WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High girls’ soccer team hosted Stoneham last night at Walton Field with both teams looking for their first victory of the 2025 season.
Wakefield’s terrific first half gave them a 3-0 lead that they protected in the second half on their way to an important Middlesex League Freedom Division win.
Sophomore forward Teaghan Johnson led the way with 2 goals and an assist.
Junior Nora Fitzgerald had a goal and was crucial to starting the play on both of Johnson’s goals.
Senior captain Stella Carlino had 2 assists.
Wakefield starting goalie, freshman Catherine Goodwin earned her first shutout with multiple saves and the back line was organized and efficient led by centerbacks, senior captain Molly Anderson and sophomore Laurel Renzi.
Midfielders like Fitzgerald, Carlino, sophomore Ella Ferrell and junior Ella Medeiros controlled the play in the middle and the Warriors were constantly on the attack with strong runs and good passing from the likes of Johnson, Carlino, Fitzgerald and junior Keira O’Brien on the wing.
Wakefield put all of that together in the first half. They were on the front foot to start, especially in the attacking zone with Carlino, Fitzgerald and Johnson which would be the case for the next 30 minutes.
Playing in just their second home game, the Warriors scored their first goal of the season at the Galvin when Johnson buried a rebound off an initial shot by Carlino to make it 1-0 about 10 minutes in.
O’Brien nearly had another a few seconds later after making a strong run from the outside.
As she did on the first goal, Fitzgerald initiated the second, picking out Carlino on the right side which allowed the captain some space to send a cross in. After going through some traffic, Johnson was in the right spot near the back post to finish another as the Warriors went up 2-0 with 9:30 left in the half.
Continuing to sustain pressure, Wakefield hunted more opportunities and found plenty of them as they tired out the Spartan defense. About five minutes after the second goal, the home team scored another after a scrum in the box. Johnson battled to keep the ball alive in front and Fitzgerald got a split second to pick out her spot which she didn’t miss, sending a shot perfectly into the low, right corner to make it 3-0.
Wakefield had a few good chances in the second half but the Spartans picked up their play and the Warrior defense did a nice job of holding onto the shutout.
Goodwin more or less made her clean sheet official with a strong save late in the game, getting a glove on a redirect shot from a corner kick.
Wakefield improved to 1-3 with the victory. Their win came after two, one-goal losses in hard-fought games against Melrose (2-1) on Sept. 4 and Woburn (1-0) on Monday.
The Warriors have a tough matchup scheduled for this Monday when they visit undefeated Belmont. A big trip to Burlington (2-2) follows on Wednesday.
Wakefield won’t play at home again until a Sept. 24 matchup against Wilmington (2-1-1).