GAME OF INCHES: Canton’s riveting rally vs. Northern falls just short
Canton’s Antonio Nocera races to the ball along with Northern’s Earley (no first name available on roster).
With his team trailing Walled Lake Northern 2-1 late in Thursday night’s season opener, Canton senior Omar Touati one-timed a dime from Antonio Nocera that appeared headed for the back of the Knights’ net, just inside the left post.
Unfortunately for the Cobras, the ball clanged off the post and out of harm’s way, preserving Northern’s one-goal victory.
Moments later, Lucas Maiolatesi’s laser-like corner kick rushed through the box and onto the left foot of Quinn Collins’, whose game-tying effort was well struck, but eluded the net by less than a foot.
Colasanti’s heroics
In the first half, only a phenomenal leaping save by Northern goalie Chase Colasanti prevented a goal that was headed toward the top of the net by Canton’s Ben Tenglin.
The Cobras chopped their 2-0 deficit in half with just under three minutes remaining in the opening half when Nocera settled a nice feed from Audin Litner from six yards out and touched the ball past a diving Colasanti to give Canton a huge dose of momentum heading into the half.
Litner was stellar throughout the contest, dishing out gold-plated passes to his teammates.
Canton will compete in Saturday’s Balconi Tournament, which runs most of the day on the pitches located across the P-CEP campus.
