LYNNFIELD — Could this be the year Lynnfield’s field hockey team wins it all?
While it’s still early, second-year head coach Kerri Doherty believes the sky is the limit.
“This team has incredible depth across every position,” Doherty said. “We are very mid-field heavy. Last year, we ran a completely different lineup and scheme, but this year, because of the talent we have, we will have a totally new look and I’m excited about that. We’ll have more focus on the inside-outside passing game, which is what Lynnfield teams are known for. This team is determined – they want it.
“Any day, any team in the CAL (Cape Ann League) can win, but this team has the talent to go the distance. They have cohesion. They are having fun. They have a lot of heart, so I see great things this year. We can go as far as we want if we keep to our core values.”
That’s saying a lot, considering what Doherty accomplished last year as a rookie. The Pioneers finished the regular season 12-3-3, earning the No. 6 seed in the Division 4 state tournament, where they made it all the way to the Elite Eight before being knocked out by No. 3 Sutton, 3-0.
This year’s team will be led by senior tri-captains Lily Alves, Izzy Fiorentino, and Cameron Munion, all of whom are in their third varsity seasons.
Alves played center back last year and is moving up to have more of an offensive impact. Fiorentino was a left forward the last two years and has now moved to left upper mid. Munion, who played center back last year, has moved to upper mid.
Doherty is excited to have “three wonderful student-athletes” as captains.
“They were voted captains by their teammates and coming off being key starters last year. I feel the captain dynamic is always very important to any team and my goal is to help them understand there are added responsibilities when you’re a captain – both on and off the field,” Doherty said. “We represent the high school and their teammates look up to them. They set the tone for the season in terms of work ethic, commitment, upholding team values, and good sportsmanship, so I feel these three girls will be such positive role models and leaders.”
In addition to the three captains, the Pioneers have a strong group of returners, starting with junior midfielder Lauren Mattia, who is also in her third year on varsity.
“She was an integral part of our offense last year and dominated the right side,” Doherty said. “She is very skilled and works extremely hard on her game. She was a CAL second team All-Star last year and I think she is going to be a breakout player this year, so I am really excited about that.”
Seniors Erin Golden and Zoey O’Brien, juniors Hayden Valiton, Allison Sweeney and Mia Capodilupo, as well as sophomores Sophia Morghese and Grace Allen also return.
“Sophia worked hard all summer. Her stick skills have really come along, so she will definitely contribute to the offense,” Doherty said. “Hayden is a tremendous athlete with a great game sense and will make an immediate impact at right defense this year. Allison and Zoey were first off the bench last year and will contribute at midfield and in the backfield. Erin will contribute in spots on defense and Mia will be a huge threat up top in front of the keeper. She’s had an impressive preseason and I feel she will score a lot of goals. And Grace will contribute at midfield and forward. She has amazing game sense and off-ball movement, and is another player to watch who is capable of having a breakout season.”
There are also promising new players in junior goalie Olivia Sylvester, as well as freshmen Nola Maney and Olvia Ellison.
“Olivia Sylvester worked really hard on her fitness and footwork, and is coming back in excellent shape,” Doherty said. “I feel she will do amazing things for us. Her teammates have full trust and confidence in her game because of the work she put in over the summer. I expect her to make a lot of great saves this year. It’s never easy to come in as a new keeper, but we’re really psyched because we know she wants it.
“Nola is fresh off a summer full of national camps and will be a threat on both sides of the ball. She is extremely skilled and has a great IQ. I see her making an immediate impact in the midfield and backfield – not only on our team, but in the league.
“Olivia Ellison will contribute offensively at left forward. She has great stick skills and is very adept on the left side and a huge asset in terms of tipping and scoring.”
Alves, a CAL second team All-Star last year, believes the strength of the team is player positivity.
“Even when we’re running laps around the field, everyone is so excited and positive,” Alves said. “The level of positivity is unmatched.”
Munion pointed to team chemistry.
“Already, I feel like we are all best friends and we haven’t even started the season yet,” Munion said. “We have that communication. We all text each other and have group chats, so we stay really close for sure. We have a lot of freshmen on varsity this year and everyone is just friendly and positive.”
Fiorentino knows the team has to step it up a notch, now that it’s been bumped up to Division 3.
“The competition now is a little more difficult, but the goal is still the same. We want to strive for perfection, get that Final Four banner, and make it to the championship game because when we got knocked out last year, it was sad.”
The Pioneers open the season at home against CAL rival Newburyport Sept. 3 (4 p.m.). They have non-league home games against Monomoy and Masconomet, and will close out the regular season at home with another non-league game against Beverly.
Fiorentino said she’s had the Monomoy game circled on her calendar for a long time.
“When we were freshmen, Monomoy beat us in the tournament, so it’s kind of a get-back game because it will be the first time we will have played them since they knocked us out,” she said.
