Weekly Sports Roundup, November 1-7

The Reading Rockets (6-3, 4-0 ML Large) football team snapped Wakefield’s six-game winning streak in heartbreaking fashion, pulling out a come-from-behind 28-27 victory at home on Nov. 4 in a non-league encounter.

Trailing by seven points with under two minutes left to play, Reading’s sophomore signal caller, Drew Belcher, brought the Rockets all the way down the field before finishing the job himself with a six-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful two-point conversion, giving the home team the lead with 38.5 seconds remaining.

Wakefield (7-2, 3-0 ML Small) drew first blood in what proved to be a see-saw struggle between the Middlesex League’s large and small school conference leaders with a pair of touchdown’s in the opening stanza. Josh Puccio struck paydirt first for the Warriors, crossing the goalline on a three-yard touchdown run, before Zach Bates made it a two possession game with an 11-yard score later in the quarter. Reading retaliated in kind, picking up its own pair of TD’s in the second quarter—one through the air, and one on the ground. The Rockets recorded the first tally of the second half, before another scoring run—13-yards this time—by Puccio, coupled with the third successful PAT of the night by Brian Auld, gave Wakefield a one-point lead late in the penultimate frame. The Warriors would seemingly cement their advantage before time ran out on the third quarter, as Matt McKenna hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from QB Jamie Bourque giving the visitors a seven-point edge heading into the final frame. 

Wakefield will regroup in advance of the final regular season game of the year before the annual Turkey Day finale with Melrose, and look to consolidate the top spot in the ML Small against Watertown on Nov. 11.

Football Northeast Metro Tech
The Knights improved to 7-2 overall and 2-1 in the Commonwealth Athletic Conference Upper Division with a 14-3 win over Chelsea on Nov. 4 in a crossover duel.

Bobby Novello scored the first of two touchdowns in the opener for Northeast on a one-yard dive, and David Mahoney hit Kenny Bartolo through the air for the two-point conversion, making it 8-0 in favor of the Knights early. Mahoney would connect with Ian Bagby for a 29-yard score later in the first quarter, and the Northeast defense would hold Chelsea to a field goal as the Knights earned another win.

Soccer - Wakefield High
The curtain finally closed on what was a nightmare season for Wakefield High soccer in terms of wins and losses, with the boys side unable to take a single point from the fall schedule, finishing at 0-15, propping up the ML Small table. The girls fared a bit better, but still failed to earn a spot at the MIAA postseason party, ending the term with a record of 5-9-1 overall and 4-6 in league play.

Northeast Metro Tech
The Northeast boys soccer team qualified for the MIAA Division 2 Tournament with the sixth seed, and await the winner of a preliminary round battle between Concord-Carlisle and Shawsheen Tech. The Knights will square off with their still TBA opponent on Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at home. The Lady Knights weren’t so fortunate. They missed the playoffs and will have to wait until next year to right the ship.

Cross Country - Boys
The Warriors put the finishing touches on their immaculate 2011 campaign with a narrow victory at the 41st Middlesex League Championship Meet at Woburn Country Club on Nov. 1, holding perennial large school powerhouse Lexington at bay, 73-70. Reading finished third, while the Winchester Sachems took fourth place. Senior Stephen Robertson took first place for the second year in a row, posting a blazing-fast time of 12:08—just six seconds off the course record, and the second fastest time ever at Woburn Country Club. Sophomore Aaron Lucci was the next quickest Wakefield harrier, finishing fifth overall with a time of 12:50, while senior James Bridges took twelfth place at 13:21. The Warriors next challenge will be the Division 4 Eastern Mass. Championships at Boston’s Franklin Park on Nov. 12. From there, if all goes according to plan, Wakefield will move on to All States, having finished top four in the division.

Cross Country - Girls
The Lady Warriors split the 2011 ML Small title with Melrose—despite beating the Lady Raiders twice during the season—after three straight seasons without a win, finishing at 5-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. On Nov. 2, Wakefield finished tied with Winchester for fourth place at the ML Championship Meet, outpacing all other ML Small squads. Sophomore Kelly Ledoux Walsh paced Wakefield, as she has done so often this year, finishing 11th with time of 16:38. Senior Jennifer Saponaro followed at 16:46, good enough for 13th overall.  The Lady Warriors will now prepare for Eastern Mass. Championships on Nov. 12 at Boston’s Franklin Park, with a trip to All States in the balance.

Mystic Runners Lake Q 5k
The weekly run around beautiful Lake Quannapowitt took place on Nov. 2, and Boston’s Malcolm White, 26, pulled down the top prize with a time of 18:04. Wakefield resident Sean Akell was second, negotiating the course in 18:45, while Gerry McDonald of Reading was third at 20:25. Waltham’s Dan McCormack placed fourth with a 21:05 mark, and David Smelsor, of Stoneham, rounded out the top five at 21:18. Wakefield’s Krissy Nowell was the fleetest female, finishing in 22:55—good enough for ninth place overall.