Coach George Thomas

George Thomas- former Bulldog soccer player and coach and an absolute giant of the Canton High School Boys Soccer family, died suddenly this past Thursday night and has left an enormous hole in the hearts of all who were touched by him.  He walked through his life never looking for the spotlight- if anything intentionally avoiding it- but ask anyone who knew him and they will tell you that he was always the brightest light in the room. 

Coach Jon Girolamo, Danny Erickson and 
George Thomas pre-game in 2010 State Semi-Final

George leaves behind so many different circles of families and friends who all feel the same way about this loss as we in the Bulldog Soccer family do. We are so, so sad that our dear friend has left us but we are all feeling so fortunate to have had him in our lives.  We extend our condolences and share in the same grief as his many other "families" including the Wheaton crew, Sunrise crew, Dream Street crew and countless others.  George made us all better people and made each of our communities kinder and more caring. 

As has been captured in so many social media posts already- George was an amazing husband, dad, son, brother, co-worker, teammate, and friend but I'd like to highlight here in our Bulldog Boys Soccer Blog just who he was to our program. 

George the player-  Let's start with the finish here. GT currently sits as the 7th leading scorer in the program's history, scoring 31 goals and doling out 18 assists in his CHS career.  As a sophomore, he was a huge part of our greatest-ever single season turnaround. After winning only three games during his freshmen year (1996) he helped us to our first-ever Hockomock League title in 1997 (17-3-1).  He scored one of the greatest and consequencial goals in CHS Soccer history on a diving header off a Robbie Conroy set-piece before jumping into AJ MacDonald's arms in the South Sectional Quarterfinal 2-1 win over Oliver Ames. (NOTE- he is still pissed at me that he was left off of the all-star team that year....He should have been on it- just one of the thousands of coaching mistakes I've made the past 30 years.)  Check out the goal in video link below:

(click here if no image above)

George would go on to lead the team to two more winning seasons and tournament appearances. He was awarded Hockomock League All-Star his Junior and Senior seasons and was named EMASS All-Star his Senior year.  He was a  huge part of a group of young men who set an amazing foundation for years of CHS Boys Soccer successes to follow. 

George Thomas- 1997

Our Bulldog family was so proud when he headed off to play for legendary coach Matt Cushing (RIP Cush) at Wheaton College where he was handed nothing and earned everything. George's story at Wheaton is one that every young soccer player would learn from.  It is one of the greatest examples I have seen in my life of perseverance leading to enormous success.  Georgie didn't become Wheaton captain and lead his team to the NCAA D3 Final Four through god-given talent.  He did it through grit.  George had grit before grit was all the rage.  Driving down to New Jersey to watch him play in the Final Four is still one of the proudest moments of my coaching career. 

George the coach- In 2004, fresh off his Wheaton successes, GT came home and joined the CHS Boys Soccer coaching staff as assistant coach.  He would stay in that role for nearly a decade, coaching nine seasons until work and family made it impossible for him to contribute at the level that was acceptable to him.  Georgie was the best assistant coach I have ever had and I have had some amazing assistants over the decades.  He was awarded the Eastern Massachusetts Assistant High School Coach of the Year in 2008- an award that he was too humble to easily accept- although he deserved it more than anyone. 

Tess Erickson and George Thomas V
at Canton Soccer School 2019.

George fully embraced the position of assistant coach and loved being in such a key role in our seasons. We traveled together to cities around the eastern half of the country to attend the National Soccer Coaches Convention each January.  We talked about tactics, formations, style of play, restarts, line-ups and most importantly- our boys- all the time.  We were always asking servers (at the coffee shop or pub) for extra sugar and Sweet & Low packets to move around the table as we "argued" over who to play where, and how to line them up.  We constantly looked to get better.  GT loved it all. It was so much fun and my memories of having Georgie as my coaching partner will be with me forever and will always make me smile.

The boys (alum) have been texting me the past couple of days since our loss of GT.  They are all hurting, but they are all sharing their fond memories. George has left all of us with so much. 

Coach George was also a fixture at Canton Soccer School each summer.  I know he loved it as much as I did. Camp week was another time where GT would make a huge impact.  It was really sad for me when he had to finally "grow up" and couldn't work camp anymore- but his presence has been with us there each summer since and will continue to be as long as we keep meeting each summer.  Having his son George become a camper in recent years made him so happy- and me too. 

The CHS Boys Soccer family will embrace and support George's family during this unfathomable time and long into the future.  To Ris, G5 and James- your husband/dad did so much for his Canton High Soccer community and we are ready to give back.  

Rest in peace Georgie. I love you and miss you already. I'll try to make you proud every day.  Go Dogs!

Please consider supporting the family in this time of need. A GoFundMe page has been established and can be found by clicking here. 

2021 Boys Soccer Captains Announced

Baird and Valdovinos

The Canton High School Boys Varsity Soccer team recently announced the naming of our captains for the 2021 season- Giovanni Ruggeri, Erik Valdovinos and Dylan Baird. 

