Last modified: Thursday, April 3, 2008 1:03 AM EDT KP girls an elite program BY PETER GOBIS / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Is there any team in the Hockomock League, perhaps not even a collection of all-stars, who might be able to contend or just be competitive with the King Philip Regional High girls' lacrosse team. En route to the MIAA Division 1 championship match, coach Mike Vitelli and his Warriors won 20 matches. The leadership, the core of veterans in all-state players Katie Florence, Kendall Harty and Mary Pasquantonio, an influx of skilled newcomers and the tradition of success don't leave much margin for error for foes. Meanwhile, the Mansfield High program has new coaches in Tim Frias and Dawn Kafel, the Hornets also having established a winning tradition and the likelihood of postseason play. The North Attleboro High boys' program is in its second season of varsity play while the girls embark on their maiden voyage, the Bishop Feehan High program is in its second season and is booming, while the Foxboro High Warriors are looking to reverse a recent down cycle. Mansfield boys There are a lot of positives to the Hornet program - a strong nucleus, leadership, high expectations and an infusion of young talent. Not to mention a new head coach in Tim Frias (via Dartmouth High and Salve Regina University). "We have a lot of very reliable players, there are a lot of good things," said Frias. Most notably, the Hornets can run and score with most anyone, especially up front with senior Mike Morrill (34 goals, 35 assists last year), senior Tommy Giannaloudis and sophomore Ryan Murphy. "They play off each other very well," said Frias. The midfield troop consists of seniors John DiFlaminies, Jordan Marks, Kevin Coughlin, Mike Blanchette and Russ Corcroft along with junior Doug Corcroft. Senior and four-year starter Adam Bourget is a fixture in goal and he is well-protected by his Hornet football teammates - Dan Pannelletore and Mike Willhauck - along with senior Jake Doyle, sophomore Matt Schepis and freshman Kevin Murphy. Mansfield girls Former assistant coach Dawn Kafel takes charge of a Hornet team which bowed out in the first round of the MIAA Tournament (to Norwell) last year, one that has experience and lofty goals. "We have a lot of seniors (nine) and a lot of the other girls have improved," said Kafel. The Hornets are strong up the middle with senior captain and attacker Ciara Pisano, four-year starter Samantha Doucette at midfield and senior captain and four-year starter Kerry Kiley anchoring the defense. Senior Julie Berbic returns in goal for Mansfield, while the rest of the defense is strong with senior and three-year starter Brianna Hayes (sister of former Hornet scoring whiz Connor Hayes) and senior Meredith Maroney. Working with Doucette at midfield will be senior Lindsay Quinn and junior Michelle Navoni. Up top, senior Samantha Parselow, junior Catherine Davey and sophomore Kelley Coughlin have a nose toward the goal. King Philip boys Dan Warren and the Warriors had a bitter taste about the way the 2007 season ended, a one-goal loss at Falmouth in the MIAA Tournament. After winning 10 matches last year, the Warriors want more. "We have a lot of third-year players, but we're just not deep," said Warren of KP's depth, so much so that the Warriors might run just one midfield. Captain John Cuozzo, faceoff specialist Alex Katapodis and Cam Olean head that midfield unit, with Dan Speney, Mike Saulnier, Joe Rose and Marshall Haughey also set to be on the field. Senior captain Dave Robeson opens in goal with a cast including juniors Andrew Sutton (159 ground balls taken in '07), Chris Pellichero and Joe Purdon being the defensive cast for protection. Up front, senior captain Kyle Lasher has a good scoring touch, paired with senior Matt Schairer and sophomore John Florence. "We should be able to do well, but it'll be a challenge," added Warren of not overworking the starters. King Philip girls "There's a lot of senior leadership, this could be the best team we've ever had," surmised KP coach Mike Vitelli, whose Warriors advanced to the MIAA Division 1 title match (losing to Westwood) last year, en route to a 20-2 season. And three of the best players in the Commonwealth return to the field - goalie Katie Florence, attacker Kendall Harty and midfielder Mary Pasquantonio. Florence, a four-year starter, has a 40-3-1 career record and posted a 3.45 goals against mark last year. Harty was the No. 1 scorer in the Hockomock League with 74 goals and 40 assists and Pasquantonio has 100 career goals, netting 53 last year. "We're strong top to bottom," said Vitelli of his roster. "The seniors are all product of the youth program and the kids coming into the program are better and better." Freshman Sarah Biron and sophomore Hilary Bushway have proven to be prime-time