Girls’ hockey team plays well in loss to Medfield

After a dominating first-week performance, the Canton High girls’ hockey team lost its first game of the season 3-2 against Medfield, bringing its record to 1-1.

Coach Kelly Rider, however, was pleased with her team’s performance. “I’ve been satisfied after a loss before,” Rider said. “But never as happy or excited as I was after this game, because we finally saw what we are capable of.”

Rider said the Bulldogs played at a consistent, high level throughout the game and worked hard until the very last second.

Medfield scored first, but freshman forward Katie Kelleher answered with a quick goal to end the first period an even 1-1. The Warriors pulled ahead in the second period, scoring two additional goals — one off a power play.

Despite entering the third period down 3-1, Rider said the girls never got down on themselves. With 10 seconds left in the game sophomore forward Meaghan McKenna netted her first goal of the season to bring the game to 3-2. The Bulldogs then pulled senior goalie Sarah Healey out of goal in an attempt to capitalize on the faceoff following McKenna’s goal. The girls had a good chance at a strong shot with only a second left in the game, but came up short.

Only two weeks into the regular season, Rider said the girls already show great camaraderie and play like a true team. She attributes some of this success to the team’s two senior captains Ali King and Nikki Wanless.

“They’re used to these players,” Rider said of King and Wanless. Both girls captained field hockey last fall, and the crossover of players between the two teams is sizeable. “The other players are used to looking to them as leaders,” she added. “It’s a nice carryover.”

The results of Wednesday’s game against Westwood will appear in next week’s Citizen.

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Posted by Jeffrey Cattel on Dec 23 2010. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.