Gillette provides perfect setting for tourney-qualifying upset Win

The Bulldogs ended a skid of tough results with a huge 1-0 win over Mansfield Friday night at Gillette Stadium.  The win qualified the team for the MIAA state tournament for the 11th time in the past 12 years and improved the season's record to 7-6-4 with just one regular season game remaining.

The 'dogs came out flying playing into a stiff wind in the first half.  Within the first 2 minutes, Canton had hit the post and forced two big saves by the Hornet goalkeeper, but despite the early pressure, the 'dogs were forced to hold on for most of the tail end of the first half as a relentless Hornet attack and a howling wind combined to make life very difficult on the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs came out on the front foot in the second half and created many great chances to take the lead, but it wasn't until midway through the half that Griffin Roach collected the ball 25 yards out and hit a low, hard strike into the bottom left corner of the Mansfield goal. The Bulldogs would create several more excellent chances to double the lead and Mansfield had looks at a tying goal as well, but the game ended with Canton holding onto the key 1-0 win.

Jake Verille, Ben Waterhouse and Roach were dominant in midfield, controlling much of the game in the middle-third. Danny Hartnett, Pat McLaughlin, John Agnitti and Paolo Ruggeri were well organized and tough all night long in denying the Hornets many scoring chances. Goalkeeper Abe Garber did not have to make many saves but controlled his box all game long- earning his 5th shutout of the season.

The team travels to Stoughton on Monday afternoon for a 3:30 game- the last of the regular season. MIAA Tournament seeding is announced on Wednesday with play expected to kick off on Friday.

2006 Championship team honored Saturday Night

Nine members of the 2006 Hock Championship team were honored at halftime of Saturday night's Canton-Randolph game on this- the 10 year anniversary of their magical season. 

The 2006 team went from worst to first coming off a 3-win season in 2005 to drop only 2 games in 2006. The team won the Hockomock League back when there was only one division with nine schools. The squad then went on to the Sectional Semi-Final before falling to Midfield.  

The team instilled a new winning attitude and kicked off a period of success that is unparalleled in soccer in the area.  The team would follow up the 2006 championship with league titles in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and would advance to at least the Sectional Semi-Finals for 8 straight seasons. 

Representing the 2006 squad Saturday night at CHS was Jake Shapiro, Alan Berch, Anthony Crespi, Brandon Lyons, Devin O'Gorman, Matt Wong, DJ Murray, Danny Corcoran and Nick Saraf. 

Thanks to that team for ushering in an era of success in the CHS Boys Soccer program and thanks for coming back so that we could say thanks!

Win and 2 Draws extends unbeaten streak to 7 games

It was another unbeaten week for the CHS Boys Soccer team as the squad began a run of three, 3-games weeks by earning a win and two draws.

The week started with a 2-2 draw with non-league opponent Marshfield. The game saw goals by Paul Corcoran and Sammy Papakonstantino- who also provided the assist on Corcoran's goal on a beautiful one-time penetrating ball. There were many more chances in the game for the Bulldogs to pull ahead, but each chance was denied by the Rams.

The mid-week contest saw the Bulldogs host defending D2 State Champion Oliver Ames.  The home side was not on the top of their game and had to brave a pressing attack by the Tigers for much of the night.  Canton goalkeeper Abe Garber played very well in the 0-0 draw- earning his 4th shutout of the season.

Saturday night saw a back-and-forth battle with non-league opponent Randolph that ended with a 3-2 Bulldog win. Papakonstantino got the scoring going in the 1st half, heading in a Jake Verille corner kick.  But a Bulldog communication breakdown just minutes later, led to a Randolph goal. But the 'dogs came back and grabbed the lead before halftime when Muhammad Sambo combined with Dillon Anderson who slid a great ball in to a streaking Cole Duserick who scored his first goal of the season.  The home team came out flat in the 2nd half and surrendered a goal and the game remained 2-2 for much of the 2nd half.  But with just 7 minutes left, Griffin Roach stepped up to a direct kick from the left flank and calmly placed the ball over the Randolph goalkeeper for the winning goal.

The team jumps back into the Davenport this week, with three road games- NA, Milford and Sharon.

Win and Draw extends Bulldog's unbeaten streak to 4 games

A 1-1 draw with Franklin on Wednesday was followed up with a 3-1 win at Taunton Saturday night, extending the Bulldog's current unbeaten streak to four games and improving the team's record to 5-3-1 at the mid-way point of the season.

Tuesday's hard-fought 1-1 draw with Franklin saw the Bulldogs surrender an early goal before bouncing back to earn the tie.  Jake Verille's brilliant free kick from 25 yards out on the right flank, mid-way through the 1st half, found the inside of the far post and teammate Ben Waterhouse was there to head in the rebound.  The game was back-and-forth from that point on with both teams creating and squandering chances to win.

Saturday night would be a different story as the Bulldogs traveled to Taunton and exploded for three goals in the first half.  Griffin Roach got the scoring going on a rocket of direct kick that dipped over the wall and just under the bar. Roach would find Paul Corcoran with a perfectly weighted through ball with 15 minutes left in the half and Corcoran (the team's leading scorer- 6g, 2a) coolly doubled the lead.  With just 7 minutes left in the half, Ben Waterhouse tucked in a Jake Verille corner kick to make it a three-goal first half. Taunton had scored narrowed the lead to 2-1 before Waterhouse provided the two-goal cushion. Final score- 3-1 Bulldogs.

The team has clawed its way to the top of the Davenport Division of the Hockomock League at the mid-point of the season, just a point ahead of the Sharon Eagles. The 'dogs are in for a whirlwind of a 2nd half of the season as they will play 9 game in 19 days.  That run starts with a non-league battle with Marshfield at home on Monday night at 6:00pm.

Corcoran's third goal of week leads 'Dogs past Stoughton

Saturday night saw lots of rain and lots of tough soccer played at Memorial Field as the Bulldogs hosted Stoughton.  The two teams swapped moments of control in the well-played game but Canton managed to put together a great scoring play with just 5 minutes remaining, leading to a 1-0 CHS win.

Conditions were tough for possession soccer and, as a result, much of the contest turned into a physical battle. Control of high school soccer games often comes down to who can win the 50/50 battles at midfield and Saturday night's conditions only amplified that.  When the 'dogs were winning those battles, the game was played in Stoughton's end and when the Black Knights were winning those battles, the game was played in the Bulldog end. 

Despite a strong defensive effort by the back four of John Agnitti, Danny Hartnett, Pat McLaughlin and Chris Miline, Bulldog goalkeeper Abe Garber was busy- particularly in the 2nd half- but he met every Stoughton chance with confidence in earning his 3rd shutout of the season (1.0 gaa.) 

With just 5-minutes remaining, Griffin Roach played a great long, clearance to Paul Corcoran, who controlled it and found Ben Waterhouse heading to the right flank.  Waterhouse put a great move on his Stoughton mark, attacked the endline and found Corcoran, who had made a great near-post run.  Corcoran then calmly knocked the ball in for his 3rd goal in as many games. 

The Bulldogs are now 4-3 and have won 4 of the last 5 games.  They host Franklin on Wednesday afternoon at 3:45 and travel to Taunton on Saturday night at 6:00pm.