DREW DAMIANI scored one of Lynnfield’s five goals in an 8-5 lost to Gloucester on Jan. 1. The 4-1 Pioneers travel to 0-1-1 Newburyport on Wednesday and 3-2 Hamilton-Wenham on Saturday. (File Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — On New Year’s Day, the Lynnfield High boys’ hockey team lost 8-5 at home to non-league Gloucester at the McVann O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. It was the first loss of the season for the Pioneers who fell to 4-1 overall.

“We came out flat and had to play from behind all day,” pointed out Lynnfield head coach Jon Gardner. “Gloucester is a very good team with one of the best players in the state.”

That player, Jack Costanzo, scored four times as the Fishermen, a team out of the Northeastern Conference, improved to 5-0.

Gloucester scored the first two goals of the afternoon with Dan O’Leary scoring 1:10 in and Emerson Marshall making it 2-0 on the power play 4:44 in.

Lynnfield scored on the power play with 12 seconds remaining in the first as Aidan Burke lit the lamp assisted by Will Steadman and Drew Damiani.

In the second period, Costanzo made it 3-1 on the power play just 37 seconds in. Damiani cut the Fishermen lead to one again with 11:02 left assisted by Will Norton.

In the third, Joe Raffa tied the game 1:10 in assisted by Jake Connell. Costanzo gave the guest the lead again at the 2:53 mark into the period.

Janssen Sperling then tied the game at four with 9:35 left in the game.

However, the Fishermen scored the next three goals. Brett Cunningham made it 5-4 with 7:45 left and Costanzo scored with 5:04 remaining.

With Pioneer goalie Phinneas Mitchener pulled for the extra attacker, Colby Jewell scored on the empty net to make it 7-4.

Dylan Damiani, Drew’s younger brother then scored to cut the lead to two but another empty-net goal by Costanzo made it a three-goal advantage with 22 seconds left in the game.

Gloucester outshot the Pioneers on goal, 34-33, as Mitchener (3-1) made 26 saves.

On Wednesday (Jan. 5), the Pioneers return to Cape Ann League action as they visit Newburyport at 7 pm at the Graf Rink.

The Pioneers then go to the Pingree School this Saturday night to take on host Hamilton-Wenham. Face-off for that game is also at 7 p.m.