MELROSE — The Wakefield and Melrose High boys’ soccer teams met under the lights of Fred Green Field last night for a huge, early-season test between two of the best in the Middlesex League.
After a hard-fought, back-and-forth game, the two rivals ended up even with a 1-1 tie. Both teams moved to 0-1-1 on the season.
The first half was scoreless with multiple chances for each squad.
Melrose had the leg up early on in the half with Wakefield’s defense featuring seniors Aidan Bligh, Aden Stevenson and Nik Dhingra forced into action to help keep their zone clear.
The Warriors responded with a few good chances of their own but couldn’t finish.
Sophomore goalie Kai Mercer made a quality save on a Melrose free kick from just outside the 18. Mercer moved to his right to stop a low shot.
The final 20 minutes featured a classic stalemate as both teams battled for possession in the midfield with quality opportunities limited down the stretch.
It was more of the same for the first 20 minutes of the second half with the tempo picking up and the teams wearing down.
The visiting Warriors struck first with 19:30 left in the half on a goal by senior Mhamed Boukataya. Senior Matthew Keefe took a quick throw in down the right sideline, springing senior Isaac Melo who ran onto the ball and space and sent a perfect cross, low and on the ground to a charging Boukataya who beat his defender and the Melrose goalkeeper to the spot, burying a one-timer to make it 1-0.
Undeterred, Melrose stuck with it, finding an equalizer about five minutes later. Again, this goal started with a long throw-in. A flick header sent it into a dangerous spot as Mercer left his line. A collision in a fight for the ball caused chaos and Melrose got the bounce to an open forward who capitalized with a strike into the top corner, making it 1-1 with just over 14 minutes left.
Both teams continued the even play into the final minutes of the half. Mercer was involved in another collision in front, putting his body on the line to disrupt a chance but he was forced to exit the game. Wakefield held on in the final few minutes for their first point of the season.
The Warriors started the season with a 2-1 loss to Arlington at home on Tuesday. They will look to get into the win column on Monday when they travel to Woburn (1-1) at 4:15 p.m.