Weafer and Hoffman even rehearsed their celebration, paying homage to Christiano Ronaldo’s iconic move.
“The first goal, I just had been moved out to that position and Sid saw me and it was a perfect opportunity, nobody made the run in to mark me, so I was just wide open,” said Hoffman.
Delicate, yet ruthless. A tremendous play.
She made it sound so effortless. A simple task.
Who has not heard, ‘practice makes perfect’?
The chase of perfection is elusive. But practice has paid off for Medfield.
Ranked third in this week’s Globe Top 20, the Warriors (9-0-1) have racked up 52 goals. They own impressive wins over No. 6 Norwell (2-1), a 8-2 drubbing of a talented Franklin team, and Tuesday’s 3-0 shutout of Hopkinton.
So what’s the secret to their success?
“It’s their effort in practice,” said fourth-year coach Melinda Lohan. “Obviously, we’re designing practices to work on that, but it’s their effort in practice. They are screaming at each other in positive ways about the intensity of the game and wanting to win so they don’t have to do 10 pushups. Even when there isn’t a consequence — it’s not about the consequence, it’s that they want to win.”
“It’s intrinsic for them, which is huge for this team,” she continued. ”No one is going to give us anything.”
Senior captain Elizabeth George received a guiding ball at the left part of the 18-yard box against Hopkinton. The attacking midfielder already knew where she was going with the ball — to sophomore striker Devon Weafer, making a run into the middle. Weafer took a touch and pinged it inside the right post for the third goal.
“I was making that run the whole game, so I was kind of looking for it,” said George. “I saw Dev run in and I knew that she was going to finish it, so I hit her with it.”
Clinical, as if it had happened a thousand times before.
With players returning from injury and new faces still jelling, the Warriors have relentlessly drilled overlapping runs and spotting passing lanes. It’s not just the X’s and O’s, it’s the chemistry and timing required to execute at full speed.
The proof was in the pudding after another competitive practice Monday night.
“I think it starts off the field,” said senior captain Stella Scobbo, an integral part of a defense that has allowed just nine goals. “On teams in the past, there’s definitely been cliques of girls. I feel like we’re all such good friends. No one here is even rude to anyone, attitudes on and off the field are great. I think that helps a lot, finding each other on and off the field. You know Sid as a person, you know she’s going to make that run. You know Devon as a person, you know where she likes the ball. You know what she likes off the field too.”
Lohan recalls sessions where plans changed due to drills running over time, as players refused to concede a goal on tiny goals or field hockey nets.
And who says that competition isn’t fun?
“It says a lot about our program as a whole,” said goaltender Cate Rodenhi, another senior captain.
▪ In a 4-1 win over Lynn Classical on Monday, Mystic Valley senior midfielder Lucia Antonucci netted her 98th, 99th, and 100th career goals.
Led by Antonucci, a captain, the Commonwealth MVP in each of the last two seasons, Mystic Valley is off to an 8-0 start. The only other teams in EMass with wins in all of their contests are top-ranked Bishop Feehan (9-0) and TechBoston (4-0).
“It’s really thrilling to see them win and put it all together at this stage of the season,” said first-year coach Meghan Walsh.
The Eagles are outscoring opponents, 32-8. Antonucci has scored 20 of those 32.
“She’s been a dream to coach,” said Walsh. “She’s one of the most motivated players I’ve ever seen. She’s very, very good, but without an ego to go with it.”
Walsh, a science teacher at Mystic Valley and a former player at Skidmore College, stepped in for Katie Morales, who is on maternity leave. Led by her coaching and Antonucci’s exceptional play, the Eagles have their sights set on the CAC title.
“I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be with his group of kids,” said Walsh. “It just feels like something special is happening.”
▪ In the second release of MIAA Power Rankings Tuesday, Bishop Feehan (9-0-0, 4.9429 rating) tops Division 1, followed by defending champion Wellesley (4-1-1, 4.8998). Four Middlesex Liberty teams are right behind, with Lexington (8-1-1), Belmont (8-2), Arlington (5-1-3), and Winchester (7-1-1) occupying third, fourth, fifth, and seventh.
Duxbury (6-2-2, 4.4217) paces Division 2, and Medfield (8-0-1, 4.7514) sits atop D3.
Southwick (5-1-2, 2.3827) leads Cohasset (7-1, 2.3712) and Hamilton-Wenham (8-0-1, 2.3378) in Division 4. Granby (6-2-2, 1.5920) paces D5 with Hull (3-3-2, 0.7001) in second.
Friday, Oliver Ames at No. 3 Medfield, 4 p.m. — The Tigers earned a signature road victory over Division 3 power Norwell, 2-1, on Saturday. Now they have the chance to topple Medfield, last season’s D3 runner-up.
Friday, Marshfield at No. 11 Duxbury, 4 p.m. — Two Patriot League Keenan foes square off in a pivotal contest. The Rams and Dragons are amid a three-team race for the Keenan division crown, along with No. 18 Hingham.
Friday, No. 2 Wellesley at No. 6 Concord-Carlisle, 6 p.m. — A nonleague matchup between two top-10 teams, the Patriots will seek to add a signature victory to their resume against the reigning D1 champions, Wellesley.
Friday, No. 15 Lexington at No. 10 Winchester, 6 p.m. — After opening the season with six straight shutout victories, the Minutemen allowed their first goal of the season in their lone loss — a 1-0 defeat to Winchester on Sept. 17. A tight battle between these Middlesex Liberty contenders should be in store.
Tuesday, No. 4 Natick at Braintree, 4 p.m. — A loaded Redhawks offense led by senior captains Abby McCauley, Nicole Proia, and Lydia Proia will travel to face a stout Wamps defense that has only allowed five goals this season.
Correspondent Henry Dinh-Price contributed to this story.