Experience is key for Pioneer girls’ soccer squad

Published September 11, 2019

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — The girls’ soccer team is still searching for its first win of the 2019 Cape Ann League season after returning to the field last week.

The Pioneers concluded last season with a 12-5-3 record. Lynnfield qualified for the Division 3 North state tournament and the eighth seeded Pioneers opened the tournament with a thrilling 1-0 win over ninth seeded Hamilton-Wenham. The Pioneers fell 1-0 to number one seed Austin Prep in the D-3 North quarterfinals.

Lynnfield graduated only one player from last year’s squad, Emma Montanile, and has 13 players returning this fall.

“We had a great preseason and have a lot of older players on the team,” said Pioneers head coach Mark Vermont. “They know what the program’s expectations are.”

Three senior captains will lead the Pioneers this season including midfielder Tori Morelli.

“Tori is very intelligent, is good in the air and has the ability to dominate the midfield,” said Vermont.

Senior captain Liz Sykes will serve as one of the Pioneers’ top defenders this fall.

“It seems like Liz never gets tired,” said Vermont. “She is a very smart, hardworking and skilled player in the back.”

Senior captain Abby Lucich will be playing both forward and midfield for the Pioneers.

“Abby loves to attack and is skilled on the ball,” said Vermont. “She is a very intelligent player.”

Senior Anna Maria Ferrante will be playing both midfield and forward as well. She has been one of the Pioneers’ main scoring threats the past three years.

“Anna has been on the varsity team along with Liz and Abby since the middle of her freshman year,” said Vermont. “She is very skilled and is not afraid to take people on.”

Senior Emma Ricciardi will be joining Lucich and Ferrante at midfield and forward. She scored the game-winning goal against Hamilton-Wenham during the first round of last year’s Division 3 North tournament.

“Emma is very fast, skilled and has a high energy level,” said Vermont.

Senior Molly Ozanian’s lockdown defense will be an asset for the Pioneers this fall.

“Molly is good in the air and is a good communicator,” said Vermont. “She has a great work ethic.”

Senior goalie Amberly McCarter will be anchoring the Pioneers’ backline.

“Amberly has springs in her feet,” said Vermont. “She can get balls that nobody else can get because she commits to it. She works very hard.”

The juniors who are returning to the Pioneers this fall are forward Ashley Mitchell, defender Lauren Mitchell, midfielder/forward Emily Goguen, defender Lauren Braconnier, midfielder Julia Colucci and defender Erin Sharkey.

“It’s great we have so many kids back,” said Vermont. “They understand what the program’s expectations are and what we want to accomplish.”

The new juniors who are suiting up for the Pioneers this season are goalie Lindsay Nardone, defender Jenna Brodigan, defender Michelle Miller and midfielder Kiera Burns. Sophomore forward Amber Gamache, sophomore forward Lexi Veglia, sophomore forward Adrianna Parisi and sophomore midfielder Anna Radulski have also joined the fold.

While Vermont said the Pioneers are an “experienced and talented team” this season, he said the locals have to focus on continuously improving each game.

Falls to Masco

The Pioneers (0-1-1) opened the season falling 5-3 to Masco on Sept. 4.

Ferrante scored the locals’ first goal four minutes into the first half after being set up by Colucci.

Masco tied the game at one 42 seconds after Ferrante found the back of the net.

Parisi gave Lynnfield a 2-1 lead 16:55 into the first half after stealing the ball and driving the length of the field. Parisi scored the Pioneers’ third goal at the 19:16 mark of the first half after receiving a pass from Ashley Mitchell.

Masco scored two goals at the 27-minute and 33-minute marks of the first half, which tied at the game at three at the break.

The Chieftains took a 4-3 lead three minutes into the second half after Masco converted on a penalty kick.

Masco scored its fifth goal with six minutes remaining in the game.

McCarter tallied seven saves in net against Masco.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game against Masco because it always is,” said Vermont. “We controlled the first 20 to 25 minutes of the game but as the game settled in, Masco put a lot of pressure on us. We made some mistakes and they took advantage of those mistakes.”

Ties North Reading

The Pioneers tied archrival North Reading 2-2 on Sept. 6.

Ashley Mitchell gave the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead after burying a shot three minutes into the first half.

Colucci scored the Pioneers’ second goal 14 minutes into the first half.

North Reading scored its first goal 10 minutes into the second half, making the contest 2-1. The Hornets tied the game at two after converting on a corner kick with 15 minutes remaining in the second half.

Ferrante had a chance to win the game for the Pioneers during the closing seconds of the game, but Vermont said North Reading’s goalie made “a top-shelf save” that secured the tie.

McCarter tallied six saves between the pipes against North Reading.

Vermont said the Pioneers gave a valiant effort against the Hornets.

“North Reading is a good team with a very good goalie,” said Vermont. “We controlled a lot of the game in the first half and moved the ball very well. North Reading put a lot of pressure on us during the second half and their goalie made a couple of saves that should have been goals for us.”