Senior captain Jen Martin (Mike Barucci photo)

Last week, the girls continued a season-long trend with a convincing victory over Milford and a close loss to Ursuline Academy, putting them at 6-7-1 with four games to play. The Bulldogs will need to win three of those remaining contests to clinch a spot in the Division 2 south sectional tournament.

Playoff chances aside, Canton has all but wrapped up second place in the Davenport Division after last Monday’s 19-8 win at Milford, which brought the girls’ record to 6-3 against Hockomock League opponents.

Playing in their final road game of the regular season, the Bulldogs effectively dominated the winless Hawks from start to finish, racing out to a 13-5 halftime lead before finishing them off in the second half.

“We were able to control the draws,” said head coach Chris Murtagh, “and we had the game in hand pretty much the whole time.”

The Bulldogs got monster offensive performances from junior Jackie Merrigan and senior Meaghan McKenna, who accounted for more than half of the team’s scoring total with six and four goals, respectively. Senior captains Meghan Lennon and Jen Martin added two apiece, while Kaitlin Phillips, Christine Ward, Caitlyn Feeney, and Sam Sullivan finished with one goal each.

The team was also supposed to play Oliver Ames last week, but the game was postponed due to wet weather. The girls then welcomed nonleague Ursuline to town on Saturday night, and while they had no trouble scoring in the game, they allowed too many the other way as the Bears held on for a 20-17 win.

Murtagh said his team seemed to be knocking on the door for most of the game but just couldn’t get over the hump. They trailed by one at halftime (11-10) and were still down one late in the second half when Ursuline converted back-to-back goals to put the game out of reach.

“We played with them the whole game, and they were able to just add a couple of quick ones over the final three minutes,” Murtagh said afterwards.

Besides losing the game, the Bulldogs also lost an important contributor in Jackie Martin, who will miss the rest of the season after fracturing her leg. Only a sophomore, Martin had emerged as a key cog on defense and will be sorely missed, according to Murtagh.

After playing mostly away games throughout the early part of the spring, the Bulldogs will close out the regular season with four straight at home, including two this week against Sharon and Foxboro. They will also play a makeup game against OA and will wrap things up on Monday, May 20, against nonleague Norwood.

Both CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson and head track coach Dan Ashman described the performance of Mellyn Costello as “incredible.” She won the 100-meter hurdles, 200, long jump, and triple jump. “This was an incredible day for one of the most accomplished track athletes in recent Bulldog history,” said Erickson.

“Mellyn’s 100 hurdles matched her best time ever (16 seconds),” said Ashman. “Her long jump (16’9.5”) and triple jump (33’8”) were both the best of her career, and she is now qualified for states in both.”

Rachel Campagna turned in another outstanding performance, winning the 100 and placing second in the long jump (15’5.5”) and triple jump (32’2”). Both jumps were career bests, and she is now qualified for states in the triple jump.

Also scoring in multiple events was Amanda Eagles, who won the mile in 5:52 — topping her previous best mark by 10 seconds — and placed second in the two-mile (13:08).

Samantha Koplik improved nearly three seconds in the 400-hurdles (72.4) to finish second and also ran the lead leg on the winning 4×400 relay team.

Michaela Kelley won the 400 with a time of 64.1 seconds, and Hannah Jankowski tied for first in the high jump at four feet, four inches.

Canton swept two events: the 100-meter dash behind Campagna (13.4 sec), Alexa MacQuarrie (13.5), and Masha Smirnova (13.6), and the long jump behind Costello, Campagna, and Wonser Mahn (14’10”).

Also scoring in the meet were Jenn Dever, third, 400 hurdles, 73.6 sec; Courtney Loughnane, third, mile, 6:11.20; Ellie Teague, second, 100 hurdles, 17.6; Sarah MacQuarrie, second, 800, 2:39.2; Emily Breviglia, third, 800, 2:40.6; Hailee Duserick, second, 200, 28.6; Alana Murphy, third, discus, 61’, and third, shot put, 23’3.25”; and Alexa MacQuarrie, third, javelin, 59’8”.

The leading scorer for the boys’ team was senior Peter Sheehan, who won the shot put (40’3”) and discus (121’3.5”).

