Pioneers (3-0) beat Amesbury, improve to 2-0 in CAL

Published in the December 20, 2017 edition

THE LHS boys’ hockey team began their season with a 4-2 victory over Gloucester on Dec. 9 at McVann-O’Keefe Rink. The Pioneers, who beat Pentucket and Amesbury on the road, return home Dec. 23 for a Saturday matinee against Hamilton-Wenham at noon.   (Mike Bierwirth Twitter Photo @PioneersLHS)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

HAVERHILL — Last Saturday night at the Haverhill Forum, the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team beat host Amesbury 5-1. With that win, the Pioneers improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Cape Ann League.

“It was a complete team effort,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “We did a good job of extending the lead when we got up.”

John Simonetti scored on the power play with 8:22 left in the first period, assisted by Cooper Marengi and Jaret Simpson. Three minutes later, George DeRoche made it 2-0 assisted by Tyler Murphy.

Lynnfield then made it 3-0 with 12:04 remaining in the second period when Jack Hammersley scored on the power play. Kyle Nekoroski assisted.

The Indians then scored on the power play with 2:21 left in the second to go into the second intermission down by two.

Chris Fiorentino then extended the lead back to three with 10:45 left in the third assisted by Ritchie Casaletto. Murphy had the final tally with 4:29 left assisted by John Simonetti and DeRoche.

The Pioneers outshot the Indians on goal, 28-12, as Lynnfield goalie Aidan Kelly made 11 saves to go to 3-0.

Beat Pentucket

On Dec. 13, the Pioneers defeated host Pentucket, 4-2, at Haverhill High School.

Simonetti scored on the power play with 9:44 remaining in the first assisted by DeRoche. The Sachems tied it a little over a minute later as the game was knotted at one after the first period.

With 2:01 left in the second, DeRoche scored assisted by Nekoroski. Rob Brandano then made it 3-1 with 26 seconds left assisted by DeRoche and Hammersley.

However, the Sachems scored just 14 seconds later to cut the lead to one heading into the third.

Joe Mack had the game’s final tally with 3:25 left, scoring on the power play. Simonetti and Hammersley both assisted.

“We were missing several bodies so this was a good win for us,” said Gardner.

Kelly made 22 stops as the Sachems outshot the Pioneers on net, 24-22.

“Aidan was huge for us,” stated Gardner.

The next game for Lynnfield is this Saturday at noon as they host Hamilton-Wenham, 12 p.m. at McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.