Durfee Girls, Brockton Boys Win SEC Soccer Titles

The Durfee girls soccer team came from behind on the road against defending Southeast Conference champion Bridgewater-Raynham to pull out a 2-1 victory and earn the program’s first ever conference title. On the boys side, Brockton finished off its strong play in conference action, shutting out New Bedford, 3-0 to win the SEC crown.

The Durfee girls, after a tough 1-3 start to the season, are now riding a 13-game unbeaten streak (12-3-2 overall) and finish at 6-1-1 in the SEC. B-R meanwhile, finishes league play at 6-2, with both losses coming against the Lady Hilltoppers.

The Brockton boys established themselves as the team to beat all season long. The Boxers finish league play with a 7-1 mark. The lone setback came against Durfee, 2-1 back on September 14. New Bedford meanwhile, finishes its SEC campaign in second place with a 4-2-2 record.

In the girls game, B-R needed a win or tie to secure another league title. Things were looking good for the Lady Trojans early on, as they dominated play and got on the board when Willow Forbes-Smith converted on a corner kick opportunity. Emily Lincoln got the assist on the play.

Julia Hargraves

Though B-R was still enjoying an edge in play, the Hilltoppers pulled even late in the first half. Durfee defender, Rachael Silva took a back pass, carried a few steps and sent a high arching ball past the Trojan defense. There, Durfee senior standout Julia Hargraves won the race to the ball and pooched one over the charging Trojan keeper and into the goal for the equalizer.

As the tie game wore on and Durfee still needing a goal, first year Topper coach Hayden Tavares called timeout and reset his formation, putting more bodies toward the front. It paid off, as with just over five minutes to play, Durfee’s Kaitlyn Coutu took a header pass from Maddie Hargraves and struck a low ground ball that found its way inside the far right post. From there, the Hilltoppers’ defense held off a relentless barrage from the B-R offense to hang on for the win.

“This SEC Championship win resembles the dedication, sacrifice and hard work these girls have put in the entire season,” said Tavares. “The results the group has produced is a direct representation of this team and their quality; going on 13 games undefeated and now first-time SEC champions. Hard work pays off and I am so proud of the group. They deserve this!”

Final League Standings:

Brockton Boys, B-R Girls Win Cross Country Regular Season Crowns

The Brockton boys and the Bridgewater-Raynham girls cross country teams captured their respective regular season Southeast Conference titles. Both squads finished the regular season with 4-0 records on season in conference action.

The Brockton boys were led all year by a 1-2 punch of sophomore Seamus Canniff and senior Aaron Corlette, who finished undefeated in dual meets. Other top performers for the Boxers were junior Antonio Tobon, senior Liam Rizzo, and senior Henry Tait.

The conference championship meet will take place on October 25 at the Wrentham Development Center Cross Country Course.

Final league standings and scores:

Durfee, Brockton Get First Football Wins

The Brockton and Durfee football teams both fund their way into the win column. Brockton, playing its first season under head coach, Jermaine Wiggins, topped Lawrence 14-7 at home, while Durfee put on a dominating performance to defeat Nauset, 43-13. Both teams are now 1-3 on the year.

For Durfee, the win ended a very long losing streak. The last time the Hilltoppers tasted victory was in their 2021 Thanksgiving Day game over rival New Bedford. “It’s been a tough stretch here for the last year and a half,” Said Durfee head coach Taylor Brown.

The Toppers were led by senior running back Eric Lucas, who carried the ball 21 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Durfee quarterback KJ Strong has a touchdown pass to junior Ben Sherry and ran in a score as well.

For Brockton, after coming out on the short end of a couple of close games, the Boxers pulled one out thanks to a late-game interception in the end zone by senior Cam Monteiro. Brockton got its points on rushing touchdowns from Jaden Campbell and Luke Turco.

In other good news for SEC football teams, Dartmouth remained perfect on the season, improving to 4-0, with a 36-20 win over Apponequet Regional. The Indians were led by junior quarterback Jackson Hart, who ran for 163 and three touchdowns on just eight carries. Markus Andrews ran for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also had three catches for 27 yards. Ray Gramlich added 77 rushing yards for Dartmouth.

On the other side of the ledger, both Bridgewater-Raynham and New Bedford came out on the losing ends of their contests. B-R fell to 0-4 on the season with a 33-7 setback to Marshfield. The Whalers dropped a 42-6 decision to Lincoln-Sudbury to fall to 1-3 on the year.

Southeast Conference play will officially begin this week, when Bridgewater-Raynham visits Durfee for a 7 PM encounter Friday night.

Conference Soccer Races Tight at Mid-Season

At the midway point of the league schedule, both the boys and girls Southeast Conference soccer races remain wide open. With a 2-0 win over New Bedford, the Brockton boys hold a slim lead at 3-1, while Durfee and New Bedford, having played to a draw, are on the Boxers’ heels at 2-1-1. The Durfee girls meanwhile pulled off a hard-fought, 1-0 victory over previously undefeated Bridgewater-Raynham to pull even in the standings at 3-1.

