Few state semifinals had been as extremely anticipated because the Div. 2 tilt between top-seeded Norwood and underdog Canton – two potent lineups that includes Norwood’s all-time main scorer, Shea Larkee (150 factors), and a pair of younger Bulldogs star scorers.
Shannon Lane, who eclipsed 100 profession factors as a sophomore final yr, roofed a highlight-reel reverse chip to the highest shelf within the first quarter for a 1-0 lead. Carolyn Schiavo – the junior half of Canton’s ultra-talented scoring tandem – then buried a nook halfway by the third.
Together with goalie Shealyn Murphy’s shutout by the primary 38 minutes, these underdogs proved their standing. If not for a historic comeback that noticed Larkee rating twice and Norwood tally the game-winner within the remaining eight seconds, they very nicely may have gone the space for his or her first state championship since 2006.
What Canton did accomplish, although, was to offer this system all the boldness in what that group may obtain. And with Schiavo (senior) and Lane (junior) main a deep lineup of returning key gamers, the unbeaten Bulldogs (7-0) have their sights on a fair higher ending than the eventual runner-up Mustangs acquired.
“We knew we had this particular group coming again,” mentioned Canton head coach Chrissy O’Connor. “They see how shut they had been. … Whereas (Schiavo and Lane) are (unassuming) about it, they’re fired up sufficient to go so far as they’ll take this.”
Schiavo, a Bucknell commit who’s performed with Lane because the two had been in elementary college, sees that each day and has a terrific dynamic together with her.
“I at all times know the place she’s going to be,” Schiavo mentioned. “I take it down the tip line, she’s at all times at stroke to be there to attain – and she or he’s superb at scoring. It’s simple to work together with her … It’s a great connection.”
By means of Canton’s unbeaten begin, during which it’s outscored opponents 50-4 in seven video games, Lane has 18 objectives and 11 assists. She has the talent and athleticism to create her personal shot, has nice consciousness within the circle, can fill any position on the sphere, and is artful together with her actions. The junior’s 131 profession factors have come towards many sturdy opponents together with the weaker ones, and she or he’s already eight objectives away from 100 on her profession.
“It’s actually good (taking part in together with her),” Lane mentioned. “I simply know if I hit it up the sphere, she’s at all times going to be there. Generally I don’t even must look, I simply cross it up the sphere and she or he at all times does one thing – scores or has an help. Each time she will get the ball, she does one thing.”
Upon first point out of what objectives the 2 felt for the staff this yr, Schiavo’s preliminary response was to proceed to strengthen how the entire lineup works collectively. Lane adopted by mentioning how they had been basically eight seconds away from advancing final yr, earlier than chopping herself off to assemble how she wished to say the motivation the Bulldogs have for a deep run after final yr’s exit.
For Schiavo, a part of it’s engaging in what this system can in her remaining season with Lane.
“It’s our final yr taking part in collectively, me and (Lane),” she mentioned. “I feel we have now the potential to go actually far. Final yr was actually disappointing, clearly, and we all know what we’re able to. That’s what motivates us primarily, and realizing that we gained’t be on the identical staff once more. We wish to make the most effective of our final yr.”
It was this level final yr that, in a check-in with O’Connor, the coach mentioned the scoring stage Schiavo and Lane convey Canton to was the final piece it wanted to contend. Protection and midfield play have at all times been sturdy. The Bulldogs simply wanted extra scoring.
“There’s no secret to their success, they simply work onerous,” O’Connor mentioned. “They do all of the little issues. They do all the additional. They’re the primary ones right here, they’re the final to depart. In the event that they don’t get it proper, they don’t wish to go away till they get it proper. It’s quite simple. I’m certain there’s some pure potential in there, however they work at it each single day. And so they find it irresistible.”
The more durable a part of the Canton’s common season schedule is arising within the second half of the yr, which is able to actually put the power of the group to the take a look at because it prepares for a deep run. Unbeaten Franklin, new Div. 2 risk King Philip, Div. 1 powerhouse Walpole, Norwood and Dover-Sherborn will all be signature challenges.
If the final yr is any indication, Canton is prepared for it.