We are thrilled to have these three young men leading our program.  They are all great leaders in their own unique ways and each of them will make a huge difference in our team's culture.  They are part of a great class of role models who are returning to the varsity team in 2021. 

Giovanni Ruggeri started in goal for the Bulldogs in all 12 games of the 2020 season posting 5 shutouts.  His goals against average during the regular season was a very impressive 0.8gaa. He emerged as a confident, vocal leader from his goal this past fall. He was honored by the Hockomock League as the best goalkeeper in the Davenport Division for the fine season. His soccer IQ and team-first attitude will serve him and his team well in the fall. 

Ruggeri

Erik Valdovinos was a dangerous attacking threat for the Bulldogs in 2020.  His presence in wide areas of the field helped to unbalance many opposing defenses.  His creativity on the ball and his explosive speed combined to earn him Hock All-Star status for the tremendous 2020 campaign. His work ethic and passion will make him a great captain in 2021. 

Dylan Baird was the linchpin in the Bulldog midfield. His contributions on both sides of the ball were key to the team's 2020 successes. His ability on the ball and his decision making on the ball combined to make him a key component to the team's style of play.  Dylan brings a calming yet penetrating attitude to the Bulldog attack. All of his teammates consider him a key leader on this team. 

This trio- all members of the CHS class of 2022- will look to lead what could be a special group to a special season in the fall. If you see them, be sure to with them well!

CHS Boys Soccer 2020 Tribute

Hello Bulldog Boys Soccer Players, Families and Fans!

Although Covid-19 is making it impossible for us to celebrate our outstanding season in person at our annual banquet, I think we have created an awesome and long-lasting tribute to our Bulldog Soccer players with this Virtual Celebration of our 2020 season. 

Below are links to several video experiences that collectively make up our 2020 Virtual Banquet. Just click on each video below to share in our celebration. Enjoy!

Go Bulldogs!

Welcome Video

JV Team Tribute

Click Here for our JV Roster

Messages from CHS Boys Soccer Alumni

A Message from Coach Sam

A Tribute to our Varsity Sophomores

A Tribute to our Varsity Juniors

A Tribute to our Varsity Seniors

A Tribute to our All-Hockomock Recipients

A Message from our Seniors to our Underclassmen

Thank you to all who helped make this tribute possible! Many people contributed in many ways. We are so fortunate to have so many caring people in our corner!

Click Here for 2020 Varsity Roster

Click Here for 2020 Individual Statistics

Boys Soccer Bulldogs earn post-season honors

A great season that saw the Bulldog Boys Soccer team earn a record of 6-3-3 and advance to the semi-final round of the Hockomock Cup came to a close last week, but the post-season honors are starting to pour in. 

The Hockomock League recently announced their 2020 Boys Soccer All-Star teams and the Bulldogs were certainly well-represented, as FIVE Bulldogs were honored. 

Earning All-Hockomock League honors for the 'dogs were:

Abdul Barrie- In his first and only year as a Bulldog, Barrie made quite an impact in his holding midfield role, controlling the pace of the game for many of the team's best performances. His presence in the midfield will certainly be mixed by next year's team.  He scored 3 goals and added an assist as well as netting the winning goal in the Bulldog's penalty shootout win over KP in the Hock Cup quarters. 

Jacob Crugnale- Crugnale, a junior, led the team in scoring with 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points in this shortened season. A quiet but fierce competitor, Crugnale was a consistent threat all year long.  His ability to eliminate defenders while maintaining possession in a crowd is truly amazing. 

Giovanni Ruggeri- Ruggeri, a junior, was honored as the strongest goalkeeper in the Davenport division of the Hockomock League for his fine season.  He posted a regular-season goals-against-average of .700 while earning 5 shutouts in 10 games. His performance in the team's PK-shootout win over KP will be talked about for years to come. 

Erik Valdovinos- Valdovinos, a junior, becomes the first Bulldog in the history of the program to be named a Hockomock All-Star while predominantly featuring in games coming off of the bench.  Valdovinos would typically enter the game mid-way through the first quarter and immediately infuse the Bulldogs with an attacking mindset.  His speed and ability on the ball separated him from most forwards in the league. 

HONORABLE MENION- Jorge Sanchez- Sanchez, a sophomore, made a huge impact on the left side of the field this fall.  His ability to play effectively on both sides of the ball is rare, let alone in a sophomore. His service was key to many Bulldog chances this year with so many restarts given the rule modifications. Hard to believe he is only half-way through his Bulldog career. 

The Eastern Massachusetts Soccer Coaches Association recently announced their All-Star team and Jacob Crugnale was named this that elite team. 

Dog's end season in Hock Cup Semi-Final

The Bulldog Boys Varsity Soccer team earned 2nd place in the Hockomock Davenport regular season during this pandemic-shortened season, earning a regular season mark of 5-2-3.  In lieu of a state tournament, the team was invited to participate in a Hockmock League Cup that included the top four teams from each of the Hockomock League's divisions- the Kelley-Rex and the Davenport. 

