"We're deeper, but not as strong up front," said Mansfield High boys' cross country coach Julie Collins of her Hockomock League champion Hornets, competing in the MIAA Division 2 Championship Meet Saturday in Boston. "We're hoping for two in the top 20 (Andrew Erwin, Shayne Collins) and for (Patrick) McGowan to be not far behind"...

Shannon Roberts' Wheelock College field hockey team (5-12) qualified for the North Atlantic Conference playoffs for the first time since 1999 and won its third straight Sportsmanship Award. Also, freshman Stephanie Fleck of North Attleboro, finished fourth in the league in game-winning goals (three), had four goals overall.

"(Fleck) provided a much-needed offensive surge in many games. Her speed and stick work in the circle made her quite the threat," said Roberts. And freshman Michaela Ross of Mansfield had a phenomenal first season at left back. "She was our wall, stopping many opponents before they even reached the 25. Her quickness combined with knowledge and great stick work helped strengthen our defensive backfield"...

Former Dighton-Rehoboth High soccer star Tim Warren, a junior defender for the St. Michael's College booters was named to the Northeast-10 Conference all-star team. Warren started every match for the second straight season, helping St. Michael's off to a 7-0-2 start, the match-winning goal against nationally ranked UMass-Lowell and a Northeast-10 tourney berth for a second-straight season...

Another local South Coast Conference product and soccer star, Seekonk High grad Mike Alves, a freshman midfielder with the UMass-Dartmouth men's soccer team was an All-Little East Conference selection. Alves was third in scoring with three goals and seven assists for 13 points, and led the conference in both assists and assists per game... "He plays defense north-south and east-west, he was outstanding," related King Philip High boys' soccer coach Kip Lewis of junior stopper back Dave Connolly...

Emily (Estey) Taylor, the daughter of North Attleboro High cross country and track coach Dwight Estey, finished 65th out of a field of some 12,000 female runners during the New York City Marathon last Sunday. Estey ran a time of 3:03:08 during the race...

Norfolk's Ayla Brown, the sophomore forward, netted 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Boston College women's basketball team began its exhibition season this week with a 15-point win over Athletes in Action...

One of the great offensive ploys this season by George Giannouloudis' Mansfield High boys' soccer team has been effective throw-ins from either Billy McGee or Evyn Grimes. "They just don't throw them, we practice them, we work on those plays a lot"...

Senior captain Brad Willox of the North Attleboro High cross country team has been slowed by repeated cases of having the dry heaves during races, having tried all sorts of remedies...

Former Mansfield High football standout Jerry Willette has been a reserve defensive end for the Boston College Eagle football team, totaling 10 tackles in six games...

Former King Philip High distance runner Alexandra Wessman of Norfolk, a sophomore, was the No. 4 finisher for the Johnson & Wales University cross country team at the ECAC Division III Championship Meet in Williamstown, Ma., finishing 128th overall...

Senior defender Kerry Donahue, the former Dighton-Rehoboth High soccer standout, was named the MVP of the Rhode Island College women's soccer team. Starting in all 20 matches for the Anchorwomen, Donahue scored three goals and had an assist, while helping the team record four shutouts and have a 1.69 goals against average...

Seekonk High hotshot Tyler Patch netted 41 points versus Fall River at the Mansfield Sportsplex last week. Patch, who has been visiting some prep schools of late, has been working out at Reebok World Headquarters in Canton with the area's top scholastic seniors and juniors...

Said Peter Boucher of his King Philip High boys' cross country team, which was second at the Hockomock League Meet and fourth at the Coaches Invitational Meet, "our goal is to get to the state meet," he said of the Warriors' expectations at the Division 2 Meet Saturday at Franklin Park. One of those fast-footed Warriors is senior Tom O'Brien, who never ran before this season and has been KP's No. runner behind Harrison David... One of six freshmen on the roster, North Attleboro High grad Zach Fichman-Klein will be swimming the butterfly, individual medley and relay events for the Wheaton College men's swimming team...

Former Seekonk High swimming star Caitlin Grant, now a senior at Colgate University, has been swimming the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle events.

PETER GOBIS can be reached at 508-236-0375 or at pgobis@thesunchronicle.com.