Tanners bounced by Masconomet

PEABODY – The Peabody Tanners? season came to an end on Tuesday, as they were defeated, 18-10, by Masconomet at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. The eighth-seeded Tanners earned home field advantage in the North Division 1 first round of the tournament, but were unable to hold down Masco?s explosive offense.
Peabody jumped out to a quick lead, as senior Josh Fiore netted a goal four minutes into the game. But that would be the only time the Tanners led in the contest.
Masco responded in a big way. Before the end of the quarter, Masco had scored four unanswered goals, including one with just seconds left in the quarter from Thomas Jung.
Some momentum shifted Peabody?s way in the second quarter, as Fiore buried one a minute into the quarter and the Tanners staved off Masco?s offense for the better part of the 12 minutes. Fiore scored for the third time, but then Masco came storming back with three quick goals to widen the lead to four. With seven seconds left in the half, Bobby Caprone scored for Peabody and the Tanners went into halftime down just three goals.
Peabody coach Anthony O?Donnell praised Fiore?s performance.
?Even when we were struggling to score early in the game, (Fiore) was scoring. He came to play,” O?Donnell said of the four-year starter. “He?s been our stalwart. He did his best to carry us today.”
That momentum did not stay in the Tanners? favor in the second half. Less than a minute in, Masco got one back and proceeded to score two more unanswered goals. Matt Pino got one back as he snaked around three defenders and buried one in the corner to bring it to 10-5. Masco got two more before Peabody?s Zach Billie scored to end the quarter.
Down six heading into the fourth quarter, Peabody?s defense was overwhelmed as Masco scored two goals within the first minute. Billie scored on a breakaway and Reed Foster quickly netted another goal. But four consecutive Masco goals brought the Chieftains lead to 10. Billie and Fiore eached scored once more to close out the scoring.
The game was far from one-sided. The Peabody offense created plenty of chances and the time of possession was split fairly evenly between the teams. But some penalty trouble left the Tanners shorthanded at times, and offensively they had trouble putting shots away against Masco?s tough defense.
?It?s a game of momentum,” said O?Donnell. “We scored that goal to bring us within three, and then the goalie made a great save. We made a lot of shots and if some of those had gone in or bounced in our direction, it would have been different.”
Peabody struggled to contain Masco?s top scorers, including senior captain Jung.
?We know Jung is an excellent player, and he?s going to score some goals no matter what we did,” O?Donnell said. “Our goal was to limit some of their other players, but we just didn?t do it. It wasn?t our day.”
Despite the early exit from the tournament, the Tanners, who finished the regular season with a 14-8 record, have plenty to be happy about.
?At the beginning of the season, we could barely string two passes together,” O?Donnell said. “To see how far these guys have come…it?s really a testament to their dedication and how hard they?ve practiced. We accomplished a lot.”
Peabody will say goodbye to 18 seniors, a group that includes captains Jason Marshall, Foster and Fiore, as well as starting goalie Matt Cloutman.
?It was a great year,” said O?Donnell. “We have a great group of seniors. I love the sport, but it?s all about being around these guys. It?s my 15th season, and this is one of the groups I?m going to miss the most.”
Although Tuesday?s game didn?t go Peabody?s way, O?Donnell isn?t upset about how his squad played.
?I?m very proud of these boys,” he said. “They never gave up.”
Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @KatieMo61.