Girls’ soccer team doesn’t back down against Arlington

Presents stiff challenge to defending M.L. Liberty champs in Div. 2 North first round game

By JIM SOUTHMAYD

ARLINGTON — When the Wakefield Memorial High girls’ soccer team stepped off the field after a 4-1 loss against Arlington on Oct. 2, it hardly looked like the teams would face each other again.

But after going 7-1-1 in their final nine games, including a one-sided win over Gloucester, the Warriors got their opportunity for a rematch with the Spy Ponders, the Middlesex League Liberty division champion.

The two M.L. rivals squared off in a sensationally played Div. 2 North first round game yesterday at Pierce Field with the Warriors losing a 3-2 heartbreaker to have its season come to an end.

Wakefield, the 14th-seeded team in the 17-team Div. 2 North tournament, finished the year with a 10-8-1 record.

Meanwhile, third-ranked Arlington (15-1-2) advanced to the quarterfinal round where it will face Woburn on Saturday night at 5 p.m. at Pierce Field.

“Obviously we are heartbroken over last night’s loss to Arlington. I know that due to our slow start to the season we are a team that is hugely underestimated,” said Head Coach Jessica Iosua this morning. “We knew without a doubt that we could not only hang with them but that we could and would challenge them for the win. Seeing that the game was as closely matched as it was, we were right.”

The game was tied at 2-2 and both teams were trying to net the game-winner before the end of regulation. It was Arlington that did so as senior forward Ragna Gjoertz dribbed the ball down the right side and beat Warrior goalie Kristina Redmond with a shot into the left corner of the goal with 5:30 remaining.

For Gjoertz, it was her second goal of the game as she scored her first goal at the end of the first half. Gjoertz got a rebound in front that Redmond made the original save on. The senior fired the ball into the net to put the Spy Ponders in front 2-1 after the first half.

Arlington also scored the first goal of the game but each time the Spy Ponders took a goal lead, Wakefield came back. The only time that didn’t happen was after the third goal. Sophomore midfielder Insa Manndstadt collected the ball on turnover deep in Wakefield territory. She beat Redmond one-on-one for a 1-0 lead at 8:03 of the first half.

“Arlington’s strength against a well-balanced team like ours lies in their speed on offensive transition and their ability to find angles on the shot. It’s how they scored the first time we played and how they scored last night,” said Iosua. “Our defense did a fantastic job holding them off as many times as we did. Last time we played them we did not use the same defensive line up. Since then the four that managed our defense last night, Nikki Galli, Mia Joyce, who moved from center mid to stopper, Meghan Guarino and Isa Cusack, have been working as a unit in practice on transitions and communication. They truly proved their abilities last night as they shut down the Arlington movement more times than not.

“Their bumps and bruises indicate how hard they played and what they faced in terms of rough play from the Arlington forwards,” added Iosua this morning. “ Galli’s knee is swollen, Joyce went down with a calf injury, Cusack’s nose was knocked hard enough to bleed the entire bus ride home and Guarino constantly plays on a sore ankle. Kristina Redmond also played through her usual pain, making five incredible saves.”

Grace Hurley, a junior midfielder/striker, got Wakefield on the scoreboard at 11:07 which tied the game 1-1 at the time. Hurley took a ball on the left side and blasted a shot by Arlington keeper Eliza Brush.

“Kayla Geaney, our midfield leader, was also knocked down hard but continued to play with an injury to her left hand. She and Grace Hurley came out strong in the second half, providing us with quick recoveries and flawless sends to the outside midfielders and strikers,” said Iosua. “In the first half Hurley pushed through the defensive line on a penetrating run, drew the goalie out of position and with calm and ease placed the ball in the back of the net to bring us to the 1-1 tie.

“Jillian Raso played the whole game at the right outside mid spot, running end line to end line. She fought hard to create on offense and be a force on defense,” added Iosua. “Meghan Chapman, Hailey Lovell and Abby Chapman shared the striker spot throughout the game. All three of them wreaked havoc for the Arlington backs and their square passing game.”

