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Canton rolls past HMTCA to earn berth in state tournament

Chelsea Mitchell (21) scored three goals in Tuesday night’s win over HMTCA that put the Canton High girls soccer team in the Class S tournament for the second straight season. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

CANTON, November 5 – Even as the losses kept piling up, the Canton High girls soccer team remained positive. It helped the Warriors earn a berth in the CIAC Class S tournament for the second straight year on Tuesday night.

After beginning the season with a 4-2-1 record, the Warriors played six games against the top five teams in the North Central Connecticut Conference and lost them all.

“They have stayed positive throughout the season and have fought hard in each game,” third-year coach Alexandra Uscilla said. “Even during the games we have lost, the girls have played with heart throughout and played hard until the last whistle.”

The Warriors came to the turf field on Tuesday needing a victory over Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA) to earn an invitation to the Class S tournament. Senior Chelsea Mitchell scored three goals in the first 20 minutes of the game as the Warriors rolled to a 7-2 win over HMTCA on Senior Night.

Mitchell, who has 14 goals on the year, also had two assists. It is the second hat trick of her career with the first coming against SMSA last October. Halle Gerhold had two goals for Canton (6-9-1) while Lauren Almeida had a goal and four assists. Ava Dakin also scored for the Warriors.

Goalie Julia Lau made two saves in net to pick up the win.

The Warriors will open play in the Class S tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Granby (16-0) went undefeated to win their second straight NCCC championship and their first outright title since 2011. The Bears shared the title with Suffield a year ago. Suffield had won a share of the league title for the past seven seasons.

Canton 7, HMTCA 2
At Canton
HMTCA (2-14)                 1  1  — 2
Canton (6-9-1)                 5  2  — 7
Goals: Chelsea Mitchell (Ca) 3, Lauren Almeida (Ca), Halle Gerhold (Ca) 2, Ava Dakin (Ca), Ana Shepard (H); Assists: Mitchell 2, Almeida 4, Alahnah Townsend (H); Saves: Julia Lau (Ca) 2, Jazlyn Vega (H) 5

2019 NCCC girls soccer standings

Team NCCC Overall
x-Granby 16-0 16-0
Suffield 13-2 13-2
Coventry 12-3-1 12-3-1
Ellington 11-3-1 11-3-1
Somers 10-5-1 10-5-1
Stafford 8-5-3 8-5-3
Rockville 8-7-1 8-7-1
East Granby 8-7-1 8-7-1
Bolton 7-6-3 7-6-3
Canton 6-9-1 6-9-1
East Windsor 5-10-1 5-10-1
Windsor Locks 3-10-3 3-10-3
HMTCA 2-14 2-14
SMSA/Bulkeley 1-15 1-15
Hartford Classical 0-14 0-14

x-won league championship
Wednesday’s match
Suffield at Ellington

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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