Early goal helps CHS boys’ soccer down OA

With a 3-0 win at Oliver Ames last Thursday, the Canton High boys’ soccer team accomplished something that had been done only twice before in the 27-year history of the program — beating the Tigers on the road.

The Bulldogs traveled to OA for their first Hockomock League matchup of the young season, and with the victory over their Davenport Division rivals, the team improved to 2-0. Just like in their first game at Duxbury, Canton got out to an early lead, scoring five minutes into the contest.

“We really look at that first ten minutes as a time that we need to put the ball in the back of the net,” head coach Danny Erickson said.

“That really can change the attitude moving forward in the game,” he continued. “I think we have a very talented team, and I think we’re going to face some opponents that if we get up early on, it’s going to be very difficult for them to crawl back in.”

In both games so far this season, it was a Chris Murray throw-in that helped Canton get on the board early. Dave Feeney flicked in Murray’s throw-in to score his first career goal and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

“We have a weapon that not all teams have,” Erickson said of Murray’s throw-in abilities. “Chris’s throw-ins are as good as any I’ve ever seen.”

Michael Denehy helped to provide the insurance, scoring Canton’s second goal and then assisting Jimmy Kelly for the final score. It was Kelly’s first career goal.

“[Denehy] just created havoc for Oliver Ames’s backs,” Erickson said. “We know that Igor [Perun] and Ramon [Ambrosio] are going to be an offensive threat, but as Michael continues to emerge, to give us that triple-threat up top is pretty exciting.”

Goalie Colby Gavigan notched his first shutout of the season, highlighted by a key save in the first half. But his save chances were limited thanks in part to a solid defensive effort from the backfield — Scott Levy, Matt Kelly, Andrew Vinciguerra and Nate Seto.

Canton’s home opener was Monday against Stoughton. The team will travel to non-league foe Medfield today (Thursday) and will host Sharon on Saturday.

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Posted by Jeffrey Pickette on Sep 23 2010. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.