Published in the January 13, 2016 edition
FRESHMAN Jagger Benson (11) scored a goal and had an assist during the Pioneers’ 6-2 victory over Pentucket-Georgetown Jan. 9. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The boys’ hockey team is riding high on a four-game win streak.
The Pioneers (5-1-2) earned a 6-4 come-from-behind win over Masconomet Jan. 6.
Masco scored its first goal 6:32 into the first period. The Chieftains scored its second goal with 1:19 remaining in the first period.
The Chieftains took a 3-0 lead at the 11:05 mark of the second period. Masco took a 4-0 lead at the 7:36 mark of the second period.
Undaunted, the Pioneers began its comeback when assistant captain Derek Crampe scored a goal 6:29 into the second period after he was set up by senior captain Dan O’Leary and freshman Jagger Benson. The Chieftains had a 4-1 lead at the end of the second period.
Lynnfield scored five goals during the third period. Senior captain Rob LoConte scored a goal at the 12:22 mark of the third period, assisted by freshman George DeRoche and sophomore Cooper Marengi.
“It was a really nice goal,” said Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner.
Sophomore Joey Mack cut the locals’ deficit to one, 4-3, after he scored a goal at the 11:38 mark of the third period. Crampe and O’Leary were credited with the assists.
O’Leary tied the game at four after he scored a power play goal at the 9:36 mark.
DeRoche gave the Pioneers a 5-4 lead after finding the back of the net with 2:34 remaining in the third period. LoConte and Marengi were credited with the assist.
O’Leary scored on an empty netter with 1:07 remaining in the third period.
Senior goalie Nick Fiorentino tallied nine saves in net against Masco. Junior David Langone recorded 10 saves in net.
Gardner commended the Pioneers’ performance against the Chieftains.
“We came out completely flat but I give our guys a lot of credit for battling back,” said Gardner. “I have been coaching for 15 years and I have never seen a team score six unanswered goals including five in the third period.”
Defeats Sachems
Lynnfield kept rolling and defeated Pentucket-Georgetown 6-2 on Jan. 9.
After a scoreless first period, Marengi gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead after he scored on a breakaway at the second period’s 10:23 mark.
Pentucket-Georgetown tied the game at one after scoring a five-on-three power play goal with 55 seconds remaining in the second period.
Crampe gave the Pioneers a 2-1 lead after he scored a goal 25 seconds into the third period, assisted by O’Leary and Benson.
The Sachems scored its final goal at the 10:40 mark, which cut the Pioneers’ lead to one, 3-2.
Benson gave the Pioneers a 4-2 lead after scoring a power play goal with 6:03 remaining in the third period, assisted by O’Leary and LoConte.
O’Leary scored Lynnfield’s fifth goal after being set up by senior Billy Cole with 3:03 remaining in the third period.
DeRoche scored the Pioneers’ final goal with 2:08 remaining in the game. Assistant captain Greg Miles was credited with the assist.
Fiorentino tallied 21 saves in the cage against Pentucket-Georgetown.
“Nick made some spectacular saves for us,” said Gardner.
Gardner said the Pioneers played a well-rounded game against the Sachems.
“Pentucket-Georgetown has a very good goalie,” said Gardner. “Our guys stuck to our system and it paid off.”
Gardner also praised O’Leary and DeRoche’s performance against the Sachems.
“Dan has been playing very well,” said Gardner. “And I think this was George’s best game of the season.”
Upcoming games
The Pioneers host North Reading on Wednesday, Jan. 13, beginning at 8:15 p.m. Lynnfield travels to Amesbury on Saturday, Jan. 16, beginning at 5:20 p.m.
