Wrapping Things Up on 2016 Season

A very successful 2016 season came to an abrupt end at the hands of a very talented, top-seeded, unbeaten, unscored-upon Nauset team on Sunday, November 6th...but not before the Bulldogs had pulled together and rebounded from our first losing season in 10 years with an impressive run of soccer that led to a final mark of 8-7-5. The team earned its first tournament victory in 4 seasons and finished 2nd in the Hock Davenport Division. 

It is with great honor and sadness that we say goodbye to our graduating seniors- all of whom have left a permanent mark on our program in their own way.  Congratulations and thank you to: Sammy Papakonstantino, Cole Duserick, Matas Leveckis, Sean Mitchell, Danny Hartnett, Marco Mendes, Ben Waterhouse, Patrick McLaughlin, Mohammad Sambo and Matt MacKay! Your hard work and dedication to this program has been 2nd to none!

Members of the 2016 Bulldog seniors with their parents. 

Several members of the team were recognized by the Hockomock League for their fine seasons.  Jake Verille and Paul Corcoran each earned All-Hockomock honors while Griffin Roach receieved Honorable Mention to that team. Abe Garber was also selected by HockomockSports.com to join Corcoran and Verille in the HockSports.com All-Star game in Attleboro on Saturday. 

The large group returning for the 2017 campaign has much to thank the 2016 senior for. They were great role models for all of our underclassmen. 

'Dogs earn convincing tournament victory

Thanks to an unfortunate coin flip, the Boys Soccer team had to travel on Friday for a preliminary round Tournament game at Bristol-Plymouth as the flip gave the Bulldogs the #17 seed and B-P the #16 seed.  But the 'dogs didn't seem to mind the road trip as they earned a convincing 4-1 win.  

The 'dogs allowed an early goal in the contest but rebounded almost immediately to tie it up and take the lead.  Both goals coming off the foot of Jake Verille- one off a corner and one on a free kick. The game remained 2-1 through the first half and for much of the 2nd, before Simon Cruz blasted a shot from the corner of the 18. The B-P keeper made a great save but Paul Corcoran was right there to tap it in with his left foot.  With just minutes remaining, Sammy Papakonstantino went bar-down from 16 out, icing the tourney win for the Green and White.  Ben Waterhouse was the player of the game, controlling the midfield play for the Bulldogs. 

The Bulldogs now get the opportunity to travel to #1 seeded Nauset Sunday at 5:00pm in Eastham.  The upset-minded 'dogs have quite the challenge ahead of them as Nauset is 18-0-0, having outscored their opponents 94-0 this season. 

Crazy final regular season game ends in 4-4 draw

It was a back-and-forth game at Stoughton on Monday afternoon as the Bulldogs had to score 3 goals in the final 7 minutes of the game to earn a 4-4 tie with the Black Knights. The draw was all Stoughton needed to qualify for the MIAA state tournament and sends the Bulldogs into the tourney on a 2-game unbeaten streak.

The Bulldogs hit two posts in the first 4 minutes of the game but couldn't manage to find the back of the net and the Black Knights struck first- taking a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. But just one minute later, Matt MacKay broke through on a breakaway set up by a Paolo Ruggeri clearance and a great challenge by Muhammad Sambo. MacKay calmly poked the ball into the top corner in a beautiful finish.  The game stayed tied at 1-1 until the half. Stoughton scored two early 2nd half goals but the Bulldogs didn't quit. The scoreline stayed at 3-1 for most of the half but with just 7 minutes left, Paul Corcoran sprung free and cut the lead to just one. Two minutes later, Ruggeri buried an open chance from 8 yards out. Just a minute later, Stoughton interrupted the Bulldog momentum with a goal of their own-once again putting the Black Knights on top.  But with just 1:15 remaining, Griffin Roach broke free and tied it a 4-4. Jake Verille was the provider of 2 assists on the day.

The team awaits State Tournament news which will be released on Wednesday.

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.