MARIE ESTRADA had a goal and an assist in Wakefield’s 4-0 win over Woburn on Friday. (Courtesy Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WOBURN — The Wakefield High field hockey team picked up their first win of the 2024 season on the road Friday with an impressive, 4-0 shutout over Woburn. The Warriors improved to 1-1 on the season with the victory.
Wakefield was led by junior Sophia Tulipani who finished with 3 goals.
Sophomore Marie Estrada had a goal and an assist. Also picking up assists in the game were sophomore Chloe Seto and junior Alice Getty.
Wakefield’s defense was strong from start to finish with multiple defenders stepping up including junior captain Sophia DeAngelis and juniors Ellie Ortega, Antonia Nardone and Allison Pesa and midfielders like senior captain Stella Bangston.
Sophomore goalie Jordan Loftus had 3 saves to earn her first varsity shut out.
A back-and-forth first quarter ended in a scoreless tie with the Warriors having a couple chance but the defense standing out the most.
It was much of the same in the second quarter until Wakefield finally broke through on Estrada’s goal. Tulipani had a steal in the offensive zone to force a corner and Wakefield executed with some great passing as junior Maya Kenny moved it over to Seto who found Estrada on the right side. The sophomore took it in and fired one into the left corner for the first goal of the day.
Estrada then made a big play on defense to break up a chance and Ortega stopped a last chance corner with a block as the Warriors went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
Wakefield wasted no time in getting the momentum in the 3rd quarter.
An Estrada steal started a great sequence through the midfield as Getty followed Estrada through the neutral with a perfect give and go, eventually getting to the net where Estrada sent a pass across the net front to Tulipani who finished for the 2-0 lead.
Tulipani was just getting started. She scored again about two minutes later after a scrum in front of the Tanner net as the Warriors kept the pressure on to make it 3-0.
Wakefield’s defense took it from there, making sure the home team never got back into the game.
The Warriors sealed it in the final frame as Tulipani got the hat trick with 5:37 left.
Good pressure on Woburn’s defense from Kenny resulted in a turnover. Getty’s shot was saved but she recovered the rebound and fed it across to Tulipani who continued her impressive scoring ability with another quick strike to account for the final Warriors goal.
In the end, it was a great win for the Warriors who were coming off a 5-0 loss to Arlington to start the season. Wakefield (1-1) will return to Landrigan Field today at 4:15 p.m. where they will host Belmont (1-1). The Marauders beat Melrose 10-2 in their season-opener before falling to league powerhouse Watertown 3-0 on Friday.
