Published in the September 19, 2018 edition
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — The 2018 Wakefield High girls’ soccer team has a unique blend of youth and experience as they work towards their goals this season. With seven seniors, eight juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen, the Warriors seemed to be leaning more towards a learning year when they started the season 0-3-1 against tough Middlesex League large opponents, Winchester, Reading and Lexington. Their last two games have proven that is simply not the case. These Warriors are deep and talented enough to win this year.
“Our top goal for this team is to make the state tourney,” said head coach Steph Martin. “Although we have a lot of new faces this year, we have a ton of depth on our team and players that can play multiple positions. We want to get better and improve each day.”
Wakefield will be led by senior captains Caroline Hurley, Christina LeBlanc and Brooke Lilley.
THE WARRIORS are once again proud supporters of Go 4 the Goal, which helps kids with cancer achieve their goals. Wakefield wore yellow laces against Lexington on Sept. 13 in support of Cam Ettinger, a 3rd grader at the Dolbeare who is in remission. The Warriors donate to the cause every year. To support the program, visit go4thegoal.org. (Courtesy Photo)
LeBlanc is a four-year varsity player and brings a ton of versatility to the lineup as she can play in the midfield or up top. LeBlanc created and caused problems during Wakefield’s 3-0 win over Burlington on Saturday from the left side, and then was shifted to the right wing where she scored Wakefield’s first goal off a corner kick from junior Paige Dube.
“She is a phenomenal leader,” said Martin. “Her positive attitude and work ethic are why she was chosen to be one of our captains this season.”
Both Lilley and Hurley are three-year varsity players and according to Martin are also tremendous leaders on and off the field.
“Lilley, like LeBlanc, has the ability to play many positions all over the field and has blazing speed. Hurley is a solid player for us at the central midfield position. She has excellent composure with the ball and is one of the best taking balls out of the air. I’m very lucky to have three fantastic captains this season to lead this team,” said Martin.
The Warriors, who have only allowed a combined one goal in their last two games, will lean on junior Abby Mondello to control the back line. Mondello started every game last season as a sophomore.
“With one year under her belt she is sure to be a force in the back,” said Martin. “She has excellent speed and is very smart with the ball.”
THE WARRIORS celebrate captain Christina LeBlanc’s (15) goal against Burlington. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
Goalie Emma Lambiaso, who was especially impressive during her shutout against Burlington and during a 1-1 tie against Reading on Sept. 7, has big cleats to fill following the graduation of three-year starter Courtney Hill, but the junior has proven to be a confident, steady presence in net. She shared time on the varsity last year as a backup.
“Emma has come so far since her freshman year and I am confident I have one of the best goalies in the league,” said Martin. “Nobody works harder in practice than Emma and I know she will transition smoothly into her role as starting keeper.”
The Warriors are strong in the midfield, with plenty of versatile players looking to earn a starting role.
“I expect a lot out of our midfield players to control the pace and flow of the game,” said Martin.
Junior Paige Dube is off to a quick start and she is expected to be a huge factor in the middle this year. She scored Wakefield’s second goal against Burlington on a laser from past the 18 and also scored Wakefield’s 5th goal during their 5-1 win over Watertown on Monday. A three-year varsity player, Dube seems to always be in control as she leads the attack.
“She is able to dictate the play and distributes the ball to our strikers and outside mids beautifully,” said Martin. “She also has one of the best free kicks and corner kicks in the league.”
Wakefield will lean on their youth at the forward spots. Luckily for coach Martin, she didn’t have to go one season without a Purcell on the field, as freshman Ashlee Purcell will follow the lead of her older sister Allee who graduated last spring. Purcell and classmate Kayli Porter will team up with plenty of potential that could pay off immediately; a rare case for most freshmen.
“They both have blazing speed and simply never give up on the field,” said Martin of Purcell and Porter. “The two have played together a lot leading up to their freshman year so we are looking for them to bring that chemistry onto this team and put the ball in the back of the net.”
The Warriors scored two goals on Dube corners against Burlington with freshman Caroline Lilley getting the third and final goal of the game. Set pieces are a major focus of the Warriors and they already seem to be paying off.
“Our set pieces are certainly something that we have spent time on and talked a lot about. My message to my players is that this is a golden opportunity to go up on an opponent so we have to be as effective as possible and hungry in front of the net,” said Martin.
The Warriors know the Middlesex League is once again one of the top league’s in the state. Wakefield needs to be at their best during every game, no matter who they play.
As they continue to try to improve, Wakefield will work with a relentless effort to accomplish a game plan that Martin knows will get them to the postseason.
“We are constantly looking to improve the key components of our game,” said Martin. “We want to keep the ball on the ground, keep our shape, be first to the ball, be hard-nosed defensively and of course put the ball in the back of the net. We know that we can always improve and get better in all of these areas. All of these pieces need to come together on the field to have a successful season.”
While success for the 2018 Warriors includes improving everyday and a reliance on the team leaders to help the inexperienced players prepare for tough league games, Wakefield’s season-long goal won’t change.
They want to be playing in November.
“I have so much confidence in this group,” said Martin. “I fully expect to make the tournament this year.”
