By MATT FELD
John MacLean made sure that Medfield passed its biggest test of the season thus far.
The All-Scholastic standout scored five goals and added an assist as the Warriors (5-0) defeated out of state opponent Mercer Island (Seattle), 15-8, Friday night at Medfield.
After missing the Warriors’ first four games due to a hamstring injury, MacLean made sure to make his presence felt early and often in his season debut. He was active all night long, putting a goal on the board in all four quarters, including two goals in the first and third quarter.
Medfield coach John Isaf said he was pleased to see MacLean play at a high level given his lack of game experience so far this season.”
“(John MacLean) has been limited from the end of hockey season all the way up until today,” said Isaf. “He is still not 100-percent so it’s at least good to see him out on the field. Slowly but surely he seems to be getting there and eventually we’ll get him fully ready to go.”
The senior attacker got going right from the get-go. Jack-Henry Vara won the opening faceoff for Medfield and moments later MacLean ripped one from 15 yards out to give the Warriors a 1-0 advantage just 39 seconds into the game.
Late in the second quarter, Mercer Island took a 4-2 advantage as Jonny Rosman reeled in a pass off the back-side and fired one home just under the bar for the man-up goal.
Medfield responded before halftime, however, as goals from MacLean, and a game-tying goal with seven seconds to go in the first half from Matt Treiber (two goals, three assists) evened things up at 4-4 going into the break.
The second half belonged to Medfield.
Over the course of the third quarter the Warriors scored seven goals, with five of them coming in the final five minutes of the frame.
After trailing by three, 7-4, Mercer Island was able to cut the deficit down to one as back-to-back goals Stew Vassau and Jonny Osman within a matter of 50 seconds trimmed the Medfield lead to just one.
Medfield closed the quarter strong as a give-and-go off a faceoff win between Vara and Treiber left Vara all alone in front of the net to put the Warriors on top 8-6.
Two minutes later, Jack Cahill (4 goals and an assist) recorded his third goal of the quarter as a shot from close range bounced off the goalie’s chest and in to give Medfield a three-goal advantage.
MacLean added the dagger with eight seconds to go in the quarter, as his breakaway goal off a feed from Cahill increased the Warriors lead up to five, 11-6, heading into the final quarter all but ending any hopes of a Mercer Island comeback.
“In the second half we fought much harder for ground balls,” said Isaf. “We talked about at halftime that you got to share the ball on offense and win the groundballs. I thought we spread the ball around better.”