Korey Falite takes over as head coach

THE WARRIORS celebrate a goal against Winchester. Pictured is Sarah Melanson (16), Caroline Lilley (17), Annabella Forziati (7) and Brooke Lilley (19). (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Published in the December 19, 2017 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Warrior girls’ hockey team enters the 2017-18 season with a new head coach and new main goal: to make the tournament.

It’s a big goal for the Warriors, but don’t expect them to back down from the challenge.

Wakefield is currently 1-2 on the season, including a 4-1 win over Weston-Wayland and two promising efforts in league games against Belmont and Winchester.

The Warriors are looking to build on a five-win season that featured more long-term goals about the program. Jason Lawrence, last year’s head coach, will switch roles with his lead assistant Kory Falite who expects last year’s experience to pay of for the Warriors this year.

“Last year was about setting the building blocks,” said Falite. “The girls went through a big learning curve. We have some speed and skill but now the hockey IQ is getting better and better which in part is the result of going through some struggles last year.”

Wakefield returns multiple key players, including four senior leaders: Captains Courtney Hill, Vanessa Kaddaras, Olivia Cameron and associate captain Mikayla Fennelly.

“We expect a lot from all four of those girls on and off the ice,” said Falite.

Lawrence will continue to help Falite, as much as a father with a newborn can. Falite has plenty of coaching experience after a playing career that included four seasons as a forward at UMass Lowell (2006-2010), scoring 60 goals and 46 assists. Falite played professionally for three and a half years and most recently coached and ran a youth program in Hong Kong for three years, which sounds like an awesome and unique experience to say the least.

“It was a lot of people in a small area,” joked Falite when asked about life in China. “It was fun. They had four rinks, only one real size rink but the kids were great. We had over 400 kids. We brought them all over the world, including the Pewee Quebec tournament with our U12’s. It was a good experience.”

Falite now coaches full-time with the East Coast Wizards, but his main priority is helping the Warriors with that primary goal.

“Our goal is to make the tournament. We just want to take it one game at a time but our main goal is to get there.”

Trailing Belmont 5-2 on Saturday, Dec. 9, Wakefield stormed back, as junior Brooke Lilley’s second goal made it 5-3, and sophomore forward Annabella Forziati scored late in the period off an assist from Lilley, who coach Falite will be counting on a lot this season.

“She has speed and a good shot,” said Falite of Lilley, who’s sister Caroline will also get plenty of chances this season as an eighth grader. “We will rely on them a lot.”

The Warriors will also rely most on those seniors and some other players like sophomore Hope Melanson, their best defensive forward.

Hill had 24 points from the blue line last year, while Melanson (21), Lilley (32) and Cameron (32) are also looking to build on great seasons.

Goalie Abby Boudreau got the start in net again for Wakefield against Middlesex powerhouse Winchester on Saturday night. The eighth grader stepped up to the challenge and played a great game, coming up with multiple big saves against a fast and talented team, including a penalty kill in the middle part of the first period. The Warrior penalty killers were fantastic, including Kaddaras, Hope Melanson, Hill and Sarah Melanson, as they contained Winchester on a busy night when Wakefield was called for five penalties, but only gave up two power play goals. The Sachems scored on a wacky bounce with 1:57 left in the frame, but it was an encouraging start for Wakefield who proved to their opponents that they were going to skate with them for a full 45 minutes.

In the second period, Caroline Lilley drew a high stick penalty after some good skating. Hill got a good look from the blue line on the power play, and Boudreau made a huge stop with the right pad on a breakaway short-handed bid.

After Winchester scored to make it 2-0 with 7:41 left in the 2nd, a tiring penalty kill gave up the third goal. Trailing 3-0, the Warriors, in danger of letting this one slip away, responded just 22 seconds later as Caroline Lilley found the back of the net, assisted by Forziati. Later in the period, with Wakefield on the powerplay, Winchester got another shorthanded breakaway, and this time scored to make it 4-1. Once again, the Warriors came right back and scored with seven seconds left on the power play as Kaddaras created a breakdown by skating behind the net and putting the puck in front. After Forziati and Sarah Melanson got a piece of it, Kaddaras finished the goal for Wakefield.

While the Warriors wouldn’t score again in the third, the effort against a top team like Winchester should be enough to prove to themselves that they can play against anybody in the league, and they can accomplish their goal of making the tournament. Wakefield’s next game is tomorrow night, 6 p.m. against Reading at Burbank Arena.