MEDFIELD, Mass. - Foxboro players never stopped running even as the clock was winding down late in the second half. Trailing Medfield throughout, Foxboro kept sending players to double team and kept the top seed working hard to run out the clock.
It was a mentality that Foxboro coach Brittany Sherry credited for getting the Warriors to the Div. 2 East semifinal in the first place, which is the furthest that the Foxboro program has ever gone.
“They never gave up, they never put their heads down, they kept meeting as a group after the other team scored or after we scored,” she explained. “They never lost the fight. I’m super proud of what they accomplished and they had a great season.”
Medfield pulled away early and never took the foot off the gas in the second half to come away with the 13-6 victory that sends it back to the sectional final. The home team dominated the draw controls winning 8-10 in the first half and 9-11 in the second.
After Medfield jumped into a 1-0 lead inside the first minute, Foxboro responded with a goal by freshman Jaclyn Brion, one of six freshmen that Sherry called up to the squad this season. Medfield’s pressure paid off and it scored the next five goals of the half.
Foxboro goalie Melissa Lynch did her best to keep the Warriors in the game. The junior made six of her eight saves in the first half and stymied several free position chances for Medfield.
“If we were to go over to the sideline she would probably think she had a horrible game, but she keeps us in it every game,” said Sherry. “She’s a great goalie and I’m really fortunate to have her back again next year.”
Foxboro had a chance to get back into the game late in the first half. With 7:14 remaining, senior Morgan Ames scored from a free position to make it 6-2, but two minutes later Medfield goalie Elise Johnson read her shot and blocked it. Medfield’s Lauren Tschirch (four goals) would add one before the break.
Tschirch was dominant on the draws and also scored the first two goals of the second half to continue building separation. Medfield would build its lead to as many as eight goals twice in the second half and without winning draws it was very difficult for Foxboro to come back.
Sherry said, “The girl out there is really good on the draw and if you win the draw then you win the game. If they get too big of a lead, lacrosse is game without a shot clock so they can hold it as long as they really want.”
Sophomore Lauren Flahive scored to make it 10-3 and senior Siobhain Nolan added a free position goal to cut the lead to six, but Medfield answered back with two of its own. Nolan got her second and then Marybeth Sweeney scooped up a lost ball and scored to make it 12-6 with 6:54 to go, but Medfield won back possession and ran out the clock.
After the game, Sherry reflected on a season that started with lots of question marks. She said, “Our first scrimmage against Dover-Sherborn I had the captains come over and ask are we going to stink this year? It’s just kind of a group of misfits.”
She added, “Everyone just kind of took on their job and their role and they did really well and for a group of misfits we made it this far and it’s the furthest that the program’s ever gone.”
Sherry is in her fourth year as Foxboro coach, so this year’s group of four seniors has a unique connection with their coach because of the shared achievements in their careers.
Sherry said, “All these accomplishments…we’ve all experienced it together with these four seniors. To do it with them it was awesome; I am really going to miss this group.”
Expectations remain high for a program that continues to reach new heights each season. After making it to the semifinals this spring, Sherry has a clear goal in mind for next year.
“Every year we kept going further, further, further, so I think that means next year we’re going to the finals.”
Josh Perry can be contacted at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @Josh_Perry10.