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By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
The Medfield and Dover-Sherborn Regional High School varsity boys soccer teams squared off on Friday afternoon for the second and final time in 2017. The Raiders (12-2-3) entered having already clinched the TVL Small, and were looking to win the outright TVL Large title with a victory.
Meanwhile, the Warriors (6-6-5) needed at least a tie in order to stay alive for a spot in the MIAA State Tournament and were looking to avenge their 4-1 defeat to DS the first time these two arch rivals squared off back on September 11.
Medfield’s Matt Thompson (22) and DS’s Griffin Windle (5) race for a loose ball late in the first half of Friday’s 1-1 draw.
The game began with both teams adopting a conservative approach given how much the contest meant to both sides, resulting in a scoreless tie at the half. Less than five minutes into the second half, however, Medfield drew first blood when Matt Thompson’s corner attempt was headed in by Jorge Fernandez-Vega Alonso, putting the Warriors out in front with 35:37 to play.
With 20:22 left in the contest, DS struck back to even the game at one, thanks to Maximo Lockhart-Kraner’s header via a Mike Cellucci free kick.
With 10 minutes to play, Medfield broke in on a breakaway looking to seize back the lead. Jake Sherman fed a pass up the seam to Thompson, who dashed in and unleashed a right-footed cannon that beat the DS keeper, but clanged off the post. Thompson corralled the rebound but fired it wide of the net. Despite the tremendous scoring opportunity for the Warriors, DS escaped the moment with the game still tied at one.
Medfield’s Connor Reilly (9) tries to a navagate the ball around DS’s Erik Linden (18).
With a little over five minutes to play, Medfield goalkeeper Jonathan David made the save of the season for the Warriors by diving to his left and robbing DS forward Spencer Robbins on a shot from about 10 yards out. Thanks to David’s big-time stop, the Warriors were able to preserve the 1-1 tie, keeping themselves alive for a state tournament berth.
With conference play all wrapped up, both the Raiders and Warriors will now wait to see their postseason fates and seedings determined by the MIAA later this week.
For funny and incisive sports analysis, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter at @fLAno0, or read his blog at www.flannylive.wordpress.com.
