Published June 30, 2021
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield High seniors Jen Flynn and Molly Murphy were both named to the Capp Ann League girls’ lacrosse All-Star teams voted by the league coaches. Flynn made the CAL First-Team All-Stars while Murphy made the Second-Team.
“Jen has been a four-year varsity starter and one of the finest lacrosse players we’ve ever had come through the program,” said Pioneers head coach Ethan Blanchette, about the midfielder. “She has a high lacrosse IQ and excellent stick skills.”
Flynn scored 100 goals in her career despite not getting to play last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She scored the 100 goals in essentially 2.5 seasons and we’re going to miss her next year,” added Blanchette.
For Murphy, also a midfielder, it was her first time making the All-Star team.
“Molly is a player that has worked really hard over the past few seasons and it shows on the field,” said Blanchette. “This year, she was one of our key midfielders and she led the team in assists and was third in goals and caused turnovers. She did it all for us and had a great attitude and work ethic throughout the season.”
Along with Flynn and Murphy, the Pioneers will lose seven other seniors to graduation. Those other seven players are Ava O’Brien (goalie), Erin Sharkey (defenseman), Ella Gaudette (defenseman), Paige Leuci (defenseman), Maddy Murphy (attacker), Caroline Sprince (attacker) and Kyara Glinski (attacker).
Sharkey led the team in ground balls and was named the team’s defensive player of the year.
With only Flynn and the two Murphy’s back from the 2019 playoff squad, the inexperienced Pioneers struggled this spring finishing at 1-11 overall as they did beat North Reading 10-7 in the season finale on June 15 to avoid a winless season.
They finished in fifth place in the CAL Barker division.
“This season was challenging, as we played a very tough schedule consisting of only league teams,” said Blanchette, who just completed his 14th-season. “Three of the four finalists in Division 2 North were from the league, including the final two teams and the champion. It is arguably the best girls’ lacrosse conference in northern Mass. The tough schedule, combined with all the players we lost over the past two seasons made this a difficult season. There were a lot of distractions, but the players kept working and it paid off with an exciting win on senior night to close the season and the careers for the seniors. That win alone made it all worthwhile. I want to congratulate the players on finishing strong and going out on top.”
While the Pioneers will have some players back next year, they do have some holes to fill losing the two All-Stars and O’Brien in goal.
