Midfielders Drive Massachusetts High School Field Hockey Teams
Top programs in the MIAA rely on central players to control tempo, with tournament brackets set for release next Tuesday.
By Riya Zhao ·
The MIAA tournament is approaching, with the regular season ending this Sunday. Tournament brackets for Divisions 1 through 4 will be released on Tuesday. Games are scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 5, though teams may agree to play on November 4. The power ratings released this week show clear leaders, but the top two seeds in every division are not yet locked in.
Coaches across the state identify the midfield as the engine of their teams. Lauren Riley-Gove, whose Gloucester squad is 16-0-0 and ranked No. 6 in Division 3, stated that successful teams possess a strong midfield. She noted that these players must be offense-minded to make plays and defense-minded to strip the ball. Her senior captain, Olivia Madruga, has recorded six goals and 11 assists this season. Riley-Gove praised Madruga for studying the game from the sidelines during her earlier years.
King Philip sits at No. 1 in the Division 2 power ratings with a 14-3-0 record. Center midfielder Tayla McDuff, a four-year varsity player committed to Bentley University, leads the team. She explained that midfielders cannot be selfish and must focus on assists. King Philip coach Kaitlyn Wilder described the team as a puzzle where every piece is needed. The roster features 11 seniors who prioritize possession and dictating the flow of play.
Belmont, ranked No. 3 in Division 1 with a 14-1-1 record, relies on its midfielders to win big games. Senior captain Elsie Lakin-Schultz, committed to Brown, plays defensive center mid. She described her role as distribution-focused, sending the ball to defenders or up the field to reset the attack. Coach Jessica Smith emphasized that these players must remain active throughout the entire game.
Other notable midfielders include Jossie Camp at Franklin, Elise Cecere at Lincoln-Sudbury, and Ryan Crook at Somerset Berkley. Franklin leads Division 1 with a 15-1-1 record, while Lincoln-Sudbury is 13-0-1. In Division 3, Sandwich leads with a 17-0-0 record and a power rating of 4.6518. Uxbridge sits second in that division at 14-0-2.
Durfee coach Nikki Henrique won her 100th career game on September 9. Her team also saw two seniors reach 100 career points this season. Avery Motta reached the mark on September 21, followed by Alina Emery on Friday in a 1-0 win over Case. Henrique described the season milestones as pretty unreal on social media.
The upcoming week features several key matchups. Lincoln-Sudbury plays Franklin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Hingham visits Sandwich on Friday at 4 p.m., pitting the No. 5 Division 2 team against the top-rated Division 3 squad. Somerset Berkley, which has scored 108 goals, travels to Acton-Boxborough on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Uxbridge plays Walpole on Friday at 4:30 p.m., and Dover-Sherborn faces Belmont on Saturday at 11 a.m.
