Boys drop close one to Wakefield ...
- Jan 26
- 4 min read
I can’t recall a team playing as many one-goal games in a season like this year’s Minutemen. On one hand, it underscores how competitive they are in nearly every matchup. On the other hand, it points to a recurring issue: an inability to consistently limit mistakes relative to their opponents.
Officially, Lexington has played four one-goal games—against Wilmington, Concord-Carlisle, Medford, and Wakefield. However, that number understates the reality. The Brookline game remained a one-goal contest until a very late third-period empty-net goal. Similarly, the Cambridge game was 5–4 deep into the waning minutes of the third period before Lexington pulled the goalie, leading to two non-factor empty-net goals.
In essence, six of the team’s 11 losses were effectively super-tight (coin flip) one-goal games. Winning just three of those contests would have put Lexington at 6–8, with several favorable matchups remaining and a realistic chance to make a late-season run. Instead, the Minutemen went 0–6 in those games. As noted before, it’s unfortunate—as this team is clearly better than its record suggests. That said, the recurring small mistakes and poor defensive-zone positioning we’ve discussed ad nauseam are the primary reasons the Minutemen have gone 0–6 in one-goal games.
To be fair, it could be worse. Some teams lace them up night after night only to lose in a series of hopelessly lopsided games. That hasn’t been the case for Lexington. Still, it also could—and should—be better.
Game Summary - Wakefield
Wakefield opened the scoring just 26 seconds into the game. As illustrated in the picture below, no Lexington player covered the wide-open Wakefield forward in the slot (denoted by the red arrow). This is the weak-side winger, D-zone coverage issue we’ve discussed before. In this specific case, the Lexington weak-side winger (green arrow) needs to collapse into the slot to cover that forward and not be out by the boards in no man's land.
In addition, the net-front defenseman cannot be a puck-watcher and must remain aware of threats behind him. This example isn’t meant to single out any one player; multiple weak-side wingers and defensemen have made similar mistakes regularly throughout the season. The goal is simply to highlight the breakdown so players can see it and, hopefully, learn from it. Goals like this aren’t the result of exceptional plays by the opposition, but rather defensive breakdowns that gift opponents easy scoring chances. These are the goals that have hurt this team all season and ones that can—and should—be eliminated through smarter, more disciplined positional play.
Many teams would be deflated by giving up a goal on the opening shift of the first period. However, one thing this team consistently shows is resilience—they keep competing and fighting.
At the 9:20 mark of the first period, Lexington evened the score when Brady Kingsbury cycled the puck down low below the goal line to Connor O’Leary. Sensing Ryan Jenness driving the slot, O’Leary slipped a seeing-eye, no-look backhand pass through Wakefield defenders to Jenness, who buried it.
Play remained even for the rest of the first period until the final 25 seconds. Wakefield entered the zone on the rush, and Lexington defended the play well. However, the Wakefield forward snapped a well-placed shot from the top of the left faceoff dot that beat Lexington goaltender Timmy Rinaldi.
End of the 1st period: Wakefield 2 - Lexington 1.
In scrappy fashion Lexington would not go away scoring on their very first shift 25 seconds into the second period. After dumping the puck into the zone Lexington got on the forecheck with Ryan Li and Dylan Lane engaged down low. The result of that battle was the puck coming out to the point where Caleb Fehm sent it back down the wall to Lane. Lane emerged out of the corner and battled through two Wakefield defenders shoveling the puck to Kyle Li. Li was able to one time the pass and rip one top shelf over the goalies shoulder knotting up the score. It was Kyle Li's first varsity goal so hat tip to the sophomore forward!
The rest of the 2nd period saw both teams exchanging opportunities with neither teams able to hit the back of the net
End of the 2nd period - Lexington 2 - Wakefield 2
Scoring at the beginning and end of periods proved to be the theme in this one, and Wakefield capitalized just 22 seconds into the third with what would stand as the go-ahead—and ultimately game-winning—goal. What initially appeared to be a harmless sequence turned costly for Lexington. A Wakefield defenseman received a pass and carried the puck through the neutral zone into the Lexington end, firing a shot wide of the net. The puck was recovered at the point and sent back toward the goal, creating a rebound in front that Wakefield pounced on and stuffed home.
The Minutemen continued to press late, pulling goaltender Timmy Rinaldi for the extra attacker in an effort to tie the game. Their best opportunity came on a Dylan Lane tip/redirection off a point shot from Will Pjura that struck the post. Unfortunately there was no puck luck for the boys in the visiting navy, gold and white trim uniforms.
End of the 3rd period - Wakefield 3 - Lexington 2
Overall, it was a solid performance by Lexington against a Wakefield team that has earned quality results this season, including wins over Woburn and Melrose, along with competitive losses to top-tier opponents Winchester (3–2 OT) and Burlington (3–1).
Lexington returns to the road Wednesday to face Watertown/Wayland at John Ryan Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 PM.
