leary, who was a target forward as a sophomore but took last season off.

Senior Noah Cain is a confident and skilled player back in the middle of the pitch again this year. Seniors Bradley Herndon, Gustavo Martinez, and Michael Fernandez-Martin all offer good speed on the wings and can create a lot of offense going forward. Juniors Wyatt Herndon, Matt Honekamp, and Garrett Scagliarini (four goals, four assists) all earned valuable minutes a year ago and should be impact players as Franklin tries to repeat as division champs. In net, seniors Paxton Rosen and Jack Perlman — who both saw some time last year due to injuries — have had a healthy battle in net and should both be involved in the lineup this year.

“I feel the strength of our team without question will be our senior leadership and our athleticism,” Bositis said. “We have a solid group of athletes and we are all excited about the upcoming season.”

King Philip

2022 Record: 7-11-0
Coach: Mike O’Neill
The Warriors had a lot of juniors and sophomores earn valuable minutes throughout last season and head coach Mike O’Neill is hoping that youth movement will pay off this year.

King Philip boasts over a dozen players returning to the pitch with varsity experience at a variety of positions. It all starts with the Warriors’ four senior captains: Will Bowen, Tommy Lomuscio, Neel McGrath, and Dermott Amorim. Both Bowen and Lomuscio are experienced and dangerous forwards that will give KP a veteran presence out on the wings, McGrath can play just about anywhere in the back, and Amorim orchestrates play from the midfield. Senior Ryan Keller can play both center back and in the midfield, junior PJ Sullivan is back at center back after an impressive sophomore season, and junior Sayan Panda solidifies the defense from his defensive center mid spot.

In goal, the Warriors have two accomplished seniors who are competing for playing time, pushing one another each day in practice in Jake Van Hoesen and Alex Nathan. Having two senior options in goal on top of a veteran defensive group anchored by McGrath, Sullivan, and Keller gives KP a reliable foundation in the back. Sophomore Marco Amorim had an impressive summer and his speed could make an immediate impact offensively for KP.

“It will be another challenging and competitive season in the Hockomock League,” O’Neill said. “I am excited to see what this group of players can do this year.”

Mansfield

2022 Record: 5-11-3
Coach: Steve Sheridan
A mix of key returners and an influx of new faces are just two ingredients to Mansfield head coach Steve Sheridan’s recipe for success this year. The key to putting it all together for the Hornets will be staying healthy.

Sheridan has familiar veteran faces in key spots all over the field and that gives the Hornets a solid foundation to build off of. Senior captain Derek McGrath and junior Matt Sullivan are reliable defenders that will anchor what is traditionally a stingy back four. In the midfield, the junior trio of Tyler Znoj, Cooper Austin, and Marco Geminiani all played valuable minutes a year ago and will look to take on bigger roles this time out. Up front, senior captain Sam Oliveira will be tasked with orchestrating the offense for Mansfield.

The new faces that are looking to give Mansfield a boost in the midfield include senior Jordan O’Connor, junior Amro Hosny, and sophomores Brandon Gardner and Dominic Nassifc, while senior Ben Grella aims to bolster the Hornets’ defense. There has been a healthy competition for minutes in goal as senior Ty Duffin, who missed last season with an injury, is back challenging sophomore Troy Lasbury-Casey.

“If we can get and stay healthy, we’ll be tough competition for anyone,” Sheridan said. “With an influx of new faces at key positions, how quickly they gel together will set the tone for us, both offensively and defensively.”

Milford

2022 Record: 12-6-2
Coach: Antonio Pinto
Milford has been in the mix for the Kelley-Rex crown for a good stretch now and although there might be a good amount of new faces in the lineup, expect the Scarlet Hawks to challenge for the crown again this year.

The Scarlet Hawks’ four-year run as a division champ came to an end last year but only by three points. Replacing the likes of Eastern Mass. All Star Nick Ribeiro and Hock all star and speedy striker Eduardo Santana will be tough, Milford has shown their ability to reload over the past couple of seasons. Head coach Antonio Pinto will lean heavily on his experience, especially to start the year. One of the most veteran players in the league is Milford senior Nate Dinis, who has proven over the past three years that he can play anywhere on the back line; his leadership will be key in the back for the Hawks.

With Ribeiro, Santana, and Arthur Tome — Milford’s three leading scorers — the Hawks lost 25 goals between the three. That means there will be a lot of opportunities for new faces to step up. Andre Baiano Moura emerged as a top option during last year as a sophomore, playing at the six. Sophomores Johnny Castro (two goals, six assists) and Danny Da Silva (three goals, four assists) both had strong debut seasons a year ago and could factor into Milford’s offense more this season. Senior Jackson Phieffer and freshman Robbie Cappeli are both in contention for the starting spot in goal.

“We will hope to do our best in our attempt to qualify for the state tournament in this very difficult league,” Pinto said.

North Attleboro

2022 Record: 8-8-3
Coach: Geoff Burgess
Head coach Geoff Burgess returns to the bench after a year away coaching the girls and he’s hoping his Rocketeers can get back to the state tournament and make a run this year.

The Rocketeers lost a dozen players to graduation including their top three scorers (Carson Dameron, Givany Carney, Zach Smahi) but this year’s squad boasts another strong senior group. Burgess has leadership in key parts of the field with senior captain Bryce Newth leading the offense, senior captain Owen Goeller starting in net, and senior Kaden Burns — the team’s leading returner for goals — will anchor the midfield. While Burgess leans on his veterans in his return to the squad, he also expects some newer names to contribute including Logan Shiner-McCracken, Jeremy Carter, and Tyler Dameron.

