After press time:
Lynnfield falls to Triton 3-2 (Jan. 18)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NEWBURYPORT — Last Saturday night, the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team was shut out, 4-0, by host Newburyport at the Graf Rink.
With that loss, the Pioneers’ record dipped to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in the Cape Ann League while the Clippers improved to 4-5 overall and 3-1 in the league.
“We sleepwalked through the first period but played much better in the final two,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “The final score was very deceiving.”
The Clippers scored three times in the opening stanza and netted their their final one in the second.
Will Forrest led the way with two goals while Jack Sullivan and Henry Waddell had the other two.
Newburyport’s second tally came on the power play.
This was the first time LHS has been shut out this winter.
The Clippers out-shot the Pioneers 31-24, as Lynnfield goalie, Mike Marenghi, made 27 saves.
The news was much better on Jan. 8 as the Pioneers beat rival North Reading, 3-1, at home at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.
This game was very chippy on both sides as Lynnfield committed a season-high five penalties.
“I know they are our rivals but we have to turn it down a little bit,” said Gardner. “The good news is that we killed off all of those power-play chances including a 5-on-3 in the first period.”
All four goals took place in the second period.
Nick Kelter scored the first one on a wrister 1:30 into the period assisted by Lucas Deraps and Owen Considine.
With 10:57 left, Considine made it 2-0 assisted by Deraps.
The Hornets made it 2-1 with 6:37 remaining but the Pioneers got the lead back to two just 23 seconds later as Cole MacKinnon scored assisted by Anthony Calla and Kelter.
In the third, North Reading did not pull their goalie for the extra skater as the Pioneers were able to keep the Hornets at bay.
Lynnfield out-shot North Reading 21-17, as Marenghi made 16 saves for the win.
On Jan. 15, the Pioneers host Winthrop in a non-league game starting at 6 p.m. They then return to CAL action on Jan.18 as they go back to the Graf Rink to take on host Triton with that contest starting at 6:30 p.m.
Lynnfield is looking to get a split of the season series as the Vikings won the season opener back on Dec.14 by a score of 4-1.
On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day next Monday, the Pioneers host non-league Westwood at noon.