By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
You have 60 minutes to give your all, pushing harder with each step, whether it's evading a defender or outmaneuvering an opponent with a well-timed block tackle. In field hockey, success hinges on the effort you pour into those crucial 60 minutes.
On Wednesday, October 11, the Medfield Warriors field hockey team journeyed to Dover-Sherborn High School for a Tri-Valley League showdown. In this demanding contest, Dover-Sherborn bested the Warriors 3-1, but the Warriors concluded the match with a strong performance that lasted the full 60 minutes.
Under the still evening air, emotions ran high beneath the stadium's blazing lights as the competition commenced with the first whistle. Both teams displayed their readiness for this friendly league clash. Dover-Sherborn promptly asserted control, showcasing impressive stick skills and excellent communication to execute precise passes across the turf. Exploiting this fluidity, the Raiders maintained a commanding 3-0 lead until the fourth quarter. However, Medfield relentlessly pursued opportunities to put points on the board, refusing to surrender, even at 3-0 down.
Medfield continued to battle as the Raiders challenged their resolve. In the fourth quarter, the Warriors capitalized on an ideal scoring opportunity during an offensive corner. In one seamless motion, they earned a point, ending the game with a score of 3-1, courtesy of an impressive goal by Maeve Kelly.
Head Coach Lynne Malmquist acknowledged her team's overall strong finish but also recognized some challenges they faced throughout the match, which may have influenced the final score.
“This was definitely not one of our best games, it was the toughest team we have played yet, and this was our first match-up with Dover Sherborn, and I think we were a little caught off guard. We are going to come back, we know what we are up against, we got a second chance, and it was great to see that our corners worked well tonight it’s something we’ve been working on in practice. Maeve Kelly was stepping up to the ball every time, she was definitely the star player tonight offensively and defensively,” said Malmquist.
The girls are set to host Nipmuc High on Friday, October 20th, the first whistle will start the game at 3:45 PM.
