Warriors drop season finale to Lincoln-Sudbury
Published in the February 24, 2016 edition
THE WMHS girls’ hockey seniors were honored on Senior Night last evening at the Kasabuski Arena. Pictured with their parents are Meaghan Kerrigan, Gabrielle Nadolny and Julianne Bourque. (Donna Larsson Photo)
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
SAUGUS — When the Wakefield Memorial High girls’ hockey team played Lincoln-Sudbury at even strength for the first period and a half, the Warriors were up 2-0 and dominated the play to that point.
But when Wakefield found itself shorthanded with a rash of penalties in the second period, the complexion of the game changed completely.
Wakefield surrendered two power play goals and never got the momentum back as it dropped a 4-2 non-league contest last night in the season finale at the Kasabuski Arena.
Wakefield wrapped up the season with a 3-17-0 overall record, while Lincoln-Sudbury, also nicknamed the Warriors, finished up with 7-10-3 overall record.
“We got out of our game,” said coach Jack Foley. “We started taking penalties and that changed the momentum of the game. We had our chances. We played very well in that first period.”
In the first period, there was one penalty called against Lincoln-Sudbury. But in the second period, there were a total of nine penalties called in the frame alone. Wakefield was shorthanded four times in the second while Lincoln-Sudbury had to kill off three penalties (there was one set of matching penalties as well). The visiting team went 2-for-4 with the man-advantage and tied the game at 2-2.
The Dual County League Warriors carried the play after that scoring one more goal to take a 3-2 lead after two periods. Lincoln-Sudbury then outshot Wakefield, 15-6, in the third period and added one more tally on the scoreboard.
There could have been more goals if not for the fine play of junior goalie Megan Horrigan. Horrigan stopped three breakaways alone in the third period and even stopped one at the beginning of the game.
“Megan has started the past three games for us and played extremely well,” said Foley. “She made some huge stops on the breakaways and kept us in the game.”
It was Senior Night at the Kasabuski with the 12th graders from both teams being honored before the game. The Lincoln-Sudbury seniors honored included Michelle Charest, Ally Marcoux and Hayley Cooper. Wakefield also honored its three seniors, forwards and captains Julianne Bourque and Meaghan Kerrigan and defenseman Gabrielle Nadolny.
When the puck dropped freshman forward Danni Lu was denied on a breakaway by Horrigan. That was Lincoln-Sudbury’s best opportunity to score a goal in the first period.
Wakefield took a 1-0 lead at 9:18. Eighth grade forward Annabella Forziati, situated in front of the net, took a pass from Bourque and flicked a wrist shot past junior goalie Alyssa Lee. Also assisting on the goal was Nadolny.
The Warriors made it a 2-0 game at 13:30 of the first period. Bourque skated down the right side and backhanded a shot by Lee from in front of the net for an unassisted goal.
Wakefield had a chance to make it 3-0 as Bourque set up Kerrigan. But Lee stopped the bid as the Middlesex League Warriors led 2-0 at the first intermission.
Wakefield continued its strong play to start the second period. Brooke Lilley, a freshman forward, made a nice pass to Kerrigan in front. Lee made the save but Bourque was there to get the rebound. Lee made another nice save.
Wakefield’s dominating play resulted in a pair of Lincoln-Sudbury tripping penalties to prevent breakaway opportunities. The Warriors didn’t score on either man-advantage situation and then were whistled for their first infraction for having too many players on the ice.
It was the second power play for Lincoln-Sudbury where the momentum of the game changed. With Bourque in the penalty box for slashing, the DCL Warriors made Wakefield pay with a power play goal at 8:54 to cut the lead to 2-1.
A weak shot/pass was taken from the point and the puck slowed in front where Lu got her stick on it and fired it past Horrigan. Marcoux and sophomore defenseman Kayla Bain earned the assists..
Lu was then sent off for tripping at 9:31. But not even a minute later, Bourque was assessed an interference penalty at 10:19. Eighth grade defenseman Hope Melanson was then sent off for a slashing penalty at 11:17. Then there were matching penalties at 11:39.
Lincoln-Sudbury tied the game at 2-2 with its second power play goal of the game at 11:54. Charest took a shot from the left point. The hard shot couldn’t be stopped by Horrigan despite a valiant effort as it went into the goal. Eighth grade defenseman Alyssa Berardino and freshman forward Kerri Maron earned the assists.
The visiting team kept up the momentum and scored an even strength goal at 13:44 of the second period to take a 3-2 lead. Junior forward Izzy Nelson took a shot and eighth grade forward Fiona Tobin was there to pounce on the rebound and put it in the back of the net.
“The play got a little chippy and it took us out of our game,” said Foley. “The girls worked hard. The Middlesex League is tough. We played Billerica, which was ranked fourth or fifth at the time and played well against them. This was also a winnable game.”
In the final period, Lincoln-Sudbury carried the play and had some great chances to score including back-to-back breakaways by Tobin and Nelson. Both times Horrigan held her ground and made the saves with her body and her stick.
Wakefield also had a few chances including a shot by Bourque that was saved by Lee and sent wide of the net.
Lincoln-Sudbury made it a 4-2 game at 10:17. Lu skated in front of the net and took a pass from Nelson. Lu fired the puck home to give the visitors a two goal lead. Also assisting on the goal was Marcoux.
The Warriors desperately tried to get back into the game and pulled Horrigan in the final minute to get the extra skater on ice. But Wakefield was unable to stage a dramatic comeback in the waning seconds as it skated off with the 4-2 defeat.
Wrapping up their fine hockey careers for Wakefield were Bourque, Kerrigan and Nadolny.
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At Kasabuski Arena, Saugus
Lincoln-Sudbury……..0 3 1 — 4
WAKEFIELD……………2 0 0 — 2
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First Period — Wak, Forziati (Bourque, Nadolny) 9:18. Wak, Bourque (un.) 13:30. Penalties — LS, Nelson (cross-checking) 9:27.
Second Period — LS, Lu (Marcoux, Bain) 8:54 (pp). LS, Charest (Maron, Berardino) 11:54 (pp). LS, Tobin (Nelson) 13:44. Penalties — LS, Bain (roughing) :23; LS, Dwyer (tripping) 2:05; Wak, Bench minor, served by Forziati, (too many men) 5:47; Wak, Bourque (slashing) 7:46; LS, Lu (tripping) 9:31; Wak, Bourque (interference) 10:19; Wak, H.Melanson (slasing) 11:17; Wak, Hill (tripping) 11:39; LS, Lue (roughing) 11:39.
Third Period — LS, Lu (Nadolny, Marcoux) 10:17. Penalties — LS, Marcoux (tripping) 2:19; Wak, Hill (elbowing) 6:15; LS, Maron (holding) 10:24.
Shots on Goal — Lincoln-Sudbury 3-8-15 — 26. Wakefield 7-6-6 — 19.
Power Plays — Lincoln-Sudbury 2 for 5. Wakefield 0 for 6.
Goalies — LS, Lee (19 shots-17 saves). Wak, Horrrigan (26-22).
