Copyright The Boston Globe
Lane’s earliest victories weren’t on the field. They were in operating rooms and speech therapy sessions. At 10 months old and weighing a mere 4 pounds, Lane was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which left her in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a week, bound by feeding and breathing tubes. At age 2, tubes inserted into her ears gave her the ability to hear for the first time. Three years later, she underwent cleft palate surgery, a procedure that left her with more than a hundred stitches in her throat and a yearslong journey of extensive speech therapy. Even with her physical challenges, Lane was restless and eager to move. She turned her athleticism into a way of expression. Her cleft palate surgery impacted her ability to speak clearly, but when she was excelling on the field, words weren’t necessary. “Her speech and communication were kind of a weakness, so it was difficult for her to be understood,” said her mother, Laura Lane. “But she always excelled at motor and athletic skills and that compensated for the lack of communication.” Lane found solace in ice hockey; she had laced up her skates for the first time at age 3. By first grade, she had picked up field hockey, and went on to play for club and school programs in middle and high school. “When I had my surgery, I couldn’t do any activity,” Lane said. “So when I was able to do anything physical, I would always just do it.” Among her many athletic ventures were softball and lacrosse, but field hockey stuck — it was fast-paced and physical, demanding quick thinking and even quicker movement. “I didn’t care if I was hurt or tired,” Lane said. “Even if I broke my arm, I just wanted to play field hockey.” That drive will carry her far beyond Canton. This fall, Lane committed to play at Providence College, a program she had been eyeing for years. “When I [visited] there, I always told my dad I’m going there no matter what,” Lane said. “Before I knew I could go there for a sport, I’d always [think] ‘I want to go there.’ ” That passion and resilience is one of her most discernible qualities and the driving force behind her play. The Bulldogs anchor their offense around Lane at forward. Midway through her sophomore season, she eclipsed 100 career points; this month, she notched her 100th goal — striking twice in a 3-1 win over King Philip that clinched Canton’s second consecutive Hockomock League Davenport Division title. “She’s everywhere on the field, she communicates well, and distributes the ball well,” O’Connor said. “She sees beyond what most players see. If you’re looking at the first pass, she already sees the second or third.” Lane’s vision and poise make her the center of the attack, but her consistency and determination set her apart. She doesn’t let past challenges hold her back. Whether it’s staying late after practice or being a leader, her focus rarely wavers. “When practice is over, she’s still working on things she felt she could’ve done better,” O’Connor said. “She’s very resilient. Her determination and strength raise the level of play for everyone around her. She doesn’t focus on any limitations or challenges that she has ever had.” Lane’s leadership has been crucial for a Canton squad eager to make a deep postseason run after being ousted by eventual champion Reading in the 2023 quarterfinals, and finalist Norwood in the semifinals last fall. But a lofty goal like that isn’t accomplished alone. Seniors Carolyn Schiavo (forward) and Shealyn Murphy (goalie) are pivotal players in Canton’s run. “[Carolyn] has definitely added to our success, as well as our goalie Shealyn Murphy, who has had tremendous success in her second year as a varsity starter,” said O’Connor. “[Lane] couldn’t do what she’s doing without the support of the girls around her.” ▪ Dover-Sherborn (15-1, 12-0 Tri-Valley League) leaped to No. 14 in the Globe’s rankings after a 3-1 win over No. 6 Belmont. For coach Molly McGill, the Raiders’ unbeaten mark in the TVL has been fueled by depth and chemistry. “Everyone shows up ready to compete, and we trust each other on and off the field,” she said. “That connection really shows in our play.” Reese Bent, Elyse Bissada, Avery Hadfield, and Addie Cullum have led the offense, while goalie Neve McMakin has allowed just seven goals and posted seven shutouts. “We’ve had a lot of competitive games these past couple of weeks, and that’s been perfect preparation for tournament play,” McGill said. “Beating a team like Belmont reinforced that we can hang with anyone when we play our game.” ▪ After 23 years as the North Andover field hockey coach and assistant track coach, Andrea Van Horn has been promoted to girls’ indoor track coach. “I was fortunate enough to be considered a natural fit [for the position],” Van Horn said. “Now the stopwatch says it’s my time.” A Scarlet Knight alum, Van Horn played field hockey and competed in track in high school and college at Westfield State. “Of course, every coach wants to win, but I believe developing the athlete, and the person, is even more valuable,” she said. She also hopes players on both teams will try the other sport. “Many field hockey players already run 4-6 miles a game, so they have the endurance for our distance events,” she added. “And if you’ve ever seen a string of penalty corners in a field hockey match, you know just how fast some of those players could be in the 55 meters.” Wednesday, Uxbridge at No. 14 Dover-Sherborn, 4 p.m. — The Raiders (15-1) host the Spartans (16-0), ranked first in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings, in a nonleague matchup less than a week after upsetting No. 6 Belmont. Wednesday, No. 3 Sandwich at No. 4 Hingham, 4 p.m. — It’s a rematch of their 2-2 draw in September between the Harborwomen (15-0-1) and Sandwich (14-1-1). Hingham is the only team to score more than once on Sandwich this season. Wednesday, Natick at No. 5 Wellesley, 6 p.m. — The top two teams in the Bay State Conference Carey Division face off in their regular-season finales. The Raiders (14-1) won their last meeting, 1-0. Thursday, No. 18 Newburyport at No. 9 Andover, 5 p.m. — The regular-season finale between the Clippers (13-2-2), ranked No. 8 in Division 2, and Andover (13-1-2), No. 11 in Division 1. Friday, No. 14 Dover-Sherborn at No. 10 Canton, 3:45 p.m. — The Raiders (15-1) travel to Canton (12-1-3) to close out their regular season and a weighty five-game home stretch. Friday, No. 1 Walpole at No. 3 Sandwich, 4 p.m. — Following their showdown with No. 4 Hingham on Wednesday, the Blue Knights (14-1-1) will host the top-ranked Porkers (15-1) in their final test of the regular season. Friday, No. 6 Belmont at No. 7 Winchester, 4:15 p.m. — The Middlesex rivals are closing out their seasons with three league matches. The Marauders (13-2) hold the top spot in the Liberty division, a position Winchester hopes to challenge. In their Sept. 29 meeting, Gigi Mastrangelo struck twice in a 3-1 Belmont win. Correspondent Alexa Podalsky contributed to this story.
