
Canton’s Grace Giancola (9), the team’s leading scorer with 16 goals, has scored three goals in two tournament victories for the Warriors.
CANTON, Nov. 13 – Late goals in the final seconds of regulation can be devastating. It can break teams, who frequently falter in overtime periods.
It hasn’t bothered the Canton High field hockey team which will be playing top-seeded Thomaston in the semifinals of the CIAC Class S tournament on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Watertown High. Twice in the tournament, the Warriors have given up goals in the final minute of regulation.
But they have prevailed in overtime. Canton beat No. 5 North Branford in overtime on a goal from Grace Giancola and eliminated No. 3 Stonington in double overtime on a goal from Kaelyn Oliver.
“Our play in the last two games has taught them that when they are challenged, they’ll rise to the occasion,” Canton coach Margaret Bristol said. “They’ve done that the last two games. I’ve seen a group of strong female athletes work hard, work together and persevere. All of our hard work in the summer and at the beginning of the season is playing off.”
Canton (10-5-2) didn’t come into the Class S tournament on an upward surge. The Warriors lost four of their last five games – all by shutouts to Granby, Enfield and Haddam-Killingworth (twice).
But in the tournament, Canton has found new life – winning back-to-back tournament games in overtime for the first time since 1988.
Against North Branford, Canton scored three goals in nine minutes to take a 3-1 lead. The Thunderbirds rallied to tie the match, scoring with 29 seconds left. But Grace Giancola scored for her third career game-winning goal in OT to lift the Warriors to a 4-3 decision.
Against Stonington, Giancola gave Canton a 1-0 lead early. But the Bears tied the match with 50.4 seconds left in regulation. It took until the second 10-minute OT session for the Warriors to prevail this time.
Freshman midfielder Alissa Peet crossed the ball in front of the goal on a corner. “She has really come out of her shell the past few games,” Bristol said. “She is more aggressive and is starting to communicate and open up on the field.”
In the resulting chaos, it was right winger Oliver who got a stick on the ball and stuffed it between the legs of the Stonington goalie. It was a sweet moment for Oliver with her fourth goal of the season and second of the tournament.
A year ago, she injured her knee and reinjured it during the lacrosse season. She started the season slow with limited minutes. But now, she is at full strength.
Canton’s defense, led by goalie Natalie Nardello and sweeper Sarah First has grown stronger. Nardello had 12 saves against Stonington. “She (Nardello) has really improved this season. Her leadership has grown on the field. She and Sarah control the defense and they are amazing back there,” Bristol said.
Junior Alexa Szczepanski and sophomore Jenna DiMartino have played well in the backfield.
Midfielder Hannah Bonini and forward Erica Nedderman are also playing strong.
“We’re excited and ready to play again,” Bristol said. “We’re enjoying this feeling of winning and being successful.” This is Canton’s first appearance in the semifinals since 2007 – the last time that the Warriors made an appearance in the state championship game.
Semifinal appearances in the state tournament are new to Thomaston but winning isn’t.
The core of the Thomaston team (16-1) that won its first outright Berkshire League championship in October helped the Bears win a second straight Class S state championship in basketball over Canton last winter and win a state title in softball a few months later.
The Bears, who last won a share of the BL title in 1988, will be looking for their first-ever state championship berth in field hockey. It will be the post-season meeting between the two schools in field hockey.
SEMIFINAL DOUBLEHEADER: It will be a Farmington Valley doubleheader on Tuesday night at Watertown High. At 4 p.m., No. 4 Avon will face top-ranked Joel Barlow in a Class M semifinal followed by Canton and Thomaston at 6 p.m. Avon is playing in the semifinals for the fourth straight year and is looking for its first championship game appearance since 1998.
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 30 years.


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