Lynnfield icemen finally get first win

PEABODY – After scoring just five goals through their first 10 games, the Lynnfield boys hockey team, led by its improving power play, busted out in a big way Saturday afternoon against visiting Saugus.View Photo GalleryThe Pioneers scored five times in the second period, two coming with the man-advantage, en route to a 6-1 victory, its first of the season.”Our power play was a big factor today and it provided us with some confidence,” said Lynnfield coach John Gardner. “These were two teams that struggle to score playing today but we finally managed to create some offense and get a win.”Trailing 1-0 entering the middle frame, the Pioneers (1-7-2) turned up their pressure and grabbed the equalizer at the 10:37 mark.After Saugus goaltender David Aiken’s ill-advised attempt at a clear up the left wall, Mac Post sent the puck back down low to Johnny Percoskie who lifted a shot to the far corner.Just over a minute later, the hosts grabbed the lead when Dan O’Leary’s shot from the left point beat Aiken through the five-hole. Jack Sullivan and Rob LoConte picked up assists on the goal, which led to Aiken’s removal in favor of Anthony Allan.Lynnfield’s special teams took over for the remainder of the period, recording consecutive power play goals before their final tally came in the vulnerable minute of the Sachems fifth infraction of the period.LoConte started the barrage with a bar-down laser from just inside the left circle with 6:56 remaining before O’Leary (2 assists) blasted home a one-timer from Cam Rondeau (two assists) at the 5:55 mark.Rondeau capped off the period with a shot from the point that found its way through Allan’s pads with 43 ticks to go. Dan Sullivan added a helper.Saugus finished the frame without a shot.”There really isn’t much to say,” said Saugus coach Jeff Natalucci. “We had a decent start but the effort the rest of the way says it all.”The Sachems (1-8-0) grabbed an 8-6 advantage in shots and a rare lead after 15 minutes of play.After two penalties in the same sequence gave the visitors a 5-on-3 advantage, Chris Sanderson banged home a rebound created on a strong shot from the point by Jimmy Alcott. John Morey picked up the secondary assist.”To give up a 5-on-3 goal and go into the room down 1-0 was tough,” explained Gardner. “When we came back for the second, we let it all out, and our power play which has slowly been trending towards producing, moved the puck well and did some damage.”Lynnfield net-minder Joe Bassi would prove impenetrable for the rest of the way, finishing with 14 saves, half of them in the final 15 minutes.”He’s been our back-bone all year and after the second we talked about how nice it is to get him a lead,” said Gardner of Bassi. “It was nice to allow him some light-lifting today but he still made some big stops.”Matt Boehner scored the games final goal, finishing off a pretty play that required passes from brothers Jack and Alex Ganter (2 assists).