After getting off to a slow, 1-3 start, the Durfee girls have come around, winning their last three games to improve to 4-3 overall under first-year head coach Hayden Tavares. That run includes not only the win over B-R but also a 2-1 victory over the SEC’s other perennial power, Dartmouth. The Lady Indians and Brockton are still very much in the thick of it at 2-2 in league action.

Durfee’s Liv Rumsey

In the win over B-R, Durfee controlled much of the first 15 minutes and jumped on top when junior Liv Rumsey won the race to the rebound of a diving save by the Lady Trojans’ keeper and buried it in the back of the net. B-R picked up the pace toward the end of the half, managing several shots, including one that caromed off the crossbar.

The second half was all B-R, as Durfee found itself playing defense against a relentless Lady Trojan attack. With the field seemingly tilted in its favor, B-R maintained consistent pressure, including the game’s final frantic minute, when the Lady Trojans had a handful of repeated corner kick opportunities. They failed to bury the equalizer however, as the Hilltopper defense staved off the relentless pressure to secure the win. Sophomore Ava Amaral posted the clean sheet in goal.

The Brockton boys managed to stay atop the standings with their shutout win over the Whalers. Midway through the first half, junior Alexandro Moreira put the Boxers on top with a goal. In the second half, Brockton converted a corner kick to double its lead. Junior Anthony Pina Santos was able to head in a ball off the foot of Moreira.

Current league standings:

B-R Girls Tennis Defeats Dartmouth To Forge Tie Atop League Standings

The Bridgewater-Raynham girls tennis team edged Southeast Conference foe Dartmouth 3-2 in a three hour marathon at Dartmouth. With the win, the Lady Trojans move into a tie with Dartmouth atop the SEC standings at 3-1 in league play. The Indians had won the pervious meeting by the same 3-2 score back on April 11.

The match came down to the thrilling result of the first doubles competition. There, B-R’s duo of senior Marlena Colwell and freshman Lily Cooley defeated Julia Caron and Adeline Ablett 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to seal the victory. 

Dartmouth picked up their wins at first and third singles. Annica Dupre won her match at first singles, 6-1, 6-1, while Alex Cojocaru won at third singles, 6-3, 6-0. B-R’s Nicole Kimball continued undefeated in league play topping Nyan Bala 6-1, 6-0 at second singles, while the Lady Trojan’s second doubles team of Annaliese Colwell and Eily Mitchell won over Bronte Massucco and Avia Oliveira 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.

Current League Standings:

B-R Defeats New Bedford in Girls Tennis

4-25-23

The visiting Bridgewater-Raynham girls tennis team defeated New Bedford 5-0 in Southeast Conference action. The Lady Trojans are now 2-2 on the year and 2-1 in the SEC. New Bedford falls to 0-3 in league play.

In singles, Nicole Kimball continued her winning ways at first singles defeating Emma Gibson 6-0, 6-1 in a match that was closer than the score indicates. Holly Nichols kept pace at second singles with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Jalysa Noriega. Catherine Taylor finished the singles sweep topping Megha Patel 6-1, 6-0. 

In doubles action, Annaliese Colwell with Eily Mitchell won first doubles 6-0, 6-1 over Edelmis Calderon Marcano and Cassie Martins. Lily Cooley partnered with Chloe Nichols to best Jaleea Madeiro and Sara Curry 6-0, 6-2. 

Durfee & New Bedford Split in Track & Field

Durfee and New Bedford went at it in track 7 field, with the New Bedford boys defeating the Hilltoppers, 73-53 and the Durfee girls prevailing over the Whalers, 99-54. With the win, the New Bedford boys improve to 1-1 overall and 1- in the Southeast Conference. The Durfee boys are now 0-2, with both losses coming in SEC action. The Lady Hilltoppers meanwhile improve to 1-1 overall and in the conference. The New Bedford girls are 0-2 on the year, 0-1 in the SEC

In the boys meet, Durfee’s Josh Sanon took first in the long jump and the triple jump, while Aiden Ferreira grabbed top honors in the shot put and the discus. Other Durfee winners included Branden Pinero in the 400 dash along with the 4×400 relay team of Lenzly Celestin, Jason Springer, Kayden Kheav, and Curtis Mowatt.

In the girls action, Durfee’s Shakira Cadet took first in the 400 hurdles, the 200 dash and the long jump, an event she also qualified for states. Jasmine DoSouto was a double winner for the Toppers, winning both the shot put and discus. Other Hilltopper winners were Thysh Garcia-Martinez in the 100 meters, Kacey Curran in the mile, Toni Freitas in the 400 meters, Alexis Alexandre in the 100 meter hurdles, Paitynn Botelho in the 800 meters, Vilmarie Ortega in the javelin and Alexandria Lapointe in the high jump. Durfee’s 4×100 relay team of Lauren Barnett, Sylvie Brito, Garcia Martinez, and Ava Guillemette also won, as did the 4×400 relay team of Brito, Abigail Britland-Raposo, Avery Lane, and Alexandre.

