Thayer talent eyes college programs

Thayer Academy football coach Jeff Toussaint proudly talks about former players who have moved on to play at the collegiate level. The list of Thayer graduates grows each season and this week, three seniors are adding their names to that list.

Senior tailback/linebacker Matt Evans has verbally committed to play at New Hampshire, running back Ian Vieira is headed to Bowdoin, and lineman Evan Murray plans to play at fellow NESCAC program Tufts.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Evans, of Hanover, displayed his prowess on both sides of the ball this fall. He returned an interception for a touchdown in a 40-14 win against Buckingham, Browne & Nichols. In the backfield, he rushed for 750 yards and nine touchdowns on 82 carries. He is expected to play linebacker at New Hampshire.

"He loves to hit, so it's a good spot for him," Toussaint said.

Vieira, of Hull, led Thayer with 1,228 rushing yards on 159 carries. He had 14 touchdowns and four 2-point conversions. He also was voted co-Most Valuable Player by Independent School League coaches as Thayer earned a 6-2 record.

Murray, a 6-7, 300-pound lineman from Avon, created the holes for Thayer's very productive backfield.

Linebacker Alex Shulman of Hingham committed to Dartmouth earlier this year.

Thayer quarterback Anthony Melchionda also will be taking his skills to college, but he signed to play baseball at Boston College. He is a shortstop from Braintree.

This fall, in Melchionda's first full season as a starter, he completed 67 of 101 passes for 1,182 yards and 17 touchdowns. His touchdowns, yards, and completions were school records.

Three area players are members of the Franklin Pierce women's soccer team that advanced to Thursday's Division 2 national semifinals in Orange Beach, Ala., for a record 14th time.

Kelly Weygand, a freshman defender from Bridgewater, was a second-team all-region selection. She entered Thursday's match against Seattle Pacific with five assists, including three in the tournament, and a goal. She was also part of a Ravens' defensive unit that had not allowed a goal in the postseason.

The roster also includes junior forward Ann Foley of Foxborough and senior midfielder Colleen Callahan of Marshfield.

Franklin Pierce (17-1-5) has won five national titles, including four consecutive from 1994-1997.

The Franklin Pierce men's team also advanced to the national semifinals for the third time in the program's history and second time in three years.

The women's rugby team at Stonehill College celebrated back-to-back national championships after capturing the Division 3 title with a 49-0 victory against Marist College, in New York, last month.

Rugby may be a club sport, but the players have a commitment that is equal to varsity standards, said coach Derek Jenesky.

"They practice four days a week, and on days we don't practice they are working on their own," said Jenesky of a program that will move up to Division 2 status next year. "Their level of commitment is absolutely amazing. They put everything into this."

A 1990 Bridgewater-Raynham graduate, Jenesky is in his fifth season with the team. The Skyhawks have won 33 straight games since 2005 and outscored its foes 453-15 this fall.

The team includes Allisa Gillis of Walpole, a three-year starter at scrumhalf, a position similar to quarterback. The team also included Katie O'Malley of Milton, who was selected co-MVP.

Lindsay McNamara of Milton just finished off a magnificent junior season for the Bowdoin College field hockey team, capped by the unbeaten Polar Bears' march to the NCAA Division 3 title.

In the national championship game against NESCAC rival Middlebury, McNamara collected three goals in a 4-3 win, culminating a sparkling tournament performance in which she netted an NCAA-record nine goals.

The first team All-American selection also set single-season records for goals (27) and points (61) and was named the New England Small College Athletic Conference player of the year. She also was first-team all conference and All-New England selection.

Three area athletes at Connecticut College were selected to the NESCAC All-Academic team.

Opposite hitter Amy Crespi of Weymouth was a key member of the 20-8 season for the volleyball team. Courtney Mayer of Hingham was a co-captain on the field hockey team. Midfielder Bryanna Tokarz of East Bridgewater played for the women's soccer team.

The athletes must be juniors and have at least a cumulative 3.35 grade point average.

Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com.