As the 2nd place team in the Davenport, the Bulldogs drew King Philip- the Kelley-Rex 3rd place team.  The game was a classic high school soccer contest featuring great defending, excellent possession and plenty of attacking by both sides.  The visiting KP Warriors scored first, taking advantage of an early Bulldog miscue in the back.  However, the Bulldogs did not let that bother them as they played one of their most complete games of the season against the upset-minded Warriors. 

The 'Dogs would finally got on the board to even things up in the 3rd quarter when the Bulldogs collected a clearance off a corner kick, worked it around the back and found Erik Valdovinos ('22) who beat his defender to the endline and found Jake McCabe ('23) for a tidy finish.  

The game would remain tied through the rest of regulation as well as through two 10-minute sudden victory overtime periods that featured MANY Bulldog scoring chances and KP hitting the Bulldog crossbar.  The game would be decided on penalty kicks. 

The shootout started in dramatic fashion as Bulldog goalkeeper Giovanni Ruggeri ('23) shot the first kick for the Bulldog and calmly finished it. He then took to keep the Bulldog goal and made a HUGE save on the first KP shooter. Valdovinos, Dylan Baird ('22) and Barrie ('21) joined Ruggeri in the "made" category, leading the Bulldogs to a dramatic 4-2 PK win. 

Got Twitter? Here's a great video recap of the shootout. 

Things didn't go as well for the Bulldogs as they headed to undefeated Kelley-Rex champion Milford on Friday night to battle for a spot in the Hock Cup Final.  The 'dogs came out of the gates a bit sluggish and a high-flying Milford Hawks team took full advantage, ultimately downing the 'dogs 5-0. A Jake McCabe free-kick goal was waived off and was the Bulldog's best chance of the night. 

The team has nothing to be ashamed of as this season turned around the program's fortunes, posting a final mark of 6-3-3 and establishing a great foundation for the next couple of years.  Shout out to our seniors who were the heart and soul of this team- Will Keefe, TJ McCabe, Matt Giglio, Nam Pham, Wes Lee, Matt McDonough, Huy Hong, Colton Mirliani, Patrick O'Leary, Dom Sica, Abdul Barrie, and Ryan Mullen. 

Dogs wrap up unbeaten week with 5-goal win at Foxboro

Highlights of Canton at Foxboro from Wednesday, November 4th. 

The Bulldogs Boys Soccer team wrapped up the regular season on Wednesday earning a 5-1 road win over Foxboro earning the Bulldogs a record of 5 wins, 2 losses and 3 draws, good enough for sole possession of the Davenport's 2nd seed in the upcoming Hockomock Cup.  

The Bulldogs came out flying in the first quarter at Foxboro Wednesday, earning many early chances and putting the Warriors under a great deal of pressure. Erik Valdovinos ('22) netted a hat-trick for the Bulldogs converting on an early penalty kick and finishing two other quality chances.  Jake McCabe ('23) was strong throughout the game, netting two goals of his own while earning the penalty try for the 'dogs and banging the crossbar on a brilliantly struck free-kick.  Jacob Crugnale ('22), the team's leading point earner on the season, was busy on the day, creating havoc and setting up two of goals. 

Earlier in the week, the 'dogs hosted Foxboro and played a strong game but failed to create many chances in what was a frustrating 0-0 draw in 30° temperatures at CHS's WWII Veterans' Memorial Field. A huge bright spot for the Bulldogs on the day was the emergence of Charlie McKinney ('22) who came in early in the 2nd half and charged up the Bulldog attack. 

Click Here for Team Statistics

The 'dogs await official news on who they will draw in the Hockomock Cup. This news should be out on Friday, Nov. 6th.  Play is expected to begin next week. 

Oliver Ames bests Bulldogs in battle of unbeatens

The Bulldogs' unbeaten streak came to an end this week as the squad dropped two games to a very talented Oliver Ames team- 3-1 on Monday and 2-0 Wednesday. 

Click Here for highlights from Monday's game (including big goal by Colton Mirliani '21) 

The Bulldogs fought hard in both contest and certainly could have come away with a result on Monday but a lack of finishing and a couple of mistakes were more than CHS could afford against a team as strong as OA.  Wednesday's game saw the Buldlogs on their back foot for most of the contest but a string of pressure early in the 2nd half led to several chances but once again, the 'dogs were unable to finish.  A punishing restart awarded to OA for a Bulldog head ball in the box midway through the 2nd doubled the OA lead and ended the hopes of a Bulldog upset. 

The Bulldog back line of Will Keefe ('21), Matt Giglio ('21), Jorge Sanchez ('23) and Carson Eagles ('23) were strong in both contests. 

The 'Dogs will face off against Foxboro in two huge games next week- Monday at CHS at 6:00pm and Wednesday at Foxboro at 3:45pm.