Chances Go Awry, Girl's Soccer Ties Natick

The girl's soccer team had plenty of great gasping scoring chances to break the 1-1 tie against Natick Thursday afternoon, but a chance to take control of the Herget division was smoothered by Natick goalie Caroline Letner - several times in fact.

Dedham, who moved to 5-1-1 on the year, scored first off a fabulous two-touch pass from Libby Masalsky to Jenna Savi. Letner rushed out toward the senior captain, who rocketed a shot past her and into the net.

The Marauders had a chance seconds later to make it a devastating 2-0 when junior Emily Hill crossed it to Savi, but this time Letner riccocheted the ball at the 6-yard box and Natick was able to clear.

"The goalie made a great save for them. It was an unbelievable save, but [Dedham goalie] Ellen [Masalsky] made a great save on them at the end of the half, so it was a wash," said Dedham coach Don Savi.

Natick knotted the game six minutes later on what was actually a fantastic defensive play by Dedham senior captain Sarah Warjas. 

Warjas chased down a would-be scorer for Natick in the 18-yard box, turned to kick it out, but it deflected hard off another Natick player and over the out-stretched hands of Dedham goalie Ellen Masalsky.

"Those happen. It was unfortunate, but those happen," Savi said. "Those are the breaks of the game."

The Marauders had more chances in the second half when Warjas headed a corner kick off the crossbar and Natick was able to clear. Coach Savi argued for a handball in the box call against Natick, but none was given.

"We had some chances," Savi said. "Those are the kind of chances that you need to beat good teams. We could've worked harder."

At the 30- and 34-minute marks Emily Hill and Jenna Savi both had breakaway chances, but were foiled by Letner.

"Caroline reads the game really well, she kind of kills their offense a bit becasue she doesn't stay in the goal," Natick coach Lisa Wilkins said.

Natick continued their control of the midfield in the second half with strong play from Mai Mitsuyama.

"[Our midfielders] did a really good job winning the 50-50 [balls]," Wilkins said.

A year ago, Natick finished 10-1-3 in the Bay State and won the Herget Division, but this season a few one-goal loses to the conference's best have put them at 1-3-1 in conference after Thursday's tie.

"We're in the hunt. Needham we lost 2-1 in the last 20 seconds," Wilkins said. "This was a great game. Either team probably could've come away with a victory. We're happy with the point."

Dedham will take on 4-1-1 Walpole on the road Monday evening, and the winner will take early control of the Herget Division.

"It's still early. Any points you can get or don't give away are huge, especially in the Herget side. We call them 'four-point games' becasue the two points we get are two points they don't get," Savi said.

Field Hockey Blanks Framingham

The DHS field hockey team shutout the Flyers Wednesday 2-0 to move to 3-2 (2-2) on the season with a road-heavy schedule.

Amanda Celata and Kerrianne Downing scored for the Marauders. Jamie Carty seven saves in net - and Paige Keefe added a defensive save.