The long wait is over and finally this week is the first week of games on the spring sports schedule. Granted the weather outside would suggest differently, but it is indeed spring time. With that comes the return of games out on the turf, diamond, track and tennis courts. Also, boys volleyball takes over the gym with a much anticipated squad. They lost their first match of the year three games to none on Friday night at home vs arguably the best team in the state in St. John's Prep.
Volleyball will look to rebound today as they host Algonquin Regional at 6:00 in the gym. Tennis kicks off their season this afternoon as well, facing Xaverian at the Metacomet courts. That match has a high probability of getting rescheduled due to the rain.
Tuesday sees both boys and girls lacrosse face Holliston in both teams' first games of the season. The boys team will be home on the turf at 5:30, while the girls will be in Holliston, playing at 3:30.
Wednesday is easily the busiest day on the card this week. Baseball and softball both host Ashland starting at 3:45. At the same time over at Metacomet, boys tennis will also host the Clockers and that means that the girls Tennis team will be in Ashland. Boys volleyball rounds out the day of competition against a school other than Ashland, as they face Millis at home.
Thursday only sees one game; girl tennis will face Walpole at Metacomet at 3:30.
Friday is another hectic day... Baseball and softball both trip to Millis and play at 3:45. Boys lacrosse will travel to Weswood at 5:30, while the girls team will play at home vs the Wolverines. At 6:00 the volleyball team will head over to Xaverian.
UPDATED: Tennis matches for Monday have been postponed.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
State Championship Preview
Boys hockey is the first team at Medfield this year to make it to the the State Title Game in their respective sport. It also the first time hockey has every made the final game. Twenty years ago in 1994 the team lost to Westwood 6-3 in the Eastern Mass Final, one game away from the championship game. That was the previous gold standard until this year.
Medfield will face Beverly, who are also making their first appearance in the championship game. For the Panthers the road to the Garden has been a pretty smooth one. Bevrely went 18-1-1 in the regular season, losing their final regular season game to Division I Weymouth. The tie came back in December to none other than Canton.
In the opening round of the playoffs, Beverly faced Danvers and really struggled, but battled to a 2-1 win in a shootout. From there, they met a tough Lincoln-Sudbury team and made quick work of them, winning 5-1. In the North Regional Final Beverly dismantled Tewksbury 9-1 at Tsongas Center in Lowell.
Go Figure
Last year both teams finished with an 18-1-1 record and the one seed in their respected regional... both lost 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs. Granted Medfield was in Division III at the time and the loss was in a shootout, but it is an interesting thing to look at.
In 2012 (as if it matters what happened two years ago) Beverly again lost in the first round, but were not the one seed.
Scouting the Panthers
Beverly is led offensively by senior Conner Irving, who had 47 points in the regular season and, oh by the way, added four goals in the North Final against Tewksbury. Junior Nick Albano posted 36 points in the regular season with a 7-29-36 line.
In goal Tim Biraelli will get the start. Biraelli has a .917 save percentage in 14 appearances. In his time in goal, he posted a 1.51 goals against and has five shutouts.
The game is Sunday night, 7:45 at the Boston Garden.
In the opening round of the playoffs, Beverly faced Danvers and really struggled, but battled to a 2-1 win in a shootout. From there, they met a tough Lincoln-Sudbury team and made quick work of them, winning 5-1. In the North Regional Final Beverly dismantled Tewksbury 9-1 at Tsongas Center in Lowell.
Go Figure
Last year both teams finished with an 18-1-1 record and the one seed in their respected regional... both lost 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs. Granted Medfield was in Division III at the time and the loss was in a shootout, but it is an interesting thing to look at.
In 2012 (as if it matters what happened two years ago) Beverly again lost in the first round, but were not the one seed.
Scouting the Panthers
Beverly is led offensively by senior Conner Irving, who had 47 points in the regular season and, oh by the way, added four goals in the North Final against Tewksbury. Junior Nick Albano posted 36 points in the regular season with a 7-29-36 line.
In goal Tim Biraelli will get the start. Biraelli has a .917 save percentage in 14 appearances. In his time in goal, he posted a 1.51 goals against and has five shutouts.
The game is Sunday night, 7:45 at the Boston Garden.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
And Then There Was One
As if anyone didn't know (or just wanted a reminder) the boys hockey team advanced to the state championship game for the first time in program history with a 3-2 win over Canton, Sunday afternoon. What has been slightly overlooked was the girls basketball Central Final that took place on Saturday afternoon in Worcester.
The girls unfortunately lost to the undefeated and tournament number one overall seed Nashoba 57-55 in overtime. The game was an all-out battle for both squads, clearly, as the game went to an extra session, but it was more than just the overtime. Medfield trailed by as much as 11 in the first half as the Chieftains made all their shots and showed why they have a perfect record.
The Warriors whittled the Nashoba lead down by the fourth quarter and tied the game in the dying seconds sending it to overtime. In OT Medfield took their first lead of the game, only to see Nashoba regain the lead and eventually hold on for the win.
The girls basketball team ended their season in the Central Regional Final with a 22-3-0 record.
