By HockomockSports.com Staff

2024 Hockomock League Boys Soccer Preview

Attleboro

2023 Record: 14-2-4
Coach: Peter Pereira

Last year will be a tough act to follow, having lost just two games total, but this year’s Attleboro squad is eager to prove itself.

It’s hard to ignore some of the losses from last year’s squad that finished second in the Kelley-Rex division by just one point, like HockomockSports.com First Team selections Tyler Rocchio and Billy Badger. But it’s easy to see the optimism for this year’s squad with the players on this year’s roster. While it will be tough to replace what Rocchio brought in net, the Bombardiers have a terrific foundation defensively in front of goal. Junior Mason Prive will be one of the top center backs in the league and sophomore Jaedyn Beland quickly established himself on the outside. That duo alone will give Attleboro a strong defense eager to replicate last year’s success of just 14 goals allowed all year, while the addition of junior Aidan Shields will help solidify the backline. Senior Jayden Ordmandy and junior Keagan Gray are battling to fill the massive void left in net.

Up front, last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Corvengdjimy Thomas is back to cause havoc for opposing defenses. Thomas is very strong with the ball at his feet and can take on multiple defenders, and he has already displayed his strong finishing skills. Thomas will be complemented up top by junior Drew Ribeiro, who is coming off a 2023 campaign with seven goals and two assists, which means the Bombardiers bring back their top two goal producers from a year ago. Senior captains Lucas Pereira and Jonas Marques bring a lot of experience in the middle of the pitch, and their veteran presence will be key to connecting Attleboro’s defense with its offense. Midfield depth will be provided by seniors Yoryan Esteban, Chris Amaya, Issa Mariko, and Marco Dias along with sophomore newcomer Cristian Ticas.

“We are looking to have a good season, hopefully a little bit better than last season after just missing the league title by one point,” said longtime head coach Peter Pereira.

Canton

2023 Record: 4-10-4
Coach: Danny Erickson

Canton has a rich history of success under head coach Danny Erickson, and after battling through some growing pains a year ago, the Bulldogs are aiming to be back in contention in 2024.

It starts with Canton’s four captains this year: senior Owen Morrissey, senior Max Eagles, junior James Howard, and junior Vlad Francoeur. All four boast a lot of varsity experience and will provide leadership both on and off the field. The Dogs are looking to improve on their offense a season ago and all four of these players will be crucial in doing so. Francoeur enters his third season as a target up top while both Howard and Morrissey will patrol the middle of the pitch. Eagles will help stretch the field and use his speed on the outside at winger.

After graduating just five seniors from last year, there are a lot of familiar faces throughout the lineup, and there’s been good competition to crack the starting lineup. Junior Ben Weaver is looking to take the next step and be an impact player in the midfield, and sophomore winger Nawfal Hijou will look to add to the attacking third and get into space out on the wings. Junior Corry Bienamie is a newcomer who could contribute in the offensive third as well. Defensively, Canton will lean on its veteran midfielders to help protect the back line while junior Dylan Wright is set to take over in net as the starting keeper.

“We have a great balance of returning guys who are hungry to improve on last season’s campaign and newcomers who will certainly help us raise our level of play,” Erickson said.

Foxboro

2023 Record: 3-13-2
Coach: George Argyrou & Colin Meiselman

After graduating a large senior class, Foxboro coaches George Argyrou and Colin Meiselman will be looking to incorporate some new faces into the lineup and find the right combination to navigate through a challenging Hockomock League.

The Warriors graduated 10 seniors from last year including their top two leading scorers John Hollis and Jack Sullivan, reliable midfielder Ryan Flaherty, and starting keeper Ryan Cotter. While that means this year’s squad will be on the younger side, it’s a hungry group eager to compete with the rest of the teams in the Hock. Senior Chase McGarry highlights a six-member senior group and will be a captain for the squad this year. He’s got plenty of varsity experience and his play up top will be a focal point of Foxboro’s attack. He will be joined up front by sophomore Adam Bougoussa, who got his feet wet at the varsity level last year as one of two freshmen to play. He showed a lot of potential last year after being called up from the JV squad and he will certainly see an expanded role in 2024.

To get the ball up to the attack, Foxboro will lean on junior Tim Kerzner-Greenwell and sophomore Adam Taj. Kerzner-Greenwell is a returner from last year and quickly established himself as a key piece in the middle of the pitch for the Warriors. After graduating some important pieces from last year’s midfield, his presence and role will be crucial on both ends of the field. Taj is a newcomer to the squad after playing football last year, and his speed is something the Warriors are excited about. Junior captain Henry Griffin will take over in net this season after getting in some games last year, and his size and command of the back line will be a positive. Senior Mark Saleh and sophomore Ronan Callahan will provide depth in net.

