PHOTOS: Field Hockey Christens Turf with Win

After more than a month of weather-related delays, the field hockey team opened up the new $3 million athletic complex with a 2-1 win against Newton North Wednesday evening.

"The girls were excited. We've been waiting for the field for a long time," coach Erin MacDonald said. "At practice [on Tuesday], we were just laying on it, soaking it all in."

Amanda Celata earned made sure the new scoreboard was working as she notched the first goal for Dedham less than 13 minutes into the game, and then added an assist on a goal by Jackie Sullivan less than six minutes later to give Dedham a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. 

"I thought we played well in the first half. We were moving the ball well, and we had some push there," MacDonald said.

Newton North tallied a goal in the second half, but Dedham goalie Jamie Carty made a half-dozen second-half saves to keep Dedham in the lead.

"That was big for us - [Carty] making multiple saves in a row," MacDonald said.

Decorated in pink socks, ribbons, shoelaces and more, the two teams raised money for breast cancer research with a suggested donation at the gate and by selling T-shirts. No fund-raising amount was available for publication Wednesday night.

"A lot of the community came out to support a good cause - and the girls were even more excited about that," MacDonald said.

MacDonald's team will play Canton on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at home, and the girl's soccer team will play their first game on the new field at 6:30 p.m. against Norwood.

"We are both grateful and proud to deliver an outstanding facility for our students and the community at-large," Superintendent June Doe said in a statement.