Canton's Shean Krolicki races a Churchill player to the ball. (Ed Wright photo)

Chiefs rally to earn draw with Churchill, 1-1

  Livonia Churchill's chances of pulling off a monumental KLAA South Division road victory Tuesday night got punctured by a BB.

  Canton sophomore mid-fielder Bobby Budlong's goal in the game's 62nd minute proved to be the equalizer in a highly-entertaining 1-1 draw between the Chiefs and Chargers.

  (To view video highlights of the game, click on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyIAQEYcn7Q)

  Budlong settled a dead-on pass from Dan Ovesea just inside the 18-yard box and ripped a ground-hugging hummer that tucked into the lower-left corner of the goal, just beyond the reach of Churchill keeper Christian VanDam.

  The Chiefs barely misfired on a couple of potential game-winners in the game's waning moments. With 5:30 left, a Budlong rocket sailed inches wide of the right post.

  Just over three minutes later, Canton's Mitchell Posuniak dented the post with a left-footed effort.

  Churchill's lone goal game 20:37 in when Jeff Thomas sent a low, well-struck shot from 15 yards out into the lower-left corner of the net, past a diving Brandon Laabs.

  Laabs was perfect the rest of the night, subduing a number of potent Charger opportunities. He received plenty of help from back-liners Connor Furgason, Kyle Krause and Connor Shennan.

  Canton nearly caught lightning in a bottle with 20:47 left in the game when Shennan lofted a long free kick that bounced once in front of VanDam before the Charger goalie snagged the ball as Posuniak closed in for what would have been a game-tying goal.

  VanDam rose to the occasion again less than a minute later when he secured a firm header from Furgason, who was stationed on the doorstep following a corner kick.

  VanDam's best save of the night came during the waning moments of the first half when he denied Budlong from eight yards out. The rebound squirted in front, but Canton's rebound shot sailed over the cross-bar.

  The even result left the KLAA South Division standings jam-packed. Heading into Thursday's pivotal contest between Plymouth and Canton (7 p.m. at the P-CEP varsity soccer field), the Wildcats lead the division with a 4-1 mark. Churchill and Canton are both 3-1-1.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Canton's Phil Baciak defends a Churchill player (Ed Wright photo)

Canton's Tyler Winningham steers the ball away from the sideline. (Ed Wright photo)

Canton's Dan Ovesea is sandwiched by three Churchill players as he elevates for a 50/50 ball. (Ed Wright photo)