By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LAUREN GUERRA (14) digs the ball out to push past an Amesbury opponent Friday. The Pioneers won their 14th game of the season 6-1. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
LYNNFIELD— After clinching the Cape Ann League’s Baker Division title with a 6-1 win over the Georgetown Royals on Columbus Day, Lynnfield’s undefeated varsity field hockey team has extended its winning streak by two more games.
The Pioneers went on to shut out Haverhill 5-0 in a non-league game last Tuesday followed by another 6-1 victory, this time over Amesbury, at home on Friday.
The team’s record currently stands at 14-0-2 overall and 12-0-2 in the CAL with just two games left in the regular season. They were slated to host Rockport Tuesday (after press time) and will travel to Ipswich on Thursday to face the second-place team in the CAL Baker Division.
While the Pioneers would be thrilled to maintain their undefeated streak, head Coach Mamie Reardon says they are taking it “one game at a time.”
“Right now we are focusing on Rockport. Each game will present challenges and all year we have practiced to meet those challenges. Our plan is to go into each game the way we have for the past 16 games — with intensity, poise and execution.”
Shut out Hillies
All five of the Pioneers’ goals against the Haverhill Hillies were scored in the fist half. Sophomore Kathleen Hamm opened the scoring, assisted by Bailey Fanikos, with 28:40 on the clock.
Sophomore Marianne “Min” Oliveri increased the lead to 2-0 with 23:14 left in the half. The assist was earned by senior captain Lauren McGrath.
Oliveri scored again at 18:23, assisted by Hamm as the Pioneers took a commanding 3-0 lead.
“Sophomore Jaylin Grabeau scored her first goal of the season with 17:30 left in the half, assisted by Kathleen Hamm,” commented Coach Reardon after the game.
“Our final goal was scored by Shaleigh Furey. It was her first goal of the season as well,” Reardon said.
In the second half many other players also got valuable playing time which is crucial in developing the team’s depth as they look ahead to the post-season. Senior Katya Welch, sophomore Jess McGee, junior Isabella DiCesare, sophomore Rachel Strout and senior Nicole Gregory all factored into the game.
“Solid performances were contributed by Lauren Guerra at right half, Isabella Floramo at right midfield and sweeper Lilli Patterson,” Reardon said, adding that she also got a “great effort from senior co-captain Lauren McGrath on the offensive line.”
Play4theCure victory
On Friday, both the junior varsity and varsity teams participated in the Play4theCure game, raising $300 for the National Foundation for Cancer Research (see related story).
“The color pink was the dominate color today as Lynnfield beat Amesbury 6-1,” Reardon said.
It was just the second game of the season to be played on the new turf field complex at LHS. “They are very happy to be playing on the turf. We have waited a long time for this wonderful facility!” Reardon said of her players.
Lauren McGrath, playing left inner, scored her first goal of the season, assisted by Jaylin Grabeau, to give Lynnfield an early lead over the Indians.
Eight minutes later on a corner, co-captain Bailey Fanikos scored, assisted by senior Stefania DeAngelis, to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead.
Kathleen Hamm then scored off a hard drive from Fanikos to put Lynnfield ahead 3-0. With 1:39 left in the first half Fanikos scored unassisted and the Pioneers took a 4-0 advantage at halftime.
Lynnfield continued its dominance as the second half began when Grabeau scored her second goal of the season within two minutes of the whistle. She was assisted by DeAngelis.
Min Oliveri scored the last goal for the Pioneers with 27 minutes left in the game, assisted by Grabeau.
Amesbury tallied its only goal of the game with 10:44 remaining on the clock to end the shut out.
Reardon added that solid defensive performances were contributed by Lauren Guerra, Lilli Patterson and Allison Lyle.
Pioneers lead CAL statistics
After 16 games played, many of Lynnfield’s players continue to dominate the statistics charts.
Fanikos remains the leading goal scorer in the league with 25. Oliveri is tied for third with 11 and Hamm is sixth with seven.
DeAngelis leads the league in assists with 12 while Fanikos is tied for third with eight and Hamm is tied for seventh with four.
Fanikos also continues to lead the total points category with 33. DeAngelis is fifth with 14, Oliveri is tied for sixth with 12 and Ham is tied for seventh with 11.
Defensively, sophomore goal keeper Shannon Furey has the fourth leading goals against average at 0.69. Playing in all 16 games to date, she has let up just 11 goals and posted seven shutouts.
