Roundup: Pioneer football takes another positive step in rout of Fenwick

Since the first day of practice in August, the goal for Lynnfield High football coach Neal Weidman and his staff has been for an inexperienced Pioneers squad to show measurable improvement from one week to the next.From that perspective, Saturday’s 35-8 non-league win against Bishop Fenwick must be regarded as a major step forward. After hanging tough in an opening week loss to Newburyport and defeating Amesbury last week despite being outplayed, the Pioneers were in control from the outset of this one as they improved to 2-1.Senior running back Mike Thomas scored two TDs, junior quarterback Mike Karavetsos connected with senior Dan Ashwell for a pair of long-range strikes and sophomore back Kyle McGah scored his first of the season to power the Pioneers.Lynnfield grabbed a 13-0 lead after one period on runs of 13 yards by Thomas and five yards by McGah and was never threatened. Karavetsos found Ashwell for a 46-yard strike in the second quarter and Tyler Palumbo’s two-point conversion rush staked the Pioneers to a 21-0 halftime lead.The Pioneers tacked on two more scores in the third period with Thomas rolling in from 13 yards before Ashwell and Karavetsos completed another long-distance connection from 75 yards. Alex Roper converted after both scores, making it 35-0.Fenwick, now 0-3, avoided the shutout on Nick Bona’s 34-yard TD pass to Nick Tambini in the fourth quarter. Bona added the two-point conversion rush for the final.BOYS SOCCERSalem 1, Bp. Fenwick 0The Witches (4-2-0) prevailed when Gabriel Rodriques buried a penalty kick with 12 minutes left in regulation. The PK was awarded after a Fenwick player was called for a hand ball in the area following a Salem corner kick. With his mobility limited by a leg injury, senior captain Jake Theriault moved from the back line into goal and made four saves for the shutout in his first varsity appearance as a keeper.St. John’s Prep 4, Malden Catholic 0SJP blanketed the Lancers as senior captain Ken Fryer and Brian Keough combined for four saves and the Eagles’ fourth shutout of the season. St. John’s (4-0-0, 4-0-1) has allowed but a single goal. Ryan McManus netted his fifth goal of the season and Deklan Robinson converted a penalty kick for his third and a 2-0 lead. Senior Al Talcafsky and junior Tommy Buonopane scored their first career goals three minutes apart in the second half to put it away.Revere 0, Beverly 0Revere coach Nik Tower said neither team was able to get its offense in gear throughout this defensive struggle. Sophomore keeper Tarik Maddrey had eight saves for his first career shutout and captain Steve Reyes anchored a strong defensive effort by the Patriots (1-0-1, 1-2-1).GIRLS SOCCERDanvers 2, Dracut 0The Falcons solved the previously unbeaten and unscored upon Middies at Dr. Deering Stadium Saturday night. Freshman Meaghan McKenna’s first varsity goal in the 19th minute proved to be the game-winner. Kristin Yost’s hustle to win a 50/50 ball resulted in Meghan Kenny’s strike that doubled the Falcons’ lead in the 30th minute. Leah Ciampa made 10 saves for her first varsity shutout. The trio of Alex Strangie, Kylie Plaza and Stephanie Kowalski controlled play in the midfield. Coach Jimmy Hinchion labeled the win “our most complete game of the season.”FIELD HOCKEYCentral Catholic 3, Bp. Fenwick 2The Crusaders (3-2-1) suffered a tough loss at home when Central Catholic converted the game-winner off a penalty corner with two seconds to play. Colleen Sears and Hannah Bethune had the Fenwick goals with Sears and Jen Jordan collecting assists. The Crusaders held 1-0 and 2-1 leads but couldn’t seal the deal.CROSS COUNTRYSt. John’s Prep claimed fourth in the Division 2 race at Saturday’s Ocean State Invitational in Warwick, RI. The Eagles’ top five runners were bunched together just 15 seconds apart. Tim Loehner was 36th in a time of 17:43, followed by Jake Smith (37th, 17:44), Colin Monahan (51st, 17:55), Tim Contois (54th, 17:57) and Tom O’Shea (55th, 17:58).Danvers’ b