Thomaston does enough to earn invitation to final with 3-2 win over Canton

Canton’s Alexa Szczepanski. left, and Thomaston’s Alexa Milius, right, battle for the ball in Tuesday’s semifinal game in Watertown. Thomaston won, 3-2.

WATERTOWN, Nov. 17 – It’s a special legacy that Thomaston High seniors Gabrielle Hurlbert, Morgan Sanson and Nicole Schaefer have built during their high school careers.

Coming into Tuesday’s Class S semifinal against No. 12 Canton, the three girls have played in five state championship finals – three in basketball and two in softball. They’ve won three Class S titles, including a two-point win over Canton last March in the Class S girls basketball championship game.

The only thing missing from their athletic resume was an appearance in the Class S field hockey final.

That hole in their resume has been filled. Sanson scored three goals and the top-ranked Bears held off a pesky rally in the second half to beat Canton, 3-2 and earn a berth in the Class S field hockey championship game for the first time in school history.

Canton’s Grace Giancola scored her team-leading 16th goal of the season. She had four goals in three tournament games this fall.

Canton’s leading scorer, junior Grace Giancola, cut the lead to one goal, scoring in the crease with 16:49 remaining in the game. But the Warriors (10-6-2) couldn’t come up with the equalizer that could have sent the game into overtime.

Thomaston (17-1) will face No. 3 Haddam-Killingworth (19-2) in Saturday’s championship at Wethersfield High at a time to be determined.

“It was the last piece of the puzzle,” Thomaston’s Nicole Shaefer said. “It is all you could wish for in your senior year.”

Once Giancola scored her team-leading 16th goal of the season, the Bears tightened up their defense. “We noticed the goals were coming on wide-open shots so we packed in our defense tighter,” Schaefer said.

“They’re a group of girls that handle pressure extremely well,” Thomaston coach Brooke Gomes Holway said. “They take it one minute at a time. They worked hard. They knew they would have to win almost every (loose) ball and that Canton would continue to come at them.”

Canton didn’t finish the season with a flourish, losing four of their final five games, getting outscored 13-0 in those four defeats. But they found some magic in the tournament. Despite giving up goals in the final minute that tied the game, the Warriors beat North Branford in overtime and outlasted Stonington in double overtime.

“Once we got in the tournament, we stepped up to the plate,” Canton coach Margaret Bristol said. “We had an incredible season. I’m so proud of the progress we made this season. They did a good job of putting Canton field hockey back on the map.”

Thomaston took the early lead, scoring with just 8:04 gone in the game. On a penalty corner, Alexis Mulius got off a shot that was saved by Canton goalie Natalie Nardello. She saved a second shot by Sanson but the rebound went right back to her and Sanson popped it in for the Bears.

“She just a nose for the goal,” said Holway. “She is always in the right spot.”

Giancola helped set up the tying goal by firing the ball into the scoring circle. Erika Nedderman ended up scoring with 15:40 remaining off an assist from Emma Charron.

Sanson snapped the tie with 4:16 remaining in the first half, scoring off another penalty corner, taking a nice pass from Schaefer to get an open shot on net for a 2-1 lead. They extended the lead to 3-1 with 8:03 gone in the second half on another penalty corner opportunity. Once again, crisp passing in the scoring circle allowed the ball to find Sanson wide open at the corner of the net.

Giancola cut the lead to one, 3-2, on a pretty goal. Controlling the ball in the scoring circle, she spun around and fired a shot into the net that got past Thomaston goalie Kelly Langevin.

“We did some wonderful things as individuals,” Bristol said. “We had a tough time doing them together and working together. We didn’t mesh (together) as well as we had the past two games. We had trouble getting the ball to each other.”

Senior sweeper Sarah First, one of six seniors on the Canton squad, broke up several Thomaston advances into Canton territory. Goalie Natalie Nardello made seven stops in net for the Warriors.

Hannah Bonini and Kaelyn Oliver each had a few carries upfield for the Warriors. Canton was looking for its first trip back to the Class S championship game since 2007.

Thomaston players celebrate after beating Canton to earn the program’s first-ever trip to the Class S championship game.

The Bears have won 12 straight games, including a triple overtime win over Lewis Mills in the Class S quarterfinals. Thomaston has won just six games in CIAC tournament history and two have come this season.

Thomaston 3, Canton 2
At Watertown
Thomaston (17-1)            2  1  – 3
Canton (10-6-2)               1  1  — 2
Goals: Morgan Sanson (T) 3, Grace Giancola (C), Erika Nedderman (C); Assists: Giancola (C); Saves: Natalie Nardello (C) 5; Kelly Langevin (T)

Canton Kaelyn Oliver and Thomaston’s Nicole Schaefer battle for the ball in Tuesday’s Class S semifinal game in Watertown. Thomaston won, 3-2.