Prevails 12-11 to gain a berth in first ever sectional final

Published in the June 7, 2017 edition

PAT LEARY, a senior attackman (#9), scored the game-winning goal for the Warriors in their 12-11 Div. 2 North semifinal win over Melrose last night at Landrigan Field. On the right is Melrose senior Mike Calvert. (Donna Larsson Photo)

PAT LEARY, a senior attackman (#9), scored the game-winning goal for the Warriors in their 12-11 Div. 2 North semifinal win over Melrose last night at Landrigan Field. On the right is Melrose senior Mike Calvert. (Donna Larsson Photo)

By DAN BYRNE

WAKEFIELD — For the first time in school history, the varsity boys’ lacrosse team at Wakefield Memorial High School is going to the Div. 2 North final.

The Warriors advanced to uncharted territory on Tuesday night with a thrilling, one-goal win over rival Melrose, 12-11, at Landrigan Field in the semifinal round.

Wakefield increased its record to 20-0 with the win and will face Beverly for the North crown. The Panthers, the third seeded team, edged Winchester by a 12-11 score last night in the other semifinal game.

The date, times, and venue of that game are all to be announced.

Seniors Austin Collard and Pat Leary had five goals apiece to lead the undefeated Warriors to a 20-0 record and into the North finals to face Beverly (12-9). Wakefield faced the Panthers on Thrusday, May 18 and cruised to an 18-8 triumph in non-league competition.

In the misty rain, with the score 11-10 and under a minute and a half to play, Braedan Langlois set up Leary for the goal that would ultimately stand as the difference between the two sides on the day.

For fans familiar with the two teams, the game Tuesday was reminiscent of the team’s first meeting earlier in the year. In that game, Wakefield came out on top 11-10 in overtime, the closest contest of the year for the Warriors. Tuesday there was just as little of a gap between the rivals.

“It was the exact same game as the last time we played them,” Warrior head coach Andrew Lavalle said afterward. “The big thing with those guys is that they have no quit in them, and they always play hard.”

The Warriors’ free scoring offense had their way with the Red Raider defense early on. Anthony Forziati had a goal in the first quarter to put the Warriors up 2-0 just four minutes into the game.

Wakefield led 4-1 after the first and 8-3 at halftime.

Collard put up a pair of quick scores early in the third quarter to stretch the lead out to seven goals at 10-3.

Then Melrose kicked into high gear and start putting some serious heat on the Warriors.

For the next 12 minutes of game time, the Red Raiders scored five unanswered goals and cut the Warriors lead down to one at 10-8. Mike Pedrini had five goals for Melrose and Matt Rocha played incredible in net, stopping 16 Warrior shots.

The fourth quarter began with Wakefield in front 10-6 and Melrose held all the momentum. The Red Raiders scored twice to cut the score to 10-8 before Langlois found some wiggle room in front of the Raiders goal and slipped one past Rocha to make it 11-8.

The Red Raiders came right back and put two more on the board to cut the lead to 11-10 as they did everything they could to keep the heat on Ryan Chambers in the Wakefield net.

With three minutes to play it was a one goal game, but the Warriors got possession. Remaining calm, the group worked the ball around until Langlois found Leary with 1:26 on the clock.

Pedrini scored for Melrose with four seconds to play. However, there was not enough time for Melrose to go down and tie the game as the Warriors held on for the 12-11 triumph.

The Warriors now stand just three wins away from a perfect season and a first ever state title, but the team is not getting caught up in what could unfold.

“We’re really focused on the journey, we’re not focused on the destination,” Lavalle said when asked about the possibility of winning a state championship.