Canton, Mass. – Ten minutes after the final goal was scored, the Bulldogs were still celebrating on their home field. The Canton coaches asked that the final score be posted back on the scoreboard so they could take a commemorative photo to remember the final score. It was obvious what this victory meant to the program.
For the first time since 2007, the Canton Bulldogs pulled out a victory against perennial Hockomock League champions Foxboro. Senior midfielder Kurt Leavitt scored in double overtime for the Bulldogs to pull out a come from behind 7-6 victory that keeps Canton unbeaten and puts them on top of the Davenport division.
“I think in 2008, we lost two one-goal games to them and it really hasn’t been close since,” said Canton head coach Bill Bendell. “We needed a statement win and this was it for us.”
He added, “We kept saying that if they stick together and keep playing lacrosse, then we’ll be ok. Hopefully this will help us build this program long term.”
Senior Pat Ward scored his fifth goal of the game to bring the team back within one as Foxboro goalie Tyler Elfman gambled on a steal and left the net open. Elfman gambled again just seconds later, but JC Marcone missed a wide open net by inches. Inside the final 30 seconds, Marcone would have another chance and this time he made no mistake to send Canton to its third overtime game of the season and second this week.
Leavitt was the hero for Canton as he won the face-off and raced from midfield directly at Elfman. The Warriors defense did not step up in time and Leavitt had time to fire in the game-winner sparking celebrations on the bench.
The game started well for Canton as Ward scored twice within the first couple minutes to give the Bulldogs an early lead. Ward was impressive and it seemed like every goal that he scored was from a different angle.
“No matter how many times, as coaches, we say that we can beat them and the kids know they can beat them, but once you score that first goal, now you believe,” said Bendell.
The defending league champs would not go quietly. Foxboro stormed back with three straight goals to lead 3-2 at the half. After an Alex Pacitti goal got them on the board, the Warriors let Tyler Ames go to work. He made two incredible plays to set up freshman Pat McCarthy for both goals before halftime.
Ward was at it again right after the break as he scored a pair of goals to put Canton back on top. Foxboro defenseman Luc Valenza, who was burned by ward for one of the goals, responded by stealing a pass and taking the ball the length of the field before beating Ben Lodge in the Bulldogs goal to tie it 4-4.
Foxboro had the momentum and seemed to pull out the win with a pair of goals in the final quarter. Ames picked up a loose ball in front of Lodge and fired in a go-ahead goal. McCarthy would add his third of the game to make it 6-4, but the lead would not be enough as the Bulldogs late heroics indicate that there may be a shift of power in the Hockomock.