THE 2021-22 LHS boys’ hockey team made it to the D3 state semifinals in the new MIAA tournament format, which is the equivalent to being a sectional champion in years past. The Pioneers made it even farther in the tourney than the 2007 team’s improbably run to the D2 North sectional title game as a 16 seed. That team came one win away from the state semifinals. (LHS Hockey Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LOWELL — An outstanding season came to an end for the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team as they were edged 3-2 by Marlborough in the MIAA Division 3 state semifinals on March 14 at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.
With that result, the 4th-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 19-4-1. The top-seeded Panthers then ended up losing to third-seeded Hanover, 5-3, on Sunday at the TD Garden in the Div. 3 state championship game to finish the year at 21-2-1.
“We lost our legs,” admitted Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner, as his squad played their previous game just two nights earlier while Marlborough played three nights earlier. “We outshot them and outplayed them in the first period but they took over late in the second.”
Lynnfield struck first as Tyler Scoppettuolo took a feed from his brother Jarrett and beat Panther goalie, Dan Esteves, to make it 1-0 with 8:43 left in the opening period.
Drew Damiani was also credited with an assist.
The Panthers tied it with 3:12 left in the second stanza as Panthers star, Marcus Chrisafideis, scored on a tipped-shot assisted by Mark Evangelous.
Marlborough took its first lead of the evening with 1:18 remaining in the second as Chrisafideis put home a loose puck in front of the Pioneer net to send his squad into the second intermission up 2-1.
“(Chrisafideis) is one of the top players in the state,” said Gardner, as Chrisafideis has scored 38 goals this season. “That team is very talented and have a tough group of top-five guys.”
The Panthers then made it 3-1 just 58 seconds into the third as Noah Lind cashed in on a breakaway.
Lynnfield responded with 11:47 left as Will Steadmen lit the lamp assisted by Chase Carney.
The Pioneers had two power-play chances later on in the third but couldn’t knot the score.
With a little over a minute remaining in the game, Pioneer goalie Phineas Mitchener was pulled for the extra skater but the Panthers were able to hold on.
Lynnfield, who went 0-3 overall on the power play, outshot Marlborough 28-24, as Mitchener made 21 saves to end the year at 15-4-1.
Esteves, meanwhile, made 26 stops.
“I was very proud of my team,” said Gardner. “We had a great season.”