Medfield Hockey Gives Up Four-Goal Lead In Third Period To Tie Dover-Sherborn

NATICK – Dover-Sherborn’s Cole Tibbetts scored the game-tying goal with 3.1 seconds left in the third period, leaving the Medfield High boys' hockey team disappointed.

The Warriors gave one away Wednesday night, surrendering a four-goal lead in the third period to tie rival Dover-Sherborn, 6-6.

Medfield had some costly penalties in throughout the game that ultimately cost the team the win, especially on the final goal of the game when the Warriors had three players in the penalty box, putting the Raiders at a 6-3 man advantage after pulling their goalie in the final minute.

“You’ve got to be smarter, especially our very last penalty, it was unacceptable,” said Medfield head coach Toby Carlow. “Those things cost you games and tonight it cost us a chance at a Tri-Valley League championship for sure.”

The score was tied 2-2 after the first period and it was in the second where Medfield took control of the game scoring three unanswered.

“All year long our second period has been kind of our toughest period,” said D-S head coach Mike Balzerini. “We just had some mental breakdowns, a couple of costly turnovers, and not picking up guys.”

After scoring their sixth goal of the game on a tally from Jim Magrath at the beginning of the third period, the 6-2 Warrior lead slowly began to dissipate.

On the final goal of the game, Raiders' Tibbetts scored on a rebound in a flurry in front of the Warrior's net with 3.1 seconds left on the clock.

In the end, it was perhaps a lack of execution and bad penalties that cost Medfield the win.

“Lack of discipline, guys not doing the little things they need to do to win a game,” Carlow said. “It’s a position we put ourselves in.”

 Despite a hat trick by Medfield's John Buchanan, the tie leaves Medfield with a 11-3-3 record on the season. 

 Asked if there were any positives that could be taken away from Wednesday night’s game, Carlow replied, “No, not at all. This is the worst game we’ve played all year by far. “If we want to be one of the better teams in the league around here and in the state, we have to finish that game and not let them even come close to tying that or even back into it.”