Lynnfield field hockey achieving its goals

LYNNFIELD – The Lynnfield High field hockey team has no shortage of goals.The Pioneers set out to win the Cape Ann League Baker Division and they did it. They set their sights on the CAL overall title and it was mission accomplished. Next on the agenda is to go undefeated, and they can cross that off the list with a win over Ipswich Thursday.The Pioneers, under coach Mamie Reardon, have been on a mission this year.”We’ve never been this far into the season and been undefeated,” said Reardon, who is in her 32nd year as a coach. “I think we made the tournament with eight games left.”Since 2007 the Pioneers (15-0-2, 13-0-2 CAL) only failed to qualify for the state tournament once, and that was in 2010. They lost in the second round to powerhouse Watertown last year, so getting past the Red Raiders is certainly a priority. But right now Reardon and her players are doing what they’ve done all year and that’s take things one step at a time.Reardon has a variety of weapons at her disposal. But none are as dangerous as University of Virginia-bound Bailey Fanikos – who has the opposition’s biggest nightmare with 29 goals and nine assist.”She just a force. When she takes the field, you can’t help but notice,” Reardon said. “She’s quick. She changes speed and direction and when people double-team her, she just moves around them. She has great stick control and an incredible, piercing hit. No one I’ve ever coached has had her skill level.”What makes Fanikos even tougher to stop is that she’s surrounded by teammates who can also inflict some serious damage if left alone.”I think last year we were a little unbalanced where Bailey was the mainstay,” Reardon said. “This year I feel the rest of the kids have gathered around her and upped their play … everybody seems to have kind of stepped it up and it’s made for a more balanced team.”Marianne Oliveri (12 goals, 1 assist); Kathleen Hamm (7 goals, 6 assists); and Stefania DeAngelis (2 goals, 13 assists) give the opposition plenty to worry about, as does goalie Shannon Furey and the next to last line of defense, Lilli Patterson.Then there are outside backs Alison Lyle and Lauren Guerra, Fanikos at center midfield and Lauren Maloney and Isabella Floramo flanking her to the left and right. Lauren McGrath and Jaylin Grabau up front round out the crew with Shaleigh Furey, Leigh Guerra and Kathleen Hamm rotating through the lineup as well.”I’m thrilled with the way they’re playing,” Reardon said. “There’s such team camaraderie. The kids are on the same page. They check one goal off and go on to the next.”Fanikos, who started playing field hockey in the fifth grade and now plays year round (she plays for the Boston Field Hockey club team), said she’s looking to take field hockey as far as she can go with the national team or even the Olympics a goal.Fanikos said her school team has been great and this year.”The team has really stepped it up and given 110 percent,” Fanikos said. “We all just connected this year. All the pieces are fitting together.”