By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WATERTOWN — The Wakefield High boys’ lacrosse team bounced back from a tough, 10-7 loss to Burlington last week by cruising past Watertown, 22-2 at Fillipello Field last night.
Wakefield’s business trip to Watertown was complete at halftime with a 13-1 lead. With the win, the Warriors improved to 12-3 on the season.
Juniors Seamus Cable (3 goals, 1 assist) and Brady Walsh (3 goals, 1 assist) and sophomore John Scarpello (2 goals, 2 assists) paced the attack in the first half.
Junior Brady Zdanowicz added 2 goals and an assist while going undefeated on face-offs to help control the game for the visitors.
Wakefield’s defense was just as dominant, featuring plenty of athleticism and impressive plays themselves, led by senior Tommy DeFeo, junior JP Casey and sophomore Josh Whitman along with defensive midfielders like junior Cam Sartori and seniors Ryan Metsis and Dan McHugh.
The Warriors went up 9-0 before Watertown got on the board in the 2nd, the game already out of reach.
Walsh opened the scoring with two goals, the first on a great find from Scarpello and then on a dodge from behind the net.
Wakefield’s ride on attempted Watertown clears was relentless, leading to multiple turnovers and odd-man rushes. Sartori poked the ball free on one such play before Metsis tipped it back into the offensive zone, avoiding an offsides and leading to Cable’s first tally on a cut and another perfect feed from Scarpello.
Cable followed after another Zdanowicz face-off win with rip from up top to make it 4-0.
Casey’s impressive ground ball pickup and spin move created another rush and a goal from Scarpello.
Sartori filled in on a couple of face-offs in the first half and was also perfect. His win led to Cable’s third of the 1st quarter, making it 6-0 with 3:30 left in the frame.
Senior goalie Zach Courtright made a save late and after Walsh and sophomore John Taylor forced another turnover, Zdanowicz buried a shot with 1.1 seconds left to make it 7-0 after one.
The Warriors didn’t have to be at their best against the 3-11 Raiders but with the state tournament just over a week away, Wakefield needed to practice playing at a high level, a level they need to reach and exceed in the postseason. They continued to find that in the second quarter, the attack starting off with phenomenal ball movement that ended on a Scarpello goal, assisted by Cable.
The defense stayed locked in with a Metsis steal, Casey scoop and later a ground ball by Whitman after a good battle to knock the ball loose. A McHugh clear followed which led to another tally and after the Raiders got one back, Taylor’s dodge and hard shot found the net for a 10-1 lead.
Two great plays by Zdanowicz helped finish the quarter strong. His footwork around the back of the net and by the crease resulted in his 2nd goal and he assisted on Walsh’s third after a smart pump fake and set up created another open look.
Senior Kyle Clair finished the scoring in the second half as the Warriors cruised to a league record of 7-3 — 3-1 against Freedom Division opponents. Their final Freedom game will be tomorrow, 6 p.m. at Landrigan Field when they welcome Wilmington (3-13) to town.
The Warriors were ranked No. 8 entering this week in the Div. 3 power rankings.
Wakefield’s ranking and the number of teams in the bracket won’t be determined until the brackets are released this weekend but if Wakefield stays around the No. 8 spot, they will be hosting a first round game against a team in the No. 25 range. Teams currently in that range are Groton-Dunstable (6-7), Amherst-Pelham (8-5), Bishop Stang (9-6) and Apponequet (11-3).
Staying at No. 8 would be important for the Warriors as the top 8 seeds are guaranteed two home games if they can advance past the first round.
Following Wakefield’s matchup against Wilmington, they will host Manchester-Essex in the regular season finale on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.