Wheeler connects in the nick of time
Anything can happen come tournament time.
The MIAA tournament breeds upsets, as the highest and lowest seeds alike are eliminated by a single loss.
Top-seeded Canton narrowly avoided defeat yesterday, needing a late goal from senior Meghan Wheeler to topple No. 17 Foxboro, 1-0, in the first round of the Division 2 South field hockey tournament.
Wheeler, the Hockomock MVP, scored with 25 seconds remaining in regulation as the Bulldogs (17-0-1 ) earned a quarterfinal matchup with East Bridgewater tomorrow.
Also in Division 2 South, freshman Kristina Sergio netted the only goal fifth-seeded West Bridgewater (15-2-2) needed to top Hopkinton, 1-0, in a first-round matchup. Senior Jeanine Connolly recorded nine saves . . . Senior Marianne Wallace scored both goals as No. 7 Medfield (11-2-4) edged Holliston, 2-1.
Division 2 North: Senior captain Becca Lumsden's penalty kick elevated second-seeded Manchester-Essex to a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Tewksbury. Junior Helena Turner recorded the shutout with 15 saves . . . No. 1 Amesbury (19-0-1) dropped Georgetown, 6-1. Senior cocaptain Ashley Waters had a goal and two assists.
Boys' soccer
Division 2 North: A second-half goal from freshman Gabriel Fumudoh lifted No. 11 Brighton (13-5-1) over Greater Lowell, 1-0. Junior goalie Kevin Firmino had six saves.
Division 3 North: Ipswich (10-3-6) edged Tyngsboro in a first-round matchup, 2-1, as sophomore Tom McLaughlin netted the winner. Trevor Foughey notched the game's first goal before Tyngsboro pulled even. The tie didn't last long as McLaughin put Ipswich back on top two minutes later.
Volleyball
Division 1 North: Senior cocaptain Vanessa Clifford tallied 8 kills and 7 service points to lead Cambridge past Brighton, 3-0. Susan McCollin added 10 service points and Velena Collins-Smoot had 7 kills.
Division 1 South: Junior Stephanie Geehan notched 20 kills and 7 blocks in Braintree's 3-0 win over Dennis-Yarmouth. Senior Sheila Cawley had 31 assists.
Division 1 Central: No. 8 North Quincy defeated Boston Latin, 3-0, in its first-round matchup. Junior Erin Connolly tallied 18 kills and 5 blocks and sophomore Maria DellaCrose had 10 service aces . . . Quincy (20-0) had little trouble topping Wachusett, 3-0. Junior Jessica Lamb had 10 service aces, 8 assists, and 6 digs for the Presidents. Seniors Nicole O'Sullivan and Nicole Cahill combined for 25 kills.
Division 3 South: Junior setter Sarah Sullivan led Bourne (16-5) with 37 assists as the Canalmen defeated Ursuline, 3-0. . . . Caitlin Roche and Jen Hall combined for 19 service points as Archbishop Williams toppled Old Colony, 3-0. Senior Laura Haskins added 10 kills for the Bishops.
Information from athletic directors and coaches was used in this report.
