Hockey Roundup: Lynnfield boys maintain momentum

Last March, Lynnfield made a storybook run to the Division 2 North final before losing to Andover. Two of the main cogs in that run were forwards Ryan Smith and John Connolly.Well, the Pioneers seem to have picked up right where they left off last season.After hammering Amesbury, 7-1, on opening night, Lynnfield was at it again on Saturday as Smith recorded an eight-point game and Connolly had two goals and two assists in an 8-2 pounding of Wilmington at McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.”We’re being led by our seniors and captains,” Lynnfield coach Vin Mirasolo said.Smith, Connolly and Rob Pedicini did the damage against the Wildcats. Smith recorded all three of his goals in the first period, along with the first of two from Pedicini, to give Lynnfield a 4-1 lead.After Wilmington cut the lead to 4-2, Connolly found the mark to make it 5-2. Smith and Pedicini added goals in the middle period to up the gap to 7-2. In the third, Connolly added a short-handed goal, assisted by Smith, to close out the scoring.St. Mary’s 4, Matignon 1At Cambridge, the Spartans (2-1) bounced back from a loss to Austin Prep with a solid win. Zak Borowski picked up his first two goals in Spartan colors and John Baldwin added a goal and an assist and Anthony Struppa had two assists as St. Mary’s used three second-period goals to take the lead for good.Baldwin’s goal tied the game at 1-1 early in the second period before Borowski put the Spartans ahead for good. Corey Lee’s goal at 10:51 made it 3-1 after two. Borowski added his second of the game early in the third to close out the scoring.Gloucester 6, Swampscott 3At Talbot Rink in Gloucester, the Big Blue (0-1-1) were in this one all the way against the defending NEC North champs. Swampscott actually had a 2-1 lead early in the second off goals from Danny Rakoc and Justin Massey, but the Fishermen stormed back with three unanswered goals in 3:59 to retake the lead.Swampscott cut the lead back to 4-3 on John Pelletier’s unassisted goal at 2:36 of the third and had the potential tying goal erased on a quick whistle. Gloucester put the game away on Conor Ressel and Brett Biondo goals in the final 3:20.”This game showed our kids that we can play with any team in the league,” Swampscott coach Gino Faia said.Beverly 4, Marblehead 1At Rockett Arena in Salem, the Panthers (2-0) scored twice in the first and third periods to take the win.Mitch Hamor, Jack Liacos, Chris Bushey and Ty Albano each had a goal for Beverly. Mike Cohn spoiled C.J. Cacciatore’s shutout bid with 1:44 remaining for Marblehead.Northeast 10, Tech 0At Connery Rink, the Tigers (0-1) hung in for half the game but ran out of steam in the third period, where Northeast put six goals on the board.Brian Provost had a good game on defense and starting goalie James Wall played well before being relieved.GIRLS HOCKEYEnglish 12, G’ster 3At Gloucester, English (1-1) got a five-goal effort from eighth-grader MacKenzie Clark. The first line of right wing Clark, center Vanessa Caruccio (goal, 5 assists) and left wing Lindsey Parker (goal, 5 assists) combined for 17 points. Eighth-grader Chelsea Bartlett added two goals and two assists; Adriana Russell had two goals and an assist; and sophomore Ashley Petrello had her first goal of the season.Goalie Vanessa Witunsky allowed one goal in two and a half periods; backup Aleasha Despres allowed two goals.St. Mary’s 7, Fontbonne 1At Connery Rink, the Spartans (2-0) got production from all three lines and 18 saves from Kelsey Magrane in the win.Abby Gauthier led the offense with two goals and two assists. Courtney Winters, Michelle Golden and Courtney White all added a goal and an assist with Alex Smith and Christen Hart having two assists each.