UPSET: Wakefield Blanks No. 2 Reading

The Wakefield Warriors and the Reading Rockets squared off for the third time in the 2011 season, this time with more at stake. The winner moved on to the Divi. I North semifinals. The seventh-seeded Warriors scored the lone goal in this one and held on to upset the number two seeded Reading Rockets in a jam-packed O’Brien rink in Woburn on Saturday afternoon.

“That was the nicest hockey game I have ever been a part of," said Wakefield head coach Derek Edgerly. "It was just a great high school game. Just a tremendous team effort from all 22 guys."

Joe Cerulo was the story of the day turning away 21 Reading shots. He was simply sensational recording a shutout in the biggest game of his career.

“Cerulo played great," said Edgerly. "I can’t say enough.  He was just remarkable."

Reading head coach Mark Doherty credited the goaltender as well saying he played as well as anyone he has seen as of late.

“Give that kid Joe credit," said Doherty. "He was very good tonight. We could not put the puck past him and in these games you need to score."

This game was the definition of a tournament game. There was heavy hitting, great defense, fantastic energy and great efforts from both teams. The game was scoreless after the first period and Edgerly knew the first goal was very important.

“You got the feeling after the first period that whoever scored first would win the game," said Edgerly. "I am glad we scored first."

Kevin Doherty broke the scoreless tie in the second period with 5:13 remaining to be the hero for Wakefield. He skated through five Reading defenders and then buried a goal past goalie Evan Morelli sending the Warrior student body into an uproar.

“That kid Doherty is a great player," said Doherty. He made a great move. I told my team to keep their heads high because no one gave us a chance and we competed for a Middlesex League title until the end."

“We are a much better team with a lead though," said Doherty. We struggle coming back in games. I’d say it was pretty equal. I thought we dominated puck possession, but we could not score a goal."

Both coaches knew the game was not going to be easy. They also knew the game would not be a blowout because they are both very evenly matched teams.

“I knew it would be a close game,"said Doherty. "We knew there would not be one team dominating the other. Wakefield is a very good team. The seedings do not mean a thing."

The Warriors will play in the semifinals of the Div.1 North  on Wed. at 7 p.m. in Chelmsford and will have another tough matchup in third-seeded Billerica (10-2-8). This was not a shock to Edgerly who believed in his kids from the start.

“We were picked to win five games this year,"said Edgerly. "This was our 12^th win of the year and we are moving on in the tournament.  I am real happy with these kids.  This may be the biggest win for us."