In Dedham, field hockey is not just a gateway sport to the winter ice show we are so use to watching. has a rich history and this year under , the Marauders are trying to rekindle that winning flame.
MacDonald was a junior on Dedham’s 2003 undefeated state championship team, but now she has inherited a front line of scorers with an allotment of team speed that will create havoc on opponents on the new turf field planned to open this fall.
“We have tremendous speed at the top,” said MacDonald. “All of my forwards are threats.”
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MacDonald returns seven starters from last year’s squad, who made a reached the Division 3 semifinals as a 19-seed, only . MacDonald’s team will return 14 out of the 18 players to the team roster with an array of higher goals and expectations for this year’s team.
“Over .500 is definitely a goal,” said starting forward Laura Tavalone, who, as a captain, expects to score in bunches against neighboring Norwood and Bay State power Walpole this year.
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“I have to work at getting open and getting to the ball,” said Tavalone. “I want to be a big offensive threat this year.”
In the middle for this year’s squad supporting the offense and setting the tempo on the field are Dedham’s potent mid-field with three-star athlete Emily Mosca, Tara Celata and Paige Keefe leading the team.
Mosca, a star goalie on the hockey team, revels in the chance to play in the field and score goals and be a playmaker rather than a stopper in hockey.
“It’s a sport I like to get out of the net, it’s a completely different mindset and game,” said Mosca, a senior captain.
While Mosca makes plays in the field, Celata will be playing a unique sweeper position this year, as she will be racing all over the field to support her teammates on both offense and defense, while Keefe’s skill-set will be counted on to keep the ball in the offensive zone.
“Her skills are unbelievable,” said MacDonald of Keefe. “All three will be controlling the middle.”
On the back line, Mary St. Cyr will be asked to step up and be more of a defensive presence in the middle in front of goalie Jamie Carty.
“She was a role player last year, and now we are expecting a lot from her,” said MacDonald of St. Cyr.
Look for a return to the tournament for this year’s team, and a chance this season to get revenge on last year’s semifinal loss to Canton.
“We shocked teams when we went in,” said MacDonald. “That team never gave up and that has carried over to this year’s team.”
Check out the team's .
