PHOTOS: Canton Stuns Medfield, 1-0 in South Sectional Semis

All it took was one.

One goal separated the and Canton High School girls’ soccer teams in Friday’s MIAA Division 2 South Sectional semifinals.

That goal belonged to Canton’s Kayla Laughlin, who netted the game-winner with unde two minutes to play in the second half as the third seeded Bulldogs knocked off second seeded Medfield, 1-0 to advance to the sectional finals.

“There’s nothing you can say, that was a beautiful shot,” said Medfield head coach Michael La Francesca.

In a game influenced by strong winds and stronger defenses, La Francesca knew goals would be difficult to come by.

“They played well, I thought we played well,” La Francesca said. “All it took was one goal. I think it’s two of the best teams in the state and they deserved to win.”

Medfield, playing against the wind in the first half, struggled to generate much offense through the first 40 minutes. The Bulldogs held the advantage in chances and possession in the half, striking three balls off the crossbar and controlling the match’s tempo. Warriors’ goalkeeper Mimi Borkan made several key stops in the half to keep Canton off the board as the match stayed scoreless at halftime.

“I think the wind was a factor,” La Francesca said. “In the second half we had the majority of the [possession] and I think the wind was a big factor in that. But, [Canton is] a great team and I think they’re going to go far.”

The scoreless tie held for over 78 minutes until Laughlin struck a perfect shot from the right corner that sailed past Borkan and found the left corner of the net. Canton immediately erupted with joy on the field, while Medfield tried to quickly regroup and generate a late scoring chance.

“There was no way [Borkan] could have saved that,” La Francesca said. “It was a great shot.”

And just like that, the damage to the defending Division 2 State Champions was done.

Medfield played out the final minute and a half full of intensity and desperation but its efforts fell short of an equalizer as Canton tightened up enough defensively to prevent the Warriors from gaining any real scoring chances.

When the final whistle blew, Medfield's season came to an abrupt and shocking end. For the five seniors in the program, it was the last time they would put on a Medfield jersey.

“With the seniors, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” La Francesca said. “The captains – great leaders. They played strong, played well and led this team to the semifinals of the South Sectional. Couldn’t have asked for a better group.”

Despite falling short of the team’s ultimate goal, La Francesca reflected on what was still a successful season as the Warriors won their second consecutive Tri-Valley League title and went unbeaten in the regular season.

“It was a great season,” La Francesca said. “They left everything they had on the field and played well."

With the majority of its team returning next year, Medfield will be ready to pickup where this year’s squad left off.

“Majority of the team is coming back next year so we’re happy about that,” La Francesca said. “We’re going to build on what just happened [Friday] and bring it into next year.”

Medfield finishes the season 16-1-4, losing for the first time in 21 matches this season.

“The girls had something to prove and I feel they did prove it this year,” La Francesca said. “They absolutely proved that they are not just a one-time show. They are here to play and they are going to be here to play for awhile.”

Canton advances to Sunday’s sectional final against the winner of Friday’s Dedham vs. Duxbury match.

Check back later for photo gallery and video highlights from Friday’s MIAA Division 2 South Sectional semifinal match.