Published in the March 8, 2017 edition
PIONEER NETMINDER David Langone comes up big with the glove in Friday’s game against Saugus at Woburn’s O’Brien Rink. (Keith M. Curtis Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
WOBURN — The season came to an end for the Lynnfield High boys hockey team last Friday night as the skaters fell to Saugus, 5-2, in the quarterfinal round of the Div. 2 North state tournament at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn in front of a huge crowd.
With the defeat, the 13th-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 11-9-2 while the 12th-seeded Sachems improved to 11-7-4. Saugus faced top-seeded Lowell Catholic in the semifinals on Tuesday night at the Tsongas Center in Lowell (results not available at press time).
Alex Merlina gave the Sachems a 1-0 lead 3:57 into the first period. Adam Rodrigues assisted.
Midway through the second period, the Pioneers tied it as Wil Rinaldi scored at the 5:28 mark assisted by Joey Mack.
However, Nick Moore gave Saugus the lead again with 57 seconds left in the second.
Lynnfield answered just 16 seconds later as Chris Flannery scored from Kyle Nekoroski and Ryan Fritas and the game was knotted at two heading into the third period.
From there, things went downhill for the Pioneers.
John Torres scored 1:45 into the third to give the Sachems the lead for good. Only 33 seconds later, Moore scored again to make it a 4-2 lead and take the wind out of the Pioneers’ sails.
Ian Worthley scored the final goal with 1:45 left on the empty net.
Lynnfield goalie David Langone made 21 stops while Saugus goalie Nick Sanderson made 18 saves on 20 Pioneer shots.
“We had two defensive breakdowns early in the third,” pointed out Lynnfield head coach Jon Gardner. “We also were unable to score on a five-on-three advantage as well.”
Lynnfield struggled on the power play going 0 for 7.
“My hat is off to Saugus for how they played on the power plays,” said Gardner.
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In the first round, the Pioneers upset fourth-seeded Winthrop, 4-0, on Feb. 28 at the Stoneham Arena.
“We had a really good game plan and the kids executed it well,” said Gardner.
After a scoreless first period, the Pioneers scored their first tally with 4:47 left in the second period as John Percoskie scored, assisted by George DeRoche.
Nekoroski then made it 2-0 with on a turnover with 3:34 remaining in the second.
Percoskie then scored his second goal of the night, assisted by Jaret Simpson, with 1:44 left in the second.
Joey Mack scored the final tally in the third on the empty net with 1:38 left.
Lynnfield outshot the Vikings on goal, 22-20. Langone posted the shutout with 20 stops.
The Vikings ended the year at 13-4-4.
