Seedings for D2 North Tourney to be decided Saturday

Published in the February 21, 2018 edition

THE WARRIORS are on to the state tournament. On a night that belonged to the class of 2018, Wakefield’s seniors led the girls to the postseason with a resounding 6-2 win over Wayland/Weston. (@WMHSHOCKEY Twitter Photo)

By DAN MARGARITA

STONEHAM — The Wakefield High girls’ hockey team played their final game of the regular season yesterday, and came away with 6-2 victory over Wayland-Weston at the Stoneham Arena.

As the last home game it was Senior Night and all of Wakefield’s seniors were feted with flowers before the game.

There was a lot more than flowers at stake in the game, however. Wakefield needed a victory to qualify for the State Tournament.

“Great team effort the whole game (and) not just this game. The last seven games we’re 4-1-2. We’ve been in playoff mode the last seven games trying to make this thing, so we finally got that win that got us into the tournament, so we’re ready to go,” said Wakefield coach Kory Falite.

Wakefield had the first several shots on goal of the game with Courtney Hill taking several shots from the point and Brooke Lilley trying to tuck a backhand shot in the net, but had no luck.

THE SENIORS were honored with their families before Wakefield’s final home game against Wayland/Weston on Monday. The Warriors celebrated with a win which qualified them for the state tournament. Pictured from left to right with their parents are Vanessa Kaddaras, Mikayla Fennelly, Olivia Cameron and Courtney Hill. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

W.W. then began to assert themselves offensively, which paid off when Brooke Lapierre went high for a goal to make it 1-0.

Wakefield went on the offensive again with shots from Caroline and Brooke Lilley, Courtney Hill and Hope Melanson. The pressure paid off with Brooke Lilley scoring late in the period to tie the game at 1-1.

With 1:25 remaining in the period, Caroline Lilley lofted a shot that W.W. goalie Lilly Lin may have been screened on for a goal to send Wakefield into the first intermission leading 2-1.

W.W. came out strong in the second but Wakefield was able to take advantage of a power play when Olivia Cameron put a backhander in net to make it 3-1.

Wakefield continued to play strong the rest of the period but the lead remained at 3-1 after two periods.

Wakefield wasted little time scoring to begin the third period. Caroline Lilley, stationed about four feet away from the net on the goalie’s stick side, managed to find the far, upper corner of the net for a goal to make it 4-1.

In a matter of seconds Wakefield scored again, this time on an unassisted goal from Courtney Hill to give Wakefield a 5-1 lead.

W.W. got a goal from Jacqueline Goode right after Hill’s goal to make it 5-2.

Wakefield got their final goal on a power play late in the game on a score from Courtney Hill to make it 6-2.

“The first period we were off to a rough start. They were kind of tentative a little bit. The second period they really started playing and they really showed their colors the last two periods,” said Falite.