JACK CALICHMAN is one of 10 returning Pioneers on the boys’ lacrosse team this spring. Lynnfield starts their season on Thursday, 4 p.m. in North Reading. (File Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season, the Lynnfield High boys’ lacrosse team went 4-9 overall as they lost, 9-7, at Essex Tech in the first round of the Division 3 North state tournament (the MIAA allowed all teams who wanted to compete in the states the chance despite their overall record due to the situation with the pandemic).
Eight seniors from that team graduated but second-year head coach Pat Lumusta welcomed back 10 veterans when spring practice opened on March 21.
Four of the players back are this year’s senior quad-captains: Will Steadman (attacker), Janssen Sperling (attacker), Rupert Thomas (defenseman) and Jack Phelps (midfielder).
The junior Pioneers back are Jack Calichman (midfielder), Drew Damiani (attacker), Steve Dreher (defenseman), James Sharkey (defenseman) and Bryce Kay (face-off specialist and defenseman).
Damiani, who also plays for the Pioneers’ hockey team, is the team’s top returning scorer as he had 21 goals his sophomore year.
Sophomore A.J. Chiaradonna is the other player back and he is a utility player.
The team played three scrimmages against Bishop Fenwick, Masconomet and Tyngsboro. Lamusta was pleased in what he saw.
“We had strong showings in all of those games,” he pointed out. “A.J. And Bryce really played well.”
The schedule will bump up from 12 regular-season games last year to 18 this season. They will play 12 Cape Ann League (twice against the CAL Kinney Division teams and once against the Baker Division schools) and six non-league games.
Wilmington, Medford, Bishop Fenwick, Gloucester, Wakefield and Somerville are the six non-league opponents.
Passing and playmaking is one of the goals Lamusta wants to see from his squad this year.
“We have to play as a team and not live or die with one player,” he explained.
This year, the Pioneers will drop a division as they will play in the Division 4 state tournament if they qualify with the MIAA realignment.
The first two games of the year will be on the road as they go to rival North Reading on Thursday and then visit Triton next Monday. Both games will start at 5 p.m.