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FOXBORO - With its back up against the wall for the second straight game, the Foxboro High field hockey team kept its season alive, defeating Dedham 2-1 in the preliminary round of the MIAA Division 2-South tournament Wednesday afternoon at Foxboro High.

The Warriors had to win or tie their last game of the season to even make the tournament. After defeating Sharon and earning the 16th seed, Foxboro then had to take on 17th-seeded Dedham on Wednesday for the right to travel to once-beaten, and top-seeded Harwich (15-1-2) on Friday.

Behind Hiliary Carlson's game-winning goal early in the second half, Foxboro continued to survive, setting up a tough matchup on the Cape (2:30 p.m. start).

The Warriors jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just under seven minutes into the game when Carlson sent a hard ball across the goalface to Kristen McMullen. Standing on the left post, McMullen calmly redirecting the pass into the net.

But visiting Dedham would not go down quietly, as the Marauders tied the game on the first penalty corner of the day. With 10:38 remaining in the half, Dedham's Kelly Celata found a loose ball after the penalty corner and hit a low shot past Foxboro goalkeeper Callie McLaughlin (three saves). After halftime, Foxboro scored the game-winner with 23:35 remaining. On the Warriors' sixth penalty corner of the game, Meghan Fay took the pass and fired a hard shot on net. Dedham's Kayleigh Brambell (seven saves) did a good job kicking away the initial shot, but the rebound went to Carlson, who opportunistically pushed the ball past the near post for the decisive goal.

"(Penalty corners have) been our Achilles' heel but its good to see them step up," Foxboro coach Melissa Bordieri said. "I had a feeling it was going to fall, I knew it was going to have to be on a corner because we were getting more corner opportunities than shots on net."

Dedham rallied after falling down 2-1, earning four penalty corners over the remainder of the game as Foxboro just barely hung on for the victory. The Marauders forced Bordieri to use both her timeouts in the second half and nearly tied the game with eight minutes remaining when a free hit skidded just wide of the left post.

"I think Dedham absolutely had great opportunities and dominated a good part of this game," Bordieri said. "I definitely think it was one of those 50-50 games, back-and-forth. The score is pretty indicative of how it went."

Neither team had much of a chance after that, and when Foxboro drew a penalty corner with seven seconds left on the clock, the game was over, the Warriors advancing to the next round.

The time of possession was nearly even for the two teams but the Warriors were able to keep the Marauders away from their net, as Foxboro had nine shots on net while Dedham had just four. Penalty corners were more even, Foxboro with seven while Dedham had five.

"I knew it was going to come down to defense, especially with a team like that with quick forwards," Bordieri said. "I was sweating it, I was definitely sweating it. Thank God we have a really quick fly (in Lindsey McGeary) otherwise they probably would have scored."

Barnstable 1, King Philip 0

BARNSTABLE - The King Philip Warriors arrived to conquer the Red Raiders, but left shaking their heads in the opening round of the MIAA Division 1-South Tournament. Meredith Burbank scored the lone goal of the match for No. 13 seeded Barnstable at 51:55 out of a scramble in front of KP goalie Lauren Nickerson.

"We wanted to win and move on," said KP coach Liz Hathaway, whose Warriors (7-8-4) would have met Hockomock League rival Mansfield, the No. 4 seed in a first round match Friday. Barnstable was limited to merely two shots, but totaled eight penalty corners - eventually scoring with nine minutes left in the match, mostly played up and down the field between the penalty circles.

"I felt that we were the stronger team, but the bounces didn't go our way," added Hathaway, KP having six shots and four penalty corners. Midfielder Kelsey Gray and left wing Hillary Bushway ignited most of the Warriors' attacking motion.

"We were proud to make the tournament, but we could have moved on, we felt that we could have," added Hathaway.