Published in the April 4, 2018 edition
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season, the Lynnfield High girls’ lacrosse team reached the quarterfinal round of the Division 2 state tournament before losing to top-seeded Newburyport. They captured their first-ever playoff win in the opening round, defeating St. Mary’s of Lynn, 7-3, as the program is in its eighth season this spring.
With the defeat to the Clippers, the Pioneers finished the year at 14-6. Head coach Ethan Blanchette lost seven seniors to graduation, including Cape Ann League All-Star Caroline Buckley, from that squad but they returned ten veterans when practice started on March 19.
CO-CAPTAIN Liv Smyrnios returns for her senior season to lead the LHS girls’ lacrosse team into the 2018 season starting this week. Lynnfield’s home opener is Wednesday, April 11 against Manchester-Essex. (Dan Tomasello File Photo)
Three of those veterans back are this year’s senior captains, Hannah Filipe (defenseman), Gracie Sperling (midfielder), and Liv Smyrnios (attacker). All three were Cape Ann League All-Stars last year.
“The three captains we have this year are excellent leaders and they’ve been leaders on this team for three years,” said Blanchette. “They’re competitive and enjoy playing.”
Sophia Ellis, Olivia Sarni, Ashley Barrett, Brianna Barrett, and Lexine Bucci are the juniors back.
“They have all been members of the team for three years and will all have an opportunity to make an impact,” pointed out Blanchette. “I expect them to contribute mightily to the team’s success.”
Liz Sykes and Tori Morelli are the two returning sophomores.
“They are going to be studs for us,” stated Blanchette. “They both contributed as freshmen and seeing them play in the early preseason, I think they have both improved a lot and are each going to have a fantastic year.”
The Pioneers opened the season on April 3 as they visited Melrose in a non-league game (results not available at press time). They then visit Mystic Valley in Malden on Thursday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. Lynnfield then travels to Wakefield this Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, April 11, will be the team’s Cape Ann League opener as they host Manchester-Essex at 3:45 p.m. Lynnfield finished at 7-4 in the league last season.