“Foxboro will be young and hungry in 2024,” Argyrou and Meiselman said. “We are hoping to push the best of the Hock to the limit and surprise some people along the way. Foxboro’s team mentality will put the program over the individual. We are particularly excited that three seniors who had previously stopped playing soccer decided to come out this year. Having a couple more senior leaders will help the young Foxboro team respond to the difficulty of being the smallest school in a tough league. The Warriors have worked hard during preseason to build up their skill, fitness, and chemistry.”

franklin

2023 Record: 15-1-5 (Kelley-Rex division champions)
Head Coach: Nick Goldman

For the first time in over 50 years, there’s a new head coach at the helm of the Franklin boys soccer team. After 53 years at the helm, legendary head coach Fran Bositis retired following last year’s incredible season that saw the Panthers go undefeated in the regular season and win the Kelley-Rex division title.

Nick Goldman steps in to lead the Panthers, who are looking to replicate last year’s success. Goldman previously coached in the program for nine years before taking the varsity job at Nipmuc for the past two years. There will be plenty of opportunity after Franklin graduated over a dozen seniors, including the majority of its starting lineup and HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Rex Cinelli. While Goldman tries to fill out his starting 11, he will lean heavily on his three captains: seniors Garrett Scagliarini, Matt Honekamp, and Wyatt Herndon. Those three players also have the most varsity experience after playing key roles on last year’s squad.

Scaglarini finished the regular season tied for fourth in the Hockomock League in points with seven goals and seven assists, earning HockomockSports.com Second XI honors. Honekamp is a versatile player but does very well finding space in the midfield and uses his space and vision to quickly get the Panthers going forward. That tandem in the middle of the pitch will be the backbone to build around. And as Scagliarini and Honekamp help orchestrate everything from the midfield, they’ll have a go-to target up top in the attack in Herndon. After scoring a team-high eight goals last year, he will be someone Franklin can rely on to spearhead the team in the final third. Jason Proencea, Andre Missagia, and Josh Rappa will look to bolster the attack while Goldman will turn to seniors Gabe Terry and Luke Georges to help shore up the defense.

“Our senior captains will need to set the tone on the field for us this year,” Goldman said. “We have a lot of new faces eager to make an impact, and we know we will need to work hard every day if we want to be successful.”

King Philip

2023 Record: 9-6-5
Coach: Mike O’Neill

King Philip had a very strong finish to last year’s campaign and the Warriors are hoping that momentum can carry over the 2024 season.

King Philip went unbeaten in its final five regular season games after two competitive losses to division leaders Attleboro and Franklin. Then the Warriors went on the road in the playoffs and upset Barnstable and nearly took out Weymouth before bowing out in an epic showdown in penalty kicks that went 12 rounds. While the Warriors will be without last year’s sizable senior class, they have a lot of key pieces back in key places looking to fight for the top spot in the Kelley-Rex division. Senior captains Sayan Panda and PJ Sullivan will be the backbone of the squad with the former controlling the midfield and the latter anchoring the defense. Both players have a good amount of varsity experience and know what it takes to compete in the Hock.

A pair of juniors looking to build off their contributions last year include Marco Amorim, who is coming off a strong sophomore campaign and will look to use his speed to cause havoc for opposing defenses in the final third, and Mender DiMartino, who will be a key piece in KP’s defensive third with Sullivan. Seniors Brad Lynn and Chimezie James will look to expand on their roles from last year and help the Warriors find the back of the net. Junior newcomer Pranav Srinivasan will also contribute on the offensive end while senior Aidan Alvezi will make his KP debut to help shore up the midfield.

“I think there is a lot of parity in the Hockomock League this year,” said King Philip head coach Mike O’Neill, who begins his sixth year in charge of the Warriors. “It will be another challenging and competitive season.”

Mansfield

2023 Record: 6-8-5
Coach: Steve Sheridan

The Hornets were hampered by injuries throughout the 2023 season but are hoping to be a legitimate challenger in the Davenport division this year and get back to the state tournament.

Mansfield struggled to find consistent offense throughout the first half of last year but really picked it up down the stretch. In hopes of continuing that success, Mansfield will ride a sizable 14-member senior class and hope it can infuse some younger talent in to find the right combination to compete at a high level. There’s a talented foundation to build off of, starting with senior captains Tyler Znoj, Cooper Austin, and Matt Sullivan. Znoj will be tasked with anchoring Mansfield’s midfield unit while Sullivan will be one of the most experienced defenders in the league. Austin will factor into both positions with the ability to play in a variety of roles for the Hornets.

Seniors Dylan Mullin and Marco Geminiani will look to build off their contributions from last year, and Sheridan is also looking for seniors Amro Hosny, Justin Cohen, Eamon Doyle, and Shaddy Makran to provide leadership and a spark to the team. Junior Troy Lasbury-Casey picked up a little game experience last year and now will take over in the starting role at keeper. Juniors Brandon Garner and Dom Nassic are also returners who should factor in for the Hornets.

