CHS boys soccer team extends unbeaten streak
By Jay Turner
Senior captain Griffin Roach has helped lead the Bulldogs to a 5-1-1 start. (Mike Barucci photo)
A five-game unbeaten streak, including a recent 2-0-1 stretch on the road, has vaulted the Canton High boys soccer team to the top of the Davenport Division standings.
Coming off a hard-fought division win at Sharon on Monday, the Bulldogs stood at 5-1-1 overall—two standings points ahead of North Attleboro and three ahead of Milford. Canton was due to face both of those teams within the next week and also had a tough test on Wednesday at home against Kelley-Rex Division leader Mansfield (5-0-2).
Thus far, however, the Bulldogs have held their own against a solid slate of opponents, including in recent wins against the Eagles and King Philip. The team also twice had a lead against Foxboro last week but the Warriors battled back both times to even the score in an eventual 2-2 draw.
Offensively, the Bulldogs have been led by the senior trio of Griffin Roach, Paul Corcoran, and Simon Cruz, who combined for four of the team’s five goals during their recent three-game road stretch. Senior Paolo Ruggeri also found the back of the net in Canton’s 2-1 victory over KP last Friday.
That game, according to head coach Danny Erickson, was a “tale of two halves” as the Bulldogs controlled the action in the opening half while the Warriors generated most of the chances in the second half. Fortunately for the visitors, Roach came through late in the second half with a nice finish on a corner kick to put the Bulldogs ahead for good.
Ruggeri’s first-half goal was also timely, and Erickson said the team showed “great resilience” in coming back after a miscommunication on defense allowed KP to take the early lead.
Other top performers in the win included Cruz and Matt Giglio in the midfield and Mike Mazzola and Cooper Ashcraft in the back. “It was a great team effort,” remarked Erickson.
The Sharon game on Monday was another back-and-forth, low-scoring battle, and once again the Bulldogs proved up to the task. Cruz produced the team’s lone goal with about 10 minutes to go in the second half, finishing off a pass from Roach after a Corcoran throw-in.
The Bulldogs also played excellent team defense en route to their third shutout of the young season. “Sharon was very dangerous on the counter-attack, but our back four and goalkeeper Alejandro Correal thwarted each Eagles’ chance,” said Erickson.
Following last night’s home game against Mansfield, the Bulldogs will host North Attleboro tomorrow afternoon, followed by games next week at Taunton and home versus Milford.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=41757
Posted by Jay Turner
on Sep 29 2018. Filed under High School, Sports.
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