Boys’ lax seizes Davenport lead with statement win

It’s not always easy to pinpoint the exact moment when a team goes from intriguing upstart to legitimate title contender, but that is precisely what happened last week after the CHS boys’ lacrosse team ran its unbeaten streak to eight straight with three more victories — punctuated by a program-defining, double-overtime thriller over division rival Foxboro.

Senior captain JC Marcone (Mike Barucci photo)

Led by Hockomock League MVP candidate Pat Ward and fellow standouts JC Marcone and Kurt Leavitt, the Bulldogs seized control of the Davenport while serving notice to the rest of Division 3 that they are a team to be reckoned with.

Included in this recent stretch was a 12-11 win over Sharon, also won in double OT — without starting goalie Ben Lodge — and a 14-0 shellacking of nonleague Bishop Connolly on the road. But the one that mattered most, both to observers and to themselves, was last Wednesday’s 7-6, come-from-behind win against the undefeated Warriors at home.

Not only was it Canton’s first win against Foxboro in six seasons; it also came against a Warrior team that was 6-0 and fresh off a victory over D2 powerhouse Reading, the top team in the Middlesex League’s Liberty Division.

“This was, by far, the best game I’ve been a part of,” remarked head coach Bill Bendell. “This was special for us. It was a statement win and it was really exciting.”

And the action on the field was equally thrilling, highlighted by several lead changes and an improbable comeback from two goals down over the final five minutes of regulation. Trailing 6-4 late in the fourth quarter, Canton clawed its way back into the game on goals by Ward and Marcone, and then Leavitt completed the rally with an unassisted goal off the faceoff in the second overtime period.

After the game, Bendell raved about the “clutch” performance of his top players — especially Ward, who scored the Bulldogs’ first five goals, and Leavitt, who dominated faceoffs and outplayed Foxboro star Luc Valenza.

“They tried everything,” Bendell said. “They even bumped [Valenza] up on defense to try to counteract Kurt, but whatever move they tried Kurt had a countermove.”

Bendell was also very much impressed with the Bulldogs’ defense against the Warriors, including the stellar play of Lodge, who made several big saves both in regulation and in the first overtime.

“Foxboro values the ball so well, they really make you work on defense,” he said, “and our guys did a great job being patient. The whole team, I was just so proud of them.”

Earlier in the week against Sharon, the Bulldogs managed to overcome the absence of Lodge, who was out with an injury, and sneak past the Eagles with a one-goal victory.

Junior Eric Wong, normally the team’s starting long-stick midfielder, stepped into the cage and played well, tallying 10 saves.

The Eagles did manage to tie the game at 11-11 with about two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Canton ultimately prevailed in the second overtime on a goal by Ward, who had another monster game with five goals and two assists. Marcone added four goals of his own, while Leavitt finished with two goals and an assist and Paul Swart had a goal.

Against Bishop Connolly on Friday, Canton made it look easy as eight different players got on the scoreboard, led by Ward with four goals and Tommy Galvin with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Matt Gleason earned his first varsity point in the victory, and freshman Chris Albert saw his first varsity action in net in the fourth quarter.

This week the Bulldogs had another tough test with games against Kelly-Rex opponents King Philip and Mansfield. They will then host Milford on Monday, May 6, in their final home game before closing out the season with five straight on the road.

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Posted by Jay Turner on May 2 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.