THE PIONEERS had plenty to celebrate in their 4-0 win over Joseph Case in a Div. 4 First Round matchup on Monday. (Courtesy Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — It was a successful playoff opener for the Lynnfield High field hockey team on Monday afternoon as they blanked visiting Joseph Case, 4-0, on a cool, mostly cloudy day in the MIAA Division 4 First Round.
With that victory, the 6th-seeded Pioneers improved to 13-3-3 while 27th-seeded Case ended the year at 4-7-8.
“It was a great team win,” said Pioneers head coach Kerri Doherty. “I knew a little about Case last year because, when I was at Amesbury, we faced them in the tournament. They lost a lot but did have some players back including their goalie.”
Senior captain Taylor Valiton scored the first tally assisted by sophomore Lauren Mattia with 8:29 remaining in the first quarter.
That goal turned out to be the lone tally of the first half.
Junior Izzy Fiorentino made it 2-0 with 8:09 left in the third quarter and that goal was assisted by junior Cameron Munion.
Lynnfield then pulled away, netting two goals in the fourth quarter.
Senior captain Gia Marotta had the third tally with 10:50 remaining assisted by Munion.
Mattia capped off the scoring with an unassisted goal with 6:23 left.
“I love seeing the balanced scoring,” stated Doherty.
Pioneer goalkeeper, senior captain Lauren MacDonald, had four saves on the day as she faced three penalty corners. The Pioneers had four corners.
Lynnfield will now host St. Paul Diocesan in the Round of 16 on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
St. Paul, who is the 22nd seed, enters the game with a record of 10-4-3 as they beat Maynard 3-1 in the First Round.
If Lynnfield wins that game, they will take on the winner of the No. 3 Sutton vs. No. 14 St. John Paul II game in the D4 Quarterfinals (date, location and time unknown as of press time).
While the Pioneers did not face St. John Paul II, this year they did play Sutton back on Oct. 5 at home and lost, 2-0.
