Canton Citizen Fall Sports All Stars

The following all-star selections appear in the December 15 issue as part of the Canton Citizen’s annual fall sports wrap-up.

Girls MVP

Nicole Poole (Volleyball)

A senior captain and an All-Hockomock selection, Poole was the starting setter and the anchor of a team that went 18-4 and came within one victory of a central sectional title. In addition to displaying exceptional leadership skills, Poole was the Bulldogs’ most consistent all-around performer, finishing with 494 assists, 75 kills, 208 digs, and a team-best 47 aces while serving with 98 percent accuracy. “Nicole was the backbone of the Canton volleyball team this season,” said head coach Pat Cawley. “She is a talented athlete with a work ethic beyond compare, a supportive and encouraging teammate, and a leader among her peers. She was the glue that held us together and a huge reason we had a great season.”

Boys MVP

Matt Minichiello (Golf)

A four-year golfer but first-year starter, Minichiello worked hard to develop his game and finished his career as the top golfer on one of the top teams in the Hockomock League. In addition to posting the lowest scoring average on the team, he was a five-time match medalist, a league all-star, and was instrumental in leading the Bulldogs to a 10-4 record and a return trip to the postseason. Head coach Mike Barucci could not say enough about Minichiello, noting that he showed a “true passion” for the sport. “He has been on the team since his freshman year and has put a lot of time and effort into his golf game,” said Barucci. “Matt’s hard work led him to become the top golfer on the team this year.”

Football

Brian Smith

A senior captain, Smith was Canton’s top two-way lineman and was recognized by the league’s coaches with an All-Hockomock selection. He also was the team’s choice to wear the No. 27 jersey on Thanksgiving Day in honor of the late Ricky Shannon and showed his athleticism in that game by playing fullback in the fourth quarter and gaining two first downs. “Brian was a great lineman, skilled with good hands,” said head coach Dave Bohane. “He is a super kid and was a pleasure to coach. He did so much for us; he had 43 tackles and five sacks, returned punts, and was a top performer on the line.”

Volleyball

Emma Murphy

A senior captain and an All-Hockomock selection, Murphy took her game to new heights in her final season as a Bulldog, finishing first on the team in kills with 142 and second in blocks with 61. She also served at 95 percent and tallied 27 aces. Head coach Pat Cawley described Murphy as the “center of the offense” and praised her “amazing effort and positive attitude.”

Casey Shea

A senior middle blocker and an All-Hockomock honorable mention, Shea was the team leader in blocks (70) and hitting percentage (.309) and finished second behind Murphy in kills with 130. “Casey’s desire to excel and her hard work led to an amazing season in her first year as a middle blocker,” said Coach Cawley. “Her aggressive blocking constantly altered the other team’s offense and was a major reason we reached the sectional finals.”

Julia Panico

A senior libero, Panico embraced the role of defensive specialist and was the leader in the backcourt on one of the top defensive teams in the region. She finished the season with a whopping 336 digs and did a great job receiving the opponent’s serves. “[Panico] was focused, worked hard and never gave up,” said Coach Cawley. “Without her consistent play, our season would have had a different ending.”

Boys Soccer

Jake Verille

A junior captain, Verille was the Bulldogs’ anchor in the midfield and a driving force behind the team’s return to the postseason. In addition to playing well defensively, he helped get the offense going and finished with a team-high six assists to go along with three goals. An important team leader, Verille was respected by his teammates and around the league, earning All-Hockomock and HockomockSports.com Best IX honors.

Paul Corcoran

Only a sophomore, Corcoran emerged as the top scoring threat on a team where goal scoring was often at a premium, making his ability to find the net all the more valuable. His nine goals represented a third of the team total, and his 11 total points were tops in the league among freshmen and sophomores. In addition to earning All-Hockomock honors, Corcoran was honored by HockomockSports.com as its 2016 Underclassman of the Year.

Griffin Roach

Another sophomore budding star, Roach earned a Hockomock League honorable mention this season for his excellent all-around play in the midfield this season. He finished second on the team in both goals (4) and assists (5) and also showed a knack for scoring in the clutch, as evidenced by his game-winning goal against Mansfield at Gillette Stadium and his game-tying goal against Stoughton three days later.

