LYNNFIELD — A big second quarter was all the Pioneers field hockey team needed to defeat visiting Amesbury 6-0 Monday afternoon.
Despite holding a decided edge in possession, the Pioneers clung to a slim 1-0 lead after the first quarter. But they turned up the heat in the second, exploding for three goals in about four minutes midway through the quarter to take a commanding 4-0 lead into halftime.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Pioneers added two insurance goals in the final frame to seal the win and improve to 12-1-3.
Junior Lauren Mattia scored one goal and assisted on two others. Sophomore Sophia Morgese notched three assists. Senior captain Izzy Fiorentino and junior Mia Capodilupo scored two goals each. Sophomore Gianna Bridges scored once, and freshman Nola Maney added an assist. Sophomore Bridget McGee earned the shutout in goal.
“Today was a great team win for us. Everyone got an opportunity to play, and that’s always a good thing,” Lynnfield coach Kerri Doherty said. “We actually had two goals on crossed balls, which were seamless. That’s just executing our game plan, which was nice to see today.”
Second-year Amesbury coach Finn Caron, who took over when Doherty accepted the Lynnfield job, said the score could have been worse if not for the efforts of goalie Tori Murphy, who finished with nine saves.
“That’s a lot of saves, and she did a really great job of exiting the saves away as well,” Caron said. “She came up with some really big saves for us. She really kept us in it today. Overall, I am proud of the way we played.”
Capodilupo opened the scoring with about three minutes left in the first quarter, tipping home a cross from Morgese to put the Pioneers on top 1-0.
With just under eight minutes left in the second quarter, Fiorentino doubled the lead to 2-0 on a corner. Morgese fed Mattia, who found Fiorentino alone on the left side of the cage. Fiorentino picked the ball out of the air about waist-high and slammed it home.
About a minute later, Morgese made a long run and crossed to Capodilupo, who banged it home to make it 3-0. Fiorentino struck again a couple of minutes later, finishing a feed from Mattia.
“Sophia had a beautiful crossed ball to Mia and another to Izzy,” Doherty said. “We talk all year about framing the cage, getting that weak side — our left side — coming up. They know that ball is coming. At this point, you hope they know when it’s coming and to time that cut, so it was really nice to see.”
With a four-goal lead, Doherty went to the bench midway through the third quarter.
“That shows our depth. We practice like we play. I preach that all year,” Doherty said. “I do have confidence in the depth I have this year. I’m confident when I clear the bench, and today everyone logged some good minutes.”
Amesbury stepped up its attack and a couple of good chances, but the Pioneer defense and McGee were up to the challenge. Amesbury’s best chance was snuffed out by junior defender Hayden Valiton who swiped the ball off an advancing Amesbury player’s stick deep in Pioneer territory.
“She’s so consistent this year,” Doherty said. “Her Masco game the other day was one of her best this season. You never have to worry about her showing up or not. She’s always bringing her game. She seems to always manage to come up with the ball and throw her stick in there.
“And Bridget didn’t see a lot of action today and didn’t see any offensive corners, which is preferable. She’s been dialed in all year,” Doherty said. “Overall, I was happy today. Amesbury is a program I coached. I told the kids they have grit and athleticism, so they needed to be on their game — and they were.”
Mattia and Gianna Bridges capped the scoring in the fourth quarter. Mattia added an unassisted goal with 3:56 to go. Less than two minutes later, Maney made a long run up the middle and fired a shot that ended up on the stick of Bridges, who was in the right place at the right time and slammed it home with about two minutes to go.
Lynnfield is back in action Wednesday against Pentucket on Senior Night. A Pioneer win will secure at least a share of the Cape Ann League title.
“They have a really strong midfield, so we really need to show up and be ready to go,” Doherty said. “It being Senior Night, I know we’ll bring a lot of energy, so I hope things work out in our favor. Like I say, in the CAL, it’s anyone’s game on any given day.”
