By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
Braids were tightly woven, and hair ties secured ponytails, crafting perfect game day hairstyles ready to face formidable competition, one that would persist throughout an entire match. Thursday evening marked the occasion when the Medfield girls’ soccer team would host the audacious Medway Mustangs. In a hard-fought battle, the Warriors sealed a 3-0 shutout victory, advancing their record to 5-1.
As the opening whistle signaled the start of the contest, Medfield seized control of the field with unwavering determination. They launched passes from all corners of the pitch, demonstrating their confidence in their skillset. Emily Hoffman scored the first goal in the first half, claiming the lead on the scoreboard. The crowd erupted in excitement as soon as she struck the ball into the net.
Building on their momentum, the Warriors continued to astound spectators, who marveled at the talent displayed by each player on the field. Working cohesively, the Medfield girls swiftly subdued the Mustangs' attempts to mount an offensive. By the end of the first half, the Warriors capitalized on another opportunity when Bridget Deignan sent the ball past Medway’s goalkeeper, giving Medfield a 2-0 lead.
Maintaining possession and digging deep into the second half, the Warriors stood firm as Medway sought to breach their defense. With precise passing and agile maneuvers between opponents, Medfield dictated the flow of the game. Mary Panciocco seized control of Medfield’s momentum and charged toward the offensive end, unleashing a powerful shot that found the net, still with 30 minutes remaining in the match. Medfield preserved their 3-0 lead for the remainder of the second half, leaving the crowd in awe.
Head Coach Melinda Lohan expressed pride in the flawless performance the girls displayed on the field and eagerly anticipates the challenges that lie ahead in the season. “Today our possession was phenomenal. We have really strong senior leadership that communicates well on the field. They help out some of our younger athletes who are super strong but need some of that support. They do an excellent job making them feel confident and supporting them,” said Lohan.
The girls will be hosting Millis High on Thursday afternoon; the competition begins at 3:30 pm.
“I think the biggest asset for us is our fitness and the depth on our bench. We have 23 very strong athletes. When we sub, it is interchangeable which is amazing, each player brings something different to the table, it makes us never miss a beat. When we sub, they all know their job, they all know their position, and they can rotate anywhere on the field, it really speaks volumes for the work they put in during the off-season,” said Lohan.