“We have some good talent returning and a few new young guys that will hopefully gel together and more importantly, stay healthy!” Sheridan said.

Milford

2023 Record: 5-11-4
Coach: Antonio Pinto

After just five wins last year, Milford is hoping to quickly move on and continue to grow with its young squad in the 2024 season.

It was a tough year to be young and Milford battled through a lot of growing pains in a very competitive Kelley-Rex division. Now, with a year of experience, the Hawks have a large portion of their roster back to try and improve. Junior Danny Da Silva is coming off a breakout sophomore season and finished as the team’s point leader after a team-high seven goals and 10 total points. He will once again be the focal point in the attacking third as Milford looks to return to being one of the top offensive teams in the league.

There’s strength right down the line in the heart of the lineup. Senior Tiko Lourenco is a crafty midfielder who has terrific dribbling skills and does very well with the ball at his feet. His ability to control possession, and to control the tempo of the game, really sets things up for the Hawks, and his connection with Da Silva and the rest of Milford’s attacking players will be vital. Senior Andre Moura has established himself as one of the most physical players in the league and he will set the tone in the back. He’s strong in the air but really shines with his ability to win 50-50 balls and does well handling pressure. Milford will return sophomore Robbie Cappelli in net after a strong debut season.

“We will be a young team again but a gritty tough team to play,” said Milford head coach Antonio Pinto. “Defensively we are looking to stay tight and together and keep scores low. I’m really excited to work with this squad, they are a great group of kids with great attitudes hoping to improve throughout the season and compete for a spot in playoffs.”

North Attleboro

2023 Record: 8-9-3
Coach: Geoff Burgess

North Attleboro enters the 2024 campaign knowing it has something to prove after losing some key starters from last year’s tournament team.

The Rocketeers have to replace the offensive production that graduated with its two leading scorers Bryce Newth (nine goals, four assists) and Kaden Burns (11 goals, three assists) as well as some key defensive pieces including starting keeper Owen Goeller and several members of the back line. While North looks to build up into the attack, they have some veteran returners in the midfield that will be crucial in controlling play. Senior midfielder Patrick Etienvre has logged a lot of minutes at the varsity level and is a confident player in the middle of the pitch, and his ability to link the defense to the offense will be key. Another familiar face back in the midfield will be junior Tyler Dameron, who is very technically sound on the ball and does a nice job involving his teammates.

Senior Logan Shiner-McCracken is back after a strong junior season and will be a focal point in the offensive third. After scoring four goals in the regular season a year ago, his ability to finish from inside the box will be an important piece of North’s offense. North will also lean heavily on senior Jeremy Carter, one of the few returners with good varsity experience on defense. On top of keeping the defense organized in front of new keeper Will Rodden, Carter will be a target for North on set pieces. While Oliver Ames has been at the top of the division recently, the Rocketeers have always played the Tigers tough. Despite having a lot of new faces in the starting lineup, North is aiming to be a legitimate challenger this fall.

“This team has lots to prove as it lost its two leading point producers from last season,” said North Attleboro coach Geoff Burgess. “We are going to play solid defense and look to create opportunities via possession as we build out of the back. Lots of new faces in the starting 11, but I believe in their potential and their commitment to our style of play.”

Oliver Ames

2023 Record: 19-3-1 (Division 2 State Champions)
Coach: John Barata

It was tough to imagine the target getting any bigger than last year when OA entered the season winning three straight Davenport titles and a Division 2 state championship. But then the Tigers went and won both again.

There won’t be any days off for Oliver Ames this year as the two-time defending state champions and four-time defending Davenport champions will be getting everyone’s best day in and day out. While replacing a strong senior class and an All-American was tough last year, this year’s group will also be tasked with finding the production left by the void from graduation. But a quick look at OA’s roster reveals the Tigers still have one of the most talented groups in the Hockomock League.

There’s a solid core in the midfield with returners Luke Churchill and Craig Churchill. Both have been stalwarts in the lineup for head coach John Barata throughout the last two state championship seasons. Craig Churchill is often an unsung hero who does a lot of the dirty work in the middle of the field while Luke Churchill, who showed off his versatility last year when he returned from injury by playing some defense, has shown the ability get get forward and really spearhead the offense. Senior Jackson Mercieri, a defender in last year’s state title run, could see some time in the midfield to help bolster the attack.

