WAKEFIELD’s freshmen put on a show in their victory over Melrose on Tuesday. Pictured, Seamus Cable (20) celebrates Matt Keefe’s (12) goal while Brady Walsh (23) runs in. All three scored goals for the Warriors, as did freshman faceoff specialist Brady Zdanowicz. (Jen Gentile Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
MELROSE — The Wakefield High boys’ lacrosse team picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday with an emphatic 10-3 victory over rival Melrose at Fred Green Field.
The Warriors got five goals and an assist from senior captain Bobby DeFeo who also dominated on faceoffs along with freshman Brady Zdanowicz. It was that faceoff work which allowed the visitors to maintain control from start to finish and control the tempo of the game.
Wakefield got a goal and two assists from freshman Seamus Cable, a goal and an assist from freshman Brady Walsh and single tallies from Zdanowicz, senior captain Dom DeAngelis and freshman Matt Keefe.
Senior captain Kaiden Johnson made 14 saves, never letting Melrose gain any momentum in key points of the game, especially in the 3rd after the home team trimmed their deficit to 5-3 with 7:48 left. Johnson shut them out for the next 19:48.
The Wakefield defense was gritty and focused from start to finish as well, especially senior captain Zack Sartori along with junior Liam McNeill, sophomore Frankie Sullivan, sophomore Robby Kimball and freshman Tommy DeFeo.
Bobby DeFeo got his terrific day started with a goal on a jab with the left and a spin right before firing one low for a 1-0 lead with 7:33 left in the first.
He made it 2-0 about two minutes later on another quick dodge and rip into the top right corner.
The D stepped up to maintain that lead with Sartori providing good alertness on some help defense and Wakefield killing a man-down sequence thanks in large part to Kimball breaking up a pass up top. Johnson made a nice save on a hop to stop a point-blank shot and Keefe got a piece of a last second shot to send the Warriors up 2-0 into the first break.
The 2nd quarter featured another faceoff win from DeFeo to start. He drew plenty of attention before dishing to Keefe on an off-angle, the freshman making a nice catch and swiftly putting it on net for a 3-0 lead early in the 2nd.
Wakefield’s attack was patient and efficient in this one, with some perfect passing to set the tone. Their fourth goal was a great example of that, after Zdanowicz won the faceoff. Walsh started with it behind the goal and dished to Cable who quickly sent it in front and though the pass bounced, DeAngelis found it in the air and batted it in with 8:53 left.
Wakefield kept their foot on the gas after that when Zdanowicz won another draw and carried into the zone, giving it up to Walsh who found Cable in front, a lightning-quick catch and release resulting in a 5-0 Warrior lead and a Melrose timeout. It was the type of play that has head coach Tim Johnson excited about the future as the all-freshman sequence felt more like an all-senior one.
Melrose got on the board soon after but Johnson made three acrobatic stops on low shots to keep the Warriors in front while Sartori and Tommy DeFeo were solid on dodge attempts to keep the home team at bay.
Wakefield’s halftime lead of 5-1 felt comfortable until Melrose scored two in a row to start the second half.
They looked primed to make it 5-4 but Johnson made back-to-back tough stops and DeFeo capitalized on the momentum with a lefty finish to make it 6-3 with 4:08 left in the 3rd.
Wakefield burned plenty of clock on a man-up and after Kimball picked up a groundball in the midfield, DeFeo got his fourth from way out to make it 7-3 going into the 4th.
Johnson stayed strong early in the final quarter and the Warriors extended their lead on a dodge and finish by Walsh.
Wakefield dominated possession for most of the last frame while Zdanowicz and DeFeo finished the scoring to put the final touches on a terrific, all-around win.
The 1-4 Warriors played 2-2 Woburn at home yesterday, results unavailable at press time. Wakefield hosts Danvers on Saturday at 10 a.m.