Boys’ soccer advances to D2 sectional quarters
By Jay Turner
Junior Sam Larson has been a force for the Bulldogs this postseason. (Mike Barucci photo)
Update: The Bulldogs defeated No. 4 Hingham 1-0 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday and will now face No. 1 Medway on Friday, November 9, at a time and location to be announced.
After finishing the regular season strong with three straight victories, the Canton High boys’ soccer team continued its winning ways in the Division 2 south sectional tournament, defeating No. 21 Norwood at home and No. 5 Southeastern Regional on the road to advance to the quarterfinal round in the 21-team bracket.
The Bulldogs were due to face No. 4 Hingham on Tuesday, and the winner of that game would move on to the semis to play the winner of No. 1 Medway and No. 8 Bishop Feehan.
Regardless of how far they advance, however, head coach Danny Erickson has to be pleased with his squad’s accomplishments this season after losing several key players — including Canton’s first boys’ soccer All-American — and stumbling to a 5-5 start.
Since that point, the Bulldogs have compiled a 6-1-2 record and now find themselves knocking on the door of a seventh consecutive sectional semifinals appearance.
The team has also shown toughness and resolve during this recent hot streak — including in Saturday’s tournament opener when the Bulldogs overcame a late 1-0 deficit before surviving two overtimes to win on penalty kicks 2-1.
Senior captain Matt Lennon was the hero in this one as he knocked in the tying goal with just one minute remaining send the game into overtime.
“It was an incredible moment for him,” said Erickson of Lennon. “He’s been fabulous for us this season.”
The game eventually came down to penalty kicks after neither squad could find the net through two overtime periods. Norwood went first and converted on six straight attempts, but each time the Bulldogs responded. Canton goalkeeper Art McNally then came up with a huge save on the Mustangs’ seventh shot, and junior Andre Dorofeev then converted his own chance to seal the victory.
“For Norwood to make six in a row and for us to answer all six was a pretty impressive thing for us,” noted Erickson after the game. “Two of our players, Bart O’Brien and Jimmy Kelly, were both standing up there with the season on the line — and they both made it.”
Also converting on their penalty kicks were Michael Denehy, Lennon, Damian Kozak, and Sam Larson.
Reflecting on the game, Erickson said he felt his team “got about 65 percent of the play” and roughly the same percentage of chances; however, the Norwood goalkeeper was “very strong” and the Mustangs as a whole were a formidable foe. “It was a good, hard-fought win,” he said.
If anything, the near-upset by Norwood seemed to benefit the Bulldogs, as they traveled to Southeastern two days later and dominated the higher-seeded Hawks in a 4-0 victory.
Senior captain Denehy added to his team-leading totals with a pair of goals and an assist, while Kozak, who is second on the team in scoring, finished with a goal and two assists. The fourth and final goal was scored by junior Wolph Gustave off a nice pass from senior Antonio Klisairis.
“I think we had control of game throughout,” said Erickson. “[McNally] made one really nice save and our defenders took care of the rest. I thought we had a very good performance.”
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=17247
Posted by Jay Turner
on Nov 8 2012. Filed under High School, Sports.
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