Charlie Curmi finished his career last season at Medfield as one of the most accomplished players to ever come through the boys soccer program.
But Curmi knew at the time, as did Warriors head coach Jason Heim, that one of the team’s underclassmen could rewrite all Curmi did with his own transformational talent.
Sophomore striker Max Tillmann has exceed expectations while filling the void left by Curmi’s graduation. Tillmann is spearheading a Warriors squad very capable of winning a Division 3 state title, while also being on pace to shatter Curmi’s all-time goal-scoring record at Medfield.
“He had big shoes to fill with Charlie being such a good leader and TVL MVP,” Heim said. “He’s kind of taken that role in stride and just done a great job with it.”
Heim lauded Tillmann’s leadership in making a difference for the Warriors. Heim said he never had a player be as vocal as Tillmann at such a young age.
Tillmann, who has been around the game of soccer his whole life and honed his skills when visiting his father’s native Germany on occasion in summertime, believes letting his voice be heard is another way for him to make an impact.
“I feel like it’s just come naturally,” Tillmann said. “I feel like I know so much about the sport, and I know what can bring the best out of me and the best out of the team. If I hold my opinions back from the team, it’s not going to help the team. So, I’m willing to put the stuff out there.”
There’s also Tillmann’s exceptional on-field ability. He has the speed and skill to torment defenses, which he has routinely done this fall.
After scoring six goals as a freshman, Heim moved the 5-foot-11, 150-pound Tillmann up to Curmi’s striker position, and Tillman had delivered 21 goals and six assists heading into Medfield’s contest against Norton on Tuesday. The 27 goals for Tillmann over a season and a half puts him 21 tallies behind Curmi’s all-time mark.
Adding to Tillman’s scoring prowess is his knack of maintaining possession, which Heim credits in raising Medfield’s attack.
“I’ve never seen a player have the balance that he has,” Heim said. “He can go up against someone who is 200 pounds, and they’ll shoulder him and he actually uses the momentum when he’s pushed and brings the ball and almost accelerates off of it. … It is really difficult for anyone to take the ball away from him.”
Players with Tillmann’s elite skill set don’t always stay with high school programs, opting instead to go a different route like MLS Next. It was in the back of Heim’s mind that Tillmann could leave Medfield for a soccer academy. It was at the forefront of Tillmann’s mind this past summer.
Tillmann was approached about playing at a different level, but made the decision that he ultimately was better off staying put at Medfield.
“For a big part of the summer, I did not think I was going to be playing high school,” Tillmann said. “My parents always keep me so grounded, they know that it’s such a big part of me, not so much just playing soccer, but being with my friends and enjoying it – playing for Medfield and with all the kids I know, and I see them in school every day and representing the community and the school.”
Suiting up for Medfield gives Tillmann a unique experience on Thursday when the Warriors face rival Dover-Sherborn at Gillette Stadium.
It’s a monumental contest given the setting and the fact that Medfield is closing in on its first Tri-Valley League title since 2010. And it feels like just the place where Tillmann will shine the brightest.
“It’s a big stage that he’s been looking for and you’re going to see a special performance from him,” Heim said.
Shamrocks rock
It’s been far from a one-player show for the Bishop Feehan girls. It feels like seemingly every player on the Shamrocks has had a hand in their perfect 12-0 record.
“The cohesiveness of the group of coaches and players right now is something special,” Feehan head coach Phil Silva said.
The Shamrocks displayed their collective might in Monday’s 7-1 thumping of King Philip. Quinn Dwomoh, a freshman who leads Feehan in goals, took a break from scoring and dished out three assists, while Savannah Ryan netted a hat trick and Tia LaBrecque potted two goals.
Adalyn Nadeau and Michaela Poidomani bolster Feehan’s offense from the wing, and Mary-Clare Thorpe and Alicia Schneider dictate play through the midfield to give the Shamrocks plenty of offensive options.
“Makes it difficult on another team,” Silva said. “If they do want to identify one player to take away, there’s a few other ones that are going to be ready to pounce on that opportunity.”
Feehan’s defense isn’t to be outdone. Anchored by Lanie Cawley, Elizabeth Hogan, and Addison Hansbury, the Shamrocks have allowed just six goals all fall.
Lurking Panthers
Despite a 12-1 record and outscoring their opponents by a 50-10 margin, the Beverly boys haven’t garnered the same notoriety as other Division 1 powers from the Catholic Conference and Bay State Conference.
That’s fine with Beverly head coach Edgar de Leon.
“I love for our teams to be under the radar because we have an underdog mentality where we’re always going to grind out every game best we can,” de Leon said.
The Panthers are led by Daniel Silva and Connor Sullivan, who have combined to score over 25 goals.