Danny Hartnett

A senior captain, Hartnett was the best defender on one of the Hockomock League’s stingiest backfield units. He rarely made mistakes and was the anchor of a defense that surrendered an average of 1.38 goals per game in the regular season while racking up five shutouts. He also provided valuable senior leadership along with fellow captains Ben Waterhouse and Sammy Papakonstantino.

Girls Soccer

Riley Duserick

A junior and three-time All-Hockomock selection, Duserick was the Bulldogs’ anchor in the midfield and their best all-around player, excelling as a passer, playmaker, and defender. She also contributed in the scoring department with seven goals, including one in the postseason, to go along with four assists.

Kathryn Doody

A fixture in net for the past three seasons, Doody made her mark on the program with an aggressive goalkeeping style and sound fundamental skills, earning an All-Hockomock honorable mention in her senior season. She showed a willingness to come far out of the net to make a save and used her cat-like reflexes to stop many direct shots at her. One of three team captains, she could often be heard shouting encouragement to her fellow teammates.

Hannah Link

A senior forward with outstanding athletic ability, Link teamed with fellow senior Tessa Cudmore to form a dangerous one-two punch up top. Using her speed and hustle, she excelled offensively and finished second on the team in goals with eight while adding seven assists.

Tessa Cudmore

A senior captain, Cudmore seemed unstoppable at times with a strong leg, good speed and instincts, and an aggressive style. Sometimes she took on two defenders, made a move and scored. A natural goal scorer, she paced the Bulldogs with nine goals, assisted on five others, and also came back to play defense.

Golf

Jack Goyetch

Goyetch, a junior, was one of Canton’s two All-Hockomock selections and really turned it on toward the end of the season, culminating with a match-low score of 75 at the league championships that earned him co-MVP honors and propelled the Bulldogs to the title. “Jack has a tremendous short game and plays smart golf,” said head coach Mike Barucci. “He had the second best average on our team and should be one of the top golfers in our league next year.”

Field Hockey

Julia Ezepik

A senior captain, Ezepik was the starting center back on one of the top defenses in the league, earning All-Hockomock honors and HockomockSports.com First Team honors. In addition to anchoring a unit that surrendered only 14 goals in 20 contests, Ezepik was a key member of the Bulldogs’ penalty corner unit and contributed offensively with five goals and seven assists.

Maggie Malloy

Only a sophomore, Malloy earned the nod as a starting forward in her first season of field hockey and proved to be a natural scorer, finishing as the Hockomock League leader in goals with 16. An All-Hockomock selection, Malloy often scored in bunches and had two hat tricks on the season. “She gets better every game and really has a knack for scoring,” said head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “She knows where to be and she’s just kind of a natural in front of the net.”

Emily Campbell

A junior, Campbell was one of the field hockey team’s most versatile players, splitting time between the backfield and midfield and excelling in both roles. She played outstanding defense and chipped in on the other end with three goals and seven assists. In addition to garnering a league all-star nod, she was honored with a selection to the HockomockSports.com Second Team.

Taylor Carrington

A senior, Carrington enjoyed a stellar final season as the Bulldogs’ starting goalkeeper, earning an All-Hockomock honorable mention. She was the last line of defense for a unit that allowed just 14 goals and racked up 11 shutouts. She also played great during the team’s playoff run, including in the overtime loss to King Philip where she produced several big saves.

Boys Cross Country

Jack Healey

A junior, Healey was the cross country team’s number-one runner from start to finish this season, earning All-Hockomock honorable mention honors. He also continued to improve, cutting almost a minute and a half off his time and placing 26th overall (17:43) at the Hockomock League Championships out of more than 100 competitors.

Girls Cross Country

James Polsgrove

A junior, Polsgrove was the Bulldogs’ top point scorer and most consistent runner this season, finishing first on the team in all seven dual meets to go along with team-best performances at the league championship and Division 4 sectionals. Head coach David Hiltz said Polsgrove made significant strides as a runner this season and will be counted on to lead the way next fall.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Dec 16 2016. Filed under Featured Content. Both comments and pings are currently closed.