Dogs pick up two big wins

It was a great week for the CHS Boys Varsity Soccer team as the squad hosted Davenport foe Foxboro on Wednesday and Kelley-Rex crossover opponent Mansfield on Thursday.  Both the Warriors and the Hornets were off to great starts on the season as the Warriors were tied with the Bulldogs in 2nd place in the Davenport while the Hornets were unbeaten on the season, surrendering only two goals in their first nine games. The Bulldogs were up for the challenge as they edged the Warriors, 2-1 and blanked the Hornets, 3-0. 

Canton 2, Foxboro 1

Both teams headed into Wednesday night with four league victories to date.  The Bulldogs played on their front foot from the opening whistle, creating many chances but they could not finish early. It took some magic by leading scorer Jake McCabe ('23), who danced his way up the endline off of a corner kick, beating three Warrior defenders before poking a goal into the top corner. The team would take the one-goal lead into the break but it was Foxboro who came out firing in the 2nd half, scoring on a Bulldog defensive lapse early in the 2nd, knotting the game at 1-1.  Midway through the 2nd, McCabe found Erik Valdovinos ('22) in the box with a great service. Valdovinos would bring it down with his chest, get tripped up with a Foxboro back, pop back up and bury the game-winner.  Dylan Baird ('22) and Brian Shea ('23) were key in the Bulldog midfield. 

CANTON-FOXBORO HIGHLIGHTS

Canton 3, Mansfield 0

The story on Thursday night was the Canton attack as the unbeaten Hornets had only conceded 2 goals in their first 9 games, but the Bulldogs exploded for 3! The Dog's had the advantage in territory and possession for most of the contest but were only able to capitalize on one in the first half.  It was McCabe's tenacity that got him this one as he powered through a busy Hornet goal area to score on a chance off of a Valdovinos touch.  The 2nd half saw the Bulldog maintain possession but it was the Hornets that got closest to score early as CHS goalkeeper Giovanni Ruggeri had to make a finger tip save that would hit the bar to keep the Green and White in the lead. The 'dogs would score twice in the final 15 minutes on goals by Jacob Crugnale ('22) and McCabe. 

Ruggeri and the back line of Jay Kelleher ('22), Ashton Cetoute ('23) and Zack Dowling ('22) earned the team's 3rd shutout of the season. 

CANTON-MANSFIELD HIGHLIGHTS

The team has another BIG week ahead as they travel to Attleboro (6-1-3) on Tuesday and to Oliver Ames (8-1-1) on Friday.  The Bulldogs currently sit in 2nd place in the Davenport with a overall mark of 6-3-2.