LYNNFIELD — What a difference a year makes.
A year ago, Lynnfield girls soccer coach Mark Vermont had a daunting task in front of him, having to cope with the loss of 14 seniors.
Nonetheless, the Pioneers enjoyed a winning season, finishing with a record of 11-4-3. After defeating No. 9 Hamilton-Wenham 1-0 in the opening round of the Division 3 North tournament, the No. 8 Pioneers were eliminated 1-0 in the quarterfinals by top-seeded Austin Prep. The only goal of the game came on a penalty kick (for a handball in the box) after a Cougar shot took a flukey bounce and inadvertently deflected off a Pioneer.
This year, it’s a completely different story. With 14 returning varsity players, the pieces may be in place for the Pioneers to win it all.
Lynnfield graduated just one senior last year in midfielder Emma Montanile, but her loss is a big one. A Cape Ann League and Eastern Mass First Team All-Star, Montanile was a master of the middle, finishing the season with nine goals and four assists.
The good news is that 10 of 11 starters are back. The team will be led by senior tri-captains Tori Morelli, a center-midfielder, along with sweeper Liz Sykes and forward/midfielder Abby Lucich. Morelli and Sykes also served as captains last year. Sykes returns as a member of the CAL First Team as well as the Eastern Mass Second Team.
Vermont said their combined experience will be key.
“Having Tori and Liz as two-year captains, along with Abby, means the captains already know the drill,” he said. “I also think they give us a huge edge as they cover the top, the middle and the backfield, so that will be a bonus for us.”
With the entire forward crew back, including leading scorer Anna Maria Ferrante, the Pioneers look to be a strong offensive unit. Ferrante, a senior, received CAL and Eastern Mass First Team as well as All-State honors. She scored 11 goals and dished out 11 assists to lead the team in scoring.
Junior forward Ashley Mitchell is back for her third varsity campaign. Junior forward Emily Goguen sophomore forward Adriana Parisi are also back. Parisi saw significant minutes coming in off the bench.
Morelli is looking to have a breakout season at midfield. She and Ferrante were key players this summer for the New England Football Club U17 girls team, which captured the 2019 US Club Soccer National Cup XVIII championship in Commerce City, Colo. in late July.
Also returning in the midfield are seniors Emma Ricciardi and Emma Nardone and junior Julia Colucci.
The Pioneers’ entire defensive unit also returns. In addition to Sykes, a sweeper, senior Molly Ozanian along with juniors Lauren Braconnier, Lauren Michell and Erin Sharkey are back.
Senior goalkeeper Amberly McCarter also returns.
“She may be tiny in height but she has springs in her feet,” said Vermont.
New to the team this year are junior goalkeeper Lindsay Nardone and junior defenders Jenna Brodigan, Michelle Miller and Kiera Burns.
Also up from last year’s JV squad are sophomore midfielder Anna Radulski and sophomore forwards Amber Gamache and Alexis Veglia.
The Pioneers open the season Sept. 4 against defending CAL Kinney champion Masconomet and have non-league matches against Wayland Oct. 14 (11) and Essex Tech on the road Oct. 21 (4).
Vermont said he expects Masconomet, Newburyport and North Reading will be strong in the Kinney, while Amesbury, Hamilton-Wenham and Manchester-Essex will be strong in the small.
“As always it’s just a strong league,” said Vermont, now in his 19th season. “Several teams have strong good returning groups, but we do too, so all you can do is just play the games that are in front of you.
“We have all three units with experience and a great group of captains, who are respected by the kids, so that’s a big plus knowing we are starting the season in great shape,” Vermont said.
