Undefeated Canton Boys' Lacrosse Holds on for Close Win Over Oliver Ames

The Canton High boys' lacrosse team was held to their lowest goal total of the season in a close win against Oliver Ames Wednesday afternoon to remain undefeated.

The Canton boys beat OA, 3-2, in a hard fought, defensive game.

“We started off slowly in the game and I think it took us a while to figure out this is a good team,” said Canton head coach Bill Bendell said of the Tigers. “The OA-Canton games are always great games.”

The Tigers scored first in the first quarter before giving up two straight goals to Pat Ward before the end of the first half.

“Pat didn’t have his best game," said Canton head coach Bill Bendell. “But he’s so clutch. He’s one of the best offensive players in the league. They were hard to come by, their goalie played well.”

Both teams battled hard in the third quarter but neither could score and Canton went into the fourth leading 2-1.

Cory McLaughlin tied the game, 2-2, for the Tigers with 7:46 to go in the game.

JC Marcone broke the tie with a goal for Canton putting them up, 3-2, with 4:32 to go.

“We’d like to score more than three,” Bendell said. “We made some adjustments. We only gave up two goals. That’s a real key to the game.”

Another key to the win, Bendell said, was faceoffs.

“Faceoffs, Shane Nordgren one of our seniors, at halftime he was 4-0 and then in the second half I think he lost one but we didn’t have to trot anyone else out there because he was winning the clamp and bringing it behind him and we had guys picking up the ball and that was the key because they had really outplayed us in every other aspect,” he said.

OA head coach Fran Yung said he was proud of his team's effort.

“I call it a win for us. I thought we played exceptionally well. We knew Canton was undefeated. They’re right on top of the league,” said OA head coach Fran Yung. “I thought today we proved that we can run with some of the best teams in the league.”

Canton is now 12-0 on the season with four games remaining before the playoffs.