Brothers Ian and Craig Mills tied for first place in the 400 as both ran a personal-best time of 52.0 seconds. Joe Clancy improved from 11:30.2 to 11:24 in the two-mile, and Mike Rota improved from 2:18.0 to 2:12.2 in the 800 with a second-place finish.

Both teams are now preparing for the Hockomock League Championships, which get underway Sunday, May 19, at North Attleboro High School.

Freshman Kevin Powers has played well at shortstop and on the mound. (Mike Barucci photo)

The CHS baseball team lost twice last week but might have found a new pitching prospect in freshman Kevin Powers.

In a 3-1 loss to Oliver Ames, Powers threw seven strong innings, scattering six hits while striking out three.

“[Powers] has been a great spark for our team,” said head coach JP Scott. “He is quiet but funny and has fit right in. He has also played a good shortstop for us. He is still adjusting to the speed of the varsity game, but he is getting better every day.

“He is very mature on the hill,” added Scott. “I look forward to coaching him for the next four years. He could be a very special talent; it just depends on how hard he works.”

In other action last week, the Bulldogs lost to Milford 8-5. Kevin O’Brien went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Steve Mullaney was 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, and Pat Vartanian, who tripled against OA, continued his hot hitting with a 2 for 3 showing, including a double.

Canton was also scheduled to host Dedham on Thursday, May 9, but the game was postponed due to rain and will be made up this week.

Including the Dedham game, the Bulldogs (2-12) will play a total of four games this week, with road games against Sharon and Foxboro and a home contest against nonleague Cardinal Spellman.

The Bulldogs will end the season next week with a home game Monday, May 20, against Stoughton and an away game against Dedham on Tuesday, May 21.

Senior captain Eleni Papadopoulos (Mike Barucci photo)

Last Monday’s match at Milford saw some lineup changes that paid huge dividends for the Bulldogs. At first singles, senior Erika Nannery kept her unbeaten streak going with an easy 6-1, 6-1 win. However, senior Eleni Papadopoulos couldn’t keep pace with her counterpart at second singles and fell in straight sets, 1-6, 4-6.

At third singles, junior Amberly Diep came out strong with a 6-1 first set but lost the next two 2-6, 1-6. Now behind 2-1, the Bulldogs looked to the doubles teams, where head coach Bill Kates decided to “do something dramatic.”

Separating the senior doubles duo of Aimee Pina and Kristen Burns, Kates opted to pair Pina with junior Pranathi Ganni — a decision that yielded a critical win. Falling short in a tiebreaker in the first set, the duo battled back and won this key match 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. It then came down to Burns and senior Pujitha Ganni at second doubles, and the pair did not disappoint, breezing to a 6-0, 6-2 victory.

The 3-2 win against Milford was followed up by a home match against Oliver Ames on Wednesday, May 8. Conditions were less than optimal and intermittent rain delayed the match a couple of times. The Canton girls were not distracted by the weather, however, as they crushed the Tigers 5-0.

Nannery shut out her competitor 6-0, 6-0, while Papadopoulos found her stride for a 6-1, 6-2 win. Senior Jude Altabbaa took home her first win since her return to the squad (6-3, 6-4). Pina and Pranathi Ganni seem to be working well together and won seamlessly 6-1, 6-0. And for the fifth and final win of the day, Burns and Pujitha Ganni lost the first set but rallied in the next two for a 6-7, 6-0, 10-8 win.

Coach Kates, pleased with his squad, spent last weekend at the individual state tournament at Hingham High School, where Nannery and Papadopoulos both advanced to next weekend’s round of play. Up next for the Bulldogs are some of its most challenging matches, including Sharon on Monday, May 13, and Foxboro on Wednesday, May 15.

Junior Tommy Galvin (Mike Barucci photo)

Canton has now beaten every team in the Hockomock League, including all four Kelly-Rex Division (large school) teams for the first time in history. That includes King Philip last Wednesday in a romp, followed by a comeback thriller over defending Kelly-Rex champion Mansfield on Friday.

The win against the Hornets was particularly impressive, not only because it came on the road at night in front of a pumped up crowd, but also because of how the first half unfolded, with the hosts jumping out to a fast start and a 7-3 lead.

According to head coach Bill Bendell, the Bulldogs fell behind early and then started forcing bad shots.

“Guys started playing individually,” he said. “Rather than letting the game come to us, everyone was forcing the action.”

His message to the players at halftime was to value each possession, noting that they were not going to “win the game all at once.”

