Erases 4-1 deficit for a 7-5 victory

Published January 24, 2020

By JENNIFER GENTILE

STONEHAM—The Melrose Red Raider hockey team is back in the winning column after taking down Wakefield in a raucous free-for-all game on Monday at Stoneham Arena that saw Melrose score two unanswered goals in the final minutes to snatch a 7-5 win.

Melrose’s Quinn McCarthy and Brendan Fennell hit the winning shots within the last 5 minutes of the game to steal victory from the Warriors (4-5) after eroding Wakefield’s 4-1 lead in the second period. The two teams battled in ties of 4-4 and 5-5 early in the second half before Melrose prevailed in the end.

Fennell led in scoring with 3 goals and 1 assist while Charles Haggerty also had a big game with 2 goals and an assist.  

The Red Raiders began the contest in a 2-0 hole, but Melrose senior Joe Lucien, excellent on defense during the game, scored with 3:00 left on an assist by Andy Calvert. Things looked bleak when Wakefield widened that lead to 4-1 at 10:34 in the second, but Melrose chipped away. Fennell scored his first of three goals at 8:47 on an assist by Lucien. Coming up huge to break up a Wakefield power play was Calvert, Lucien and Fennell, who killed Wakefield momentum and helped set up the equalizer by Fennell (assisted by Cam Marks and Sean Senier) that turned the game around and made it 4-4. 

CELEBRATION AFTER Brendan Fennell’s goal during Melrose’s 7-5 win over Wakefield. (Dan Pawlowski photo)

Melrose finally took a lead at halftime of 5-4 thanks to a goal by Charlie Haggerty (assists by Ryan Morris and Joey O’Keefe.) Red Raider defense and goalie Nick Sicurella played at their finest, locking down the Warriors to prevent another score after Wakefield tied it up at 5. That helped Brendan Fennell hit the game winner on an assist by Quinn McCarthy and Charlie Haggerty and the insurance goal with 2:00 minutes left by McCarthy (Calvert assist.) The wild game came to a conclusion in Melrose’s favor, 7-5.

Previously, Melrose fell to top-ranked Burlington at the Ice Palace with the Burlington Red Devils on January 15. The Red Devils are now considered a statewide favorite, so Melrose had their work cut out for them, yet battled in such a close contest it showed that the Red Raiders may be turning the corner this season. 

The game opened with even play before Burlington’s Jack Jay found the net for the Red Devils to give them a 1-0 just lead less than a minute in the game. But Melrose junior Brendan Fennell had an impressive day and with 4:30 left in the first, he found the net on assists by Mark Aylward and Cam Marks to make it 1-1. Fennell went on a tear with many scoring opportunities but they were denied by Burlington goalie Joe Trubucco. By the end of the second, Melrose maintained puck control and thwarted a later power play and looked impressive. Burlington’s Jacob Vozikis made it 2-1 and the two teams next swapped goals behind Ryan O’Halloran for Burlington and Melrose’s Quinn McCarthy. Melrose was only down 3-2 to end the period and outshot Burlington, 9-8. Melrose took a 4-2 lead in the third when Ryan O’Halloran struck again and then a teammate made it 5-2.

But the Red Raiders didn’t slink off quietly into the night. With 9:20 left, Charlie Haggerty scored on an assist by Fennell to make it 5-3. Then senior Cameron Gorman found the net to make it 5-4, which gave new hope to Melrose. Burlington’s Costa scored unassisted to make it 6-4 with 3:38 left. Melrose pulled their goalie, and Charlie Haggerty scored on a rebound from Cam Marks to make it 6-5 with 54.4 seconds left. Close but no cigar, yet a hopeful sign in a season where there is plenty of hockey left.

This Saturday, they travel to O’Brien Rink on Woburn to take on Winchester. Puck drops at noon. 

Middlesex Freedom Standings

               League      Overall

Burlington  7-1-0      10-2-0 

Wakefield   4-5-0      7-5-0 

Wilmington 3-4-1      6-5-1 

Melrose      3-5-1      4-5-2 

Stoneham  1-7-0       5-7-0