Such was the case Tuesday, as Globe correspondent Alexa Podalsky dove deep into the Franklin field hockey’s tenacious defense, which hadn’t allowed a goal in 11 straight games, helping the Panthers to an 11-0-2 record.
No more.
No. 12 Lincoln-Sudbury got a goal from Blaire Brennan for a 1-0 win over No. 10 Franklin hours after Podalsky filed her story. Of course, it doesn’t change the premise of the story. Franklin’s defense is still awesome. The Panthers allowed just one goal on 15 corners and Devon Barry made 10 saves vs. L-S, but the timing was inconvenient.
While a mild upset, that paled compared to No. 10 Natick girls’ volleyball’s stunning win over No. 3 Newton North, 3-1. The Redhawks had been scuffling, losing four of their last seven matches, before coalescing around a new offensive strategy to take down the defending Division 1 champions.
Find all of Tuesday’s scores and recaps on our scoreboard.
And check out the latest gallery of high school photographers’ work.
▪ With a 19-45 win over Whitman-Hanson, the Duxbury boys’ cross-country team raced its way to a Patriot League title, the program’s first since 2019.
▪ With two goals just 90 seconds apart in a 3-1 field hockey win over King Philip on Monday, Canton junior Shannon Lane recorded the 100th of her career.
▪ Also Monday, Franklin field hockey clinched its seventh Hockomock Kelley-Rex title in a row with a 4-0 win over Mansfield. Junior Ella Marzullo powered the win with two goals and an assist. Just 24 hours later, the Panthers’ saw their 11-game unbeaten streak (and shutout streak) ended by Lincoln-Sudbury, 1-0.
▪ Two Pembroke volleyball players were honored Monday, ahead of a 3-1 win over North Quincy, for recently reaching statistical milestones. Senior Abi DeMille recorded her 500th dig during Friday’s win over Hanover, while junior Meghan Murray was feted for exceeding 600 career assists.
Braintree senior Francesca Mazzini, who helped the Wamps reach the Division 1 semifinals in March, announced she will play women’s basketball at Connecticut College.
▪ Desmond Bellot Jr., a 6-foot-3-inch point guard for CATS Academy in Boston, announced he has committed to play Division 1 men’s basketball at Fordham.
3. Patriots honor Marshall
By snapping a four-game losing streak to Mashpee, 27-14, Randolph football coach Jon Marshall was honored as the New England Patriots Coach of the Week.
Behind a dominant offensive line, Randolph ran for more than 250 yards, including a 53-yard TD scamper from Mekhi White and a 34-yarder from Alin Norisca. The Blue Devils are now 4-0.
“Coach Marshall and the Blue Devils proved that history doesn’t dictate destiny,” said Patriots Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, who presented the program with a check for $1,000 from the Kraft family and the Patriots Charitable Foundation. “After four straight losses to Mashpee, they came together, stayed the course and earned a 27–14 win that spoke volumes about belief, preparation, and pride in Randolph football.”
▪ UMass Dartmouth freshman Alexah Pedder, a Diman graduate, was named Little East Conference Cross-Country Rookie of the Week after finishing the 6K Paul Short Run at Lehigh University in 24 minutes, 27 seconds, her fourth-straight race as the top rookie finisher for the Corsairs.
▪ Connecticut College junior Marco Perugini, a Medway graduate, was named NESCAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Week after posting 6 points in a 1-0-1 week for the Camels. He assisted twice against Trinity, then had two goals in a 4-0 win over Rhode Island College.
▪ Roger Williams junior Will Lafrance, a Bishop Stang graduate from Westport, was named to the Commonwealth New England All-Conference second team after firing a 2-under-par 70 in Round 2 of the conference championship at Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield, Conn. He finished the tournament at 5-over 149 as Roger Williams claimed the team title with a plus-34. Pacing the Hawks was West Springfield graduate Sammy Johnson, who finished fourth at 3-over 147 to earn a first-team all-conference nod.
▪ Northeastern baseball announced its incoming class, both of transfers and freshmen, and it includes several local names.
Transferring in are UMass junior righthander Robbie O’Connor, the 2021 Dual County League Pitcher of the Year at Lincoln-Sudbury. The 6-4, 170-pounder earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors in 2024.
Matthew Sapienza, a 6-2, 225-pound Phillips Andover graduate and lefthanded pitcher from North Andover, is transferring from Georgetown.
Joining the team as freshmen are Tantasqua graduate Miles Blake (lefthander), Uxbridge graduate Charlie Criscola (middle infielder), Worcester Academy graduate Danny Flynn (outfielder, also played at St. John’s Prep and Phillips Andover), Milton graduate Scott Longo (lefthander), and Winchester graduate Tom Mahoney (righthander).