As it turned out, the Hornets had one more goal left in them, scoring early in the third quarter to make it 8-3. But after that it was all Canton, as the visitors ripped off seven unanswered goals to claim a 10-8 victory in front of a stunned Mansfield crowd.

Bendell said the play of the game came with the team trailing 8-5, when senior midfielder Shane Nordgren collected a ground ball and sprinted down field, sending a beautiful pass to freshman Ben O’Neil, who buried the shot with his weak hand from about 10 yards out.

O’Neil, who also had a goal earlier in the week against King Philip, finished with a hat trick in a breakout performance for the Bulldogs.

“He’s gaining confidence every day,” Bendell said of his young attackman. “If he continues like this we’re going to be very, very dangerous.”

Team scoring leader Pat Ward also had three goals for Canton in the comeback effort, while fellow senior Kurt Leavitt added two goals and an assist. Senior captain JC Marcone chipped in with a goal and two assists, and Tommy Galvin also had a goal. Both Nordgren and Austin Zannino finished with one assist apiece.

Other key contributors included senior captain Matt Lennon, who picked up three ground balls and played excellent defense; junior Casey Dwyer, who played well in place of an injured Paul Swart; and junior Eric Wong, who continues to fly under the radar as one of the league’s top defensive midfielders.

In the KP game on Wednesday, the Bulldogs opened a 4-2 lead after two quarters and never looked back, winning 10-5 on their home turf.

“We were in control the whole game,” said Bendell. “It was a nice solid, sound victory.”

Five different players had goals in the game, led by Ward with five. Leavitt scored two while Marcone, Lennon and O’Neil each had one. Galvin and Zannino both registered assists. Goalie Ben Lodge also played well, tallying double-digit saves.

Now a perfect 10-0 overall, the Bulldogs went into this week with six games remaining, including the final five on the road. Their last home game was Monday versus Milford, followed by away games against Oliver Ames on Wednesday and nonleague Abington today at 4 p.m.

Senior captain Meghan Lennon (Mike Barucci photo)

With the 1-1-1 week, the girls now sit at 5-6-1 overall with six games remaining. They’ve posted a more respectable 5-3 mark against league opponents — second only to Foxboro in the Davenport — but will need to win four of their final six games to clinch a spot in the postseason tournament.

Head coach Chris Murtagh said the team is more than capable of pulling it off, and they flashed some of that potential last Wednesday in a 17-8 road win over King Philip.

“That was a huge win for us,” said Murtagh, who has never beaten KP in all his years as a coach. “From [goalie] Isabelle Hegland on down, they all played well. It was a real team win.”

Hegland, who moved up from the JV squad earlier this season, produced one of her best performances to date, while the defensive trio of Amanda Crowley, Jackie Martin and Julia Mackie did an excellent job of stuffing scoring opportunities and jumpstarting Canton’s transition game.

The Bulldog offense also did its part in the victory as five different players scored multiple goals, including Meaghan McKenna (4), Sam Sullivan (3), Jen Martin (3), Meghan Lennon (3), and Shannon Proctor (2). Erin Proctor and Jackie Merrigan also got on the scoreboard, and Merrigan did an outstanding job on the draws, according to Murtagh.

“I always say that whoever controls the draw controls the pace of the game, and Jackie was phenomenal,” he said. “She was able to really direct the ball anywhere she wanted.”

Merrigan and company also played well against a tough Mansfield team a few days later; however, they struggled to find the net against talented Hornet goalie Maria Platsidakis in a 16-9 loss at home.

“She was incredible,” Murtagh said of Platsidakis, who is headed to Division 1 Coastal Carolina next year. “We were beaten by an exceptional player.”

McKenna and Lennon paced the offense with three goals apiece, while Merrigan and Mary McNeil each finished with one in the loss.

Earlier in the week, the Bulldogs traveled to Medway where they battled the Mustangs to a 13-13 draw. Canton actually led for most of the game, but Medway clawed its way back into it before netting the game-tying goal with just seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Lennon led the visitors with four goals, while McKenna had three and Merrigan had two. Sullivan, Jen Martin, McNeil, and Erin Proctor chipped in with one apiece.

