Local teams set to go in Division 2 field hockey tournament

The MIAA field hockey tournament gets under way Wednesday, with the bulk of the local teams ready to battle it out in Division 2 North.Lynnfield is the highest local seed at No. 3 with a 14-3-2 record. Watertown, a perennial top team, is seeded first (13-0-5), and Manchester-Essex is seeded second (14-2-3).The Pioneers will bring an explosive offense to the table when they open against Cape Ann League foe Ipswich at Lynnfield (2:30). The teams met twice during the regular season, with Lynnfield winning the first game, 5-2, and tying the second, 4-4, after jumping out to a 3-1 lead.Coach Mamie Reardon said the big thing her team will have to watch is letting down with a lead.”Once we score, we have to be able to maintain it (the lead). We know they can come back on us, so we have to tighten up defensively,” Reardon said.Ipswich will have to contend with a potent Lynnfield offense that includes Cape Ann League Small Player of the Year Mallory Flynn, Meriam Gehret, who had 28 goals and seven assists during the regular season, and Angela Arakelian, who was one point behind with 19 goals and 15 assists. Tri-captain Melissa Williams has been solid in net for Lynnfield all season.Bishop Fenwick checks in as the No. 5 seed with a 12-4-2 record. The Crusaders will play Arlington Wednesday at home at 4 p.m. The teams met once this season and Fenwick won, 2-1.Fenwick coach Marybeth Mahoney will be counting on Kara Charochak and Lauren McHugh to provide some offensive firepower. Charochak, a senior captain and right-side midfielder, has 12 goals and 11 assists and McHugh has 15 goals and five assists. Liz Sears (19 points) is also a threat around the net, with Maggie Gore and Kara Gray shoring up the midfield and Jillian Cardin anchoring the defense.”I think it’s definitely a good pairing for us,” Mahoney said. “I think it will be a challenging game. They (Arlington) are a talented team, but if we play with intensity and as a unit, we should do well.”Swampscott, the No. 7 seed, faces Wayland Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Blocksidge Field. The last time the Big Blue qualified for the tournament, this year’s seniors were freshmen.Swampscott’s leading scorer, junior center forward Alex Wilson (13 goals, 3 assists), is questionable for the game, coach Toby Channen said, after bruising her arm against Marblehead.”She’s an extremely tough competitor,” Channen said.Senior center midfielder Kristin Santanello (7 goals, 5 assists) drives the Swampscott offense, Channen said.”It (her numbers) is very deceptive. Her play leads to all the goal-scoring on the team ? She puts us in very good offensive position,” Channen said.Center back Suzanne Murphy and goalie Kelly Gillis have also played key roles for the Big Blue this season. Gillis’ highest-save game (30) came against Saugus.Saugus is seeded ninth in Division 2 North with a 7-5-6 record. The Sachems play Belmont at Belmont Wednesday (2:30). Sophia DiPesa, a goalie and captain, has eight shutouts and 101 saves. She’s only allowed 13 goals. Fellow captain Stephanie Lowe (2 goals and 3 assists) is also a force for the Sachems, both offensively and defensively as needed, as is leading scorer Katelyn DiSimone. Saugus lost to Lynnfield in the second round last year.In the Division 1 North tournament, Beverly is the top local seed at No. 2 (behind Andover). Beverly (14-1-2) doesn’t play until Friday, when it faces the winner of Waltham-Needham at home (2:30). Salem, the No. 5 seed with a 13-2-3 record, plays the winner of Framingham-Reading on Saturday at home and Gloucester (12-4-2) plays Natick on Wednesday at home (4). Danvers, the No. 19 seed (8-7), is at Chelmsford Wednesday (6).