Senior goaltender Standish Carothers (pictured) gets set to make an outlet pass on a clear during his 15-save performance in Thursday's 10-9 victory over Medfield. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Entering Thursday afternoon, it had been five years since Dover-Sherborn High School boys lacrosse had beaten arch rival Medfield.
After the way Medfield rolled through its competition during their first five games and outscored opponents 98-17, it was fair to question whether or not anybody in the TVL would be able to give the Warriors a competitive game in 2021 conference play.
On Thursday, the Raiders proved to be up to the task, and then some. Trailing 7-3 late in the third quarter, DS rallied with a 4-0 run to tie the game at seven, with two goals coming from Bryant-committed senior attack-man and captain Pierce Gregory (four goals, two assists) and two from senior attack-man Ben Teich (four goals, one assist).
Medfield senior captain and midfielder Sam Hedges (four goals) gave the Warriors back the lead off a feed from Connor Nee with 8:01 to play. Just 1:16 later, Teich tied the game back up at eight with a lefty-bouncer from an odd angle following a dodge around the cage. With 5:32 remaining and the game still tied, a great solo effort by Hedges gave the Warriors back the lead at 9-8. Hedges fell on his initial dodge, got back on his feet and beat his man to the net-mouth before dumping home the go-ahead goal over the shoulder of Standish Carothers (15 saves).
DS won the ensuing face-off and Gregory cashed in, dodging to his off-hand around the left side of the cage and depositing home a shot down low to tie the game at nine with 4:31 remaining.
After a face-off win by TJ Casey (18-of-22) gave Medfield possession, Carothers stuffed Jack Sullivan to give the Raiders the ball and the chance to take the lead in the final minute. With 32 seconds to play, Gregory found Teich on an open look from about 15 yards out. Teich corralled the ball and stung home a left-handed cannon to give the Raiders their first lead of the day at 10-9. Casey won the ensuing draw for Medfield and the Warriors called a timeout to set up a play for Cole Cloney down the left alley. Cloney drove to the cage and put a bouncer on net that was kicked aside and cleared by Carothers as time expired, giving DS the 10-9 comeback victory.
"Its great," said Carothers, who missed his sophomore year due to concussions, as well as all of 2020 (COVID). "We started a little flat but got some good possessions and battled back. Feels great to be back. Missing two years is tough. Win or lose, it's just great to be out here and to beat a team like this is just a cherry on top."
"He's been working really hard," said DS head coach Brian McLaughlin on Carothers. "Missing a whole year with his concussion and then COVID, he really hasn't played since his freshman year, and back then he was splitting time. So, he's taking a lot of shots and has really worked hard both on and off the field to put himself in this position. [It is] great to see."
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
