Published in the May 24, 2017 edition
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield High girls’ lacrosse team went 3-1 over the past two weeks, improving the Pioneers’ overall record to 12-5.
On Monday, May 22, the Pioneers beat host Bedford 14-6.
Lynnfield was up 10-2 at halftime, as they took control in the first half.
Junior Liv Smyrnios and sophomore Ashley Barrett each scored four goals for Lynnfield, while senior Caroline Buckley won four draws and picked up seven ground balls. Senior Lilli Patterson collected six ground balls of her own and forced a team-high four turnovers. Junior Gracie Sperling recovered three ground balls, forced three turnovers and won three draw controls.
“We committed several turnovers, which allowed them to keep the difference at eight for most of the game,” said Pioneers head coach Ethan Blanchette.
Conquers Generals
In the heat May 18, the Pioneers beat visiting Hamilton-Wenham 14-6 to complete the season sweep over the Generals. They also improved to 6-4 in the Cape Ann League.
The Generals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with about four minutes into the game. After that, it was all Lynnfield as the home team built a 12-4 lead going into halftime, thanks in part to a yellow card the Generals received with less than one minute to play in the half.
The Pioneers added two more goals early in the second half. The score stood at 14-4 until there was less than five minutes to play in the game, when Hamilton-Wenham added two late goals.
Patterson continued her dominant play, as she recovered four ground balls and forced four turnovers. Smyrnios scored four goals to lead the way offensively, and also chipped in with three ground ball recoveries and forced two turnovers. Sperling recovered five ground balls to lead all players. Buckley led the locals with six draw controls.
Stung by Hornets
On May 15, Lynnfield lost 16-6 to Manchester-Essex.
The game remained close through most of the first half, with Lynnfield trailing 5-3 with 10 minutes to play. However, the Hornets scored a couple goals to close out the half, and then won more of the draws in the second half to keep the Pioneers at bay.
The score was 13-6 with five minutes remaining, as the Hornets scored the game’s final three goals.
Ashley Barrett scored four goals for Lynnfield while sophomore Sophie Ellis forced three turnovers, which were both team-highs. Junior Hannah Filipe and senior Lila Alaka each forced two turnovers on the defensive end, while midfielders Buckley, Patterson and Sperling combined for nine draw controls and eight ground balls, evenly split amongst the three.
Defeats Triton
The Pioneers edged Triton 9-8 May 12.
Lynnfield took a 7-3 lead into halftime and extended that lead to 9-3 with 20 minutes to go in the game. However, things cooled-off considerably after that, as the host Vikings won a majority of the ensuing draws and were able to chip away at the lead.
The Pioneers had several opportunities in which they could have put the game away, but some turnovers allowed the game to come down to the final minute.
Triton was down by one goal with 1:30 remaining on the clock and they won the next draw. Pioneers goalie Lauren Vaccaro made a point-blank save with 45 seconds to play, and Lynnfield was able to run out the remaining time and escape with a one-goal victory.
Barrett, Smyrnios, and Buckley each scored two goals apiece for Lynnfield. Patterson and Filipe each recovered four ground balls.
Vaccaro made eight saves in net.
Upcoming games
Lynnfield hosts North Reading on Wednesday, May 24 to wrap up the regular season at 4 p.m.
On Friday, May 26, the Pioneers will find out who they will open with in the first round of the Division 2 state tournament that starts next week.