Warriors blanked 1-0 after wins over Watertown and Stoneham
By DAN BYRNE
JILLIAN RASO (left) had two goals and an assist in Wakefield’s win over Watertown last week. The Warriors also beat Stoneham and lost to Wilmington as they are now 6-7-1 on the season. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High School varsity girls’ soccer team had an eventful week, playing in three Middlesex League contests. The team is in the midst of trying to carve out a state tournament spot and this past week some positive steps were taken.
After wins against Watertown and Stoneham, the Warriors had their three-game win streak and four-game unbeaten skein snapped with a 1-0 loss to Middlesex League Freedom division power Wilmington on Friday afternoon at Walton Field.
The loss came after a 4-1 triumph over Watertown on Monday at Victory Field and a come from behind victory over Stoneham Wednesday at Stoneham High School.
Wakefield is now 6-7-1 on the season and needs five points in its final four games to qualify for the state tourney.
In the first match up, Wakefield came out aggressively against Watertown and took the game to the Red Raiders. After the Raiders scored first, Wakefield responded two minutes later as Kayla Geaney brought the ball through the middle and pinged a cross far post where Jillian Raso popped up to head in the equalizer for her first of two goals on the day.
It was 1-1 at halftime but the Warriors came out and knocked in three goals in the second half, led by Raso who added an assist to her two goals for the game. Wakefield went on to win 4-1.
“She was the MVP for that game,” Coach Jessica Iosua said regarding Raso’s play against Watertown.
Coming off a tough road win, the Warriors had to head back out on the road again two days later as it took on Stoneham.
Things weren’t going as planned in the first 40 minutes as Stoneham was able to jump out to a 3-1 lead at the half. After some halftime instructions and a rallying team talk, the Warriors came out and knocked in three goals in the second half while it kept the Spartans off the scoreboard.
Behind goals by Abby and Meghan Chapman, Kelsey Czarnota and Geaney, Wakefield was able to conquer Stoneham and take the two points.
“We talked a lot about how we had 40 minutes to play and how that was plenty of time to score enough goals to win. We really did not want to be denied there,” Coach Iosua said of the Stoneham game. “We didn’t want to settle for a tie, we didn’t want to settle for anything less than a win.”
Pleased with the results of the first two games coach Iosua said, “They (the Warriors) had a lot of fight in both those games.”
Having scored eight goals with an abundance of different players getting their name on the score sheet the first two games of the week, the Warriors were right to feel confident coming into Friday’s match up with Wilmington, a team that has yet to be defeated this season.
Despite the result, a 1-0 defeat for Wakefield, the Warriors played like they were the team without a loss.
In the first half the ball remained in the Wakefield attacking third of the pitch for a majority of the time.
Wakefield had more scoring chances coming from a variety of options and the corner count was 5-1 in favor of the Warriors. Some chances came closer than others but the amount of near misses had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Wakefield’s defense had one and only one breakdown the entire game. Unfortunately for the Warriors it allowed Wilmington to score the only goal.
“It was a breakdown in marking,” Coach Iosua said of the goal. “Today marking through the middle was our issue.”
Wilmington’s only threat offensively came on the counter attack and 15 minutes into the first half, the Wildcats had their opportunity.
Wakefield trailed 1-0 as the halftime whistle blew. It was an encouraging, yet at the same time a frustrating first half as Wakefield played well but still trailed at the half.
The frustration continued in the second half as Wakefield continued to press on and search for the equalizing goal but it remained elusive.
Wakefield’s defense held strong as the offense dominated the possession once again. Despite becoming exposed once or twice, any semblance of a threat by Wilmington was either snuffed out by the defense or saved at the last by goalie Kristina Redmond.
Redmond had seven saves in the game and did her part in keeping her team within striking distance.
“Even in spite of the loss, our soccer is getting better,” Coach Iosua said after playing Wilmington. “I think we managed them really well. “We’re hugely disappointed because we’ve been working on our goal scoring and we were unable to finish today.
“We’ve also been working on defense, specifically containing and marking,” the coach added. “Defensively they were better than we have been. The problem was on the transition coming back and we faced that problem all game.
“Where we played most balls well,” the coach continued. “It was that one time where they took the opportunity in the first half. Wilmington can score, you give them the light of day and they’re going to score and they did. We are disappointed,” she said.
The feelings of disappointment won’t last very long, as the Warriors have another busy week ahead. Wakefield takes on Melrose at home on Tuesday night, hoping to repeat the 1-0 victory it had earlier in the season. Then there is no rest for the weary as the Warriors play Burlington on the road Wednesday afternoon.
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At Walton Field
Wilmington………1 0 — 1
WAKEFIELD……0 0 — 0
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First Half — Wil, Mc Cauley (un.) 15:00.
Second Half — No Scoring.
Saves — Wak, Redmond (7). Wil, Souza (6).
