Canton Field Hockey Cruises to 4-0 Semifinal Win

With a fast and relentless attack, particularly in the second half, the ended the season for Dedham last Wednesday night with a convincing 4-0 win at home. The team will now head into the MIAA South Division 2 Finals with an eye on a state title, a goal that evaded them last year after a 1-0 loss to Watertown in the state semis.

The second-ranked Bulldogs have been playing well throughout the tournament. "It was a really good performance tonight," said Canton Coach Fior Griffin. "They've been very consistent the last three games."

Wednesday's matchup wasn't the first time these two teams tangled this year. In September, Canton beat Dedham 4-0. Marauders' Coach Leigh Shea knew the game wouldn't be easy.

"I knew they were going to be tough," Shea said. "You can only hold them off for so long. We stayed with them in the first half, but they're a good team."

The Marauders hung with Canton throughout the first 30 minutes, giving up just one goal on a penalty shot five minutes into the game. Senior Emily Dillon took the shot for Canton and fired it off goalie Kayleigh Bramhall's stick and into the back of the cage.

Though Canton controlled the pace throughout the first half, Dedham was still within shooting distance going into intermission with a 1-0 deficit.

After the break, the Bulldogs continued their relentless attack, out-shooting their opponents 20-2 on the day. 

"I thought we had really good ball control," Griffin said. "We pressured their goalie. It could have really been a much higher-scoring game and I thought their goalie did well keeping it to four."

In the second half, the Bulldogs showed off their speed and ball-handling skills, keeping the pressure on Dedham. Shortly after the half began, Michelle McNeil emerged with possession in front of the Maurader goal, squared up and laced a shot past Bramhall.

With under 10 minutes to play, Haley Gaughan scooped up a deflected shot and found the back of the cage again, moving Canton to a 3-0 lead.

As the final minutes ticked away, Canton didn't let up. With two minutes to go, Nikki Wanless found sophomore Allie Martin in front of the net, who pounded in a shot to end scoring for the day.

Canton will keep playing on Saturday against the winner of tomorrow's match up between Old Rochester and Medway. No matter whom they face, Griffin plans to stick with her game plan.

"We have a fast team and we have a skilled team so that's what we're going to do regardless of who we see," Griffin said.