HockomockSports.com has posted the Field Hockey Awards for the fall 2021 season. Franklin High School was well represented by the following individuals:
Field Hockey Player of the Year = Kaitlyn Carney
"Franklin junior Kaitlyn Carney has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Player of the Year. The midfielder led the league in scoring this season, helping the Panthers win a third straight Kelley-Rex division title and reach the Div. 1 state semifinal for the first time in program history.
Carney scored 37 goals and recorded 18 assists this season, finishing the regular season with nine more points than any other player. The 55 goals that she accounted for this year were more than all but two other teams scored this fall. Carney added seven points in four postseason games, scoring important goals to lead the Panthers into the semifinal against eventual champion Andover. It was the second straight season that she led the Hock in scoring.
With Carney leading the way, the Panthers scored 124 goals as a team, averaging nearly six goals per game and scoring more than double the next highest-scoring team in the league (Attleboro with 61). Carney now has 105 points in three seasons in the Franklin midfield and was selected as a league all-star for the second year in a row."
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| Franklin junior Kaitlyn Carney has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Player of the Year |
HOCKOMOCKSPORTS.COM FIRST TEAM
Kendall Jones – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior Kendall Jones closed out her three-year varsity career by helping the Panthers continue their long unbeaten run in league play, win a third straight Kelley-Rex division title, and advance to the team’s first state semifinal. Jones was selected as a league all-star and picked to play in the Best of 60 Mass. State Coaches Association all-star game. As a threat at both ends of the field, Jones chipped in with eight goals and nine assists, while helping Franklin hold teams to just 14 goals in 22 games. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Kendall is a very skilled and fast defensive player. Kendall’s leadership skills both on and off the field are quite impressive and a huge reason we had so much success over this past season.”
Kaitlyn Carney – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin junior midfielder Kaitlyn Carney put together an incredible individual season to help the Panthers win a third straight league title and advance to the first state semifinal in program history. With 37 goals and 18 assists this season (including seven points in the playoffs), Carney was the top scorer in the league for the second straight season. She has more than 100 points in her first three years and was selected as the HockomockSports.com Player of the Year (see above). Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Kaitlyn is one of the most talented athletes I have ever had the pleasure of coaching but Kaitlyn also works very hard at her skills. Kaitlyn has a drive and determination that is rather impressive, she never settles.”
Shaw Downing – Franklin – Forward
Franklin junior forward Shaw Downing was a key part of the league’s top offense. Downing scored 20 goals and had nine assists this season and was sixth in the league in scoring during the regular season, helping Franklin score 124 goals as a team, on its way to a third straight league title and the program’s first-ever state semifinal appearance. Downing was selected as an all-star by the Hockomock League coaches. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Shaw can put the ball in the net once she gets it in the circle. Shaw is a fast and highly skilled forward that is aggressive to the ball and has the ability to find the net and collect rebounds off the goalie’s pads and redirect them skillfully into the goal.”
HOCKOMOCKSPORTS.COM SECOND TEAM
Kate O’Rourke – Franklin – Defense
Franklin senior defender Kate O’Rourke was integral to the success of the Panthers defensively this season. With O’Rourke on the left side, Franklin allowed only 14 goals in 22 games this season on its way to a third straight league title and a spot in the state semifinal for the first time. O’Rourke was selected as an all-star by Hockomock League coaches and chosen to play in the Best of 60 Senior All-Star Game by the state coaches association. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Kate is a very smart and highly skilled player who relies on her speed, skill, and aggressive play to keep her opponents out of the circle. Kate is our trail on our defensive corners and makes it very difficult for teams to execute their corner plays against us.”
Emily Carney – Franklin – Midfield
Franklin freshman Emily Carney stepped right into the heart of the midfield this season and became a crucial piece of the Panthers winning a third straight league title and making a run to their first state semifinal. She scored six times and had 18 assists, as part of the league’s top offensive unit, but also helped shield the back line as part of the league’s top defensive group. In one of the most difficult positions on the field, Carney never looked out of place and showed a game sense beyond that of most freshmen. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Emily’s presence on the field at center midfield was noticed immediately. Emily’s field hockey IQ and her ability to play both offensively and defensively were instrumental in the success of our team this year.”
Haley Wernig – Franklin – Forward
Franklin freshman forward Haley Wernig jumped right into the varsity team and provided a boost to the league’s top offense. In her first season, Wernig scored 16 goals and added six assists. Her 22 points were in the top 10 in the league this season and helped the Panthers win a third straight Kelley-Rex division title, extend their long league win streak, and reach the state semifinal for the first time. Wernig played on both wings and showed the speed and skill to compete with the top teams in the state. Franklin coach Michelle Hess said, “Haley has a bright future ahead of her especially because her work ethic is impressive. Haley is always coming to me for feedback and asking how she can execute her skills better, she is very reflective and a pleasure to coach.”
COACH OF THE YEAR = Michelle Hess
"Franklin’s Michelle Hess has been selected as the 2021 HockomockSports.com Field Hockey Coach of the Year. Hess led the Panthers to their third straight Kelley-Rex division title and to the program’s first-ever Div. 1 state semifinal.“Coming into the season, it wasn’t obvious that Franklin would be the dominant team they turned out to be,” said HockomockSports.com Managing Editor Josh Perry. “Michelle fit players into the right spots and built a team that was not only a league power but a statewide one. Talent helps, but Michelle kept the Panthers focused on the goal from the start of the season and they made program history.”Despite returning only three starters from last year and beginning the season with three freshmen in the starting lineup, the Panthers finished as the top scoring team in the league with 124 goals, which was more than double that of second-place Attleboro (61). Franklin also allowed only 14 goals in 22 games all season (and five of those goals came in the semifinal against Andover). With a goal differential of plus-110 in a competitive league, Franklin put together a historically dominant season."
Continue reading the write up on Michelle and on the other selections around the Hockomock League https://hockomocksports.com/awards/field-hockey/2021-2/
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