Lynnfield girls soccer eager for a do-over after last season

LYNNFIELD – You couldn’t blame the Lynnfield girls soccer team if it feels it has a little bit of unfinished business this season.Last year, the Pioneers were one of the dominant forces in the Cape Ann League, rolling to the CAL Small title and all the way to the Division 3 North finals. It was at that point where Lynnfield’s dream season came to a heartbreaking finish as Newburyport bested the Pioneers in a shootout to take the title and eventually the state championship.Despite the departure of CAL MVP Jackie Whelan and all-star defenders Taylor Freitas and Sam Filipe, fans of the Pioneers still might have plenty of things to cheer about this season as coach Mark Vermont returns the bulk of his team from a year ago.”Certainly, the kids remember last year but they’re not letting it rule the day,” Vermont said. “That being said, I don’t have to say a whole lot about it. They want to have the opportunity to be back in that situation again. But first we have to make the tournament.”The Pioneers, who finished 16-3-2 a year ago with two losses to the Clippers and the other coming to Masconomet, have an upperclassmen dominated roster as Lynnfield brings back eight seniors and 11 juniors in quest of another league title.Leading the way will be a trio of talented seniors in midfielder Emily Scollard, goalkeeper Hannah Travers and forward Paige MacEachern.Scollard leads a midfield group that was part of Lynnfield holding teams well under a goal per game a season ago while Travers is back for another year between the pipes as a part of one of the best defenses in the area.MacEachern, meanwhile, will be one of several players that Vermont hopes can help shoulder the load offensively as Lynnfield tries to replace Whelan’s remarkable 30-plus goals from last season.”I think that we have several players that have the ability to pop one in when we need it,” Vermont said.Also back to the fold for Lynnfield are seniors Jess Duhaime; Abby Petras; Katie Scanlon; Kelley Nevils and Hayley Mineo. Also expected to play major roles for the Pioneers are juniors Lexi Yannone and Emily Lucich along with sophomore Liz Reed, all of whom possess the talent to score from anywhere in the attacking end.”It’s one of those things where you don’t know what you really have until the season starts but I think we have the chance to be very good,” Vermont said. “We are a veteran squad and that’s a big help.”The Pioneers have already scrimmaged fellow North Shore power Danvers in the preseason and were scheduled to take on Middlesex League stalwart Melrose today before getting set for their season opener against Manchester-Essex on Thursday.