Wait is over in Canton
After 25 years, Bulldogs bring home another title
WORCESTER -- Twenty-five years to the day after Canton won its first state field hockey championship, the Bulldogs took home the Division 2 title, beating Frontier Regional, 2-1, in overtime at Worcester State College yesterday.
"I feel like after 25 years we didn't just win it for this group," Canton coach Christine O'Connor said. "It's just been an unbelievable season."
The winning goal was scored on a penalty stroke by Hockomock League MVP Meghan Wheeler with 5:41 left. The penalty was called when a scrum broke out in front of the Frontier net and a Red Hawk defender trapped the ball under her leg.
Wheeler, who had taken all the penalty shots on the season for the Bulldogs, came through on the biggest one, launching the ball past goalie Jackie Zewski.
"Wheeler has been outstanding all season," O'Connor said. "There was no question who was taking the shot."
Wheeler estimated it was her fifth penalty stroke of the season, but the most nerve-racking.
"I looked at the clock and it was blurry. I couldn't even see, my goggles were all fogged up," Wheeler said of the moment before her penalty shot.
The Canton team knows how much the win means to the town. "We knew that the entire town was behind us," said Canton defender Lainey Sullivan. "We owe it to every single player who has played Canton field hockey."
The game was evenly matched, although Canton had 15 corner shots to Frontier's six.
The scoring opened with 4:44 left in the first half, when Canton's Lisa McNeil fed Arielle Spadea for a goal.
But just 1:40 into the second, Frontier struck back on a goal by Kaeli Wickline.
Both defenses held through regulation.
Canton goalie Kristine Stigas stopped six shots, some in spectacular fashion.
"My goalie has been outstanding all season, but especially in the postseason," said O'Connor. Stigas allowed just two goals in the tournament.
The win capped an undefeated season (22-0-1) for the Bulldogs and was worth the wait.
"Frontier deserves a lot of credit," said Canton's Katie White. "But we never gave up."
