THE PLNR girls’ hockey team goes through the handshake line with Beverly/Danvers after the Tanners’ 5-2 victory at McVann-O’Keefe rink on Sunday. (Peabody Athletics Photo)

 

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

PEABODY — On Sunday evening, the Lynnfield-Peabody-North Reading High co-op girls’ hockey team beat guest Beverly-Danvers, 5-2, at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. This game was originally scheduled for the day before but was postponed due to the blizzard.

The win was the fifth-straight for the Tanners who improved to 9-2-1 overall and 9-0-1 in the Northeast Hockey League. They also completed the season sweep over the Panthers.

PLNR got off to a great start scoring three times in the first period while shutting the Panthers out. Penny Spack scored the first one assisted by Shirley Whitmore and Lynnfield’s Sarah Powers 3:56 in.

Spack then made it 2-0 with 9:19 left with Powers assisting. Power had the third goal, unassisted with 5:59 left.

In the second period, Lynnfield’s Hannah Gromko made it 4-0 just 44 seconds in. Catie Kampersal, of Lynnfield, and Ava Buckley both assisted. Jenna DiNapoli had the fifth tally with 7:51 remaining assisted by Whitmore and Leah Buckley.

Beverly-Danvers (5-4-2) scored twice in the third on goals by Shea Nemeskal (3:30) and Halle Greenleaf on the power play. That goal came with 2:32 left in the game.

The Tanners outshot the Panthers on goal 28-27, as PLNR goalie Audrey Buckley made 25 saves. Buckley improved to 4-1-1 in net.

On Jan. 26, the Tanners won at Gloucester, 4-1, at the Talbot Rink as PLNR completed the season sweep over the Fishermen.

Jenna DiNapoli led the attack with a pair of goals while Hannah Gromko and Shirley Whitmore accounted for the other two goals.

Just 2:03 into the game, Gromko scored assisted by Kampersal. Gloucester tied the game only 35 seconds later.

The Tanners then regained the lead less than a minute later as DiNapoli lit the lamp assisted by Lynnfield’s Lauren Miller and Daniella White.

With 4:28 remaining in the second, Whitmore made it 3-1 with DiNapoli assisting.

In the third period, at the 9:34 mark, DiNapoli got an insurance goal assisted by Whitmore and Mia Lava.

Tanner goalie, Alyse Mutti, improved to 5-1 in net with 14 saves.

“We came out slow and passive that game,” pointed out head coach Michelle Roach. “We were fighting the puck but did just enough on offense to win.”

The Tanners have a huge game coming up on Feb. 2 as they visit Winthrop with first place in the NHL on the line. That game will be at the Larsen Rink and will start at 6:10 p.m. In the first meeting, the teams tied, 2-2, back on Dec. 29.

This Saturday afternoon, the Tanners welcome Shawsheen Tech with face-off for that game starting at 4 p.m. as they try to sweep the season series against the Rams. That will be Senior Day as the seven Tanner 12th-graders will be honored before the game.