Lynnfield Girls Soccer Gearing for a Return to Playoffs

The Lynnfield girls soccer team suffered a cruel fate in the 2010 MIAA playoffs. The Pioneers made it all the way to the Division 3 North semifinals before bowing out to Ipswich in a 2-1 loss that featured nine rounds of penalty kicks.

Coach Mark Vermont and the Pioneers core is back for another season, and this year they are looking to make it a step further in a run to the Division 3 North sectional title.

“Every year I’d love to be in the North Semifinals with a shot to be in the North finals,” said Vermont. “Anything can happen as the season goes. With a young defense we are going to have some growing pains. But I think we are going to be in pretty good shape. We will see.”

The goalie is the building blocks for a solid soccer team, and the Pioneers certainly have one of the better ones around. Nareh Sahakian is back for her senior season.

“She’s really just matured and developed into a really fantastic goalkeeper,” Vermont said of his Cape Ann League all-star goalie. “She’s solid and confident. She’s a senior now. Unless I find a way to keep her back, she is gone.”

The midfield and forward positions will be stocked with returning talent for the Pioneers. Lauren McCarthy will bring her knack for possessing the ball in the center of the midfield. Emily Stewart will be on the outside and junior Allegra DiCesare will also be part of that group.

Scout Benson has blazing fast speed, according to Vermont, and she will look to put a number of goals into the back of the net for the Pioneers. Alex Prach and Sam Nee will also provide depth.

The defense will need to mature quickly as Vermont had a number of starters for a team that went 13-5-3 last season. Shannon Lamusta and Christina Totman are the only returning varsity players on the defense, and Vermont will rely on a group of underclasswomen to fill out the core in front of the Pioneers’ star goalkeeper.