JUNIOR AVA MAROTTA (12) will lead the Lynnfield defense in 2021. Marotta was named to the CAL All-Star team last year. (File Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — Samantha Pindara is back for her second year as head coach of the Lynnfield High field hockey team. Last fall, the Pioneers went 4-4-2 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as the team played only Cape Ann League games.

They came in third place in the CAL Kinney Division. There was no state or league playoffs after the regular season.

Eight players from that squad graduated, including five starters, but Pindara did welcome back 11 veterans when camp opened in late August.

“We have a lot of players back so that made it easier,” said Pindara, about the preseason. “They are focused and have a fire within them.”

Lynnfield hosted a league Jamboree on Aug. 28 and then visited Chelmsford for their second scrimmage on Aug. 31. They then took on three Middlesex League teams on Sept 4 as they faced Winchester, Melrose and host Lexington.

The two senior captains this season are Anna Kaminski and Jacqui Carbone – both midfielders.

The other five 12th-graders back are Alyssa Calvani (forward), Georgia Milne (forward), Ally Orlofski (midfielder), Catherine Sweeney (defender) and Lauren Grava (defender).

Calvani and Kaminski were both tied for second in points last year with seven as each player had five goals and two assists.

Ava Marotta (midfielder), Lana Sutera (forward), Charlotte Radulski (goalie) and Julia Carbone (forward), are the four juniors back. 

Marotta made the CAL First-Team All-Stars last year as a defender.

Radulski will be replacing the graduated Ava O’Brien in net.

Lynnfield is slated to play an 18-game regular-season schedule this fall. They will play the CAL Kinney schools twice and the CAL Baker teams once. They will also play four non-league games as well.

Danvers, Tyngsboro, Beverly and Andover are the four non-league opponents.

Lynnfield will drop from Division 2 to Division 4 but the playoff road does not get any easier as several strong Div. 2 teams are also dropping to Div. 4.

“Newburyport, North Reading and Triton will be the toughest tests in our league (CAL Kinney),” said Pindara, who is a guidance counselor at Lynnfield High.

Newburyport is the defending league champs.

Last fall, the teams played 7-on-7 due to the pandemic. This year, all of the rules are back to normal with 11-on-11 play.

The Pioneers open the 2021 campaign on Sept. 9 as they visit North Reading at 4 p.m.

Lynnfield’s home opener is on Sept. 14 as they face Triton with that game also starting at 4 p.m.