By DAN PAWLOWSKI
STONEHAM — The Wakefield High girls’ hockey team concluded their season on Sunday against Middlesex League powerhouse Arlington. The Warriors came up short but had a couple of strong games leading up to it to help build some momentum for next season.
That stretch started on Feb. 4 when Wakefield tied Melrose 3-3 at the Stoneham Arena. It was a strong performance from the Warriors against a playoff-bound Melrose team that had defeated Wakefield 2-0 in the first matchup on Jan. 8.
Following a loss to Stoneham/Wilmington on Senior Night when the Warriors honored senior captain Maddy Taylor, Wakefield dedicated their next one to Taylor as well and came through with a hard-earned, 3-2 victory over Medford, avenging a 2-1 loss to the Mustangs earlier in the season.
The rivalry matchup with a Melrose team currently ranked No. 25 in Div. 2 was perhaps the best game of the season for the Warriors who were at full strength and playing their top hockey of the year.
Three Warriors finished with a goal and an assist: junior captain Rory McNeill, sophomore Molly Burns and freshman Paige Eriksen. Taylor and 8th-grader Marissa Carangelo added assists.
Starting goalie Gia Rizzuto, also an 8th-grader, finished with 26 saves for Wakefield.
Melrose got off to a strong start, scoring just over three minutes in to set the tone.
Rizzuto made two strong glove saves right after to stem the tide and the Warriors fought back to even it up with 7:52 left in the period on McNeill’s tally in which she tracked down a puck in the offensive zone, spun and fired one top shelf. Eriksen and Carangelo earned assists on the play.
Wakefield, who outshot Melrose 33-29 in this one, had a 12-8 shot advantage in an otherwise even opening period.
Matching the 1st was a 1-1 2nd which interestingly enough was the result in the 3rd during a game that couldn’t have been more equal.
The Warriors were on the front foot to start the 2nd with Burns putting one home on a rebound assisted by McNeill and Taylor to give the home team a 2-1 lead with 8:51 left.
Wakefield killed a penalty soon after but Melrose was able to find the equalizer on a deflection in front with 2:02 to go.
Melrose kept on it to start the 3rd, quickly jumping out ahead on a rebound tally. It took Wakefield most of the final period to even it up with Rizzuto giving her team a chance with multiple clutch stops.
The Warriors found their goal with 3 minutes to go on a 2-on-1. Burns skated the puck up and although her shot was saved, it set up Eriksen to hammer it in, tying an entertaining matchup 3-3 which is fittingly how the game ended with Taylor and Rizzuto leading the defense to a strong finish.
Wakefield honored their lone senior, Taylor on Feb. 8 back at the Stoneham Arena. Although the game didn’t go as planned, it was still a good way to celebrate a player who has worked hard to help a young team build for the future.
The Warriors fell 7-1, but their lone goal was scored by Taylor on a shot from the point for her second career tally.
“It was fitting that Maddy was the one to score for us,” said head coach Jacqui Mansfield. “But overall, we did not skate to our potential.”
That setback only fueled the Warriors to respond against Medford with a 3-2 win on Feb. 10 in their third straight home game.
“We came into the Medford game with a new mindset,” said Mansfield. “In the locker room, we said it was Maddy’s senior night redo. She led by example and made her team want to play not only for her but for themselves. It really shows her character and how much the younger players look to her in tough moments. We fought back and came out on top.”
Adding to the motivation was Medford’s new co-op with Northeast Metro Tech, a school that Wakefield was paired with for the last three years. The Warriors were able to defeat their old teammates this time around.
“That also really pushed our team to want to win, especially since (Medford) got the first win this season,” said Mansfield.
McNeill and Eriksen led the attack once again with each collecting a goal and an assist. Burns added a goal and 8th-grader McKenna Murphy had an assist.
A scoreless first period turned into a race in the 2nd as the pace picked up. Wakefield scored all 3 of their goals in the 2nd while Medford added one. The Mustangs put the pressure on with a goal in the 3rd but Rizzuto and the defense held on for the team’s second win of the season.
Wakefield finished their season with a record of 2-17-1 following defeats to Burlington and Arlington but they improved throughout the year and gained valuable experience for next season as they look to return McNeill along with the current eight 8th-graders, four freshmen and four sophomores.