THE WARRIORS line up before their state tournament game in Grafton on Saturday night. (WMHS Girls’ Soccer Photo)
ByDAN PAWLOWSKI
GRAFTON — It’s not often that two league champions match up in the first round.
The Middlesex League Freedom Division champion Wakefield girls’ soccer team (12-5-1), hit with the No. 25 seed in the MIAA’s Div. 2 tournament, traveled an hour to Grafton High where they met the Central Massachusetts Athletic Directors Association champions and No. 8 seed Grafton Gators (14-1-3) in a first round matchup on a chilly Saturday night.
The Warriors fought hard for a full 80 minutes but couldn’t convert on any scoring chances against a rock solid defense and goalkeeper as Grafton scored once in the first half and once in the second for a hard-earned 2-0 victory. The Gators would go on to defeat No. 24 Walpole 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.
“The game could have gone either way,” said Wakefield head coach Steph Martin. “We battled until the very end and I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”
Competing in their first state tournament, Wakefield’s seniors set the tone, including defenders Emma Greatorex, Kaylee O’Rourke and Audrey Longo, striker Ashlee Purcell, winger Kayli Porter and goalkeeper Bailey McDevitt who made the play of the game in this one: A sprawling save on a first-half penalty shot that kept it scoreless.
Greatorex and Longo were tested early, but the two used their speed to halt a potential Gator breakaway just minutes in. McDevitt’s first of seven saves came on a high shot, near post.
Senior captain Purcell, who scored 20 goals this season, was certainly on the scouting report for Grafton as the forward was marked closely and physically throughout. While the Wakefield forwards were trying to break free, the defense was busy but steady with their clears, especially O’Rourke and along with the seniors, junior Mary Kerrigan, sophomore Alexis Manzi and freshman Shea Suntken.
“The girls had a great week of practice leading up to Saturday and were very eager and ready for the game,” said Martin. “The compete level was high from the whistle and it was a very physical match.”
Grafton’s penalty shot came with about 20 minutes left in the half. McDevitt not only read it perfectly, but covered the length of the net on a well-executed dive, fully stretched to get a hand on a hard-struck ball destined for the bottom left corner. The senior captain then recovered, scooped up the ball in play and let loose a deserved “let’s go!” as the Wakefield bench and crowd of road Warrior fans made some noise.
“Grafton had some early opportunities but our defense stepped up big and Bailey’s PK save was incredible,” said Martin.
The Gators finally broke through about four minutes later on a perfect ball from a corner kick and a well-placed header.
The physicality picked up late in the first half, especially on Wakefield’s forwards and continued throughout the second half as both teams battled for territory and possession.
In the final minutes of the half, Porter played a nice ball to space but Purcell was whistled offsides on a very close play to halt a potential breakaway.
Both teams played even in the first 15 minutes of the second half. McDevitt made another quality save on a sliding stop with 25 minutes left.
The midfielders picked it up as Wakefield controlled play throughout much of the half and had a few chances including one where sophomore Fiona Recene touched one up to Purcell who played it over to freshman Aliza Margolis but again the Grafton defense was in the right place at the right time to break it up.
As the temperature continued to drop, Grafton broke through on an incredible individual effort of speed and skill as a low shot was ripped into the net with 12 minutes to play.
Porter later played a nice ball off a corner kick that forced a good save but the Warriors continued to fight, leaving no doubt that they gave it everything they had until the final whistle.
“This team really had an incredible year and it was sad to see it end,” said Martin. “We’ve been preparing and working since July and it’s always hard when the season is over but this group should hold their heads high on what they accomplished this year.”
What they accomplished, was something not seen at Wakefield High in 34 years: a league championship.
The Warriors will graduate a decorated senior class, a group that includes student athletes who have contributed at the varsity level for years. Captains McDevitt, Porter, Purcell and Maeve Recene, Greatorex, Longo, O’Rourke, Morgan Brennan and Annie King have continued to grow the rich tradition of Wakefield soccer and taken the Warriors to new heights, building a foundation of success that will hold up for years to come.