players already. The defense is very strong with Meg Marra, Missy Colcord, Amanda Dion and Arielle DiPlacido. North Attleboro boys "We're trying to aim at what other Hockomock League programs have done, like Mansfield and Franklin," said North coach Jeremy Nodelman of the Rocketeers' status. In just their second varsity season, "the bar has been set high," said the North coach. The North attack had senior soccer star Scott Macedonio working with juniors Matt McCaughey and Steve Rollins. The midfield cast is led by senior co-captains Kyle Bainton (the MVP last season with 28 goals) and Mike Curren along with senior Ben Rickard. Junior Dan Reissarth will open the season in goal, while senior Jason Dobbins, junior football-wrestling standout Chris Chretien and sophomore hockey star Barrett Holden are the mainstays of the defense. "We're young," said Nodelman, who had some 60 candidates for the team. "We're in a good place. We'e trying to find that balance between athletic skills and lacrosse skills." North Attleboro girls With over 50 girls out for the Rocketeer girls' team, North coach Karen Folan is seeing some of the fruits of the labor from the TriBoro Titans youth program. The Rocketeers are very capable of holding their own against most anyone, save for the upper echelon teams of the Hockomock League. "We have some kids who can bring it to the net, but we're going to need to have strong defensive play against the better teams," said Folan. To that end, sophomore goalie Emily Hickey and the defensive cast of seniors Lauren Sexton (of basketball fame) and Tierney Richardson (of field hockey fame) and junior Shannon Moore have a lot of responsibility. Senior Katie Noll (of hoop fame) and junior Shannon Morse have worked well at midfield, while senior Nicole Marceau and junior Julian Barry are the primary attackers. Bishop Feehan boys The Shamrocks have had success playing football, basketball, hockey and track and now some of those athletes have turned to lacrosse. Three key members of the Super Bowl championship football team - Jake Curren, Chris Paine and Kyle Schmitt - are mainstays for new head coach Kevin Young on the defensive backline. The Donovan brothers, seniors Mike and Keith, are the attackmen. "The biggest challenge is we're playing against more experienced teams," said Young, the Shamrocks in their second year as a program. Freshman Jake Pettine will get the starting nod in goal, while the midfield will be directed by Bryan Webb and Brian Canesi. With better than 50 players, gaining experience and improving depth will be a key. "I'm not excited about the wins and losses as I am the improvement," said Young. Bishop Feehan girls Watch out for the Shamrocks in the future! Coach Nancy Semple had 105 girls come out for the team, "even though 33 had never played before. The response has been overwhelming." So much so, that Semple has six teams playing against each other in practice. The Shamrocks will play a 12-match schedule, "we're accelerating things, we're making some cuts," said Semple. "What I've been impressed with is that all the girls are trying so hard." The key players will be senior captain and attacker McKenzie Cuddy, senior captain and defender Emma Creeden and sophomore midfielder Cori Semple, who plays with the Mass. Elite program. Foxboro boys The pieces are in place for coach Matt Noone and his Warriors to become much more competitive, through their non-league and Hockomock League season. Foxboro has a superb goalie in junior Dave Santos (.630 save percentage) and strength up the middle in seniors Matt McCarthy and faceoff specialist Tim Mogan (17 goals, five assists). "They understand the fundamentals," said Noone, whose Warriors won three games last season, but are now in the turning the corner phase of the program. Defensively, Luke Soccorso and Zach Zupanick are the primary long sticks. The transitional team includes Dan McCarthy, Connor Whalen, Ed Noonan, Bill Roberts and Pat Martin. Foxboro girls Like the Warrior boys' team, there are players in place now in their third varsity seasons, players with a much better concept of the game and much improved skills. "As we move on, we have kids who have played youth (programs)," said coach Lindsay Bruno. Callie McLaughlin, the Foxboro goalie, will be the beneficiary of having some veterans around to defend. That cast includes senior captain Lauren Butterworth, juniors Jenna Weiskerzer and Kelsey Bromberg, sophomores Rachel Jamieson, Kristen Hoffman and Lindsay McGeary along with freshman Kristen McMullen. The midfield cast has senior captain Jen Marves and senior Lindsay Felix (17 goals, 12 assists last year) along with combo midfielder-forwards Sarah Giardino and Brisa Shaw. Improving depth and improving conditioning will be the early season keys according to Bruno. "We should be getting better and better."