Start of a long run?

Canton opens District tournament with solid 3-0 triumph over John Glenn

  It took awhile for the Canton soccer team's engine to get revved up Monday afternoon, but once it did, Westland John Glenn's upset aspirations got steamrolled.

  Following a lackluster opening 15 minutes, the Chiefs played like the team that has dominated the Rockets for the past decade, rolling to a 3-0 victory.

  Canton will square off Wednesday at 5 p.m. against the winner of Monday's Garden City-Detroit Western International game in a District semifinal contest. Wednesday's game will be played at Dearborn Edsel Ford High School.

  "I thought we came out a little flat, but we did a good job of creating some goal-scoring opportunities," said Canton coach George Tomasso, whose team improved to 11-7-3. "I felt we could have created more early on, but we did a good job on the finishing end as the game moved along.

  "John Glenn played a great game. They've gotten a lot better throughout the course of the season. Their coach has done a good job with the program, building it up. The John Glenn kids played very focused, but I thought my kids responded well."

  Sophomore Shean Krolicki created the Chiefs' first goal when he dribbled 15 yards to the end line before dishing off a slick pass to Daniel Ovesea, who propelled the ball from the door step into the back of the net with 22:21 left in the first half.

  Ovesea also played a significant role in the scoring of the second goal when he was pulled down in the 18-yard box by a Rocket defender 1:33 before halftime. The subsequent penalty kick was buried by senior Jonathon Dugan, who ripped a no-doubt-about-it scorcher into the lower-left corner of the net.

  Canton nearly added to its lead in spectacular fashion five minutes into the second half when Tyler Winningham lofted a perfect shot off a set piece from 45 yards out that had goal No. 3 written all over it until John Glenn keeper Zach Redden elevated high to punch it off the cross-bar and out of harm's way.

  The Chiefs came within inches of converting the ensuing corner kick when Jordan Norton's header off a Kevin Zemanski cross sailed just high.

  Redden kept the Rockets within striking distance with another amazing save with 17:37 to play when he fisted away a Bobby Budlong rocket from 20 yards out.

  Canton's steady second-half assault on Redden eventually paid dividends when Mitch Posuniak scored off an assist from Zemanski with 11:49 to play.

  "I thought Conner Furgason and Jordan Norton played very well defensively," said Tomasso.

  Kai Walther (first half) and Brandon Laabs (second half) combined on the shutout for Canton.

  Unlike past years, the Chiefs' District is not loaded with state powers, but Tomasso emphasized that anything can happen.

  "Every District tournament is competitive," he said. "Everybody's slate is wiped clean; everybody is 0-0. Any time you're in a one-game elimination tournament, you have to be on your toes every minute of every game."

Ed Wright can be reached at [email protected] or (734) 453-1980.