Leadership Means More Than A Letter On A Jersey For Medfield Girls' Hockey Team

The Medfield High School girls' hockey team is 12-1-2 this season because of talent but perhaps more importantly because of leadership.

Leadership from first-year head coach Molly Norton. Leadership from captains Amanda Cronin and Meara Stack and leadership from sophomore goalie Mimi Borkan. 

It was Stack's leadership against Westwood on Feb. 5 that exemplified what the 2010-11 Warriors are all about. Medfield led 2-1 after two periods but Norton was faced with a difficult decision during the intermission leading up to the third period.

"About halfway into the second period, Mimi was covering the puck up when players were crashing the net," Norton said. "In efforts to save the puck, she got a knee to the head.  Mimi got a bloody nose that wouldn't stop bleeding. I had very difficult decision to make and had to do what was best for the team, I had to put someone else between the pipes."

Before the game, Borkan approached Norton and said she was not feeling well but still managed to hold the Wolverines to one goal through two periods. Understanding the situation her coach faced if Borkan could not play or finish the game, Stack told Norton that she would play in net if needed. 

"During the off-ice warm-ups Meara Stack told me that if I needed someone to go in the net, that she would do it," Norton said. "I never thought that would happen."

Stack was needed for the third period and stepped up for her coach, teammates and especially for Borkan.

"We were so proud of [Stack's] leadership and poise to be able to go into the net in a 2-1 game," said Norton. "This is just another example of why she wears the 'C' on her shirt. She would do anything for any one of those girls.  She did great in the net." 

The Warriors beat Westwood 3-2 as the team rose to the occasion in the face of adversity of won one for another leader, Borkan. 

Hear Norton and assistant coach Melissa Belmonte tell the story. 

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