Surging CHS field hockey battling for Davenport lead
By Jay Turner
Maria Femia and the lady Bulldogs are locked in a battle with Foxboro for the top spot in the Davenport Division. (Mike Barucci photo)
Powered by excellent team defense and an improving offensive attack, the CHS varsity field hockey team is rounding nicely into form as it approaches the midway point of the season.
Since losing to Franklin on September 11 and falling to 1-2-1, the lady Bulldogs have caught fire, reeling off four straight wins while outscoring the opposition by a combined margin of 19-2. The team now sits at 5-1-1 in league play and is tied with Foxboro (4-0-3) atop the Davenport Division standings with 11 points apiece.
“We got off to a bit of a slow start, but since that time the girls have been working very hard,” said head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “We’re definitely getting our offense adjusted and we’ve been spreading the scoring around. It’s nice that we have options there.”
In the squad’s most recent victory over Mansfield, Erin Lane and Meghan LaBelle both tallied first-half goals as Canton raced out to a 2-0 lead on the road. The Hornets managed to get one back late in the second half, but the Bulldog defenders clamped down and goalie Riley O’Connor made some key saves to help seal the victory.
Tuesday’s win over Mansfield was Canton’s second in as many games against a Kelley-Rex Division (large school) opponent, following their 3-0 blanking of King Philip last Wednesday. A perennial contender, the Warriors only had one loss going into the contest but were thoroughly outplayed by the Bulldogs in what O’Connor described as their best performance to date.
“It was another good win for us and a good confidence builder,” she said.
Freshman forward Ellie Bohane led the way with two goals and senior Meg Aldrich had one as both players continued their strong starts to the season. The Bulldog defenders also stepped up behind a top four of Carly Fitzgerald, Allie Gefteas, Rose Malloy and Lizzie Tassinari and another strong outing by O’Connor in net.
Including the Mansfield game, the team has now allowed only six goals in seven games and already has five shutouts. Meanwhile, on the offensive side, they have combined for 25 goals, with 15 of them coming in back-to-back blowout victories over Sharon and Stoughton.
The lady Bulldogs will now look to make it five wins in a row when they travel to North Attleboro tonight for a 5 p.m. start time. The team will then kick off a home-heavy stretch starting October 3 against Taunton.
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Posted by Jay Turner
on Sep 28 2019. Filed under High School, Sports.
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