The Stonehill College women's basketball team rebounded from a rare loss with a victory over Southern Connecticut State University. After opening a 13-point lead in the second half, Stonehill had problems holding on but survived down the stretch to win 70-66. Coach Trisha Brown said the team responded well after the loss with strong practices and built on changes made, regaining some confidence. The win improved Stonehill's record to 15-2.

1. 27ENTERPRISENEWS.COM JANUARY 27, 2013
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OUTDOORS / 28
HIGH SCHOOLS, COLLEGES / 29
OUTDOORS, SCOREBOARD / 30
Vega heads home with Pats
’Hawks
rebound
at home
Stonehill women bounce
back from second loss
with spirited win
By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
EASTON – Three days after being
handed a rare loss this season, the Stonehill
College women’s basketball team rebound-
ed with a victory.
The Skyhawks, ranked 13th in last
week’s national Div.
2 poll, improved to
15-2 by holding off
Southern Connecti-
cut State University,
70-66, on Saturday
afternoon at Merkert
Gym.
Stonehill (11-2,
second place in the Northeast-10 Confer-
ence) lost on the road to American Interna-
tional College last Wednesday, but wasted
little time getting back on track.
“Honestly, the strength of this team has
been our work ethic in practice, and that’s
exactly what they did,’’ said Skyhawks
coach Trisha Brown. “They responded after
Wednesday and we had two really good
practices and we built off the changes we
made in practice and that’s really what
helped us.
“This is big for us, just to get our confi-
dence back a little. We certainly noticed af-
ter Wednesday that we’re still a young team
in that regard, so this is great to get a
win.’’
Stonehill had its problems against
Southern Connecticut State (5-11, 2-11) af-
ter opening a 13-point second-half lead, but
the Skyhawks survived down the stretch af-
ter the Owls had pulled within two points on
SOCCER
STAR IN
STRIPESBrockton’s Cavaco earns award
as U.S Youth Soccer National
Young Referee of the Year
By Chris Judd
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
W
hen Jordan Cavaco was injured while
playing soccer two years ago at Thayer
Academy, he didn’t lose his love of the
sport.
Instead, the Brockton native shifted
his focus from being a soccer player to being a soccer ref-
eree so that he could still be around the game.
It was a move that turned out to benefit both, Cavaco
and the area soccer community.
Last week, the 19-year-old Cavaco was in Indianapolis
to accept his U.S Youth Soccer award as the National
Young Referee of the Year, given
in recognition of his work ethic,
knowledge of the game and excel-
lence in the field.
“I was so shocked and happy,”
said Cavaco. “It was a great feel-
ing. These are all achievements
that I’ve worked so hard for.”
Cavaco began playing soccer
when he was 6 years old in vari-
ous Brockton youth soccer leagues
and started his high school soccer
career at Brockton High.
After two years at Brockton,
Cavaco transferred to Thayer Academy in Braintree as a
junior.
“It was more of a challenge,” said Cavaco of joining
the Thayer program. “Soccer was more of a passion for
them. Some kids in the public school were only doing it
because their parents told them to, but in Thayer, everyone
wanted to get to the next level.”
Early in his first season for the Tigers, however, Cava-
co was dealt a painful interruption.
“I broke my nose, which was a major setback for me,”
said Cavaco. “I lost a lot of confidence in my playing abili-
ty that I still haven’t completely regained. I shifted my fo-
cus more to refereeing after that.”
It turned out to be a soccer blessing in disguise for
Cavaco.
“John is really a soccer professional,” said Thayer boys
soccer coach Jake Diamond. “He played for two years at
Thayer. He could play every position and play with both of
his feet.
C E LT I C S
Jordan Cavaco photo
Assumption College freshman Jordan Cavaco, of Brockton, refereed
at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup in Sacramento,
Calif., last summer.
“ The most
rewarding part
about being a
referee is the
interaction I
have with
players.”
Jordan Cavaco
Youth soccer referee
Heat’s Allen ready to face fire in Garden return
Brockton High grad agrees
to terms with Patriots after
CFL stay with Winnipeg
By Glen Farley
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
BROCKTON – His route from Marciano Sta-
dium to Gillette Stadium took him through cus-
toms.
After recording 12 sacks over two seasons
with the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg
Blue Bombers, however, Jason Vega is on the road
back home.
As initially reported Saturday af-
ternoon on Boston.com, the Patriots
have come to terms on a contract
with the Brockton High School grad-
uate (Class of 2005).
Because Vega remains under
contract to the Blue Bombers
through Feb. 15, a deal cannot be of-
ficially announced at this time.
Reached in Florida where he is in
training, Vega declined comment on
his future other than to say, “it’s not
looking like I’ll return to the CFL in
the near future.”
A Northeastern University prod-
uct, Vega originally made his way
north of the border when he signed
with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in
2010. He spent three weeks on the
Tiger-Cats practice roster before he
was released after suffering a groin
injury.
Returning to his alma mater to
take a job as an academic coordinator
for the school’s athletics department,
Vega caught the eyes of the Blue
Bombers at a tryout camp in 2011
and found a football home as a defen-
sive end in Winnipeg the past two
seasons.
“Jason had a breakout year a couple of seasons
ago with Winnipeg when they went to the Grey
Cup (losing to British Columbia, 34-23),” Brock-
ton High head coach Peter Colombo said.
“He’s the total package. He can run. He’s tall
(6-foot-4). He’s got the kind of wingspan you read
about. He brings athleticism and the kind of pass
rush everyone wants. I think the sky’s the limit for
him.
“This program opens up opportunities for
guys and Jason’s really taken advantage,” Colom-
bo continued. “He was a member of that class
whose team beat Everett in the great game in ’04
MARC VASCONCELLOS/THE ENTERPRISE
I Stonehill College’s Ashley Gendron has
her shot blocked during by a Southern
Connecticut State University defender
during their game Saturday.
STONEHILL 77
SOUTHERN CONN. 66
Jason Vega
Former Celtics guard
not likely to receive
warm welcome back
By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
T
he last time he was at the TD
Garden as an opponent, Ray
Allen drew a routine amount
of attention.
He was a member of the former
Seattle SuperSonics on March 9,
2007 and scored 22 points while
making only 2
of 9 shots from
3-point range in
a 118-103 loss
to the Celtics.
Nearly six
years later,
Allen returns to
Causeway
Street this after-
noon as a Celtics’ foe, and it is safe
to say he will be receiving a lot more
than just a routine amount of atten-
tion.
After spending five successful
seasons wearing No. 20 for the
Celtics and winning an NBA cham-
pionship, Allen left the organization
in a bitter divorce last summer, sign-
ing as a free agent with the reigning
kings, the Miami Heat.
It was a move that did not go
over well in these parts as the Big 3
of Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul
Pierce, formed in the summer of
2007, was broken up.
So it will be interesting to see
what type of response Allen receives
from the crowd of 18,624 when he
steps onto the parquet floor today
wearing a No. 34 Heat jersey.
Will he be feted for being such a
key contributor to a successful five-
year run the Celtics had after many
seasons of the franchise being down
and out?
VEGA/PAGE 28
ALLEN/PAGE 28
Ray Allen
SKYHAWKS/PAGE 29
INSIDE
I Stonehill men
can’t hang on in
loss / 29
CAVACO/PAGE 28