VIDEO: Medfield Girls' Hockey Season Ends in 3-2 Loss to Concord-Carlisle

WALPOLE – The girls' hockey team is all too familiar with the heartache and emotion that comes with a first round loss in the MIAA Division 2 state tournament.

Those feelings resurfaced Wednesday.

The Warriors' season ended in a 3-2 loss to Concord-Carlisle in the preliminary round of the D2 State Tournament.

"Our season ends with a heavy heart," said Medfield head coach Molly Norton, who spent nearly 20 minutes with her team behind a closed locker room door. "There was a lot of emotion [after the game]. A lot of girls were crying. It's hard and especially hard for our eight seniors."

There's been girls' hockey at Medfield High School for six years now and the Warriors have made the state tournament in each of their past three seasons. Unfortunately for Medfield, the third time in the tournament did not prove to be the charm as the team is still searching for its first postseason win.

But they're getting closer.

On Wednesday, Medfield jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead and momentum was the Warriors' to lose. Nicole Reardon got Medfield on the board first with 10:26 to play in the period after she pushed a shot on net from just inside the blue line that trickled through the five-hole of C-C's goalkeeper, Michaela Haller.

Lauren Tschirch added to the Warriors lead with just under two minutes to play in the first period when her shot from atop the attacking zone beat C-C's goalkeeper stick side and Medfield skated into the first intermission with hockey's most difficult lead to protect.

Concord-Carlisle wasted little time proving that theory right, getting on the board 52 seconds into the second period on Jenny Robinson's first of three goals. Robinson then tied the game with 6:05 remaining in the period.

Robinson converted her third goal of the evening with 8:47 to play in the third period, which proved to be the game-winner.

The Warriors end the season with a 10-6-5 record. Concord-Carlisle advances to the first round of the Division 2 State Tournament. C-C will travel to Gardner to play Gardner/St. Bernard's on March 2 at 5 p.m. To view the tournament’s bracket, click here.

Score by Period

1st - Medfield 2, Concord-Carlisle 0

2nd - Medfield 2, Concord-Carlisle 2

3rd - Concord-Carlisle 3, Medfield 2

Individual Scorers

(Medfield)

Nicole Reardon (10:26, first period)

Lauren Tschirch (1:56, first period)

(Concord-Carlisle)

Jenny Robinson (14:08, second period)

Jenny Robinson (6:05, second period)

Jenny Robinson (8:47, third period)

First Round Blues

In Medfield's three state tournament appearances, the team has failed to advance out of the first round. In 2010, Medfield lost to Stoneham, 5-1 and in 2011, the Warriors fell to Ursuline in overtime, 3-2.

Norton's 2-for-2

Medfield head coach Molly Norton has guided her team to the state tournament in her first two seasons on the Warriors' bench.

Thank You Seniors

Norton thanked her eight seniors for their dedication to the program.

• Jeanette Barone
• Nikki DeMello
• Allie Ockerbloom
• Olivia O'Connell
• Kara Pelosi
• Julia Redden
• Caroline Sloan
• Jamie Weldon

Robinson was the Difference

An obvious statement to make when a player scores all of her team's goals, but Jenny Robinson proved to be the difference between Medfield and Concord-Carlisle Tuesday. The center fought for loose pucks, finished her shots and played with tremendous confidence on the ice in the game's biggest moments. She could easily remind Medfield fans of former Warrior, Amanda Cronin.