Five SEC Athletes Win State Titles

Rachael Silva – Durfee – One-Meter Dive


Jose Bonilla – New Bedford – 195 lb. Wrestling


Christensen Paul – Brockton – Long Jump


Nathan Leach – Bridgewater Raynham – 195 lb. Wrestling


Brent Von Magnus – Bridgewater-Raynham – 120 lb. Wrestling

B-R’s McNeil Named All-American

Jessie McNeil

Bridgewater-Raynham‘s standout swimmer Jessie McNeil was recently named an Academic All-American by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.

The Association’s congratulations letter reads “Over 353,936 students are involved in aquatics at the high school level in over 17,454 programs for boys’ and girls’.  Approximately 2% of these students are recognized as high school All American’s.”

McNeil, who was the South Sectional champion in the 200-yard individual medley, also took second at States in the 200 IM and 100-yard breaststroke. She was also the Southeast Conference champion in the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle events.

McNeil after winning 200 IM at Sectionals

Braden Medeiros, Aiden Carreiro, Bigger Than A Sport

By Mackenzie Boucher
Special to big3conference.org

Braden Medeiros and Aidan Carreiro are both track seniors at Dartmouth High who are grateful for the skills and community track has given them throughout their high school careers. The balance of finding a college, practice, schoolwork, and meets can be a lot, but both Aidan and Braden use lessons they learned in track to persevere through, with the support of the track “family,” of course. 

Braden does shot-put for the Dartmouth track and field team, and like Aidan, joined freshman year. “It’s different from any other sport you could possibly do, you can’t throw it like any other throwing action in other sports.” Shot-put is difficult to understand from an outside perspective, but the physical skill it takes is undisputed. Braden firmly believes anyone can find a place on the team, “the coaches will find something you’re good at, whether it be shot put or sprints. Coach Breault said I should try shot-put and I did, and it took off from there.”

Aiden Carreiro

 Aidan runs the 600 meter, the 1000 meter, and 4×400 meter relay. He was introduced to relay sophomore year and has done cross country all four years, “I like track. It’s very inclusive and welcoming. However, it can be stressful at times because coaches expect a lot from us, and if I don’t perform well I feel bad.” Ironically, Aidan does not “like” running although he likes track. “I do track to stay in shape and gain endurance,” he said.

Both Braden and Aidan have learned life long skills from the discipline of the track and field team. Aidan and Braden both mentioned that time management is a skill quickly learned on the track team. “Track taught me accountability because the coaches expect us to be there on time, and you have pressure on you to do something and perform well,” Aidan says. Braden agrees, “I really enjoy track, it gives me the accountability to get my homework done and good time management skills, it keeps you on task.”

Before meets, both athletes feel electric anticipation to perform well. “I get so nervous before races,” Aidan says. “I drink water and listen to music before meets. I listen to country or 80s. I have a range, at Reggie (Lewis Center) I tell other people to drink water.” Braden also has a personal pre-meet ritual, “I eat similar food and listen to similar music before the meet.”

Medeiros, Bronson Garriga, Carreiro

Aidan describes how coaches guided him to success by making meaningful connections. “Freshman year I was a little scared of the coaches, but once you get to know them, you open up and it becomes more personal,” he says. “My distance coach is also my cross country coach. She’s also my Spanish teacher from freshman year, so I’ve been more open to her.” The coaches drive the team to improve their skills and support each other. “They give you all the resources they can. They give you enough to do well and succeed, and I really want to succeed,” Braden says.

Braden claims one of the most important lessons he has learned is how to lift other people up. It’s a golden rule, “be supportive of other people, even if you don’t know them, especially for track. You want everyone to do well in our conference; New Bedford, Brockton, Durfee, we all cheer on each other for shot-put, it’s a nice environment that I haven’t found in any other sport.”

All players have a career defining game or meet, Braden and Aidan are not exceptions. “My junior year, last winter season, was the first time I made it to states. I did not think I would make it that far, but it showed me I am actually pretty good at this. It gave me a lot of motivation to continue and enjoy it.” Braden remembers the meet vividly, “I was seated at 14th or 15th and ended at ninth.” He recalls the feeling of reaching a level of success he previously thought was impossible. “It’s awesome. Nothing can compare. You can hit a homerun in baseball, score the winning goal in soccer, hit a buzzer beater in basketball, but there’s nothing better because it’s you helping yourself rather than you helping a team, you being able to tell yourself ‘I did great today.’ It can’t be matched.”

Aidan has had a similar serendipitous moment, “this years Brockton meet was pretty important, once we beat them, then we had a good chance of winning the whole SEC, which we did,” he says, “I ran the 600 and relay. It was a really tough meet, but we won.”

Both Aidan and Braden plan on continuing track in college either through a club or team because of the positive influence that track and field has had on their lives, which now seems instrumental to keep.