CHS field hockey team charging through tourney

With two shutouts, the Canton High field hockey team made a strong statement in the first week of the postseason.

Seeded second in the MIAA tournament — just behind Bishop Stang who finished the season with a perfect 16-0-0, marginally better than Canton’s 16-0-1 — the Bulldogs faced 18th-seeded Westport in the first round and cruised to a 3-0 victory.

The girls were on the board within the first six minutes of play with a goal by junior Becky Lazaro. Lazaro scored a second goal before the game’s end, while fellow junior Haley Gaughan scored the third goal of the game. Senior captain Alli Guenthner and junior Michelle McNeil provided assists.

The team maintained possession throughout the game with good passing and out-shot Westport 27-0.

“I was glad to see them fired up,” coach Fior Griffin said. “During the season, we came out flat against teams that were not too strong. It was great that they came out strong from the start.”

Sunday’s game against seventh seeded Medfield was much closer. Both teams were matched evenly with 12 shots on goal and a similar number of corners. Canton managed to eke out the victory with a goal 10 minutes into the second half by senior Nikki Wanless off a Gaughan assist.

“We came out with intensity,” Griffin said. “The pace of the game was very fast, and in the first 15 minutes it was a really 50-50 game.”

Griffin said the girls were surprised by Medfield’s strength and its ability to drill free hits from one side of the field to the other. The Bulldogs, however, were able to adjust their defense to better respond to the strong and quick ball movement.

With the quick game play, Griffin utilized the team’s depth, substituting more than usual and moving players around the field.

Griffin said Guenthner played her “best game of the season” against Medfield. “And that’s saying a lot. She played extremely well against Westport earlier in the week.”

Griffin also commended freshman Casey Considine for her strength in the defensive backfield.

“To be that poised in a big game, when the other team is running right at you, especially as a freshman, is impressive,” Griffin said.

Results from Wednesday’s game against Dedham will appear in next week’s Citizen.

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Posted by Jeffrey Cattel on Nov 11 2010. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.