Dogs make it 4 games unbeaten with win at Stoughton

Submitted by Austin DiBiasio- '24

Stoughton HS vs. Canton HS

5:30PM             Stoughton High School

After a win at Sharon (1-0), and a draw vs Taunton (2-2) the Bulldogs are looking to keep their unbeaten run going against Stoughton.

Report:

The first look at goal came about 2 minutes in as Jake McCabe threw it into the Stoughton penalty area, where Alvaro Cezon got a foot to it, directing the ball towards goal, where the Stoughton goalkeeper would make a good 1 hand save. The next chance came 5 minutes later where McCabe would cross it in after a failed corner, Zavier Francouer got his head on and headed it into the goalkeeper's hands in the bottom right corner. 14 minutes in, Canton won a free kick from about 25 yards out, hit by McCabe, but over the wall. The first real look for Stoughton came about 19 minutes in when they had a free kick from about 40 yards out, it went straight through to Canton goalkeeper, Nick Ruggeri where it was quite an uncomfortable save for the junior. Canton’s attacking finally paid off about 21 minutes into the game where McCabe sent a high cross over the rushing goalkeeper to Vlad Francouer, the freshman got his first goal of the season by heading the ball into the empty net. Canton got another decent chance 28 minutes in, after the Bulldogs won a free kick from 35 yards out, McCabe took it and his bouncing shot was saved by the keeper, but it popped out to the Canton attackers on the rebound, where they were eventually offside. One of Stoughton’s rare 1st half chances came late as they had a corner that was intended for a head at the back post, a Stoughton player got to it and headed down, which became a routine save from Ruggeri.

Halftime: Stoughton 0  -   Canton 1          -          At half, Canton had a lot more chances than Stoughton, while the midfield play was pretty even.

As Canton’s corner was punched away by the Stoughton goalkeeper, about 4 minutes into the half, Canton kept it in, from the boot of Caden Mirliani, who fizzed it back into the box, falling to V. Francouer who was almost in on goal. Francouer used some good feet to get space for a shot that he blasted into the top right corner. A very clinical finish from the freshman. Ruggeri made another save about 15 minutes into the 2nd half from a bouncing shot off a free kick. Canton had another chance from a free kick, where the ball was intended for Z. Francouer at the back post, he got his shot saved, rebounded to Eagles, also saved, Z. Francouer with the third shot that would go wide of the post. Stoughton got a chance with about 18 minutes left, from a free kick, as the Canton defense had a lapse, a Knight was played through and had a clear look on Ruggeri and his goal. Ruggeri would make the save keeping the game at 2-0. The next and last big chance for Canton came as Mirliani would pull out a behind the back pass to McCabe, who would put V. Francouer through the Stoughton defense. Already having 2 goals, Vlad would pass it to his brother, Zavier, for a goal that would be ruled offside. As Stoughton had a good spell of play near the end of the game, their best chance came as they had a free kick from about 25 yards out, where they executed a good set piece, playing the ball in the air for a header that would connect, the attempt would eventually hit the bar and go over the goal for a goal kick.

Fulltime

Stoughton 0 - Canton 2

Goal scorers:

Canton - Vlad Francouer (21’  44’)

Next Game:     Canton HS vs. Milford HS       9/21      7:00 PM    Memorial Field