THE SENIORS led the 2024 field hockey team to a strong season. Lynnfield made it to the Div. 4 quarterfinals before falling to Sutton on the road, 2-0. Pictured from left to right are seniors Lauren MacDonald, Gia Marotta, Taylor Valiton, Chloe Gromko and Libby Considine. (Courtesy Photo)

 

 

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NORTHBRIDGE — Back on Oct. 5, the Lynnfield High field hockey team lost at home to Sutton 2-0. On Sunday evening, the Pioneers were looking to avenge that loss in the MIAA Division 4 Quarterfinals.

However, the host Suzies won again, 2-0 in a game held at Northbridge Middle School.

Camryn Kinne opened the scoring with an unassisted goal with one minute left in the first half.

The second Sutton tally came with 12:02 remaining in the third off a corner as Claire Acocelli put it home from a pass by Katerina Quill.

“It was a textbook goal,” said Pioneers head coach Kerri Doherty.

Dohtery called time out after that goal and played its best field hockey of the game the rest of the third but were unable score and then were shut down in the fourth.

“We battled them,” said Doherty.

Sutton had 12 corners to the Pioneers’ five. The Suzies also out-shot the Pioneers, 12-6 as Lynnfield goalie, senior captain Lauren MacDonald made 10 stops.

“Lauren was dialed in,” said Doherty. “She couldn’t do anything about those two goals.”

With the loss, the 6th-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 14-4-3. Third-seeded Sutton, meanwhile, improved to 21-0 as they faced Monomoy in the state semifinal game on Nov. 12 (result not available at press time).

On Nov. 6, the Pioneers defeated St. Paul Diocesan, 5-1, at home.

The Pioneers took control of this one early, scoring three times in the first 6:25 in the game.

Just 15 seconds in, freshman Sophia Morgese made it 1-0 assisted by sophomore Lauren Mattia.

Senior captain Taylor Valiton made it 2-0 with 11:21 remaining assisted by junior Lily Alves and senior captain Gia Marotta.

The third goal was scored by junior Izzy Fiorentino with 8:35 left assisted by Marotta and Valiton.

The scored stayed that way until the third quarter as Mattia had the fourth tally with 7:54 remaining and that goal was unassisted.

The Raiders got their lone goal with 28 seconds left in the third as Neeve Howard scored.

Valiton, assisted by Morgese, had the final goal of the afternoon with 14:31 left in the game.

“We trusted each other and worked together,” said Valiton.

Marotta felt the good start was key.

“That helped us set the momentum for the rest of the game,” she said.

MacDonald made three stops in net.

“The defense played really well,” said MacDonald.

Doherty was very pleased with her team’s effort.

“We moved the ball well and did a good job executing,” she said.

Lynnfield finished with eight corners while the Raiders had just two.

With the loss, the 22nd-seeded Raiders, whose school is located in Worcester, ended the year at 10-5-3.