Canton High fall sports extends amazing run

Members of the undefeated girls' soccer team celebrate their Hockomock Classic win over Franklin Tuesday night. (Mike Barucci photo)

With seven world championships since 2001, the dominance of Boston’s professional sports teams in the past decade is well chronicled. Twenty miles south of America’s current sports capital, in Canton, another dominant run is taking place, albeit on a slightly smaller scale.

Over the past seven years, Canton High School’s fall sports teams have established their own tradition of excellence, and 2011 has been no exception. The Bulldogs dominated the Davenport division of the Hockomock League, as the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, field hockey team, and volleyball team all earned a place in their respective Hock Classic Cup games last week.

“Fall sports is the easiest season to coach in terms of motivation — there is a ton of school spirit, and kids come in focused and ready to go,” said athletic director and boys’ soccer coach Danny Erickson. “It’s been a very impressive five- or six-year run for us.”

Erickson’s squad has been instrumental in that run, bringing in a fresh slew of banners and trophies into the halls of CHS each fall. The Bulldogs took the Hockomock League three times from 2006-2010 and made five straight appearances in the south sectional semifinals during that span. Last year, Canton had its most successful season ever on the pitch, claiming the school’s first south sectional championship.

Before a 3-1 loss to Silver Lake High School last Sunday, the Bulldogs (8-1-6) were undefeated in the regular season over the past two years, and they remain unbeaten at home in over three years. This year’s team is led by senior tri-captains Colby Gavigan (holder of several CHS goalkeeping records), Chris Murray, and Scott Levy. David Feeney, Dan Burkowsky, Andrew Vinciguerra, Aaron Seto, Josh Klein, Matt Malloy, Matt Kelly, and Cam Huber constitute the rest of the Bulldogs’ decorated class of 2012.

“This senior class has been so instrumental in our success,” said Erickson. “They are probably the most successful soccer class to come through the high school.”

Equally as impressive as their win-loss record is the fact that the program has simultaneously cultivated an attitude of humility and respect while emerging as a regional soccer powerhouse. The Bulldogs have won five out of the last six Hockomock Sportsmanship awards, as well the MIAA sportsmanship award in 2010.

As the accolades continue to pile up for the boys’ squad, their female counterparts are establishing a reputation as a dominant program in their own right. The Lady Bulldogs secured the Davenport Division early, going 12-0-2 to start the season. Head coach Paul Turner is only in his second year, but the success of the team is not a new development. Canton took the Hock title in 2003 and 2009 — a year in which they also advanced to the south sectional semifinals.

The Bulldogs are led by junior striker Lauren Berman, who has led the Hockomock in scoring the past two seasons. However, the team’s most formidable asset is its depth.

“Most successful teams have a couple of star players,” said Turner. “But the key for us is that any one of our starting 11 could start for any team in the league.”

Turner believes that feeding off the optimism and positivity inherent in each new school year is essential to keeping his team fresh and making another deep playoff run.

“Our key to success is having fun while still working hard and making sure that every day is positive,” he said. “We have a great group of girls here. Hopefully we can go deep in the playoffs.”

The field hockey team went through the regular season undefeated as well, posting a staggering record of 16-0-1. The Bulldogs defeated Franklin 2-1 in the annual Hock Classic last Wednesday to win their latest in a long string of league titles. Canton has won 11 of the last 16 league titles, and won the ultimate prize — the state championship — in both 2004 and 2006.

“Field hockey sets the gold standard for consistency,” said Erickson. “A bad year for them is when they actually lose a couple of games.”

Head coach Fior Griffin’s team is currently outscoring opponents by a whopping 3.5 goals per game, and is certainly a contender to hoist the MIAA championship trophy at the conclusion of the upcoming state tournament.

Another team hoping to make an extended postseason run is the always dangerous volleyball squad.

Despite losing a 3-1 heartbreaker to Franklin in the Hock Classic on Saturday, the team’s record stands at an impressive 14-3 with one game to go before postseason play. The Bulldogs recently wrapped up their eighth league title in nine seasons and are hoping to make it back to the sectional finals for the fourth time since the inception of the program 11 years ago.

This year’s team features Olivia and Julia Murphy, the 17^th set of siblings to suit up for the Bulldogs. The Murphy sisters’ skill and tenacity around the net is complimented by senior captains Shannon Brady, a setter, and Alison McHugh, an outside hitter.

“This team has the most depth we’ve had in the past 11 years,” said head coach Pat Cawley. “We could put any one of our 15 players on the court at any time and have a great chance to win.”

The hallmark of the program, like many of the sports at Canton, is the players’ relentless work ethic and commitment to improvement.

“The success of the volleyball, soccer, and field hockey teams is a great testament to the work ethic of the girls here, and just to the type of kids we have at Canton High,” said Cawley.

As those four teams look to build on their status as powerful programs, the rest of Canton’s fall sports teams are making a name for themselves in the league as well. The golf team recently took the Hock Championship for the first time in program history, and the football team and boys’ and girls’ cross country teams have improved significantly, showing signs that they will be forces to be reckoned with in the Hock for years to come.

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