Chicoski, Wellesley set to run
Chasing championship
Caitlin Chicoski’s field awareness is among the best in the state, but not even the Wellesley senior midfielder and Stanford commit was aware of the milestone she reached this season until nearly two weeks later.
As part of a four-goal effort against Hingham on April 19, Chicoski notched her 200th career tally. That the achievement went without celebration seemed fitting for Chicoski, an unselfish four-year starter and two-year captain for the Raiders consumed more by winning than her individual success.
“It’s definitely a great feeling,” said Chicoski, up to 217 career goals. “It’s also a reflection of the teammates I played with and just the Wellesley program as a whole. We’re just a really strong program and that’s allowed me to score in that way.”
Chicoski has been a key cog for Wellesley (10-2), 57-15-1 since the start of a freshman year in which she scored 52 goals. She had 66and 61-goal seasons the last two years, and has at least three in nine games this season.
“(She’s) very consistent throughout games,” said coach Michelle Cook. “Whether she’s on defense, whether she’s on attack or in the midfield, she’s a player that you see all over the place . ... That constant intensity throughout the whole field really pushes the rest of her teammates.”
While Chicoski’s exceptionally high and steady production aids Wellesley’s success, so too does her leadership, both on the field and in the classroom. She was an Academic All-American last year, and honored to a captain in this one.
“It’s nice to be acknowledged that way and be able to help the team in any way you can by leading,” she said.
With Grace Ahonen, Maddy Balter and Brooke Baker as well, Wellesley seems poised to make a deep tournament run and get past the Div. 1 South semifinals, where they have fallen the past three seasons.
For Chicoski, it’s all she thinks about.
“We want to win a state championship this year,” Chicoski said. “That’s always been the goal. This year, we have a really strong program. We’re all hungry for that state title. Really now, that’s what my main focus is on is finishing what I started my freshman year. Ending on a good note.”
Strong armor
Despite its season-opening eight-game winning streak ending on Thursday, via a 9-7 loss to Masconomet, the HamiltonWenham boys are still impressing. They’ve outscored opponents 113-38, led by the program’s all-time leading scorer — senior Andrew Riccio, who notched his 100th career goal in a 14-2 win over Triton on April 27.
Riccio is flanked by five seniors. Kit Shaw and Griffin Barlow solidify the attack, while Cole Dwyer, Callen Strong and Tommy Lattanzi anchor the midfield.
“I’ve never coached a high school kid who sees the field like (Riccio) does,” said coach Josh Wedge. “With having (five) seniors who have played with him for four years, they know that when he has the ball, all they have to do is get open.”
Ipswich handed the Generals their only two losses last season, including in the Div. 3 North final. H-W earned some revenge on April 24 with an 11-4 win, and now looks to finish business in the Cape Ann League before setting sights on the postseason.
“It’s probably the most complete team we’ve ever had,” Wedge said. “We don’t have a huge weakness anywhere.”
Warriors mentality
King Philip (7-2) almost handed the Franklin girls their first Hockomock League loss since 2012 on April 27, but the Warriors fell in double overtime, 7-6. For firstyear coach Kourtnie Wilder, the loss told her more about her upstart program than the six wins it ripped off to begin the season.
“I was really happy the way we came out,” Wilder said. “It has opened my eyes to really see that they are a good team and they belong playing against those types of teams.”
Katie Crowther, the team’s leading scorer the past three years, tore her ACL during the fifth game of the season, but others have emerged in her absence.
UMass-Lowell commit Caroline Klim has brought a commanding presence and excelled offensively, while Dana Truini and Alli Meehan have also helped turn the Warriors into a formidable opponent.