Before the Bishop Feehan girls soccer team prepared for its semifinal matchup against powerhouse Natick on Nov. 18 — an upset bid the Shamrocks would ultimately pull off in double overtime — girls basketball coach Amy Dolores and senior Samantha Carlson were chatting with the soccer captains.
Dolores wanted to tell them anything was possible in the postseason, so she reflected on Bishop Feehan's run to the MIAA Division 1 championship. Wachusett had flattened the Shamrocks by 31 points in mid-February, but when the stakes were highest, they flipped the script and won, 48-40, in the title game against the Mountaineers.
"Just kind of that example shows that it's a game — you have to compete on the field," she said. "It doesn't matter what the backstory (or) the rankings (are), and I think that's something that all of our players will take with them for their whole life."
Bishop Feehan secured its second state championship in program history last year. After also making the championship game in 2022-23, the Shamrocks have established themselves as a perennial power. Here's what to expect from them this winter.
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One last ride for an elite backcourt
Charlotte Adams-Lopez and Maddy Steel are North Attleboro, Mass., natives and longtime AAU teammates on the Honey Badgers. The seniors have shared the Bishop Feehan backcourt for the last two years, emerging as twin centerpieces to the recent success.
Adams-Lopez is the point guard and one of the state's most cerebral playmakers, averaging 10.7 points and 5.5 assists last year while shooting 62 percent from the floor. Steel is the sharpshooter who won Catholic Central League Offensive Player of the Year, making 37 percent of her 3-pointers while putting up 14 points per game.
"They're unselfish. Their games complement each other," Dolores said. "They've done so much for our program, and to have them again for another year in the backcourt makes me feel very good as a coach."
The duo plays such efficient offense together that their defense often gets overlooked. Adams-Lopez drew eight charges last year and averaged 2.2 steals. Steel took on some of the toughest opposing matchups and her physical strength exceeds her 5-foot-8 frame.
"It really sets the tone for our team, and honestly, I think it's more a testament to their character, because playing defensive isn't always glorious," Dolores said. "It's very hard. It takes a lot of energy, and they just commit to it."
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Replacing Julia Webster
Adams-Lopez and Steel steered the Shamrocks to the postseason, but they wouldn't have won the championship without Webster's stellar playoff run. The 6-foot forward from Cumberland, R.I., racked up 23.4 points and 10 rebounds per game in the playoffs. The run even helped Webster become a late program addition at Stonehill, where she's averaging 11.5 minutes as a freshman.
"Webster added so much offensively to us also, but definitely, she guarded a lot of the other team's size," Dolores said. "So that's going to be something that we're gonna look for — kids to step up and to take that role."
The Shamrocks don't have an immediate answer for how they'll fill Webster's void. Lily Singer, a senior who has developed into a reliable stretch forward, should help. Dolores mentioned sophomores Emmette Barry and Shannon LaMorticelli as potential options. Tryouts could be a key decider for how the reigning champs approach their frontcourt.
"I'm excited for tryouts. People ask me, 'How are you going to replace Webster?' I don't know," Dolores said. "We're going to put them all out there and see who can do the job, who can get it done, and we're open to anyone who's ready to step up and fill that (role)."
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Mollie Mullen is on breakout watch
Mullen, a junior wing, started on last year's championship team but played more of a complementary role with Adams-Lopez, Steel and Webster leading the way. This year, the Shamrocks will need to find more scoring, and she could be the X-factor.
Mullen most recently impressed during the Eastern Mass. Showcase this past week, scoring 13 points and demonstrating increased confidence seeking out her own shot. Her defense landed her in the starting lineup, but her offensive growth is a potential difference-maker.
"Her defensive intensity was incredible last year," Dolores said. "We had games where I felt like she got a deflection on every possession. She's that active defensively, and she's worked hard in the offseason to refine her offensive game, and I'm really excited to see what she does with with our returning cast."
