Falls to North Andover in tourney opener

Published February 26, 2020

LYNNFIELD’s John Simonetti (left) and Sam Pifko celebrate Simonetti’s goal against Gloucester. The seniors helped lead the No. 11 Pioneers against  No. 6 North Andover in the first round of the Div. 2 North playoffs on Tuesday night after press time. The winner will play the winner of Tewksbury-North Reading in the quarterfinals. (Robin DeBenedictis Photo)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

GLOUCESTER — In their final game of the regular season on Feb. 19, the Lynnfield High boys hockey team was nipped by host Gloucester 4-3 at Talbot Rink in a non-league contest.

With that defeat, the Pioneers finished the regular season at 11-7-2 while the Fishermen, who completed the season sweep over the Pioneers, ended up at 12-5-3.

In the first period, the hosts scored the game’s first two goals both netted by E.J. Field. Jack Costanzo assisted on both of them as one of them came on the power play.

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard late in the first on a goal by Dan Mack with 3:25 left. John Simonetti and Ronnie Fuccillo both assisted.

In the second, Costanzo made it 3-1 assisted by Field with 10 minutes left.

Simonetti then cut the lead to one later on in the second on the power play assisted by Sam Pifko and Nate Alves with 2:32 remaining.

Early in the third, the Fishermen got the eventual game-winning goal when Field assisted on a Jack Delaney tally on a power play.

Alves cut the lead to one with the extra skater as goalie Jake DeBendictis was pulled for the extra attacker with 2:05 left but the Fishermen were able to hold on despite some late heavy pressure.

“It was a little disappointing,” admitted Pioneers head coach Jon Gardner. “We got off to a slow start with some early mistakes but I was proud of the way we came back.”

Lynnfield outshot the Fishermen 32-27 as DeBenedictis made 23 saves.

On Tuesday night, the 11th seeded Pioneers fell 5-2 to sixth seed North Andover at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn in the first round of the Division 2 North state tournament.

North Andover will take on Tewksbury in the quarterfinal round.

BOYS’ HOCKEY DIV. 2 NORTH BRACKET (MIAA.net)