LYNNFIELD – The Pioneers field hockey team picked up its first win of the season Friday, defeating Cape Ann Ann League rival North Reading at home, 2-0.
Captains Ava Marotta and Julia Carbone scored one goal each, to level Lynnfield’s record to 1-1.
“It was our first league game of the year so a lot was riding on it. But coming out of Wednesday, which was a hard-fought loss, we wanted to win today. Both our goals were good, strong goals,” said Lynnfield coach Samatha Pindara. “North Reading is a really good team, their defense was strong and it took a while for us to get around them. We had to be methodical in our shots and those captains hit the ball hard.”
After coming off a season-opening 2-1 loss to North Andover on Aug. 7, Pindara said the team had a lot to work on. Thursday’s practice showed improvement and skill across the board for the team, Pindara said.
“Something that we were working on in practice was cutting. It’s when you cut in front of the other team’s defense,” said Pindara. “You get in front of them and get open, cutting open to give our defense and our minds opportunities to get the ball up the field.”
Both teams came out of the start raring to go but were stymied in the first half, which ended in a scoreless tie. Lynnfield controlled possession in the first quarter while in the second quarter North Reading started to press harder and harder.
Lynnfield’s offense finally cashed in in the second half with Marotta scoring first followed by Carbone.
“Our goalie Charlotte Radulski played hard. Melissa Caprio on defense played a great game,” said Pindara. “Our two captains, Ava Marotta and Julia Carbone, with the two goals, really stepped up. Sophia Raffa out on the left wing was amazing. She was everywhere and anywhere, which is what we love to see for our forwards.
“With a team as strong as North Reading, they play strong offensively. She (Raffa) had to come back more than we typically have our forwards come back but she executed that. That’s all we can ask for.”
The team travels to Triton on Monday for the start of a string of three away games.
Maddi Filip can be reached at [email protected]
