Canton prevails over Salem in double-overtime district thriller

In a match overflowing with drama (and maybe just a trickle of controversy), Canton outlasted Salem, 2-1, in a double-overtime girls soccer Division 1 district semifinal played Tuesday afternoon at Dearborn Heights Crestwood.

The Chiefs advanced to Thursday's 7 p.m. final against Plymouth, which made short work of Wayne Memorial, 9-0, in the day's second semifinal. (Check hometownlife.com for the latest updates).

Senior Marlee Taylor tallied both of Canton's goals, the second of which — off a penalty kick with 3 minutes and 22 second left in the first of two 10-minute overtimes — proved to be the game-winner.

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Taylor's successful PK came in the wake of a foul in the box against Taylor that left Salem players holding their hands to the heavens in disbelief.

On the PK, Taylor snuck a well-placed roller into the right corner of the net past Salem keeper Ava Holloway, who had turned away an earlier Chief penalty kick mid-way through the second half.

"I was driving toward the goal, trying to get a cross off, and I was playing against one of my good friends (Salem's Jaclyn Deprez)," Taylor said, recounting the game-winning goal sequence. "She kind of pushed me, I was leaning, I got fouled, then I just kind of focused on clearing my head and try to score the final goal.

"This game was definitely dependent on the refs. (The foul) could have been called either way, but we had some called against us the same way, so what can you do, you know?"

Taylor's heroics were made possible by stellar play between the posts by senior goal-keeper Katie Clark, who somehow kept the net behind her vacant during a last-minute Salem flurry that included two dangerous corner kicks.

"I just tried to focus on getting everything out and make sure they don't touch the ball in the box, if I could help it," Clark said about the final-minute frenzy. "After their first corner, the refs said I touched the ball out of bounds, which I didn't, but that gave them a second one.

"I'm just so proud of our team, how they kept their composure and played as hard as they could. The last 10 minutes we did a great job of defending as a team."

Canton coach Jeannine Reddy gave big-time props to Clark — "She was awesome!" — and her back line of defenders, including Elena Kulas, Ari Ontko, Emma Morrison and Morgan Kroon.

"They're all sophomores, all young, so it's taken me some time to boost their confidence and get them talking back there," Reddy said. "We were a little off balance early on today, there were times they looked a little confused when chasing around (Salem's) Sydney Smith, but overall they did a great job. I just told them to stay calm and if they were under pressure, just get the ball out."

It didn't take long — about three minutes, give or take a few seconds — for Holloway to prove she brought her A game. The freshman's semi-diving save on a rocket shot by Canton's Carly Schwinke kept the game scoreless.

Salem's first legitimate scoring chance came 22 minutes in when senior Chloe Parana delivered a left-footed riser from the left flank that barely sailed about the right corner of the net.

Ice-breaker

Taylor finally broke the ice 4:53 before halftime when she snaked through a pair of Rock defenders before depositing a low grass-skimmer into the lower-left corner of the twine.

Taylor was assisted by junior Jayna Fraser.

Clark preserved the Chiefs' halftime lead when she pounced on a bending corner kick launched by Salem's Kennedy Hyde.

The momentum seemed to shift to Salem's side after Holloway turned away a sharply-struck penalty kick from Katie Nestico less than two minutes into the second half. 

The Rocks threatened to draw even three minutes later when Clark diverted a laser by Parana. Smith pounced on the rebound just in front of the left post, but her rebound chip shot sailed just high.

Smith's persistent pressure finally paid off with 27:54 remaining in regulation when she corralled a dime from sophomore Abby Siddall and chipped a pitching wedge-esque shot over Clark and into the net.

Salem's final regulation-time threat unfolded when Macayla Harris motored into the box with the ball before firing an on-frame shot that Clark secured.

Moments after the semifinal thriller, Taylor said it won't be easy upending Plymouth following two one-goal regular-season setbacks to the Wildcats, but she believes her team is up to the task.

"I think we have to have a better start than we did the first two times we played them," she said. "We kind of started on our heels in both games. If we can get an early goal, that would help a lot.

"I think they're on their high horse a little bit after beating us the last time (5-4), but we're ready to get some redemption."

Contact Ed Wright at eawright@hometownlife.com or 517-375-1113.