Winning streak hits double digits for boys’ lax

It’s been a magical season for the CHS boys’ lacrosse team, and last week it only got better as the Bulldogs picked up two more big victories to run its winning streak to ten in a row.

Junior Tommy Galvin (Mike Barucci photo)

Canton has now beaten every team in the Hockomock League, including all four Kelly-Rex Division (large school) teams for the first time in history. That includes King Philip last Wednesday in a romp, followed by a comeback thriller over defending Kelly-Rex champion Mansfield on Friday.

The win against the Hornets was particularly impressive, not only because it came on the road at night in front of a pumped up crowd, but also because of how the first half unfolded, with the hosts jumping out to a fast start and a 7-3 lead.

According to head coach Bill Bendell, the Bulldogs fell behind early and then started forcing bad shots.

“Guys started playing individually,” he said. “Rather than letting the game come to us, everyone was forcing the action.”

His message to the players at halftime was to value each possession, noting that they were not going to “win the game all at once.”

As it turned out, the Hornets had one more goal left in them, scoring early in the third quarter to make it 8-3. But after that it was all Canton, as the visitors ripped off seven unanswered goals to claim a 10-8 victory in front of a stunned Mansfield crowd.

Bendell said the play of the game came with the team trailing 8-5, when senior midfielder Shane Nordgren collected a ground ball and sprinted down field, sending a beautiful pass to freshman Ben O’Neil, who buried the shot with his weak hand from about 10 yards out.

O’Neil, who also had a goal earlier in the week against King Philip, finished with a hat trick in a breakout performance for the Bulldogs.

“He’s gaining confidence every day,” Bendell said of his young attackman. “If he continues like this we’re going to be very, very dangerous.”

Team scoring leader Pat Ward also had three goals for Canton in the comeback effort, while fellow senior Kurt Leavitt added two goals and an assist. Senior captain JC Marcone chipped in with a goal and two assists, and Tommy Galvin also had a goal. Both Nordgren and Austin Zannino finished with one assist apiece.

Other key contributors included senior captain Matt Lennon, who picked up three ground balls and played excellent defense; junior Casey Dwyer, who played well in place of an injured Paul Swart; and junior Eric Wong, who continues to fly under the radar as one of the league’s top defensive midfielders.

In the KP game on Wednesday, the Bulldogs opened a 4-2 lead after two quarters and never looked back, winning 10-5 on their home turf.

“We were in control the whole game,” said Bendell. “It was a nice solid, sound victory.”

Five different players had goals in the game, led by Ward with five. Leavitt scored two while Marcone, Lennon and O’Neil each had one. Galvin and Zannino both registered assists. Goalie Ben Lodge also played well, tallying double-digit saves.

Now a perfect 10-0 overall, the Bulldogs went into this week with six games remaining, including the final five on the road. Their last home game was Monday versus Milford, followed by away games against Oliver Ames on Wednesday and nonleague Abington today at 4 p.m.

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Posted by Jay Turner on May 9 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.