Weekly Sports Roundup, October 24-30

The Wakefield High football team took another step on the road to the Middlesex League Small title on Oct. 28, with a solid 37-7 demolition of Stoneham at Landrigan Field. The Warriors racked up 30 unanswered points before finally conceding a score in the fourth quarter.

Dan Cardillo set the tone early for the home team with a game-opening 72-yard kickoff return, while Josh Puccio rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries. Signal caller Jamie Bourque was 13-of-25 through the air, collecting 180 passing yards and a touchdown.

Wakefield (7-1 overall, 3-0 league) has three games left in the regular season—including two league games—and holds a one game lead in the ML Small standings. The Warriors take a break from league play next week, battling ML Large league-leaders Reading in a crossover battle on Nov. 4, before wrapping up the campaign with back-to-back conference road games against Watertown, on Nov. 11, and Melrose in the traditional Thanksgiving Day showdown.

Boys Cross Country - Wakefield High

Wakefield completed its perfect season on Oct. 25, with a 15-50 win over Stoneham at home. The Warriors finish the regular season at 7-0 overall and 5-0 in league play. Wakefield captured the top eight spots against the Spartans, with senior Stephen Roberts pulling down top honors with a time of 17:02, while sophomore Aaron Lucci placed second at 17:03—just one second behind Roberts. In third, senior James Bridges trailed Lucci by a second, finishing in 17:04 and senior Marc Bucchieri was fourth at 17:14. Junior Jared Gellar (17:16), senior Jonathan Miksis (17:29), senior Chris Haddad (17:37) and senior Andrew Russo (18:33) rounded out the top eight in order.

Girls Cross Country - Wakefield High

The Lady Warriors, like their male counterparts, also captured the ML Small crown, but were unable to match the undefeated season, going 5-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. Wakefield ended the season on Oct. 25, against Stoneham, and won 19-40. Sophomre Kelly Ledoux Walsh pulled down top honors, finishing in 20:21, while senior Jennifer Saponaro took second with a time of 20:30. Sophomore Lucy Howard was fourth at 21:07, while freshman Emily Hammond rounded out the top five with a time of 21:08.

Boys Soccer - Wakefield High

The nightmare season showed no signs of slowing last week, as the Warriors dropped two more, falling to 0-15. Wakefield lost to Wilmington on the road, 4-1, on Oct. 24, before ending the week at home against Georgetown in a 4-0 defeat.

Girls Soccer -  Wakefield High

Wakefield High’s girls soccer team split its two matches last week, and now sit at 5-8-1 overall and 4-5 in the ML Small. The Lady Warriors started the week off on a sour note, a 3-0 blanking at the hands of league rivals Wilmington, but got back on the right foot against Stoneham, on Oct. 26, with a 1-0 win.

Boys Soccer - Northeast Metro RVT

The Knights (9-4 overall, 6-2 CAC Upper) won twice last week, downing Lynn Tech, 3-1, on Oct. 25, and beating Austin Prep on the road, on Oct. 28, by the same score.

Girls Soccer - Northeast Metro RVT

The Lady Knights lost to Notre Dame (Tyngsboro) in blowout fashion last week, 8-0, and also suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Winthrop.

Field Hockey - Wakefield High

The Wakefield High field hockey team made it three wins in a row on Oct. 28, with a nail-biting 1-0 win over ML Small rivals Stoneham. The Lady Warriors are now 4-7-1 overall and 4-6 in the league.

Wakefield Pop Warner

The following information was submitted by Mike Beaver:

The Wakefield Pop Warner regular season schedule is winding down and all of the Warrior teams have been very competitive in the Middlesex League this year. It is quite likely that two of the teams will earn a berth in the playoffs. The Wakefield D1 JR Pee-Wee team sits atop the Middlesex standings with an undefeated record of 7-0. Equally impressive has been the play of the Wakefield B Team JR Midget team (6-1) whose only loss was to Reading B in an early season battle. Both well coached teams are hoping to make a statement entering the Eastern Mass. Pop Warner Playoffs beginning Nov. 3. The Wakefield C Pee-Wee team is at 4-3, and Wakefield D2 JR Pee-Wee 1-6. Both teams have worked very hard and played tough all season. Both have displayed great teamwork and tenacity, and both are fortunate to have had great coaching. Unfortunately some key injuries and bad breaks mean that a playoff appearance by either team is unlikely, though not impossible. 

The future stars of Wakefield Athletics, Wakefield E Red and E White Mighty Mites have done a great job this year! They have each displayed good sportsmanship and hard nosed play and practiced hard to become better players. They have listened to the many good words of encouragement and instruction from their coaches, their hard work shows!

A special thanks to Wakefield Cheering for their great team spirit and unwavering support, and Mrs Margaret Wixon, whose tireless work as president of WPW has been greatly appreciated and will be sorely missed.

The Pop Warner season winds down today at Landrigan Field.