FIONA RECENE scored her first goal of the season against Melrose and also added two assists. Recene, Bailey McDevitt and Emma Johnsen, Wakefield’s top line, scored 6 goals against the Red Raiders. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

 

MEDFORD — After two one-goal losses to Medfield/Norton (2-1) and Watertown (3-2) the Wakefield High girls’ hockey team broke through into the win column for the first time this season with a 10-1 victory over Melrose on Saturday morning at Flynn Rink in Medford.

Senior Bailey McDevitt led the scoring with a hat trick. All three of her goals were part of a first period that ended 4-0 Warriors.

Senior captain Emma Johnsen and junior Charlotte Rossicone each scored twice. Senior captain Olivia Johnsen, sophomore Julia Welch and sophomore Fiona Recene all added goals.

“It was a good game for us to work on things we’ve been practicing,” said head coach Jacqui Mansfield. “Our forwards got to work on their cycle in the offense zone and the defense concentrated on clean passes on the blue line – they were very successful with that.”

McDevitt got Wakefield on the board just over six minutes into the game, unassisted. Her second came just two minutes later assisted by Emma Johnsen.

Rossicone scored her first, unassisted with 4:10 left and McDevitt, not interested in waiting through an intermission to make it official, secured her hat trick with 2:50 left in the first, assisted by Olivia Johnsen.

Wakefield’s emphasis through a tough 0-5 start was on improving, especially in the scoring department as they had tallied five goals entering Saturday. Finding the back of the net is often about confidence, something that Wakefield gained plenty of in the 2nd period against their rivals, putting up five goals to make it 9-0.

Rossicone’s second, assisted by Recene made it 5-0. Emma Johnsen followed up almost exactly one minute later assisted by sophomore Erin Leary.

 

SENIOR CAPTAIN Emma Johnsen had 2 goals and an assist during Wakefield’s win over Melrose on Saturday at Flynn Rink. (Dan Pawlowski File Photo)

 

After working on the fundamentals for the next five minutes, the Warriors ended the frame with a flurry of goals, first by Olivia Johnsen unassisted, then Welch, assisted by junior Ava Gustafson. Emma Johnsen concluded the scoring in the 2nd finishing up a great combo of passing by McDevitt and Recene.

That final goal was the 5th scored by a member of Wakefield’s first line. They made it six when Recene scored her first of the season unassisted in Wakefield’s only goal of the 3rd period.

“The first line of Bailey McDevitt, Emma Johnsen and Fiona Recene found their rhythm in this game and all together scored 6 of our 10 goals,” said Mansfield. “Emma and Fiona especially gained confidence and moved the puck well in Melrose’s end.”

Warrior goalie Abby Boudreau earned the win, just missing a shutout when Melrose got on the board in the 3rd.

Overall, Wakefield’s first win of the season was a solid next step. They are now tied for 3rd with Burlington in the Middlesex League’s Freedom Division and are 1-1 against Freedom foes. Wakefield will have a chance to build on that with a big matchup against Stoneham/Wilmington who have joined together as a co-op this season. The Warriors and “Wild Spartans” will match up tonight, 6 p.m. at the Stoneham arena, preceding the Wakefield-Stoneham boys’ game.

Stoneham/Wilmington is 2nd in the Freedom with 4 points. They have league wins over Melrose and Burlington.

“We’re looking to carry this momentum into a physical Stoneham/Wilmington game on Wednesday,” said Mansfield after Wakefield’s win over Melrose.

The Warriors will finish up their first round of Freedom games with a trip to the Burlington Ice Palace to meet the Red Devils on Saturday at 4 p.m.