Sports
VIDEO: Girls Hockey Net First Ever Win Over Wakefield
Captain Erika Kelly scores four goals as Melrose-Watertown girls hockey blasts rival Wakefield, 7-1.
In the brief history of the rivalry between these two girls hockey teams, the Wakefield High School Lady Warriors had never lost to -Watertown.
That changed abruptly Wednesday night, as the Raiders skated to a 7-1 victory at Flynn Rink.
Melrose-Watertown co-captain Erika Kelly slashed through the Wakefield defense for four goals, and likely could have had a few more if she hadn't been so generous with the puck.
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Kelly scored the lone goal of the first period and promptly put her team on top 2-0 at the start of the second, before Wakefield's Gabriells Moscato netted a power play goal to cut the lead in half.
Under a minute later, Raiders senior forward Lauren Giordano scored on a penalty shot for a 3-1 lead and Kelly scored twice more in the period to pad the lead to 5-1 by the end of the second frame.
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"I think she leads the league in goal scoring right now. She's just a really strong player," Wakefield Head Coach Jack Foley said of Melrose-Watertown's star Kelly.
Wakefield captain and starting goalie Shannon Leary was tested all
game by constant pressure and a number of breakaways that had her all
alone against one or even two Raiders forwards.
Melrose-Watertown Head Coach Steve Russo praised his junior captain's selfless play and leadership on the team.
"[Kelly] dishes the puck off all the time, one of the most unselfish players I've ever had," Russo said. "The other girls are the same way. They watch her and no one ever tries to do it by themselves."
The Raiders got third period goals from freshman Haley Gorman and senior co-captain Hallie Thorp.
With their tenth victory, the Raiders (10-3-5) surpassed their previous high for wins in a season.
But it was beating Wakefield for the first time that was the team's proudest accomplishment, Russo said.
"We dedicated the game to the Melrose seniors tonight because they've never beaten their big rival, which is Wakefield," he said. "The girls felt they owed it to them and they did it, they really pulled together."
Wakefield fell to 3-10-1 with the loss.
