Published November 14, 2018

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

READING — The field hockey team’s season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Nov. 8, as the fourth seeded Pioneers fell 2-1 in double overtime to number one seed Watertown in the Div. 2 North Semifinals at Reading Memorial High School.

 With that defeat, the Pioneers ended the season at 16-4-1. Meanwhile, the top-seeded Raiders then edged third seed Manchester-Essex 1-0 in the North finals on Nov. 10 to improve to 20-0-1.

“I was very proud of the way our girls played,” said Pioneers head coach Mamie Reardon.

Catherine Connors was the hero for the Raiders, as she scored off a corner 1:05 into the second overtime. Ally Kennedy and Olivia Lampasona were credited with the assists.

BRIANNA BARRETT picked up an assist, along with her sister Ashley, on Lynnfield’s important second-half goal during a great game in the semifinals against a powerhouse Watertown program. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Moments before, Connors appeared to win it on another corner, but officials ruled the ball never left the circle on the initial pass and the game continued as Connors cashed in on the ensuing corner.

After a scoreless opening half, the Pioneers got on the scoreboard first with 19:27 remaining in the second half, as junior Lily Rothwell scored off a corner. Senior captains Ashley and Brianna Barrett had the assists.

 Watertown, who increased their playoff winning streak to 48 games with this win, then tied things up as an official called a penalty stroke against the Pioneers. Kennedy scored with 10:30 remaining.

Kennedy had a chance to win the game in the first overtime, when it was seven vs. seven, with another penalty stroke but her shot hit the crossbar.

 “Our defense came out strong and they were a little shell shocked,” said Reardon. “We were not intimated by them and I think we rattled them early on before they came back later in the second half.”

 Senior goalie Emily Dickey had six saves in net. Raider netminder Lainey Andrade had seven stops.

 Lynnfield had five corers while Watertown had ten.

The Raiders took on Dennis-Yarmouth in the Div. 2 State Semifinals at Braintree High School on Tuesday night, taking place after press time.