Blasts undefeated Freetown-Lakeville United 4-0 in final
Published in the July 10, 2015 edition
THE GIRLS’ U18 travel soccer team was crowned the 2015 MTOC U18 champs. In the front row are Christina Freni, Sarah Grady, Nicole Galli, Jillian Raso, Kristina Redmond, Ashley Newbegin, Isa Cusack and Emma Hickey. In the back row are Coach Jim Grady, Rylee Parent, Meaghan Foley, Brianna Smith, Meghan Chapman, Grace Hurley, Kaitlyn Newbegin, Kelsey Czarnota, Alyssa Corso, Abby Chapman, Allee Purcell and Coach David Chapman. Missing from the photo is Meagan Gibbons.
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Girls’ U18 travel soccer team was a winner at the Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC) and was crowned a Massachusetts U18 Division 1 champion as a result.
Last weekend’s win at MTOC capped off a highly successful spring travel season. During the regular season, Wakefield posted a 6-1 record, losing only the first game of the season by a small margin. In the Middlesex League, that is no small feat. The team defeated Melrose, Everett, Woburn, Somerville and Stoneham twice. The team only lost its first meeting with Somerville by a 1-0 margin in the first game of the season.
The team had to win the Middlesex League playoffs in order to advance to MTOC. The team beat Lowell, 3-1, in the semifinals and thrashed Woburn, 8-2, in the league finals giving Wakefield the league title. With that win, the girls moved on to the state tournament, the MTOC, played at Progin Park in Lancaster starting Friday, June 26-Sunday, June 28.
The first round of MTOC consists of three games played round robin style. Winners move on to the semifinal and final rounds.
On Friday, Wakefield beat Gateway, 5-2, followed by Saturday games with Wakefield defeating Northampton, 2-1, and Pepperell, 3-1, to get into the semifinals on Sunday.
Despite the rain and cold on Sunday, Wakefield came out strong against Lynnfield in the semifinals to win 2-0 and get to the final match. After a trip to the laundromat to dry some soaked uniforms, Wakefield faced last year’s MTOC winner Freetown-Lakeville United (undefeated for the past two seasons) and beat them 4-0 to capture the championship.
For the entire season, Wakefield scored 59 goals against other teams with only nine goals scored against it.
Wakefield’s U18 team consisted of 19 players; a mix of ages with some recently completing their freshman, sophomore and junior years in high school as well as a group of recent high school graduates. Strength in the goalie position as well as the strength in defense, midfield and offense was evident throughout the season but their overall team strength and spirit made the difference.
Coach David Chapman noted, “Coach Jim Grady and I are so proud of these girls. They showed that they can work hard, bond as a team and truly enjoy playing the game of soccer all while making memories to last a lifetime and making Wakefield proud.”
Huge congratulations to the team and many thanks to Wakefield Youth Soccer as well as family/friends that supported the team throughout the season.
Members of the team included Christina Freni, Sarah Grady, Nicole Galli, Jillian Raso, Kristina Redmond, Ashley Newbegin, Isa Cusack, Emma Hickey, Rylee Parent, Meaghan Foley, Brianna Smith, Meghan Chapman, Grace Hurley, Kaitlyn Newbegin, Kelsey Czarnota, Alyssa Corso, Abby Chapman, Allee Purcell and Meagan Gibbons.
