By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
For the first time in over 40 seasons, Walpole boys’ soccer has a new head coach. Former Walpole assistant coach Patrick Sullivan has taken over the head coaching role from legendary hall of famer Lee Delaney. Sullivan played for Delaney and captained the Walpole squad his senior year going to the Division 2 South final in 2018. Following his years at Walpole, Sullivan played at Curry College graduating in 2023.
The Walpole Timberwolves boys’ soccer squared off against the division 1 Needham Rockets under the lights and perfect weather on Tuesday September 16, 2025 at Walpole High School.
However, they don’t play soccer matches on paper. They play them on the pitch. And all games start with the score 0-0.
Walpole beat Norwood, 1-0, earlier in the week. Was the team beginning to gel under the new coaches?
The Timberwolves’ roster has a nice balance of eleven seniors, nine juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen. The entire soccer program has seen an increase in athletes in 2025.
The senior captains are Conor Larkin, Davis Potter and Jack Towers. Goalkeeper Towers was a Bay State League all-star in 2024.
Against the Rockets, the Walpole coaching staff deployed a 4-5-1 formation which isn’t typical. Needham scored 2:31 into the game. But Walpole’s freshman Tyler Jackson tied the game at 1 at 28:35. Needham’s goalkeeper fumbled the ball and Jackson pounced. The entire stadium was stunned. The game was tied.
And it stayed that way for the rest of the first half. Towers made a few spectacular saves, none better than a left hand save then recovering to jump on the ball before it crossed the goal line. The crossbar also came in handy.
As the second half began, the Timberwolves had the better of the looks missing a couple of golden chances on goalkeeper miscues. Junior Derek Spack drilled a shot from the 40 yard line over the goalie’s head and just over the cross bar. Larkin had a penalty kick from the 20 yard line just go high.
Needham controlled the play for the last quarter of the game but were not able to muster many opportunities. But then midnight struck for Walpole with 8:12 to go. Towers made a nice save on a Needham shot but the rebound was knocked into the net by the Rockets.
Walpole’s defensive backline of Larkin, Lucas Niles, Blake Baker and Spack was outstanding all game.
If Sullivan is still coaching Walpole soccer in 40 years, he will have served his previous head coach proud. This year’s team has proven they can play with anyone in the state of Massachusetts.
Walpole continues its season on the road against Catholic Memorial on Monday September 22.
