Juliana Cabrera scored the only goal as Canton girls soccer beat Mansfield 1-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 27, strengthening the Bulldogs’ chances of reaching the MIAA Division 2 tournament.
The win improved Canton to 5-9-2 with the Nov. 3 tournament cutoff approaching, according to The Mass Pitch.
Cabrera finished a rebound in the second half, according to updates from the Canton Athletic Department. The Bulldogs then protected their lead to complete the shutout against their Hockomock League rival.
HockomockSports.com also reported on Cabrera’s winner in a recap by contributor Jake McNeill.
Canton entered the match ranked No. 31 in the MIAA’s official Division 2 power rankings, released Oct. 27. The top 32 teams qualify for the state tournament regardless of record. Teams outside that group can qualify with a record of .500 or better.
The Mass Pitch’s projection, updated Oct. 29, moved Canton to No. 29 after the Mansfield victory. That calculation uses the MIAA’s formula but is separate from the association’s official rankings.
The rating combines average goal margin, capped at three goals in either direction per game, with opponents’ ratings. Results elsewhere can therefore affect Canton’s position even when the Bulldogs are not playing.
Coach Tom Greenaway’s team has won three straight, following a 5-1 victory over Milford on Oct. 20 and a 2-1 win at Boston Latin on Oct. 22. Tuesday’s result also improved on Canton’s first meeting with Mansfield, a 1-1 draw on Sept. 22.
The Bulldogs travel to Attleboro on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m., then host Marshfield on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m., according to The Mass Pitch’s schedule.
The MIAA will release the girls soccer brackets Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. Tournament play begins Nov. 6, according to the association’s schedule.
