Published in the January 27, 2016 edition

ASHLEY BARRETT (with puck) skates with finesse in the team's 5-0 shutout over Shawsheen. Teammate Mae Norton (18) is ready to assist. (Mark Grant Photo)

ASHLEY BARRETT (with puck) skates with finesse in the team’s 5-0 shutout over Shawsheen. Teammate Mae Norton (18) is ready to assist. (Mark Grant Photo)

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

LOWELL — The girls’ hockey team lit up the scoreboard five times in a 5-0 shutout over Shawsheen Tech last Thursday night.

The victory at Janas Arena snapped a four-game dry spell for the Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading co-op team.

Keeper Jillian McCormick was credited with the shut out. She started the game and shared time between the pipes with teammates Lauren Vaccaro and Dana Smullen.

“Kaydee Purcell was a strong presence on the blue line and Kat DiGiulio led the offense,” commented Tanners’ head coach Michelle Roach after the game. DiGiulio scored two of the team’s goals.

JUNIOR defender Nicole Casaletto clears the zone in the Tanners' 5-0 shutout against Shawsheen Tech last Thursday. (Mark Grant Photo)

JUNIOR defender Nicole Casaletto clears the zone in the Tanners’ 5-0 shutout against Shawsheen Tech last Thursday. (Mark Grant Photo)

The first goal was scored unassisted by co-captain Elise Murphy. The Tanners gained a 2-0 advantage after the second goal was scored by Jackie Veglia, assisted by Molly Smedira.

Kat DiGiulio scored the third goal off a pass from Murphy. She followed that goal up with an unassisted goal to give the Tanners a 4-0 lead.

The final tally was scored by Jess Robert, who was assisted by both Caroline Buckley and Cassie Mirasolo.

Roach and her team did not intend to rest on their laurels, however. “We got some lucky bounces tonight. It wasn’t our best effort,” the first-year coach admitted, explaining that the players would be focusing on their next opponent, league foe Marblehead, played Sunday. The effort paid off, as the Tanners played the Magicians to a 2-2 tie. Look for full game details next week.

With their latest win and tie, the Tanners improved their overall record to 4-7-1 while picking up a league tie (1-5-1) in the girls’ Division 1 Northeastern Hockey League for the game against Marblehead. They’ve scored 31 goals to date and have given up 37 overall.

Upcoming games

Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading returns to home ice this weekend. On Friday, Jan. 29, they’ll face Bishop Fenwick at the McVann/O’Keefe Memorial Rink on Lowell Street in Peabody. The puck drops at 5:15 p.m.

They return to McVann/O’Keefe on Saturday, Jan. 30 for a 4 p.m. game against the Masconomet Chieftains.