ANGELO COVINO earned the victory in Lynnfield’s last two wins, racking up 21 saves against both Martha’s Vineyard on Sunday and Marlborough on Feb. 12. (Courtesy Photo)
After press time:
Lynnfield falls to Scituate 5-0 (Feb. 20)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
MARTHA’S VINEYARD — In the consolation game of the Farleigh S. Dickinson Tournament on Sunday, the Lynnfield High boys hockey team beat the host school, Martha’s Vineyard, 5-1, at Martha’s Vineyard Arena.
With that victory, the Pioneers improved to 9-10 overall while the Vineyarders fell to 8-9-2.
Lynnfield led this game 1-0 after the opening period and 2-0 after the second as they broke the game open in the third.
Owen Considine was the story of this one recording his fourth hat trick of the year.
“When he has the room, he is lethal with his shot,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner, about his top scorer. “He makes it tough on goalies.”
The two other LHS goals were scored by CJ Anderson and Anthony Calla. Calla’s goal came on the power play as well as one of Considine’s.
Lucas Deraps led the team in assists with two while Calla, Considine, Brendan Driscoll and Nick Kelter all had one helper.
Lynnfield out-shot the home team 25-22 as Pioneer goalie Angelo Covino made 21 stops to improve to 5-4.
“It was nice to get off the island with one win,” said Gardner.
In the first game of the tournament the day before, the Pioneers lost to Essex Tech 4-1.
Although this was a tournament game, it was also a Cape Ann League game as Lynnfield finished 5-5 in the league. They came in fourth place in the CAL Kinney Division.
“We have had issues with starting games a lot during the season and they ambushed,” admitted Gardner, whose team fell down 2-0 in the first few minutes of the game on goals by Brady Leonard and Brian DeLisio.
Considine scored to make it 2-1, assisted by Deraps, later on in the first.
The score stayed that way until the third as a Teddy Tsoutsouris tally made it 3-1.
With just under two minutes left, Gardner pulled goalie Mike Marenghi for the extra skater but the Hawks closed it out with an empty-net goal by Jaydan Vargas with 1:19 left.
Not only did the Hawks get a split of the season series with the win but they also clinched the CAL Kinney Division title as they improved to 15-3-1 overall and 8-2 in the league.
The Hawks out-shot the Pioneers 42-12 as Marenghi made 38 saves.
“Mike was awesome,” stated Gardner.
On Feb. 12, the Pioneers beat guest Marlborough, 4-1, in a non-league game at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
“That was a solid win for us,” said Gardner. “We did a good job of closing them out in the third.”
Leading 2-1 heading into the final 15 minutes, the Pioneers scored twice.
Calla lit the lamp twice while Considine and Kelter both scored once.
Driscoll led the team in assists with two while Jay Carpenter and Considine both had one.
Lynnfield out-shot Marlboro 35-22 as Covino made 21 stops.
The Pioneers wrap up the regular season on Feb. 20 as they play host Scituate at the Hobomock Ice Arena.
Face-off is at 1 p.m.
On Feb. 22, the Pioneers will find out who they open with in the Division 3 state tournament.
Lynnfield entered this week ranked 15th in the MIAA Div. 3 power rankings. The top 32 teams, at the end of the regular season, automatically qualify regardless of their record.
The states will start up in the middle of next week.
If Lynnfield can finish in the top 16, they will get to host a first-round game.