After press time: Lynnfield defeats Pentucket 6-1 (Feb 1)
Lynnfield falls to Newburyport 3-2, OT (Feb. 5)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — The Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team had their three-game winning streak snapped last Saturday afternoon as they lost to guest Amesbury, 6-4, at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
With that defeat, the Pioneers record fell to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the Cape Ann League. Meanwhile, Amesbury improved to 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the CAL as they won their fourth-straight game.
“We have no excuse for this loss,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner, who was disappointed with his team’s effort. “We came out flat and made a lot of self-inflicted mistakes.”
Amesbury led 2-1 after the first period and 4-1 after the second, as they never trailed in this one.
Lynnfield stormed back to tie the game at four in the third but the Red Hawks scored the game-winner with 1:33 left and added an empty-net tally with 53 seconds left.
Owen Considine scored the first Pioneer goal in the opening period that tied the game at one. Zac Benedetto assisted.
After Amesbury lit the lamp with two goals in the first 2:23 of the second period, Jake Connell scored 3:08 in to cut the lead to two.
“Jake has been a rock for us with his play on defense,” stated Gardner, about the senior blue-liner. “He has been a very solid performer.”
Back-to-back goals by Jack Carpenter and Aidan Norton tied the game at four just 4:30 into the final period.
Lynnfield out-shot Amesbury 32-18.
Mike Marenghi (5-5) started in goal and was pulled with the score 4-1 for Angelo Covino, who only allowed one goal as the last one was on the empty net.
Bodie Marcotte led the way for the Red Hawks with a hat trick and one assist. Matt Venturi had a team-high four assist and he also scored once.
Goalie, Cody Dyer, had 28 saves.
On Jan. 24, the Pioneers rolled over visiting North Reading by a final of 8-2.
“They have a young team with 14 underclassmen,” explained Gardner, about the rebuilding Hornets.
Lynnfield led 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 after the second. They then erupted for five goals in the third to turn the game into a rout.
Considine scored twice to lead the way while Tyler Scoppettuolo had one goal and two assists.
Aidan Norton and Andrew Carbone had one goal and one assist each. Jack Neenan, Evan Rocha and Brendan Driscoll all lit the lamp once.
Jay Carpenter and Will Norton each had two assists.
For Driscoll and Carbone, it was their first-career goals.
Lynnfield out-shot the Hornets 35-16 as Marenghi had 14 saves.
On Jan. 31, the Pioneers host Pentucket at 8:15 p.m. Then, on Feb. 3, they visit Newburyport at the Graf Rink. Face-off for that game is at 2:30 p.m. as the Pioneers look for the season split against the Clippers as Newburyport win the first meeting, 3-1, on Jan. 13.
Lynnfield entered this week ranked No. 4 in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams at the end of the regular season automatically qualify.