This week, the Bulldogs were due to play at Milford on Monday, followed by home games against Oliver Ames on Wednesday and Ursuline Academy on Saturday beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Senior captain Steve Mullaney (Mike Barucci photo)

Canton lost to Taunton 12-1 and Mansfield 5-3, but the highlight of the week was its 6-4, comeback win over KP at home.

Canton’s Jimmy Fitzgerald pitched six innings for the win as he gave up three earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

Sophomore Pat Vartanian came on in relief to pitch the seventh inning and was credited with the save. He also went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and a run scored.

“[Vartanian] has started to hit the ball well,” said head coach JP Scott after the game. “He hit his first homerun last week and is keeping it going. He is our future as a catcher … but he has been asked to play third base and outfield to keep his bat in the lineup and he always says, ‘okay coach.’ This is just another example of a great team and great kids.”

Besides Vartanian, other top hitters versus KP were Kevin O’Brien, who went 2 for 4 with two runs scored; Steve Mullaney, who was 3 for 4 with a double, a run scored, and three RBIs; and Justin Rudy, who was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Against Taunton, the Bulldogs went ahead 1-0, but Taunton battled back and led 4-1 after four innings. They added four more runs in the fifth to knock Canton starter Sam Larson out of the game. Larson allowed six earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four. O’Brien went 2 for 3 with a run and Mullaney had an RBI hit.

The Bulldogs also lost a close game against Mansfield last week. Vartanian was the starting pitcher and went three innings, giving up five earned runs with one strikeout. Freshman pitcher Kevin Powers came in and shut down the Mansfield batters, allowing no runs over three innings.

The leading hitters for the game were O’Brien, who went 4 for 4 with a stolen base and raised his average to a team-leading .378, and Wyatt Golledge, who went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Vartanian was 1 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI.

This week, the team was due to host Milford on Monday, travel to Oliver Ames on Wednesday, and host Dedham on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. They will next play at Sharon on Monday, May 13, and at Foxboro on Wednesday, May 15.

The boys’ team welcomed back senior Obi Nwankwo from the German exchange trip and he responded with victories in both the 200 (23.3 sec) and 400 meters (51.1).

Ian Mills also had a good day as he won the 800 (2:13.5) and the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.2). Peter Sheehan picked up victories in the shot put (39’8”) and the discus (105’4”), while Mandel Guerrier-Roberson finished first in the 100 (11.2) and second in the 200 (23.7).

The Bulldogs swept the 400 behind Nwankwo, Craig Mills, and Matt Derbin. Canton’s 4×400 relay team also won in 3:52.6 behind Derbin, Tommy Gutowski, Brian Regan, and Liam Collins.

Other meet scorers for the boys included James Bourikas, third, 100, 11.7; Michael Rota, third, 800 meters, 2:18; Gutowski, second, mile, 4:59.9; Collins, third, mile, 5:00.6; Kevin McNeil, third, two mile, 11:17.9; and Matt Waldman, third, discus, 98’2”, and second, javelin, 137 feet.

“It was a meet we felt we should win,” said head coach Dan Ashman. “We caught a couple bad breaks in the hurdles and high jump, and Milford really performed well.”

In the girls’ meet, Mellyn Costello, Amanda Eagles, and Rachel Campagna were the top scorers on the day.

Eagles won the mile (6:02.6) and 800 (2:44.7). Costello won the 100 hurdles (16 sec) and placed second in three events: long jump (15’9.75”), triple jump (31’1.5”) and 200 (27.7). Campagna won the triple jump (31’6.25”) and placed second in the 100 (13.4).

Other winners included Michaela Kelly in the 400 (64.2) and the 4×100 relay team (53.8) behind Masha Smirnova, Alexa MacQuarrie, Hailee Duserick, and Ellie Teague.

Other point scorers for the girls included Lauren Winters, third, two mile, 14:42.2; Teague, third, 100m hurdles, 17.3; Jenn Dever, second, 400m hurdles, 75.8; and Samantha Koplik, third, 400m hurdles, 78.

Ashman was also disappointed that the girls’ team did not beat Milford. “We are almost always the better team on the track, but you have to throw to win meets — and right now we aren’t doing that,” he said.

In other action last week, both teams were soundly defeated by King Philip in a makeup meet as the boys fell 108-28 and the girls lost 85-51.

Eagles qualified for states in the two mile at 12:29.8 and the boys’ 4×400 relay (Craig and Ian Mills, Derbin and Timmy Gutowski) qualified for states with a time of 3:39.9.

