Boys soccer rebounds with 2 big home wins

A young and improving CHS boys soccer team took a big step forward last week as the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard and into the win column with home victories over North Attleboro and Milford.

With the two wins, Canton evened its record to 2-2 overall and moved into second place in the Hockomock League’s Davenport Division.

Junior captain Jake Verille (Mike Barucci photo)

After enduring back-to-back shutout losses on the road to open the season, head coach Danny Erickson was pleased to see his team make progress on the offensive end as they outscored both the Rocketeers (2-1) and the Eagles (1-0).

“The next trick,” he said, “is not only to play well and create some chances, but play well, create chances, and finish. And I think we’re on our way there.”

“It’s nice to be able to learn how to score goals while the other team isn’t scoring many,” he added.

In the North Attleboro win, it was sophomore Paul Corcoran who helped snap the Bulldogs out of their scoring funk, burying both of the team’s goals — one in each half.

Corcoran’s first of the night came on a rebound after consecutive shot attempts by Griffin Roach and Jake Verille, which were set up by a great cross from Paolo Ruggeri.

The game remained 1-0 until early in the second, when Verille won a ball in the midfield and sent a perfect pass to a streaking Corcoran, who finished the breakaway for his second goal of the game.

In the Milford win on Saturday, the only scoring of the contest came early in the first half off the foot of Ruggeri, assisted by Roache.

The Bulldogs had several additional chances to add to their lead, but they were unable to find the back of the net. Still, the team held on for the 1-0 victory thanks to the outstanding midfield play of Verille and another dominant showing by the defense, led by the center back tandem of seniors Matas Leveckis and Danny Hartnett.

Erickson said the duo has been indispensible through the first four games, aided by the strong play of outside backs John Agnitti and Patrick McLaughlin, who had a big part in the Milford win.

Starting goalkeeper Abe Garber is also off to a great start, having allowed just three goals in four games to go along with two shutouts.

“It’s nice that while we’re figuring out how to better attack and find the back of the net that, defensively, we’ve been very well organized and doing a great job limiting chances from the other side,” said Erickson.

The coach was hoping to see continued improvement this week as the squad prepared for a tough three-game slate against three more division foes: Sharon on Monday, Foxboro on Wednesday, and Stoughton on Saturday at home starting at 7 p.m.

In other team news, Erickson reported that senior captain Sammy Papakonstantino, last year’s leading scorer, is still working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason and could return to the lineup sometime in the next few weeks.

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Posted by Jay Turner on Oct 1 2016. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.