When the Spy Ponders scored again to take 2-1 lead at halftime, Wakefield responded with the tying goal at 16:40 of the second half. Wakefield was awarded a free kick from about 35 yards away. Junior midfielder/defender Joyce took the direct kick and sent a shot in on Brush. The goalie couldn’t handle the ball cleanly and JV call up, freshman midfielder Allee Purcell collected the rebound and chipped it into the back of the net to tie the game, 2-2.

“Kelsey Czarnota, our typical starting left mid, is experiencing a serious hip injury and was unable to play to her usual excellent ability,” said Iosua. “Since speed is our major concern with Arlington, a team ranked in the top 20 in the state, speed was the foremost necessity for the player replacing Czarnota. Allee Purcell was our best option given that situation.

“Anywhere between 3-5 JV players are pulled up as practice players when the regular season ends and the varsity is going to the tournament. They do not play in the games and are clearly told not to expect to. This year, had we gone to more than five penalty kicks, both Purcell and Talyor Messina, another JV pull up, would have been used,” continued Iosua. “As the game went, Purcell became necessary for her speed. In scrimmages Purcell had been matched up against senior Raso and although Raso is more refined, Purcell demonstrated all the qualities of being able to be that player that Raso is today. In addition to speed she has a good read on the game, and most importantly to me, she doesn’t stop moving or shy away from anything. Hence, she was in the right spot at the opponent’s far post when our team was crashing in their 6-yard box. It’s the first time in Wakefield girls’ soccer history that a pull up has played, let alone score a goal. It must be noted that the young players in the program are players that we have very high expectations for and this is one example of why.”

Wakefield had a lot of pressure in the second half, including after the tying goal. However it was the Spy Ponders that capitalized on an opportunity to prevail.

“The improvement with Wakefield was like night and day from the first time we played them,” said Arlington head coach Paul Austin. “They improved tremendously. They were like a different team. They played with confidence and with ability. Kudos to them. The Middlesex League is tough. Wakefield was a 14 seed and they played a great game.”

The Spy Ponders had a good amount of the possession in the first half and both teams scored a goal within the first 15 minutes.

Sophomore forward Anna Kohlberg chipped a ball over the net and senior midfielder Sabrina Morais had a shot go in.

The Spy Ponders kept up the pressure and took a 2-1 lead before halftime.

After the 10 minute break, the Warrior came out strong to begin the second half and soon controlled much of the territorial. Arlington did have a dangerous cross from junior midfielder Grace Carter and Gjoertz missed the left post with a bid.

Wakefield’s Abby Chapman, a sophomore striker, forced a corner and senior striker Meghan Chapman served the corner kick in front of the net. Hurley took a shot but Brush made the save.

“I thought my keeper, Brush, did a great job when they had that flurry,” said Austin. “She also had a 60 yard punt. She played a great game. I also thought my three backs a great job handling their pressure.”

The Warriors eventually tied the game at 2-2 and kept up the pressure. Wakefield tried to get the go ahead goal but didn’t get many quality chances over the final third of the field while Arlington got one quality bid and made it count.

“Wakefield could have as easily taken that game as Arlington did. Other people would have viewed that as an upset but I wouldn’t have,” said Iosua. “This Wakefield team is among the best that there ever has been, regardless of record. I am extremely proud of the team and they have so much to be proud of for themselves. They overcame obstacles, personal and athletic, at the start of the year to finish strong. I believe that this group learned the value of perseverance and to maintain trust in themselves and the collective whole.”

It was a disappointing ending to a fine season for the Warriors start saw them start off slow with a 3-6 record after nine games. But over the final nine regular season contests, Wakefield was one of the best teams around as it posted a 7-1-1 mark.

Playing their final game for the Warriors were seniors Meghan Guarino, Meghan Chapman, Nicole Amalfitano, Jillian Raso, Kayla Geaney, Nicole Galli and Kristina Redmond.

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MIAA Div. 2 North

Girls Soccer Tournament

First Round

At Pierce Field, Arlington

WAKEFIELD……….1  1 — 2

Arlington……………2  1 — 3

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First Half — Arl, Mannstadt (un.) 8:03. Wak, Hurley (un.) 11:07. Arl, Gjoertz (un.) 37:20.

Second Half — Wak, Purcell (Joyce) 16:40. Arl, Gjoertz (un.) 34:30.

Saves — Wak, Redmond (10). Arl, Brush (8).