Published in the October 3, 2019 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

CONCORD — The Wakefield High boys’ soccer team picked up back-to-back wins last weekend when they defeated Stoneham on Friday and Burlington on Saturday by identical 1-0 scores.

The Warriors played Burlington at Concord-Carlisle High School in the annual Kicks for Cancer event to raise money in the fight against cancer.

The memorial event is named after Lois Wells, who passed away after a courageous battle against cancer in 2007. Wells’ two sons, Steve and Dan played at Concord-Carlisle and Steve is a current assistant coach.

The tournament was started in 2007 and all proceeds go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to support woman’s cancer research.

It has evolved from one game, to now 12 matchups throughout the day. Since its inception, Kicks for Cancer has raised $463,347.

Wakefield wore custom pink shirts with the names of loved ones affected by cancer on the back.

When it came time for soccer, the Warriors showed the same type of intensity that has them on a current four-game point streak.

The defense continued to be lights out as they brought home a 1-0 victory.

The winning goal was poetically scored by freshman Ethan Margolis. Wakefield beat Burlington 1-0 at Kicks for Cancer last year as well. The lone goal scorer in that game? Ethan’s older brother Carter, now a freshman at the Air Force Academy.

Wakefield’s defense was once again the story in this one.

They have now surrendered one goal in their last four games in which they have a 3-0-1 record.

“It just shows the remarkable progress of the defensive line,” said Wakefield head coach Ilir Ujkaj.

Captain centerback Pat Collins has been leading the way and getting great support from left centerback Josh Goc and right centerback Logan Cosgrove. Along with the help of defenders like Margolis and Liam Bry, and the Warriors have done a great job of limiting chances.

Any chances the opposing team does get are usually handled with poise by keeper Matty Sellers.

Sellers, who was forced into action when last year’s starter Zach Fiore was injured before the season, has been very strong with five shutouts to his name. Following the advice of Fiore, who still goes to every game and works with Sellers, as well as senior goalie Cam Farrow, and Sellers has the confidence rarely seen in a sophomore.

Wakefield also won by a 1-0 score in Stoneham on Friday.

Margolis picked up an assist in that game with a beautiful cross on a corner kick that found the foot of Collins in the box who buried it for a 1-0 lead with 27 minutes left in the first half.

Joao Valdevino, who scored Wakefield’s goal against Melrose during a 1-1 tie on Sept. 25 and Eric Keefe did a good job of winning back possessions for Wakefield and the Warriors had some additional chances in the half. Captain Anthony Pellegrino got a great look but the Spartan keeper made one of his many strong saves.

Sellers punched away a scoring chance off a throw with two minutes left in the half and the Warriors went into the break up 1-0.

Goc, Collins and Cosgrove put the anchor down early in the second half and made it clear what it would take to beat them in this one. 

Pellegrino got another great chance off a smart run and pretty through ball by Will Townshend but once again, Stoneham’s keeper was up to the task.

The senior captain’s last chance happened late in the game when he broke through and had a one-on-one with the goalie on a tough angle from the left side. Pellegrino struck a seemingly perfect high shot, but the goalie somehow got a hand on it to push it away.

The Warriors gave their fans a scare in the last two minutes, just as “Welcome to the Jungle” started blaring from the warmups at the football field. The Spartans hit the post and later sailed a shot from point blank range as Wakefield just barely escaped with the two points.

Wakefield has now picked up seven points in their last four games.

Since their 0-0 tie against Arlington on Sept. 12, the Warriors have allowed just three goals in their last seven games.

Wakefield will host Woburn tomorrow,
5 p.m. at the Galvin.