LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield girls soccer team took on much-improved Essex Tech Saturday at Pioneer Stadium and scratched out a 3-0 win to remain undefeated (4-0).
“They were a solid team,” said Vermont. “They are not the same team we played last year. It was a good game and a good win for us.
“The key was we had to keep the ball wide as they were collapsing in the middle, but as long as we kept the ball outside, we created opportunities.”
The game was hard-fought from the opening whistle and remained scoreless until the 29th minute when senior captain Emma Montanile put the Pioneers on the board. She took a through-ball from junior Anna Maria Ferrante and streaked in alone behind the defense, then tapped a well-placed shot inside the far post.
“That was just a huge goal for us as we had been knocking on the door the entire half,” said Vermont. “That really got us going.”
With seven minutes left in the half, Ferrante worked the ball into the offensive zone and fed senior Abby Lucich, whose shot from just inside the box was deflected out of bounds.Junior Emma Nardone hooked the ensuing corner kick, that deflected to the top of the box where defender Erin Sharkey drilled it top-shelf right to stretch the Pioneer lead to 2-0.
The goal was Sharkey’s second in as many games, earning her the game ball.
“Absolutely, any time a defender scores a goal, she deserves a game ball,” Vermont said. “Most of the time, the only time you notice a defender is when they make a mistake, so Erin was very deserving as she stepped up. That one-touch is just what you want in that situation when there is a lot of traffic, so that was a big goal for us.”
Sharkey’s goal got Tech’s attention and the Hawks amped up the offensive pressure the rest of the half.
In the 36th minute, Tech had a free kick from just outside the box, but Catherine Niziak’s shot was wide of the 5-player wall. A minute later, Tech’s Jackie Nazzaro lobbed a free kick behind the Pioneers’ defense. Goalkeeper Amberly McCarter aggressively came out to cut off a Tech player, who went down hard in the collision, but, fortunately for Lynnfield, a foul was not called on McCarter.
“That was a tough play, as sometimes when that happens in the box, the goalie gets a card,” Vermont said.
The Pioneers came out on the attack to start the second half and made it a 3-0 in the 41st minute when Lauren Braconnier played a great cross to the feet of Mitchell, who drilled it home.
The Pioneers needed to dodge one last bullet when a Tech player broke in alone of McCarter in the 71st minute.
“Amberly did exactly what I told her to do after that play in the first half, and that was to hold her ground and force the attacker to make her move,” said Vermont. “She did that, then made her move to break up the play.”
Vermont was pleased with his team’s efforts, especially the midfield and defense.
“Tori (Morelli), Emma Ricciardi and Julia Colucci locked down the middle and our outside backs, Lauren (Braconnier) and Lauren Mitchell did a nice job pushing the play up to set up some crosses,” Vermont said. “Liz (Sykes) really organized the backfield well with Molly (Ozanian).”
