Field hockey eliminated in D2 state semifinals

They say the third time’s a charm, but that was simply not the case for the CHS field hockey team as the Bulldogs fell to eventual state champion Watertown last Tuesday in the Division 2 Eastern Mass. finals for the third year in a row.

Senior captain Michelle McNeil (Mike Barucci photo)

Had they won, the Canton girls would have gone on to play Oakmont in the state title game at Worcester State University. Instead, that honor went to the Red Raiders, who ended up winning 3-1 on Saturday to capture their third consecutive D2 state championship.

In the process, Watertown extended its unbeaten streak to a staggering 69 games, having now gone 66-0-3 since the start of the 2009 season.

Canton has been nearly as prolific during that same stretch, posting an overall record of 57-4-5 to go along with three consecutive south sectional titles. However, three of the team’s four losses have come against the Raiders in the state semis, including last week’s 3-2 heartbreaker at Westwood High School.

For head coach Fior Griffin, this year’s loss was the toughest of the three to take — in part because the girls were so talented, but also because they had proven time and again that they could overcome adversity and win from behind when they needed to.

The problem on Tuesday was that the Bulldogs had dug themselves a fairly big hole, falling behind 3-0 until late in the first half, when junior Meghan McKenna scored on a pass from Emma Compagna to make it a two-goal game.

Until that point, however, it had been a one-sided game, and Griffin attributed it to a lack of intensity on Canton’s part combined with the steady play of the Raiders, who got things going with a goal in the opening minutes.

“We just came out flat,” Griffin acknowledged. “As opposed to last year where I think we played a little bit scared, this year we just didn’t come out and play aggressive.”

Griffin further noted that the Bulldogs’ team defense, which had been a strength of the squad all season long, “pretty much collapsed” in the first half.

The lone exception, she said, was senior goalkeeper Kolleen White, who gave up three tough goals — including one on a penalty stroke — but otherwise played an outstanding game in net.

“I thought Kolleen kept us in it,” said Griffin. “She was doing everything she possibly good. She was diving at balls, coming out and challenging players — she had a phenomenal game.”

Determined not to end their season, the Bulldogs came out and played like a team possessed in the second half, flying up and down the field and controlling the action for long stretches at a time.

The effort finally paid off with about six minutes remaining when senior Haley Gaughan scored to make it a one-goal game. But that was all that Canton could muster despite getting several good scoring chances in the closing minutes of the game.

It was a frustrating way to end the season, although Griffin had no qualms with the Bulldogs’ effort over the final 30 minutes.

“The intensity was there and we possessed the ball most of the second half,” said Griffin. “We just ran out of time.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Nov 23 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.