Both teams (0-5) were hoping to post their first dual-meet win of the season against Stoughton at home on Tuesday, May 7.

Senior captain JC Marcone (Mike Barucci photo)

Led by Hockomock League MVP candidate Pat Ward and fellow standouts JC Marcone and Kurt Leavitt, the Bulldogs seized control of the Davenport while serving notice to the rest of Division 3 that they are a team to be reckoned with.

Included in this recent stretch was a 12-11 win over Sharon, also won in double OT — without starting goalie Ben Lodge — and a 14-0 shellacking of nonleague Bishop Connolly on the road. But the one that mattered most, both to observers and to themselves, was last Wednesday’s 7-6, come-from-behind win against the undefeated Warriors at home.

Not only was it Canton’s first win against Foxboro in six seasons; it also came against a Warrior team that was 6-0 and fresh off a victory over D2 powerhouse Reading, the top team in the Middlesex League’s Liberty Division.

“This was, by far, the best game I’ve been a part of,” remarked head coach Bill Bendell. “This was special for us. It was a statement win and it was really exciting.”

And the action on the field was equally thrilling, highlighted by several lead changes and an improbable comeback from two goals down over the final five minutes of regulation. Trailing 6-4 late in the fourth quarter, Canton clawed its way back into the game on goals by Ward and Marcone, and then Leavitt completed the rally with an unassisted goal off the faceoff in the second overtime period.

After the game, Bendell raved about the “clutch” performance of his top players — especially Ward, who scored the Bulldogs’ first five goals, and Leavitt, who dominated faceoffs and outplayed Foxboro star Luc Valenza.

“They tried everything,” Bendell said. “They even bumped [Valenza] up on defense to try to counteract Kurt, but whatever move they tried Kurt had a countermove.”

Bendell was also very much impressed with the Bulldogs’ defense against the Warriors, including the stellar play of Lodge, who made several big saves both in regulation and in the first overtime.

“Foxboro values the ball so well, they really make you work on defense,” he said, “and our guys did a great job being patient. The whole team, I was just so proud of them.”

Earlier in the week against Sharon, the Bulldogs managed to overcome the absence of Lodge, who was out with an injury, and sneak past the Eagles with a one-goal victory.

Junior Eric Wong, normally the team’s starting long-stick midfielder, stepped into the cage and played well, tallying 10 saves.

The Eagles did manage to tie the game at 11-11 with about two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Canton ultimately prevailed in the second overtime on a goal by Ward, who had another monster game with five goals and two assists. Marcone added four goals of his own, while Leavitt finished with two goals and an assist and Paul Swart had a goal.

Against Bishop Connolly on Friday, Canton made it look easy as eight different players got on the scoreboard, led by Ward with four goals and Tommy Galvin with two goals and two assists. Sophomore Matt Gleason earned his first varsity point in the victory, and freshman Chris Albert saw his first varsity action in net in the fourth quarter.

This week the Bulldogs had another tough test with games against Kelly-Rex opponents King Philip and Mansfield. They will then host Milford on Monday, May 6, in their final home game before closing out the season with five straight on the road.

Junior Sam Larson (Mike Barucci photo)

In other action last week the Bulldogs fell to both Sharon and Stoughton and now sit at 1-8 overall.

In the Foxboro game, Pat Vartanian had a two-run homerun, Wyatt Golledge had a two-run double, and Fitzgerald pitched a complete-game shutout while striking out eight batters.

Speaking after the game, head coach JP Scott said the nice weather worked wonders for Fitzgerald, whose first two starts came on cold and windy days.

“[The weather] really helped him stay focused and start to get a feel for his off-speed pitches,” said Scott. “His changeup was amazing and he started to get the curveball over as well. So having three pitches on the same day was a really nice thing to see from the senior captain.”

Scott also had words of praise for Golledge, who has improved throughout the season.

“He has been working hard,” said Scott. “He’s a very intensely focused kid and very intelligent. Our team really needs Wyatt to step up and stay focused because he gives us a left-handed bat for the middle of the order.”

The Bulldogs will try to get back on the winning track with games this week against Taunton, King Philip, and tomorrow at Mansfield. They will next host Milford on Monday, May 6, beginning at 3:30 p.m.