Canton HS vs. Stoughton HS
10/18/22 7:30PM Memorial Field SENIOR NIGHT
After a loss to Sharon, the Bulldogs come into this game looking to get a win on Senior Night against the rival Black Knights.
Report:
It did not take long for the Bulldogs to strike first. 3 minutes into the game Senior Jake McCabe took the corner and swung it into the middle of the box, the ball had so much spin on it that it ended up curling into the net straight from the corner. After Stoughton’s free kick was knocked away by the Canton defense, the ball fell to a Black Knight who gave a quick pass to his teammate, but the shot heading for the bottom right corner was saved by Canton Goalkeeper, Nick Ruggeri. Stoughton did follow up on a rebound but that was blocked by Senior Liam Shea. About 16 minutes in, McCabe would carry the ball to the edge of the box where he would unleash a shot, his shot was unfortunately wide of the post. About 2 minutes later the Knights would get a chance off of a throw in, where the ball was chucked into the box, and after getting knocked down, a Stoughton leg clipped the ball over the bar. Going into the 30th minute, one of the Knights would put an effort towards goal from about 30 yards, but the ball fizzed over the bar causing no problems for Ruggeri. 33 minutes in McCabe created a good chance for himself as he received the ball on the wing, he drove in dodging 5 Stoughton challenges with his quick feet, when eventually he got off a shot intended for the keepers short side, but the keeper got a good hand on it to push it away for a corner kick. Off that corner the Bulldogs would get a good chance, as the ball popped out to a Bulldog who put in a shot but a Stoughton defender tipped the shot over the bar. Near the end of the half the Bulldogs would get another good chance as Senior Caden Mirliani put a beautiful pass over to Senior Carson Eagles, who touched it right into the box, where it was a race to the ball between Eagles and the Stoughton keeper. The Stoughton keeper got there first and denied Eagles the scoring opportunity.
HALFTIME - A fairly even game, but Canton definitely looked just a little bit better, and it showed based on the amount of chances they had in the final third.
The first action was not good for the Bulldogs. Stoughton had a free kick just outside the box that was blasted into the bottom right corner of the net. After 13 minutes into the 2nd half, the Bulldogs had a free kick from half field. The ball was put into the middle of the box where, Junior, Zavier Francouer took it down and handed it off to Eagles who drilled the ball into the bottom left corner. Just moments later Canton would get a very similar chance, but this time it fell to Vlad Francouer who got off a shot of his own, but it was wide of the post. Just shortly after that, Stoughton would win a corner where the ball was intended for a Knight at the far post, but unfortunately it deflected off a Bulldog and plopped into the Canton net. 1 hour into the game the Bulldogs would get another chance that originally came from the great midfield play by Mirliani. The Senior won the ball in the midfield, and after a couple of passes the ball was at Z. Francouer’s feet just at the edge of the box, while he couldn’t get a shot off based off of the good Stoughton defense, the ball fell right to right to Mirliani who just flicked it into the net. Just 2 minutes later the Bulldogs would get another chance that came off a punt from Ruggeri. The soaring ball was headed down by Z. Francouer, to McCabe and after dribbling through some Knights, the ball trickled out to Eagles whose shot was deflected wide of the net. Just 5 minutes later McCabe won a free kick, deep down the wing, as he delivered it into the box, it was an easy punch for the Stoughton keeper. Very shortly after, V. Francouer was in a beautiful position to get a chance on goal off of a mistake by a Stoughton defender. He did his best to get a shot off, but it was zipped right at the keeper. Stoughton would finally get somewhat of a chance off of an in-swinging freekick from the right, but it was hoarded by Ruggeri. In the 70th minute Canton would get a very important goal, once again by the good play of Mirliani. The Captain chipped the ball over the top into the box. It was blocked quite recklessly by a defending Knight, which caused the ball to squeeze right to Eagles, his shot, off the post, but McCabe on the easy follow up made sure the Bulldogs took a nice 2 goal lead. McCabe would seal the Black Knights fate as he used some good footwork and a beautiful low strike to put the Bulldogs up 5-2 with very little to go.
FULLTIME - The Bulldogs put out a good performance and were dominant pretty much the whole game besides the odd Stoughton chance. Congratulations to the team, especially the Seniors on this important night.
Canton Goalscorers:
Jake McCabe(3’ 70’ 78’)
Carson Eagles (53’)
Caden Mirliani (60’)
Next Game: Oliver Ames HS vs. Canton HS 10/21 4:00PM Oliver Ames HS