Double-OT win highlights strong week for CHS boys lax

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Senior Ben O'Neill recently moved into 3rd place on the all-time scoring list. (Mike Barucci photo)

Senior Ben O’Neill recently moved into 3rd place on the all-time scoring list. (Mike Barucci photo)

Senior captain Ben O’Neill continued to state his case for league MVP and the defense was its usual dominant self as the CHS boys lacrosse team earned a 1-1 split in two tough road matches last week against North Attleboro and Foxboro.

With the win and the loss — both by a single goal — the Bulldogs managed to tread water in the standings (4-4) while also gaining a nice boost of confidence at the start of a grueling, eight-game “road trip.”

Last Wednesday’s contest against the Rocketeers was game one of the stretch, and the visitors showed poise and toughness as they stormed back from an early deficit to win in double-overtime 8-7.

“North Attleboro plays a different style of lacrosse — they are very physical and aggressive,” noted head coach Bill Bendell afterwards. “It takes a little while to get used to that, but I was happy with how we adjusted throughout the game and it’s a great accomplishment to go over there and win.”

O’Neill was a one-man wrecking crew on offense as he racked up five goals in the win, including the game-tying and go-ahead goals in the fourth quarter and the game winner in the second OT. One of his goals was an absolute rocket that pinged the upper corner of the pipe and went in, sending the entire Bulldog sideline into delirium. “It was like 90 miles an hour,” Bendell said of the goal. “That was a huge momentum shift.”

The Canton defense also turned in an outstanding performance, highlighted by a sequence at the end of regulation in which they thwarted NA’s bid for a last-second goal. The Rocketeers had pulled their goalie and put him in at attack for the final play, but senior defenseman Dan Nadeau played it perfectly and senior goalie Chris Albert made a great save to send the game into overtime.

Albert would go on to make several outstanding saves in the extra frames, and the NA goalie was equally stout, turning away numerous quality shots before O’Neill broke through for the game winner.

“I can’t tell you how many clutch things there were from both goalies in the two overtimes,” Bendell said. “It was really, really impressive.”

Also scoring in the win besides O’Neill were Joe Mulkay, Dan Dillon, and freshman Mike Shaw. For Shaw, it was his fourth goal in as many games, and he later made it five in a row with a goal on Thursday in the Bulldogs’ 5-4 loss to Foxboro.

A perennial lacrosse power and Canton’s biggest rival, the Warriors had gone into the game undefeated in Hockomock League play. And they lived up to their billing as they scored three unanswered goals to spoil the Bulldogs’ upset bid.

“It was an epic, playoff-type atmosphere,” Bendell said of the game, which featured multiple lead changes and strong play on both sides.

Junior midfielder Shaun Kirby was Canton’s best player on the day as he finished with a team-high two goals and one assist. Mulkay added another clutch goal while Ryan Lodge chipped in with two assists. O’Neill, who recently passed Pat Ward for third place on the Bulldogs’ all-time scoring list, was held scoreless in the game. However, he drew several penalties and had what looked like a sure goal called off late in the fourth quarter.

Now approaching the halfway mark of the season, the Canton boys will look to build on their recent success this week with away games scheduled against Braintree, Oliver Ames, and Medway.

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avatar Posted by on May 5 2016. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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