After press time:
Lynnfield defeats Martha’s Vineyard 5-1 (Feb. 16)
Lynnfield falls to Essex North 4-1 (Feb. 15)
Lynnfield defeats Marlboro 4-1 (Feb. 12)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
SALEM, NH — Last Saturday evening, the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team edged host Amesbury, 2-1, at the Salem Ice Center in Salem, New Hampshire.
With the win, the Pioneers improved to 7-9 overall and 5-4 in the Cape Ann League. The Red Hawks, meanwhile, fell to 5-9-1 overall and 3-6 in the CAL.
Owen Considine was the hero in this game as the team’s top scorer had the game-winning goal with 5:57 left in the game. That tally came on the power play and was assisted by Brendan Driscoll.
Amesbury pulled their goalie late and they also had a power play but the Pioneers were able to hang on.
“Mike (Marenghi) made a big save during that power play,” pointed out Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “He was spectacular.”
Marenghi made 31 saves. Lynnfield, meanwhile, had 22 shots on net.
Considine a senior captain, had the first goal of the night just 1:31 in with Jay Carpenter assisting.
Amesbury tied it on a Bodie Marcotte goal with 1:10 remaining in the second period.
Gardner was happy to see his squad come though in another close game.
“This was our third road game in a row,” said Gardner. “It was nice to see us be able to close it out.”
On Feb. 5, the Pioneers were edged, 3-2, on overtime by host Gloucester at Talbot Rink.
With that win, the non-league Fishermen were able to split the season series as the Pioneers won the first meeting, 6-2, on New Year’s Day.
Cade Cooper was the hero for the Fishermen scoring the overtime tally 1:36 in.
After a scoreless opening period, the Pioneers scored first with just one-second left in the second period as freshman CJ Anderson, scored his first-career goal on a feed from Anthony Calla from behind the Fishermen net.
“That was a very good pass,” said Gardner.
Gloucester tied the game one second after a power play expired as Lukas Albano scored with 5:47 left in the third.
Albano struck again, this time on the power play, with 3:23 left to give the Fishermen their first lead.
Gardner then pulled goalie, Angelo Covino, with 1:40 left and Calla tied it up on a pass from Considine with 50 seconds left to send the game into the 4-on-4 overtime session.
“We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory,” said Gardner. “They had two power-play chances in the third after having none the first two periods.”
Gloucester out-shot the Pioneers 32-23 as Covino made 29 stops.
On Feb. 12, the Pioneers host Marlboro at McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. Face-off for that non-league game is at 7:15 p.m.
Lynnfield then goes down to Martha’s Vineyard this weekend for the annual, Farleigh S. Dickinson Tournament.
The first game will be against Essex Tech on Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. at Martha’s Vineyard Arena. They will then play on either Feb. 16 against Martha’s Vineyard or Dover-Sherborn/Weston (time to be determined).
Lynnfield entered this week ranked 17th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams, at the end of the regular season, automatically qualify regardless of their record.