Season Preview: Lynnfield girls’ lacrosse returns its best team ever

t?s been a steady climb for the Lynnfield girls? lacrosse program under coach Ethan Blanchette. Yes, the Pioneers had star players like Devon MacEachern, Katie Lucich and Jess Miles. But Lynnfield had something missing from its resume: A trip to the state tournament.
Last season, however, the Pioneers finally accomplished that, with a 9-8-1 regular-season record in the extremely competitive Cape Ann League. Lynnfield then played well in its first tournament game, falling 18-8 to eventual Division 2 North finalist Marblehead.
Now, with 18 of 19 players back returning, Blanchette knows that now more than ever is Lynnfield?s chance.
?I expect us to the be the best team Lynnfield has had to date,” he said. “Our schedule is tougher than it?s been in previous years but our first team goal is to make the tournament.”
Lynnfield was one of the top scoring teams in the area last season and much of that firepower returns to the fold, led by senior captains Bailey Fanikos, Paige MacEachern and junior Meryl Braconnier.
Fanikos, who led the Lynnfield field hockey team to an unbeaten regular season this fall, scored 65 goals in 20 games last season. But that was only second-best on the Pioneers. MacEachern led the team with 72 goals from her midfield position.
Braconnier, who recorded 36 goals last season, gives Lynnfield a triple threat to score.
Senior Katie Scanlon will serve as the Pioneers? third captain along with Fanikos and MacEachern and will anchor a defense that has improved every season since the program?s inception.
Blanchette has nothing but praise for his core of seniors that have been through plenty of highs and lows.
?Paige, Bailey and Katie are all four-year varsity players and two-time captains now,” Blanchette said. “They?ve started every game since they were freshmen. The foundation of our program was put in place by some quality players in the past. Paige and Bailey are two of the best I?ve ever coached and Katie is such an important part of our defense and all of them have helped bring respectability to the program.”
Senior attack Cassandra Miles is also expected to play a big role.
On defense, Scanlon is joined by Lindsay Barrett in shoring up a solid defense in front of new goalie Annie Sanford.
Sophomore midfielder Caroline Buckley is expected to move into the starting lineup and give the Pioneers even more depth up the middle.The Pioneers have their usual slate of Cape Ann League games along with a tough non-conference slate which kicks off with their scheduled season opener on April 2 against Peabody.