Meet Concord-Carlisle in semifinals Wednesday

Published in the November 11, 2019 edition.

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LAWRENCE — In a physical and chippy game, especially late in the second half, the Wakefield High boys’ soccer team defeated host Central Catholic 3-1 in the Division 2 North quarterfinals on cold Saturday night in Lawrence.

With that victory, the 13th-seeded Warriors improved to 10-6-4 as they will now take on Concord-Carlisle Wednesday night, 7 p.m. at Manning Field in the semifinal round.

Meanwhile, the 12th-seeded Raiders, a team out of the Merrimack Valley Conference, ended the year at 11-9.

“It was a heck of a game for us,” said Warriors head coach Ilir Ujkaj. “We fought for every ball and took it to them.”

The Warriors controlled the territorial play for most of the first half and they scored the lone goal of the first 40 minutes. John Summers blasted a shot, that was partially deflected by a Raider defender, by goalie James Sorenson from 20-yards out with 10:32 left. Summers got the pass from Nemo Rizk who was right of the Raider net when he passed it back.

Early in the second half, the Raiders nearly tied it five minutes in but the Warrior defense denied Justin Shaheen with a fine defensive play.

With 27:38 left, the Raiders did get the game-tying goal on a great shot by Bobby Bakhitari from 25-yards out.

The eventual game-winning goal was scored by John Benoit who headed in a corner kick from the left side. That tally came with 15:36 left in the game.

Wakefield then got the insurance goal with less than a minute left in the game. Sorenson came out of his net 30 yard to field a ball as the Raiders were pressing forward but Summers just beat him to it and he scored on the empty net.

“He had a big night,” said Ujkaj.

Warrior goalie Matt Sellers made five saves while Sorenson made eight.

“Matt was stunning,” stated Ujkaj about the sophomore netminder.

Three of the final four teams left in the bracket are Middlesex League schools.

If the Warriors can defeat the 9th-seeded Patriots (10-3-5), they would play the winner of the No. 7 Belmont vs. No. 6 Winchester game in the North final on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. back at Manning Field.