Brooklyn Henrici scored the only goal as Dedham field hockey beat Medway 1-0 at home on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Goalkeeper Eloisa Mahecha locked down the net to preserve the shutout.
The win pushed the Marauders to 8-7-1 with one regular-season game left, according to the Dedham High athletics department. Dedham closes the regular season Thursday, Oct. 29, against Ursuline.
Henrici's goal held up thanks to what the athletics department called a "stellar" performance from Mahecha. Dedham led 1-0 at halftime and held on through the second half for the clean sheet.
The result capped a strong stretch for the Marauders. Dedham blanked Mansfield 2-0 in a non-league game on Monday, Oct. 26, bringing the team's record to 7-7-1. The Medway win added a second straight shutout and moved Dedham above .500 heading into the finale.
It was the second time this season Dedham topped Medway. The Marauders won 2-0 on the road on Sept. 17, according to MaxPreps.
The Marauders compete in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 3 field hockey bracket. The MIAA's power-ranking system sends the top 32 teams directly to the state tournament. Teams ranked 33rd or lower can still qualify for a play-in game with a .500 record or better. Dedham's 8-7-1 mark already clears that threshold.
The Boston Globe placed Dedham among the Division 3 top five in a Sept. 30 field hockey roundup, alongside programs such as Sandwich and Dover-Sherborn.
Thursday's finale against Ursuline is a rematch. Dedham routed Ursuline 5-1 on Sept. 22 in the teams' first meeting this season. A win would send the Marauders into the MIAA tournament at 9-7-1.