Defensively, it will be the second straight season the Tigers have to replace a good chunk of its back line. Junior Nick Babanikas had a strong debut season for the Tigers last year and his size will give the Tigers a physical presence in the back four. Senior Drew Hall returns for another year between the posts while junior Zach Gilson provides talented depth at the position. Junior Cyrus Hanjani picked up some key minutes last year and could be in line for an expanded role while sophomore Derek Walsh, who saw time in a variety of positions, is another piece that gives Barata some lineup flexibility. After losing over 40 goals from last year’s senior class, offensive production will be the biggest question mark early.

“Very excited to see this new crop of players earn their place in the program,” Barata said. “We are a different feel, look, and team from the recent years, however, we are certainly going to try and compete to be our best. With a little luck, we will make the playoffs and have another shot at the big dance! I am so proud of the attitude and work rate for the boys. Going to be a fun year and hopefully, a few wins will follow!”

Sharon

2023 Record: 2-12-4
Coach: Scott Nathan

Sharon battled through some injury challenges and struggled at times to consistently find the back of the net a season ago, but are hoping to have a complete turnaround in 2024.

The Eagles reached the state tournament and won a game two years ago but ended up with just a pair of wins last year. There is a strong core back this year, and with a healthy roster, could be a team that surprises some along the way. Seniors Max Sheng and Owen Soby along with junior Diego Martinez highlight a familiar list of players that featured in the lineup last year. Sheng is a key piece defensively, Soby factored into the midfield, and with two years of varsity experience already under his belt, Martinez is one of the most dangerous players in the league going forward.

James Jennings, Vlad Shkolnikov, Josh Cabral, and Zach Bernstein are all returners from last year’s squad and will look to join Martinez in creating more chances and a more consistent push up front. Alongside Sheng, Sam O’Reilly, Carlos Aguilar, Peter Lerner, Koya Wilcox, and Leo Yin are pieces head coach Scott Nathan has to work with in the back as the Eagles look to thwart opposing offenses. Sharon will have a new twist to the schedule this year as they compete in the Kelley-Rex division and will play those teams twice.

“The Hock is such a great league,” Nathan said. “We get really competitive games week in and week out. To have the opportunity to play against so many quality teams…what more could we ask for? The boys and I can’t wait to get after it this season!”

Stoughton

2023 Record: 4-11-3
Coach: Dan Rudulph

There are a couple of new coaches in the Hockomock League this season and Stoughton is one of those teams as Dan Rudolph is now in charge of the Black Knights.

Rudolph comes to Stoughton with coaching experience at the club level and locally at Whitman-Hanson and Hingham. The Knights graduated a sizable senior class so there are spots in the lineup open and the goal is to improve on last year’s season. As Rudolph looks to implement his style, he will look to his senior class to lead the way.

Senior captain Anthony Damasio is a strong player in the middle of the pitch for the Knights and his ability to make plays on the ground, as well as win some challenges in the air, will be key in the midfield. His ability to make plays between the two 18-yard boxes will be crucial for the Knights. Senior Alex Kozak is in his second year as a captain and brings a lot of versatility to the pitch. A four-year member of the varsity squad, Kozak has featured in a variety of positions and can help contribute wherever he plays.

Defensively, the Knights have some spots to fill. They’ll turn to senior Andrew Luyiga to anchor the back line and the Knights are hoping his experience can help keep opposing offenses at bay in front of new starting keeper senior Hasan Hourabi. The Knights also featured a good amount of younger talent last season like Kyle Garrity, Max Pokraka, and Cam Wilson.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such good and coachable kids,” Rudolph said. “It has been a lot of fun so far, and the players are enjoying practices.”

Taunton

2023 Record: 7-11-0
Coach: Rui Estrela

With almost 20 years of collegiate coaching experience and over 200 career wins, Taunton has welcomed Rui Estrela to take over the program.

The Tigers are coming off a 7-win campaign and have a solid core of returning players for Estrela to work with. Up top, the Tigers have a familiar face in the attack in Anderson Catley, who had some really strong moments during his sophomore season. Taunton has a big void to fill in its offensive game after the graduation of HockomockSports.com Best XI striker Javonte Fernandes (11 goals), but having a player like Catley who has some good varsity experience will give the Tigers a leg up. On the other end of the pitch, Ian Robicheau is one of the most experienced players in the Hock as he begins his fourth year with the varsity squad. His knowledge and defending skills will be key as Taunton looks to improve on its composure defensively.

In the heart of the field, Taunton will turn to two veterans to lead the way: seniors Xavier Mercado and Daniel Freitas. Both have experience playing elsewhere on the field, like Freitas up front and Mercado in the back, but will see time in the midfield this year and help Taunton try to keep the ball and establish the pace. While both players will be crucial in going forward and contributing on the offensive end, their ability to control the tempo and possession will be even more important. In goal, the Tigers have both Elderson Moriera and Logan Gallinger battled for time.

“Our outlook this season is to try and improve on last season, both as an all around team and as individual players,” Estrela said.