Includes Monday and Tuesday games
Gabriel Garcia, Everett, 4
Dylan Baldwin, Pembroke, 3
Cole Boggis, Natick, 3
Preston Carvalho, Westport, 3
Liliana LoPriore, Malden Catholic, 3
Jackson Merritt, Beverly, 3
Tanya Queiroz, Rockland, 3
Genevieve Bilotti, Beverly, 2
Tiago Branco, Westport, 2
Cam Bulat, Lincoln-Sudbury, 2
Ariana Demetri, North Reading, 2
Emelyn Garcia, Lynn Tech, 2
Lorenzo Grimaldi, Newton North, 2
Sidney Heavey, Medfield, 2
Allie Lanciani, North Reading, 2
Noah Lear, St. John’s Prep, 2
Chase Linsey, Amesbury, 2
Talia Lowney, Greater Lowell, 2
Molly Lucas, Rockland, 2
Anna Manganello, Duxbury, 2
Izzy Marino, Needham, 2
Meg McGoldrick, Archbishop Williams, 2
John Pacheco, Tewksbury, 2
Drew Pavao, Joseph Case, 2
Nick Puopolo, Norwell, 2
Greta Siefken, Swampscott, 2
Eleni Stowell, Westford, 2
Emma Sutherland, Danvers, 2
Olivia Swett, Central Catholic, 2
Devon Weafer, Medfield, 2
Mia Weber, Westford, 2
Includes Monday and Tuesday games
Kate Schneider, Walpole, 5
Lila Epperson, Acton-Boxborough, 4
Anthony Ford, Lowell, 3
Ava Gauvain, Masconomet, 3
Emily Boneck, Westford, 2
Mackenzie Clarke, Belmont, 2
Sadie Clarkin, Sandwich, 2
Abby Kent, Manchester Essex, 2
Haylee Krakowski, West Bridgewater, 2
Shannon Lane, Canton, 2
Ella Marzullo, Franklin, 2
Anthony Ford, Lowell, 5
Lila Epperson, Acton-Boxbrough, 4
Mackenzie Clarke, Belmont, 3
Ella Marzullo, Franklin, 3
Mia Smith, Belmont, 3
Includes Monday and Tuesday games
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 28
Norah Downey, Braintree, 20
Hazel Lovins, Winchester, 20
Audrey Manning, Lynnfield, 19
Chloe McKinnon, Dartmouth, 19
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 16
Bella Sierpina, Central Catholic, 15
Alexia Vaquerano, Lynnfield, 14
Zapelini Viviani, Woburn, 14
Oliiva Leonardo, Attleboro, 13
Mia Milani, Bellingham, 13
Lila Moniz, Marblehead, 13
Madison Blanchet, Central Catholic, 45
Lindsey Barber, Dartmouth, 39
Defne Mergen, Winchester, 38
Eva Burke, Marblehead, 35
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 32
Rafaela Prebianchi, Dennis-Yarmouth, 31
Zerena Chung, Braintree, 28
Kate O’Toole, Archbishop Williams, 27
Maya Morrison, Old Rochester, 26
Tina Zheng, Andover, 25
Haley Carter, Attleboro, 23
Sadie Chadwick, Hanover, 20
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 40
Mia Cartullo, Archbishop Williams, 25
Sage Young, Attleboro, 20
Scarlet Jones, Natick, 18
Kaiyal Kumaran, Winchester, 18
Chloe McKinnon, Dartmouth, 18
Katie Popovich, Dennis-Yarmouth, 18
Sophia Soto, Bellingham, 18
Farah Berty, Andover, 17
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 17
Emily Ormon, Dennis-Yarmouth, 15
Naomi Vajada, Andover, 6
Zapelini Viviani, Woburn, 5
Ava Johnston, Barnstable, 4
Aeva Dabreo, Dennis-Yarmouth, 3
Audrey Manning, Lynnfield, 3
Jenna Mishou, Archbishop Williams, 3
Addison Monahan, Hanover, 3
Amalia Thompson, Barnstable, 3
Julie Hall, Central Catholic, 10
Luca Torrey, South Shore Tech, 10
Ava Bailey, Newburyport, 7
Ellen Griswold, Chelmsford, 6
Mia Milani, Bellingham, 6
Bonnie Politzer, Chelmsford, 6
Mia Barnes, Bishop Feehan, 5
Reagan Melo, Durfee, 5
Maya Morrison, Old Rochester, 5
Emily Ormon, Dennis-Yarmouth, 5
Rafaela Prebianchi, Dennis-Yarmouth, 5
Lucy Rimer, Newburyport, 5
Vanessa Vaudo, Stoneham, 5
Kyra Ward, Chelmsford, 5
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
