By Avonlea Cummings
Hometown Weekly Sports Reporter
Fueled by their eight-game winning streak, the Medfield Warriors welcomed the Westwood Wolverines on Tuesday, October 17, for their second TVL matchup of the year. Stepping onto the field, the Warriors convincingly defeated the Wolverines with a 4-0 shutout, adding another victory to their impressive 11-1 record. The 2023 season has made the Medfield girls' soccer team a standout, consistently wowing spectators with their exceptional talent, remarkable skills, and, most notably, their cohesive team chemistry, which is the cornerstone of their success.
Medfield found the net twice in each half of the game, displaying composure and executing their passes with ease against Westwood. The Warriors presented a formidable defense that thwarted Westwood's scoring attempts throughout the evening's contest.
Head coach Melinda Lohan shared her perspective on the abundant talent within the Medfield team and emphasized the pivotal role their defense plays as the backbone of the squad.
“It always starts from the back for us, our defense is just so solid, Fia, (Anna Sophia Flamand) led the way again in goal, and her foot skills are just such an asset to us. We’ve had to move some players around due to injury and illness, and the best part about that is we have depth in our bench, and everyone can step up and step in without skipping a beat, which is awesome,” said Melinda Lohan.
The energy was electric on that Tuesday evening, with Warrior's Bridget Deignan and Maeve Naughton making a significant impact in the first half, propelling Medfield to a 2-0 lead. In the second half, Kenzie Ellis and Emily Hoffman maintained the momentum, adding two more goals to secure Medfield's 11th win of the season and maintain their undefeated streak in the TVL.
“We’ve been struggling to score without it being stop time or a set play, it’s something we’ve been working a lot on. To get four on the field in motion tonight has been rewarding tonight to see those practices come to fruition. Westwood has a strong program; I mean they are always talented and part of the TVL so whenever they show up it’s always a good game,” said Melinda Lohan.
What's the secret to their success? It's not something that can be explicitly taught or instructed; rather, it's the chemistry both on and off the field that has contributed to the remarkable 11-1 season they've achieved. The team's success has generated immense excitement within the Medfield community, making them a must-watch team in action.
“We are so proud of them. Our key is the positivity on this team. If we have a bad practice or a bad game, they support each other so much. They are so kind to each other, and that dynamic is so important in order to take your team beyond the regular season, they really have chemistry. The chemistry that they have is something that you can’t teach, it’s just there, they are celebrating every person on the field, they are not selfish, and that is a huge part of our team. They are sisters, they never want to leave, and they just want to be together all the time, teaching in the high school we get to see it all day long too. It’s so nice to see them look forward to coming to practice, look forward to coming to a game, this is their priority,” said Melinda Lohan.
Be sure to check out your outstanding Warriors and take action on the field as they travel to Medway High School on Saturday, October 28, at 1:15 p.m.
