SENIOR CAPTAIN Hannah Gromko and the PLNR girls’ hockey team is on a five-game winning streak and was recently ranked 4th in the MIAA’s first Div. 1 girls’ hockey power rankings. (Eric Evans Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

MEDFORD — Last Saturday afternoon, the Lynnfield-North Reading-Peabody High co-op girls’ hockey team shutout host Medford-Malden, 5-0, LoConte Rink in Medford. It was the team’s fifth shutout of the year.

With that victory, the Tanners improved to 8-2 overall and 7-1 in the Northeastern Hockey League. They are ranked 4th in the Division 1 power rankings heading into this week.

“We are thrilled at where we currently are in the rankings,” stated Tanners head coach Michelle Roach. “This is the highest ranking in our league and comes behind St Mary’s at number one who we lost to by just two goals in early December.”

Penny Spack started the scoring 1:15 into the game off a beautiful feed from Daniella White. Angela Fabbo made it 2-0 just 30 seconds later from Jenna DiNapoli and Spack.

Ava Buckley scored with 12 seconds left in the first period from Lynnfield’s Hannah Gromko to make it 3-0 heading into the second period.

DiNapoli, who was just out of the penalty box, then got a loose puck and ended up scoring with six seconds remaining in the second period for the fourth goal.

The final tally came 2:18 into the third as Fabbo scored on a rebounded shot by White.

Tanner goalie, Alyse Mutti, made seven saves in net to go to 8-2 as she recorded her fifth shutout of the season, which is a team record.

“She has been so strong in net,” said Roach.

Medford-Malden fell to 1-8-1 overall and 1-6 in the NHL with the defeat.

On Jan. 11, the Tanners defeated guest Bishop Fenwick, 5-3, at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in a non-league game.

The Crusaders scored first as Zoe Ewell had an unassisted goal with 7:51 left in the first period. However Spack scored back-to-back goals later on in the first. The first one came on a four-on-four with 4:20 remaining assisted by DiNapoli. The second one came with 52 seconds left assisted by Gromko.

Bishop Fenwick tied it with only three seconds remaining in the second period as Ahi Bruner scored assisted by Abbey Millman.

The Tanners rebounded quite nicely, though, as they scored just 38 seconds into the third. Buckley had the goal to made it 3-2 assisted by Gromko.

Then, on the power play, Gromko made it 4-2 with 10:29 left with Buckley assisting.

The Crusaders cut the lead to one as Katherine Roddy scored with 7:51 remaining assisted by Penny Levine-Stein.

PLNR then closed the door as Spack got her hat trick with an ice-length shot on the empty net with 23 seconds left as Crusader goalie, Ella Tucker, was pulled for the extra attacker a few moments before.

Mutti had 22 saves as the Tanners outshot the Crusaders 32-25.

“The difference in this game was the special teams,” said Roach.

On Jan. 18, the Tanners welcome Medford-Malden at 5:15 p.m. PLNR then hosts Masconomet on Jan. 20 with face-off for that game coming at 5:15 p.m. as well.