LYNN — Not much has gone the Lynn Jets way this season. Lynn hasn’t scored many goals, hasn’t won many games and the Jets have been stymied with key injuries throughout the spring.
Friday afternoon at Manning Field, however, nothing stopped the Jets from playing one of their best games all season. Lynn ran out to a 4-0 lead over Salem in the first quarter and held off a late Witches rally for a 11-7 win — the Jets’ second victory of the season.
“That’s how I hoped we’d play all season,” Jets coach Peter Pappagianopoulos said. “They worked hard the entire game. It’s a great group of kids led by a great group of seniors. We worked. That’s the only way to describe this game. We worked.”
Brian Clougherty and Sam Ennis paced Lynn’s offense with three goals apiece. Quinn Brinkler scored two goals and dished one assist. Mike Clougherty, Shidley Belice and Terrance McGavasy each scored one goal.
“We’ve waited a whole season for a performance like this,” Pappagianopoulos said. “This is how we should be playing every game. I’m proud of every one of the kids. They all worked hard. We had kids playing different positions and it worked. Brian has played short stick for one game and he wound up with a hat trick. It’s been a tough season for Quinn and he had two goals and an assist.
“In the last five games we haven’t scored five goals in a game,” Pappagianopoulos added. “To see a performance like this is great.”
The first quarter was all Lynn from start to finish. Mike Clougherty got Lynn started on the right foot with the game’s first goal two minutes in. The Jets added another goal 90 seconds later and fired two more shots in to grab a firm 4-0 lead after one quarter of play.
A goal from Brian Clougherty 20 seconds into the second quarter bumped Lynn’s lead to 5-0. That served as Salem’s wake up call, as the Witches scored three goals in a row to climb back in at 5-3. Brian Clougherty and Sam Ennis added a goal each for Lynn to put the Jets ahead 7-3 at halftime.
Showing no quit, Salem pumped in two goals in the third quarter. Brinkler put one in for the Jets with 10:45 remaining in the third, Lynn’s lone tally of the period. Lynn remained ahead, 8-5, after three.
Salem whittled Lynn’s lead down to a goal in the fourth quarter, putting the Jets on their heels. Lynn responded with three unanswered tallies to seal the win. Brian Clougherty and Belice scored goals 12 seconds apart, with 7:16 and 7:04 remaining, to take the wind out of Salem’s sails. Lynn capped the scoring in the closing minutes for the 11-7 win.
“I was most impressed by the three goal run to end the game,” Pappagianopoulos said. “It became a game in the fourth quarter. Everything was going against us and they could’ve quit. They buckled down and played even harder to close the game. They played like a team that wanted to win and that’s great to see. It’s nice to see us play a full four quarter game.”
Jets goalie Alan Albornoz made 10 saves.
“Alan battled,” Pappagianopoulos said. “He’s been unbelievable the last couple games. He made some big saves today. I’m happy he had a game like this. He deserved it.
“Shidley dominated the face-offs,” Pappagianopoulos added. “That was the game. I don’t think he lost a draw all day. If you own the ball, you win games. We held onto the ball and looked like a lacrosse team. I’m proud of every one of them.”
Lynn (2-7) visits Medford Monday (4).
