Published in the November 9, 2016 edition
THE ELATED Pioneers celebrate Brianna Barrett’s tying goal against the Wildcats with 4:37 left in regulation in the first round Div. 2 North game. From left: captains Lilli Patterson and Jaylin Grabau, Kathleen Hamm, Brianna Barrett, Ashley Barrett (1) and Elise Murphy (14). (Maureen Doherty Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — It was heartbreak city for the Lynnfield High Pioneers field hockey team as they lost in overtime to visiting Wilmington, 2-1, in the first round of the Div. 2 North playoffs Nov. 2 on an unseasonably warm late-afternoon day.
CAL PLAYER of the Year Lilli Patterson (left) goes head-to-head against Wilmington’s Taeya Peroni (6) in round one of the Div. 2 North tourney. Peroni scored both goals for the Wildcats in the 2-1 sudden death OT loss. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
The Wildcats scored the game-winning goal with only three seconds left in the 15-minute, 7 on 7, sudden death overtime session.
Taeya Peroni was the heroine for the Wildcats, scoring the game–winner and ending the Pioneers’ season.
With the loss, the sixth–seeded Pioneers ended the year at 11–4–4. Eleventh seeded Wilmington, meanwhile, lost at Ipswich, 2–1, in the quarterfinal round Friday to end the year at 10–8–2.
“We totally dominated the game,” stated Pioneers head coach Mamie Reardon. “Their goalie was outstanding and she robbed us.”
Most of the game was played in Wildcat territory but junior net minder Rose Cuozzo came up huge, making 11 saves on 12 shots on net, including a dramatic glove save of a direct shot early in the second half.
Wilmington had only two shots on goal in 75 minutes of play.
ELISE MURPHY (left) demonstrates her All-Star worthy speed and aggressiveness to halt a pass attempted by her Wilmington opponent in state tournament action last Wednesday. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
After a scoreless first half, the Wildcats scored the game’s first goal just 47 seconds into the second half as Peroni scored, beating Pioneers’ goalie Lydia Picariello.
The Pioneers then took control of the territorial play for the rest of regulation and they eventually tied the game up with 4:37 left in regulation off a corner as sophomore Brianna Barrett scored off a feed from senior Kathleen Hamm.
The Pioneers had 16 corners overall while the Wildcats had only four.
This is the second year in a row in which the Pioneers have lost in the opening round of the Div. 2 North tournament at home. They fell to Marblehead last year on penalty strokes, 2-1, after two scoreless sudden death overtime periods.
“The girls played their hearts out and I was very proud of them,” concluded Reardon, who achieved her 300th career victory on Oct. 18 and ended the 2016 season with 301 career wins.
