Field hockey teams ready to spring into action

Area field hockey teams will be the first to test the state tournament waters with play getting started on Wednesday and Thursday.Lynnfield is the top local seed, taking the third spot in Division 2 with a 15-2-2 record. The Pioneers drew a bye and won’t play until Friday, when they’ll face the winner of Saugus/Newburyport at home (2:30).Coach Mamie Reardon will bring a well-tested team into battle. All but two players are seniors, including the high-powered front line that includes Meriam Gehret (19 goals, 7 assists); Angela Arakelian (12 goals, 5 assists); and Mary Kreiger (8 goals, 6 assists).The Pioneers have enjoyed plenty of success the last two years, both regular season and postseason, but they haven’t been able to reach the North finals. Last year Lynnfield lost to Manchester-Essex, a fellow Cape Ann League team, 2-1, in the semifinals. The year before, the Pioneers fell to Winchester in the semis.”It would be nice to make it over that hump from the semis to the finals, but we have a tough game right away,” Reardon said.Although Saugus and Lynnfield don’t cross paths during the regular season, Reardon is very familiar with Newburyport through Cape Ann League play. The two teams met earlier this season with Lynnfield escaping with a 1-0 win.”I think either one will be tough,” Reardon said.Newburyport at SaugusThe Sachems (12-3-3) will have to bring their “A” game to the table in their opener against the Clippers (Wednesday at Saugus, 2:30 p.m.). Saugus is seeded sixth and Newburyport (9-7-3) is seeded 11th.Sachem coach Barbara Guarente started the season with a fairly experienced team, but a new goalie. Things came together nicely with Katelyn DeSimone (12 goals, 4 assists) leading the offense, along with Jackie Doherty (7 goals, 2 assists). Courtney Selvage and Lauren Sanford anchor the midfield and Macayla Daly and Kylie Trainor key the defense. Last year, the Sachems exited the tournament early, losing to Belmont in the first round.Swampscott at WilmingtonSwampscott checks in as the No. 10 seed with an 8-5-5 record. The Big Blue will play the Wildcats, the No. 7 seed at 12-3-4, Wednesday at Wilmington (2:30).Last year, Swampscott got knocked out in the first round against Wayland. Coach Toby Channen is optimistic about her team’s chances this year.Senior captains Alex Wilson (11 goals, 8 assists) and goalie Kelly Gillis (9 shutouts) are both Northeastern Conference All-Stars who are tourney-tested. Channen will also be looking for several freshmen to have an impact (she starts three).Tewksbury at Bishop FenwickThe Crusaders (12-5-1) check in as the No. 8 seed in Division 2. They’ll face Tewksbury at home Wednesday (6).Last year, Fenwick lost in the semifinals to perennial powerhouse Watertown. Although coach Karen Guillemette lost a couple of key players from that team, she also returned a lot of talent, including Liz Sears, who leads the team with 21 goals. Lauren McHugh has also come up with several clutch goals. Casey Landry will be in net.”We played a lot of difficult teams, a lot of Division 1 teams,” Guillemette said. “The season was definitely challenging.”Melrose at MarbleheadMarblehead coach Linda Collins has high hopes for her team, which finished 11-1-6 and is seeded fifth in Division 2. The Magicians finished one point behind Beverly in the battle for the Northeastern Conference title.Collins will be looking for big things from her NEC All-Star players – Courtney Maher (forward), midfielders Lauren Turner and Gretchen Rowe and defender Hannah Wolf. Goalie Kayla Casale (13 shutouts) has also been a huge factor in the Magicians’ success this year.”I like the momentum the team has going in,” Collins said. “We’re really moving the ball around well. We’re reading the ball well.”Peabody at ChelmsfordThe Tanners (11-3-4) will have to do a little traveling for their tournament opener against Chelmsford. Peabody is seeded ninth and Chelmsford is eighth, giving the Lions the home game.Brianna Buckley has been the