Both teams trying to qualify by finishing second in M.L. Freedom division
Published in the October 27, 2015 edition
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High girls’ and boys’ soccer teams still have a chance to get into the state tournament by finishing in second place in the Middlesex League Freedom division standings. Both teams have been eliminated from qualifying mathematically.
The Warrior girls wrapped up the league schedule with a 2-0 victory over Watertown last Thursday afternoon at Walton Field to finish with a 5-9-2 record in league competition. Wakefield is 5-10-2 overall.
In the game, the Warriors took a 2-0 lead against the Red Raiders who arrived with a short bench and just enough players to field a team. There was an altercation near midfield with about 10 minutes remaining and the referees halted the game at that point. With nearly 70 minutes played, Wakefield was awarded the victory.
According to Brendan Kent, K-12 Director of Athletics, Health and Wellness for the Wakefield Public Schools, the play in the contest was a little chippy. A Watertown player received a red card resulting in the Red Raiders having to go with only 10 players. After the midfield altercation, another Watertown player was ejected which would’ve left an 11 on nine advantage for Wakefield. It was at that point, the game was stopped and Wakefield awarded the two points.
The league record of 5-9-2 put the Warriors in a tie for second in the M.L. Freedom with Melrose and Stoneham. At press time, Kent was still trying to confirm if Wakefield has qualified the state tournament or not. Kent was trying to find out from the other M.L. Athletic Directors if there was a tiebreaker system in place in the event of a tie for second place.
So for now, Wakefield is waiting word on its tournament fate as it prepares for its regular season finale tonight at 6 p.m. against Bishop Fenwick in a non-league game at Walton Field.
On the boys’ side, the picture is a little more clear. The Warrior boys have finished the regular season and are now awaiting the result of tonight’s Wilmington at Belmont makeup which will determine Wakefield’s fate. That game is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Harris Field in Belmont.
The Warriors are 5-7-4 in the M.L. Freedom division standings and a Belmont win over Wilmington will give Wakefield second place and a tournament berth. Wilmington currently has a 4-6-5 league record. A win for the Wildcats will give them second place by a point. A tie will result in a two-way tie for second place in the standings as both teams would have 14 points.
Wakefield currently has a 6-8-4 record overall.