“Our hope is that we can qualify for the state tournament and make a run,” Burgess said. “I think we have a dangerous attack and a solid defense backed up by a quality goalkeeper. These are usually the elements needed for success in the Hockomock League. This is a pretty tight-knit group of kids and our culture this season has been really positive. I am hopeful that this could be a great year for us.”

Oliver Ames

2022 Record: 20-1-2 (Division 2 State Champions)
Coach: John Barata
The target on Oliver Ames is as big as ever entering the 2023 campaign. The Tigers completed a dream season with a wild comeback in the final moments to capture the Division 2 state championship over Hopkinton. Although OA has plenty of talent returning under John Barata, there were key departures as well.

All American Casey Milliken and standout striker Andrew Martins have elected to play MLS NEXT while starters Luke Churchill and Ryan Linhares will miss time to deal with injuries. Add in the graduating of a talented senior class, including starting center backs Hector Bucio and Jake Williams, and Barata will have his hands full shaping a new team eager to prove itself. There are still plenty of positives though with returners Joey Carney, Diego Rivera, Craig Churchill, Jackson Mercieri, and Drew Hall. Carney is one of the most established stars in the league and will be a focal point of OA’s offense.

Hall is back in net but is being pushed in practice by sophomore Zach Gilson. With the departures comes opportunity and Barata is looking for new names to take their chance. Seniors Braeden Blass, Mikey Morias, Josh Ventura, and Chris Davis are all looking to make an impact for the Tigers this season. Sophomore Nicky Babanikas has emerged along the backline so far this preseason.

“We are looking forward to having all these players have a chance to step up and lead!” Barata said. “With only having five players returning from last year’s team, we have a lot of opportunity for players to step up. They are a terrific group of young men…they love the game, they work hard and they have a desire to succeed. Our goal is to get better each and every day! We want to get a few wins and try to get into the MIAA tournament.”

Sharon

2022 Record: 7-7-6
Coach: Scott Nathan
Coming off a playoff appearance in 2022, the Eagles are eager to have another competitive season and get back to the state tournament.

Sharon scored a playoff win over Hock rival North Attleboro last year, a season in which they never lost a game that they scored in. The challenge for the Eagles was finding that consistent scoring though, scoring just 18 goals on the season. With a strong core of returning players in the attack, Sharon is aiming to improve on that. Senior captain Mateo Martinez will be one of the catalysts for the offense and he’ll be supported by the returners James Jennings, Aneesh Prasad, Diego Martinez, and Vlad Shkolnikov, giving the Eagles some good firepower going forward.

Defensively, head coach Scott Nathan has another cornerstone of his roster to lean on. Senior captain Ilan Yampolsky will anchor a unit that graduated some top talent including longtime center back Rhys Davis. But having a senior-laden defensive group will certainly help with seniors Rick Das and Zach Connors giving the Eagles a strong foundation.

“I love this league, it’s among the strongest in the state,” Nathan said. “To have the opportunity to play against so many quality teams…get really competitive games week in and week out. The boys and I can’t wait to get started!”

Stoughton

2022 Record: 5-10-3
Coach: Ruben Teixeira
Stoughton took a big step forward last year with five wins and with a good amount of experience on the roster, the Black Knights are aiming to continue that upward trajectory.

Ruben Teixeira begins his second season at the helm after leading the Knights close to a playoff berth last year. Stoughton finished 36th in the MIAA power rankings, just four spots out of a spot in the state tournament. A lot of the players on this year’s roster have played on varsity for multiple seasons and have improved each season. There are 10 seniors on the roster plus a half dozen juniors so Teixeira has a lot of experience to lean on.

The midfield is anchored by senior Kyle Grant, who is a four-year starter for the Black Knights. A box-to-box midfielder, Grant is all over the field and can be very dangerous going forward as seen by his eight goals and five assists last season. Junior captain Alex Kozak is another crafty player that will help orchestrate the Stoughton offense this season. Evan Khang is Stoughton’s other four-year varsity player and had an impressive season a year ago. Senior captain Joe McSweeney anchors the defense, which is solidified by returning starting keeper Ben Shirey.

“We have a good solid crew returning,” Teixeira said. “We’re a bit more experienced and are excited for the year.”

Taunton

2022 Record: 3-13-2
Coach: Jesue Lopes
The Tigers have a somewhat new face on the bench this year in Jesue Lopes but there are plenty of familiar names returning to Taunton’s lineup this year.

Lopes is a former player and assistant coach with the program so he knows how competitive it is and how difficult it is to win in the Hockomock League. The advantage he has this year is a veteran group of players eager to find success this upcoming season. There are a dozen returning players from last year’s group, including both senior goalie Jack Buffington and Sebastian Darosa. Both played last year and have had a healthy competition for minutes this year. Another key piece back is leading scorer Javonte Fernandes, who can play just about anywhere on the pitch. Last season, he was one of the most dangerous strikers in the league and finished with 11 goals and three assists.

Senior Devin Poe is coming off a breakout junior campaign and will be joined by returners Khrystian Ferreira, Sebastian Freitas, Joshua Letourneau, and Lennon Rodriguez in the midfield. Junior Xavier Machado emerged as one of the most skilled defensive players last year he will be joined in the back by veteran Ian Robicheau and seniors Ethan DeSousa and Neil Martin.

“This is an older team and I am eager to see how they perform this season,” Lopes said.=