Girls’ hockey team ends season with a win

Warriors sweep Watertown with 7-4 triumph on Senior Day

Published in the February 24, 2017 edition.

By JIM SOUTHMAYD

STONEHAM — The Warrior girls’ hockey team ended the season on a winning note, although the victory didn’t come easy.

Wakefield held a 4-3 lead until the third period when it tallied two goals to give itself a little breathing room in a 7-4 triumph over Watertown yesterday in the season finale at the Stoneham Arena.

The Warriors swept the Red Raiders in the season series with the other win being a one-sided 11-4 contest.

Wakefield finished the season with a 5-15-1 overall record and 3-12-1 record in the Middlesex League Freedom division.

It was Senior Day at the Stoneham Arena and the seniors on both teams were honored. Watertown had two seniors, Aurora Fidler and Karina McAdam, that were recognized. Meanwhile, the four Warrior seniors were honored on the ice in a ceremony before the start of the game. The four seniors were Mary Callahan, Megan Horrigan, Brigid Scanlon, and Emily Ryan.

When the puck dropped it was Watertown that got the early lead as Fidler scored from near the left post at 4:06. Junior defenseman Sydney Poulin assisted on the goal.

Fidler scored again at 11:53 of the first period to give the Red Raiders a 2-0 advantage. Sophomore forward Catherine Connors assisted on the goal as Fidler flicked a shot into the upper right corner past sophomore goalie Juliette Guanci.

Wakefield came back and tied the game on a pair of goals by sophomore forward Brooke Lilley at 12:08 and 13:58.

The first goal was scored when Lilley’s shot trickled into the net despite Watertown goalie Jonna Kennedy’s best attempt to stop it. Sarah Melanson, a freshman defenseman, assisted on the goal.

The tying goal was a result of a 2-on-1 break. Lilley collected the loose puck and skated down the right side on the odd man rush. Lilley elected to take the shot herself and fired the puck by Kennedy as the game was tied, 2-2, at the first intermission.

Wakefield was assessed a roughing penalty at the end of the first period and began the second period shorthanded. The Red Raiders capitalized with a power play goal at 43 seconds to take a 3-2 lead.

Poulin, from the left circle, blasted a shot that clanged off the right post on its way into the net. Fidler and sophomore defenseman Honor Petrie assisted on the goal.

Watertown was called for a tripping penalty late in the period and the Warriors capitalized with a power play goal at 13:34 to knot the game at 3-all.

Junior defenseman Courtney Hill took a shot from the point that beat Kennedy as she was credited with an unassisted goal.

Wakefield took a 4-3 lead at 14:29 of the second period as Lilley scored her third goal for the hat trick. Horrigan fired a shot that Lilley redirected into the net as the Warriors led by one at the second intermission.

Wakefield, which outshot Watertown 8-7 in the first period and 8-5 in the second period, had a 20-8 advantage in the final period to take complete control of the game.

Hill took a hard shot that Kennedy tried to stop, but the junior was unable to as the puck trickled over the line at 3:50 to give the Warriors a 5-3 lead.

The score remained that way despite a barrage of shots by the Warriors. Wakefield scored its sixth goal at 11:12 of the final period. Junior forward Olivia Cameron fired in a rebound from in front of the net. Freshman forward Hope Melanson and Lilley assisted on the goal.

Poulin scored Watertown’s final goal to cut the lead to 6-4 at 12:43. Guanci tried to prevent the puck from going in, but it went over the line.

The game got a little chippy, especially in the final minute as the Warriors had two roughing and two game misconduct penalties. There was also a slashing penalty on Watertown in the final minute. There were 15 total penalties with eight against the Warriors and seven against the Red Raiders.

With each team having a player in the penalty box and Kennedy having been pulled in favor of an extra skater, Wakefield capped off the scoring with an empty net goal at 14:34. Hill took a Hope Melanson pass and fired a shot into the open net for her hat trick.

“It was a good way to end the end season,” said coach Jason Lawrence. “Collectively, we wanted to win the game for the seniors. This was a tighter game than the first game against Watertown. We played well in both games and the girls played hard.”

With just four seniors on the roster, Wakefield will have a strong nucleus of underclass players that will be returning next year.

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At Stoneham Arena

Watertown…….2  1  1 — 4

WAKEFIELD….2  2  3 — 7

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First Period — Wat, Fidler (Poulin) 4:06. Wat, Fidler (Connors) 11:53. Wak, Lilley (S. Melanson) 12:08. Wak, Lilley (un.) 13:58. Penalties — Wat, Poulin (tripping) 1:47; Wat, McAdam (roughing) 14:30; Wak, Lilley (roughing) 14:30; Wak, Forziati (roughing) 15:00.

Second Period — Wat, Poulin (Fidler, Petrie) :43 (pp). Wak, Hill (un.) 13:34 (pp). Wak, Wak, Lilley (Horrigan) 14:29. Penalties — Wak, Hill (high-sticking) 2:13; Wat, Fidler (slashing) 3:11; Wat, Lampasona (body-checking) 4:31; Wat, Petrie (tripping) 13:05.

Third Period — Wak, Hill (un.) 3:50. Wak, Cameron (H. Melanson, Lilley) 11:12. Wat, Poulin (un.) 12:43. Wak, Hill (H.Melanson) 14:34 (en). Penalties — Wak, H. Melanson (tripping) 1:50; Wat, Poulin (cross-checking) 6:10; Wat, McAdam (slashing) 14:09; Wak, Kaddaras (roughing, game misconduct), roughing penalty served by Hurley, 14:18; Wak, Horrigan (roughing, misconduct) 14:56.

Shots on Goal — Watertown 7-5-8 — 20. Wakefield 8-8-20 — 36.

Power Plays — Watertown 1 for 4. Wakefield 1 for 5.

Goalies — Wat, Kennedy (35 shots-29 saves). Wak, Guanci (20-16).