Defense impresses against reigning league champs
SENIOR CO-CAPTAIN Cole Kraus gets ready to send a cross into the box during Wakefield’s season opener against Winchester yesterday at the Galvin Middle School. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
Published in the September 8, 2017 edition.
By DAN MARGARITA
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield High boy’s soccer team opened their season yesterday, losing 1-0 to the defending Middlesex League champs, Winchester, at Galvin Field.
The game was postponed from the previous day due to inclement weather.
“It was a tough one. We knew what we were up against, the league champs,” said Wakefield’s new coach, Andrew Tetrault. “It was a very, very close game.”
The goal came on a free kick when Wakefield was called for a handball in the box.
“It was inadvertent, but it was a hand ball so they got a free kick and they just capitalized.”
“The team in general played really well. Defensively, we’re going to be a tough nut to try and break. They definitely bend but we play very well as a team defensively. That’s good. That’s what we always want to be building on.”
Despite the loss Tetrault was taking the positives from the game, such as a favorable comparison to last year’s match up with Winchester.
“To give up only one goal when we gave up four last year (to Winchester) is a huge improvement,” he noted.
The coach also noted the performance of a few players in particular.
“A couple of guys really stuck out like Ryan Ritchie, the keeper. He made saves to keep us in the game the whole time and a huge save in the first half. Mike Chankhour, a senior, had a couple of chances up top. He definitely put pressure on the back line a lot and forced them to make errors, which gave us opportunities a few times. Cole Kraus played fantastic and had an opportunity in the first half and one in the second half to put one on the scoreboard but it sailed over the cross bar.”
After a few scrimmages Tetrault knew that facing such a formidable opponent in his first regular season game would be a good barometer of his team’s abilities.
“It was our first game and really being put to the test and see where we’re going to fall in the league and what we’re going to look like, and me of course, not having a great idea of where we’re going to stand…this is sort of my litmus test,” said Tetrault.
Despite playing well, there was still some natural disappointment in the outcome for the team.
“I’m so pleased with their effort. This loss really stung. We felt like we could’ve gotten a tie out of this or come out with a win against a really, really good team.”
The re-scheduling of the game today means that the team will be playing on consecutive days as they will face Reading this afternoon at Reading High.
“It’s going to be a tough battle. We exerted a lot of effort today and we just hope we can maintain that in the next game,” said Tetrault.
