Canton High Field Hockey Team Hopes to Dominate This Fall

There are only a handful of high school teams that dominate their sports, year after year. One of these special groups of athletes is the Canton High School .

The the Hockomock League over the past two decades. has captured South Sectional titles, including in each of the last two years, and captured the State Title in 2004 and 2006, and in 2007 losing in overtime in the State Title Game. What’s even more impressive, during this span, is it has been with different groups of players and three different coaches.

“It is a big winning tradition and it continues over a long period of time because of the hard work and off and on-season preparation and commitment by every player and coach," said Canton Coach Fior Griffin. “There is passion and leadership from every player and great chemistry with the team every season.”

Over the last four seasons Griffin and her Bulldogs have compiled a 72-7-8 record, including two Division-2 South Sectional Titles, three Hockomock League championships and two unbeaten regular seasons, including a year ago when the Bulldogs advanced to the state semifinals.

The 17-game schedule is a difficult one, with the Hockomock League very strong. The league will be split into two five-team divisions. Canton will be part of the Davenport (small schools) Division along with Stoughton, Oliver Ames, Foxboro and Sharon. The Bulldogs will play each of these Davenport teams twice.

The other Division is the Kelley-Rex, which will consist of Mansfield, North Attleboro, Attleboro, Franklin and King Philip. Canton will play each team once.

The remaining four games will be non-league against Dedham, Westborough, Nipmuc Regional and a year-ending crossover game against the team from the Kelley-Rex Division that finishes the season in the same place in the standings as Canton.

A year ago, in the first crossover Hockomock League Title Game, Canton defeated long-time nemesis Mansfield for the first annual Classic Cup. Mansfield will again be very strong this year. The 2011 regular season will begin Thursday, September 8 at Sharon.

As usual, Canton will need to fill the shoes of a very successful senior class that had been there with Coach Griffin from the start.

“Last year’s senior class began with me and helped me as I entered as a new coach,” said Griffin. “The winning foundation was already set before those players got here, but they continued it in a classy way, and I know it will continue with this year’s senior class and its leadership.”

Gone is leading scorer and captain Emily Dillon, along with captain Nicole Wanless, defensive standouts Allison Guenthner and captain Alli King and outstanding goaltender Sarah Healey who notched 14 shutouts in 19 games, a year ago, and owned an incredible 0.20 goals against average.

“It will not be easy filling the shoes of the girls we lost, but every year we lose great players and the remaining players step it up and take over,” she said.

Canton returns a solid group that combined for 45 of the team’s 67 goals while helping to allow only eight goals throughout the season.

The seniors include Rebecca Lazaro (nine goals), Haley Gaughan (seven goals), captain Michelle McNeil (five goals), and captain Stephanie Rizzitano (five goals). Meaghan McKenna, a valuable junior defender, and sophomore Alexandra Dillon also return after both compiled six goal seasons, a year ago.

Also returning are seniors Emma Compagna and captain Cady Kelly. Compagna displayed her versatility by playing midfield, forward and defense while Kelly is a steady player at the forward position. Casey Consedine is a sophomore that will help to assist the defense that along with the goaltending, took the hardest hit with graduated players.

Kellie Stigis and Katie Kelleher are sophomore forwards who also will return. Stigas will also see time as a midfielder and defenseman.

Finally, the big question is who will replace Healey as the goaltender and the answers are senior Colleen White and sophomore Caitlyn Hathaway. White will get the start and, despite limited varsity action, has played very well on the JV and in pre-season scrimmages and should be more than ready to handle the net-minding chores.

“We are experienced and committed and as hard-working as any other Canton team, but we must stay sharp and focused because each team would like nothing more than to beat us and make their season,” said Coach Griffin. “Each year is more difficult to maintain a level of excellence as all the other teams in the (Hockomock) League improve, but we’ll be ready for the challenge. We can’t let up and at the end the reward will be worth it.”

Canton would like to capture another State Title, the first for coach Griffin.This lofty prize has eluded the Bulldogs since 2006. It is a very lofty goal, but suited for such a great team that would like to add to the winning tradition and legacy that is Canton High School Field Hockey.