Field hockey team earns 1-1-1 split
By Jay Turner
Senior Katie Kelleher celebrates Canton’s first-half goal against Franklin. (Mike Barucci photo)
The CHS field hockey team continued its unusual start to the season with a tie, a win, and a loss against a trio of Hockomock opponents last week.
The Bulldogs now have three ties through their first six games and enter play this week with a solid if unspectacular record of 2-1-3 — good for third place in the six-team Davenport Division.
Head coach Fior Griffin said the girls have looked good in every game thus far but need to improve their consistency on both ends of the field if they want to start stringing together some wins.
“This year we have so much talent and it’s really not translating into wins,” said Griffin. “We’re trying to stay positive and stay focused. I still think there’s so much potential for this team this season.”
In their lone win last week against Milford, the Bulldogs played far better than the 2-0 final might suggest, dominating possession and finishing with 15 penalty corners and a whopping 28 shots on net.
“We came out strong,” said Griffin. “We had a few moments [of inconsistency] in the first half, but the whole second half we pretty much controlled the ball. I don’t think the ball crossed our 50 in the second half.”
The Bulldogs got goals from juniors Juliana Howlett and Mary McNeil, although they could have had several more, according to Griffin.
“We’re just not finishing,” she said, “and I think the girls are maybe getting a little frustrated. We’re still waiting for that one game to bust it open where the goals start flowing.”
In other action last week, the Bulldogs battled undefeated Franklin to a 1-1 draw and came up just short against division-leading Oliver Ames 1-0.
Senior Jackie Merrigan scored the lone goal against the Panthers in what proved to be a hard-fought battle between two talented teams. The same could be said for the OA game on Friday, although the Bulldogs were unable to convert any of their chances while the Tigers made “smart, simple passes” and took advantage of one of their few scoring opportunities.
“We just weren’t consistent,” said Griffin of the performance against OA. “We had our moments where we definitely picked it up, but we were just a little bit unsettled. We’re still trying to figure out what is not clicking.”
Despite the loss, Griffin said she was pleased with the girls’ effort and determination, especially late in the game when they dominated possession and managed to draw four consecutive penalty corners with no time remaining.
“We executed our corners well and got good shots off,” she said. “They played until the end; it was just a little bit too late.”
The Bulldogs will look to get back in the win column this week with home games against Sharon on Tuesday and Foxboro tonight at 6 p.m. The team then travels to Stoughton next Tuesday and Taunton on Thursday, October 3.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=22436
Posted by Jay Turner
on Sep 26 2013. Filed under High School, Sports.
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