By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
After falling to arch rival Dover-Sherborn 10-9 back on May 20, their first and only defeat of the 2021 season and the program's first loss to DS since 2016, Medfield High School boys lacrosse entered Saturday's non-conference rematch motivated for revenge.
Behind a six-goal performance by senior attack-man Robert Spaeth, along with four goals by junior Loyola-committed attack-man Luke Murphy, the Warriors (13-1, 10-1) steamrolled their way to a 17-7 victory.
Trailing 4-3 midway through the second quarter, Medfield's offense got a spark from Cole Cloney with a beautiful leaping lefty rip up high to tie the game. Just 12 seconds later off a face-off win by UMass commit TJ Casey (24-of-28), Spaeth completed the hat trick to give Medfield a 5-4 lead. Goals from Murphy, Caleb Lawson and another from Spaeth in the final 6:31 allowed Medfield to carry an 8-5 lead into halftime.
The first time these two teams played, Bryant-committed senior attack-man Pierce Gregory put up four goals and two assists for Dover-Sherborn. On Saturday, it was clear that Medfield was not going to let Gregory have a repeat performance.
From start to finish, senior LSM James Wilder was locked onto Gregory. The move worked wonders for Medfield's defensive unit as the Warriors held Gregory to zero goals on the night.
The Warriors continued to hammer away in the third quarter as Spaeth registered two more goals for his fifth and sixth of the night to go along with a goal off a face-off win and fast break by Casey.
A pair of fourth quarter goals by Murphy, along with tallies by Austin Verge and Chris Bethony, sealed it. Medfield prevailed by the final of 17-7 to earn the season split with DS.
On Monday, Medfield defeated Norwood 20-4 to improve to 13-1 (10-1 TVL).
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
