By Carl Jahn
Burlington 3, Charlestown 1 — In one of their best played games of the season, the “Townies” failed to avenge their season opening loss after a furious comeback came up short. All season the young “Townies” have relied on standout defensive play and goaltending to free up and create chances for the team’s halfbacks and forwards. With their aggressive positioning, booming clears and daring midfield stops, the defensive core, led by Daniel Bryan, Aedan McLaughlin, Anthony Sackek and Oscar Eldh Jahn, have defined how to play the position. On Saturday, however, the boys were without McLaughlin so goal scoring phenom Aaron Wadman leapt into the breach in the first half and set a new standard of ball control as previous clears now became precision feeds for Charlestown forwards led by Dominic Kennedy-Slesar, John Desimone, Henry Alitz, Daniel Kennedy, and Colin Delvalle (who moved from forward to goalie in the second half). Down 2-0 early after two quick scores by Burlington, the “Townies” turned the tables and mounted a furious comeback, only to be thwarted again and again as Kennedy-Slesar, Alitz, Desimone, and Eldh Jahn pummeled the Burlington goalie with a barrage of shots and near misses. Finally, ten minutes into the second half, Wadman, who had moved up to halfback, brought Charlestown to within one as he found the back of the net with an elegant comebacker. The game’s final 15 minutes were a pitched back and forth affair as the “Townies” went from near scores to hectic battles in front of their own goal as brilliant Devalle saves kept Charlestown in the game to very end. The “Townies” (3-6-0) wrap up their season against Melrose (2-6-0) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Charlestown High School Athletic Facility (Firefighter’s Field).