SOPHOMORE GOALIE Michael Fuccione has been a “keeper” for the Melrose High boy’s lacrosse team. (photo by Raj Das edphotos.com)

 


OT loss on the road for Melrose, 9-8

 

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—No one could ever accuse the Melrose and Wakefield boy’s lacrosse teams of lacking intensity in contests with each other.

The two teams have a unique and hard-fought rivalry; both squads aware that when it comes to league rights, and even playoff rights, all roads lead through the other. Last season, Melrose and Wakefield faced each other three times, with Wakefield beating Melrose in the first-ever Middlesex League Tournament but Melrose landing blows and sweeping the Warriors during regular season.

So it was of course must-see action on Thursday, April 28 when Melrose traveled to Landrigan Field in Wakefield for their annual league match up against their arch rival. And of course it was a close one, but an overtime 9-8 loss for Melrose (4-5). Wakefield (6-1) saw an overtime goal by John Regan end things, 9-8, after Warrior Joe Colliton tied things with 12 seconds left in regulation to make it a 8-8 game and force overtime.

Melrose held most of the leads in the game, with senior captain Liam Maher leading the charge with 4 goals. He made it 3-2 early and Melrose goalie Michael Fuccione shut down Wakefield in the net through the second quarter.

At halftime, Melrose led 6-4 on goals from Liam Maher and Max Kleinbub, both with great assists from TJ Sullivan. Senior captain Shea Fogarty got in the scoring action and Melrose remained about 2 goals ahead of the Warriors over much of the day. By the end of the third, Melrose was up 7-5 and then up 8-5 early in the fourth quarter. Wakefield goalie Kaiden had 20 key saves at the net and his teammate Joey O’Brien kept Melrose on their toes with five goals.

“There was a momentum shift in the second half,” says coach James. “Michael [Fuccione] was outstanding in the first half, but as a team overall we ran out of gas and Wakefield is just a team that is always going to fight to the end.”

With two minutes to go, Wakefield’s Bobby DeFeo scored to make it 8-7. DeFeo was tough over the night, winning a large share of face offs, something Melrose would pay for.

“I think we are better for the loss,” says James, who points to the otherwise great performances from his senior captain Liam Maher and Max Kleinbub. “This was one of Liam’s best games of the year. He was great and just always finishes. And this was a clean out party for Max. He’s going to be a huge scorer for this team.”

The loss however, was preceded with giant win over Watertown, 17-2, on April 27 at home. It was a chance for Melrose to earn first ever goals from Daniel Halper, Nick Hitchman, Marco Albanese and Sean Maher. Coach James explained how glad he was to see the future get their hands in the scoring. “Players like Daniel, [Halper] are really the future of the program. The work effort he puts in is incredible. He’s new to lacrosse so to see him score, we were about as excited as we were in win over Reading.”

Melrose’s difficult schedule continues in the coming week as they enter Middlesex Large play. After a big game against Winchester at home on Wednesday (post deadline) Melrose will travel to Lexington on Friday for a 4:30 clash with a talented Minutemen team.