Boys’ soccer team struggles to score, starts 0-0-2

Expectations are high for Matt Malloy and the CHS boys' soccer team. (Mike Barucci photo)

Although there are worse things than starting a season with back-to-back draws, the CHS boys’ varsity soccer team is going to have to do better than that if it wants to achieve its lofty goal of winning the state championship this year.

Ranked No. 4 in the Boston Globe’s latest Top 20 poll and boasting several starters from a team that won the south sectional title a year ago, the Bulldogs began the season as the clear favorites in the Hockomock League and perhaps in all of Division 2. But they were forced to do some early-season soul searching after combining for just one goal in a pair of games last week against Duxbury and Sharon and slipping to 0-0-2 in the standings.

While the team played well in both contests, even dominating possession for extended stretches, they came up short where it mattered most — in and around the goal.

“An inability to score was a major problem in both games,” said veteran head coach Danny Erickson, who pointed to the loss of striker Ramon Ambrosio, last year’s leading scorer, as an area of some concern moving forward.

In Wednesday’s opener against Duxbury, the problem appeared to be mostly weather-related as both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities in wet and rainy conditions.

Erickson said the game quickly devolved into a “kick-fest,” and while they came close on a few occasions, it was hardly a surprise when it ended in a scoreless tie.

“We certainly created more chances than they did, but neither team created a ton of chances,” he said.

Conditions were not the issue on Saturday night against Sharon — nor was it a lack of fan support as the Bulldogs were treated to one of the biggest home soccer crowds in years.

“I was shocked,” said Erickson, who isn’t used to seeing large crowds for Saturday games. “The place was packed.”

And in the first half, the team delivered, outplaying the Eagles and grabbing a 1-0 advantage on a late goal by senior captain Scott Levy. The team then continued to dominate when play resumed, but their scoring struggles caught up to them as Sharon came back to even the score at 1-1 and then held on for the tie.

After the game, a disappointed Erickson offered up his diagnosis: “We generated a ton of chances, but we refused to find the back of the net.”

At the same time, he made it clear that no one is panicking — not with the talent this team has and certainly not after two games. They also have the added benefit of strong leadership, especially from their three captains: Levy, Chris Murray, and goalkeeper Colby Gavigan.

“Hopefully, it will serve as a wake-up call for our guys,” said Erickson of the tough first week. “I think we realized that it takes going out there and getting it done.”

The Bulldogs were scheduled to return to action on Tuesday at Foxboro, and tomorrow they will take on Mansfield, their first Kelly-Rex opponent, at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Field.

Share This Post

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=7983