LYNNFIELD — A gritty Essex Tech team gave Lynnfield all it could handle in the first half, but the Pioneers found their rhythm in the second to polish off a 4-0 win Monday at home and improve to 3-0.
Junior Mia Capodilupo led the offense with a pair of goals, both assisted by sophomore Sophia Morgese. Junior Lauren Mattia finished with a goal and an assist. Freshman Nola Maney also scored. Junior goalie Olivia Sylvester picked up her second shutout in three games.
The game was anyone’s to win at the half with Lynnfield clinging to a 1-0 lead. Coach Kerri Doherty said the Pioneers came out “a little flat” but also was quick to credit the Hawks’ defense and goalkeeper for “making us work for it.”
“I told them at halftime that I wanted a complete reset. You’re going to have games when you come out flat,” Doherty said. “Our stick-to-stick passing wasn’t on. I commend the Essex Tech defense and their goalkeeper (Frankie Palmer), who played lights out today. They were very disciplined on defense and they have low, strong block tackles. They were stopping all those balls that we usually thread through to our wings. They were on today.”
Essex Tech’s first-year coach Cally McSweeney also praised her team’s defense.
“I love my defensive line and our goalie is phenomenal,” McSweeney said. “Frankie (11 saves) is the heart of the back. Playing a team like Lynnfield, you can’t get away with much. Every play is a learning lesson for us. We have a lot to take away from this and I am excited about our next game.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Capodilupo broke the scoring ice with a goal at the 6:57 mark of the second quarter, taking a pass from Morgese and tipping it home.
Capodilupo struck again about eight minutes into the third quarter to double the lead to 2-0. Morgese threaded a pass to Capodilupo, camped all alone on the left side of the goal, who redirected the ball into the cage.
Maney extended the lead to 3-0 with about three minutes left in the quarter when she picked up the ball at the top of the circle and rifled it home. Senior captain Lily Alves and Mattia were credited with assists.
Mattia capped the scoring with a reverse hit at the 11:23 mark of the fourth quarter with freshman Ade Wolf picking up a lone assist.
Pioneer captains Cameron Munion, Izzy Fiorentino and Alves were pleased with the way the Pioneers stepped it up in the second half.
“They were utilizing the sidelines really well and I felt we came out a little slow,” Alves said. “They were very strong on their sticks so we had to find tactics in the second half to adjust to that.”
“I agree with Lily that we definitely came out a little slowly,” Munion said. “Once we figured out how to get around their groups we were able to figure out what they were doing and play stronger.”
Fiorentino credited Maney’s aerial hits for helping the Pioneers switch up the field.
“She has a strong one and obviously we want to do field transfers with quick passing, but she gets it over everybody’s head which allows a quicker and more efficient transfer,” she said. “It’s a winner every single time she does it and we needed that today.”
Doherty commended the play of Maney, Mattia, Morgese, and sophomore Grace Allen.
“Nola played excellently. She is an anchor in our backfield,” Doherty said “Lauren on the right mid played well. The whole right side with Lauren, Sophia and Grace as a screen played well especially in the third and fourth quarters. Those give-and-gos are going to come. Mia and Soph connected twice with those cross passes. We didn’t spread the field much, but when we did in the second half, that really opened up the scoring for us.”
Lynnfield returns to action next Monday at Hamilton-Wenham. Essex Tech (0-2) hosts Amesbury on Wednesday.
Doherty said she isn’t taking any game against a Cape Ann League opponent lightly.
“They’re working hard and it’s coming along, but this is a tough league. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day,” Doherty said. “We can’t take any opponent easily. It’s always about who shows up. We definitely have some work to do, but it’s only our third game. I think this team has what it takes, but it’s about getting our communication down and having everyone in the right spots.”