The girls unfortunately lost to the undefeated and tournament number one overall seed Nashoba 57-55 in overtime. The game was an all-out battle for both squads, clearly, as the game went to an extra session, but it was more than just the overtime. Medfield trailed by as much as 11 in the first half as the Chieftains made all their shots and showed why they have a perfect record.
The Warriors whittled the Nashoba lead down by the fourth quarter and tied the game in the dying seconds sending it to overtime. In OT Medfield took their first lead of the game, only to see Nashoba regain the lead and eventually hold on for the win.
The girls basketball team ended their season in the Central Regional Final with a 22-3-0 record.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Hockey Blanks OA, Advances to South Final
For the third time in four years, the current senior class on the boys hockey team had reached the South Regional Semifinals. They had never won and and advanced to the Regional final, until last night.
The team struggled out of the gate, and Oliver Ames carried the play in the early few minutes. Goalie Dan Graham came up big to keep the Tigers off the board. In fact, he would not yield a goal all night including in the final two minutes when OA threw everything but the kitchen sink on goal. It was the first playoff shutout for Medfield since 2011 when Conner Roddy blanked Abington/East Bridgewater 3-0.
Despite the slow start, a goal midway through the first helped stem the tide in favor of Medfield. After the puck was dumped in deep, Louis Cappucci made a strong play to get it up top, where a well placed shot created a rebound chance for Brett Thomas. Thomas got just enough wood on the puck and it trickled past OA goalie Jimmy Tierney and just over the goal line. It was Thomas' second goal of the playoffs from Cappucci and Matt Dresens with less than five minutes to play in the first period.
Medfield dominated the play in the second period. The announced shots were 9-6 Medfield, but that does not accurately tell the story. The Warriors' best chance to add a goal actually didn't even count as a shot on goal. John McLean rang the post on the power play, which technically isn't a shot on goal.
Again, Medfied carried the play in the third, but but just couldn't beat Tierney. Justin Hirschfield had the best chance on back door play, but Tierney made a nifty glove save to keep it a one goal game.
Like mentioned before, OA threw everything they had on net in the final minutes, but Jack Scannell erased any doubt of a comeback with an empty net goal with less than a minute left. Hirschfield added and other ENG to seal the deal.
With the 3-0, Medfiled advanced to the South Regional Final, where they will face Canton, who topped an over-rated number one seed in Plymouth South 7-1. The game will be Sunday starting at 4:45 in Bourne.
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| Medfield celebrates a 3-0 win after the final buzzer. (Photo by Josh Perry) |
Despite the slow start, a goal midway through the first helped stem the tide in favor of Medfield. After the puck was dumped in deep, Louis Cappucci made a strong play to get it up top, where a well placed shot created a rebound chance for Brett Thomas. Thomas got just enough wood on the puck and it trickled past OA goalie Jimmy Tierney and just over the goal line. It was Thomas' second goal of the playoffs from Cappucci and Matt Dresens with less than five minutes to play in the first period.
Medfield dominated the play in the second period. The announced shots were 9-6 Medfield, but that does not accurately tell the story. The Warriors' best chance to add a goal actually didn't even count as a shot on goal. John McLean rang the post on the power play, which technically isn't a shot on goal.
Again, Medfied carried the play in the third, but but just couldn't beat Tierney. Justin Hirschfield had the best chance on back door play, but Tierney made a nifty glove save to keep it a one goal game.
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| Jack Scannell celebrates after his empty net goal in the final minute last night. (Photo by Rich Images) |
Like mentioned before, OA threw everything they had on net in the final minutes, but Jack Scannell erased any doubt of a comeback with an empty net goal with less than a minute left. Hirschfield added and other ENG to seal the deal.
With the 3-0, Medfiled advanced to the South Regional Final, where they will face Canton, who topped an over-rated number one seed in Plymouth South 7-1. The game will be Sunday starting at 4:45 in Bourne.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Girls Hoops Cruises Past Hopkinton
Yesterday afternoon's girls basketball game was all about revenge for the Warriors. In 2012, Hopkinton ended Medfield's season on their home floor in the first round of the playoffs. Yesterday, there was no doubt who was the better team.
From tip off it was never close. Medfield led 20-9 after one and 27-11 at the half. The Warriors really pulled away in the second half, extending their lead (at one point) to 31 points. In the end, Medfield walked out of Fitchburg State with a 60-33 win over Hopkinton.
The Warriors will face Nashoba Regional in the Central Regional Final at 12:45 Saturday afternoon at "a location to be determined." Last season, Medfield and Nashoba squared off in the Division II State Championship game at the DCU Center in Worcester.
From tip off it was never close. Medfield led 20-9 after one and 27-11 at the half. The Warriors really pulled away in the second half, extending their lead (at one point) to 31 points. In the end, Medfield walked out of Fitchburg State with a 60-33 win over Hopkinton.
The Warriors will face Nashoba Regional in the Central Regional Final at 12:45 Saturday afternoon at "a location to be determined." Last season, Medfield and Nashoba squared off in the Division II State Championship game at the DCU Center in Worcester.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
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