PITCH PERFECT: Canton soccer’s charity game vs. ‘Cats one to remember
Players race to control a bounding ball during the first half of Thursday’s charity/rivalry game between Canton and Plymouth.
Jennifer Bicknell must have been smiling down from the heavens during Thursday night’s Canton-vs.-Plymouth girls soccer charity match.
The Cobras’ annual give-back-to-the-community game was played in memory of Bicknell, who passed away in 2020 after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Activities unfolded throughout the night that raised funds for the Dynami Foundation’s Uncork for a Cure project — specifically for a memorial fund established in the memory of Bicknell, whose two children, Chris and Ashley, attended Plymouth-Canton schools.
The game raised an estimated $2,500 for Jennifer Bicknell’s memorial fund.
Thanks to an inspired effort by the Cobras — whose red uniforms were enhanced by pink accessories — the game was pitch perfect for the hosts, as Canton earned a convincing 2-0 triumph over its cross-campus rivals.
Feel-good night
Even Mother Nature made a donation: outstanding weather, with abundant sunshine and warm temperatures adding a bonus layer of warmth to the feel-good festivities.
(To check out a video highlight of a crazy close-call scoring attempt, click here.)
“I loved our team energy tonight,” said first-year Canton Head Coach Annette Baker. “I like my teams to play a team game what is possession-based, which is what they did tonight.
“Our intensity was high and all the girls were playing for one another.”
After scoring just two goals in their first four games, the Cobras are on a mini-roll. They’re 3-1-1 in their past five games (outscoring their foes 13-3) heading into Tuesday’s pivotal match against Salem.
Peaking at right time
The lone setback in the five-game stretch was a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Hartland, which currently tops the KLAA West Division.
“We’ve done a lot of shooting at practice the past two weeks,” Baker said, smiling, “and it’s paying off. It’s cool to see the work we’re putting in is finally leading to more goals.”
As it turned out, Canton netted the only goal it would need when always-dangerous Emily Fagerman scored in the seventh minute.
The lightning-fast Fagerman assisted on Canton’s second goal, a scorching one-timer from 15 yards out by Kayla Rankin at the 7:50 mark of the first half. (Check out Rankin’s impressive goal by clicking here.)
Fagerman threatened to light up the scoreboard on multiple second-half runs, particularly one when she banged a shot off the right post.
“Emily is crazy-fast,” Baker raved. “She’s also an awesome all-around player. I coached her when she was little, so this season has been like a full-circle moment getting to coach her for her senior season.
“She’s a great team leader, too. She’s always ready to work — in games and practices — and she never backs down. A lot of center-backs tend to slow down when she’s making a run; I think they’re surprised by her speed. Once she beats her defender, though, that’s it. It’s over.”
Campbell was Mmm, Mmm, good!
Anchoring Canton’s shutout was senior goal-keeper Campbell Appert, who is 100% healthy after missing last season due to a broken leg.
“It feels so good to be back because I love this team more than anything,” Appert said. “It’s like I get to play with 20 sisters. We’re all best friends, on and off the field.”
Appert, who is capable of making acrobatic saves look routine, wasn’t challenged too much Thursday night, which is cool with her.
“My team played great in front of me, so I didn’t have to really make any diving saves,” she said. “As long as we win, that’s what matters most.”
Senior Ava Murphy, who is a tri-captain along with Appert and Addison Lockhart, said when the Cobras’ chemistry is clicking, like it has been lately, they’re a difficult team to beat.
It’s all about playing together
“We all played together tonight,” Murphy said. “We’re really fighting to get the 50/50 balls, too, which so important.”
Lockhart summed up the night perfectly for the Canton soccer program.
“We beat our rivals and we were playing to win for the (Bicknell) family who we were honoring tonight, so it was like a double whammy,” she said, smiling.
“Record-wise, we had a tough start to the season. But we were playing really good teams and we were getting better every game even though we weren’t winning.”
They’re winning now — like one big, happy family.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
