Pioneers blaze trail to title in Kasabuski D2 action

SAUGUS – Call it two days that served notice that the Lynnfield hockey team just might be a team to be reckoned with when the postseason rolls around in March.The Pioneers claimed the Division 2 title at the Kasabuski Holiday Classic on Wednesday, defeating Wakefield, 4-2, on the strength of two goals from defenseman Jeremy Young and an 18-save performance from sophomore Joe Bassi.”To beat two programs the likes of Danvers and Wakefield here is great,” Lynnfield coach Vin Mirasolo said. “When we get that kind of effort and work ethic, we can play with a lot of teams.”The Pioneers (4-1) outworked and outplayed the Division 1 Warriors for most of the 45 minutes and then showed some resiliency when Wakefield fought back from 2-0 down to tie the game at 2-2 early in the third period.”I’m very happy with where we are right now,” Mirasolo said. “I like the work ethic we have.”Lynnfield took a 1-0 lead late in the first period when Young ripped home a slap shot on a 5-on-3 power play, assisted by John Festa and Dylan Costa.Wakefield came out with a bit of a jump in its step to begin the second but the Pioneers were able to keep the lead thanks to Bassi in net and then would double the margin with just over six minutes left when Costa followed up a shot and slid it past Joe Cerulo.Less than a minute later, Kevin Buckley gave the Warriors a much-needed boost when he beat Bassi clean from the high slot to cut the lead to 2-1 after two periods.Buckley struck again 98 seconds into the third, scoring an unassisted goal, to tie the game. The Pioneers, however, stayed the course and took the lead for good with 7:26 left when defenseman Craig Anderson scored on a rebound.”What separates us, I think, from most teams is our defense,” Mirasolo said. “I think they are the strength of our team.”Just over two minutes after Anderson gave the Pioneers the lead, Young delivered the knockout punch when he scored again on the power play off a nifty feed from Festa.In the consolation game, Danvers rallied from a two-goal deficit for the second time in a week against Saugus as the Falcons scored the game’s final four goals to take a 5-3 win over the Sachems.Saugus (1-3-1) took a 1-0 lead three minutes in when Guy Capillo netted a power play goal, assisted by Saige Tait and Danny Groark. Danvers tied the game two minutes later when J.D. Hodgkins scored on a Joe Strangie rebound.The Sachems took the lead back early in the second when Tyler Stretton scored, assisted by Groark and Steve Kay. The Sachems extended the lead to 3-1 with 2:22 left in the middle period on Nick Taylor’s power play goal.Danvers, however, swung the momentum when Strangie scored with 43 seconds left to cut the lead to a goal. He then tied the game midway through the third period.Rob Buchanan broke the tie with 3:55 left and Strangie completed his hat trick with an empty net goal at 14:13.