THE MELROSE High girls’ hockey team is on a 2 game winning streak with victories over Gloucester and Winchester last week. (Dan Murphy photo, Murphy Media Group)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI  

MEDFORD—The Melrose High girls’ hockey team is off to their best start in several years, and winners of three of their last four games, including a thriller against Winchester, their first Middlesex League victory in two years. This represents their best start to the season since at least 2020. 

On Dec. 28, the team won their second game in a row as they edged guest Gloucester, 4-3, at Flynn Rink. With the non-league victory, Melrose improved to 3-2 overall while the Fishermen fell to 4-2.

Melrose jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the second period and then had to hold on for dear life in the third as the visitors rallied. “Our shifts in the first two periods were too long and we lost our legs in the third period,” admitted Melrose head coach Frank Sorrenti. “I also give Gloucester a lot of credit with the push they made.”

Melrose’s Julia McNeely opened the scoring with 6:36 left assisted by Zoe Blackburn. Only 20 seconds later, Anna Mathews made it 2-0 assisted by co-captains McNeely and Ella Daniels. The third goal came with 1:09 remaining in the second period as Daniels scored, assisted by McNeely and fellow junior Nora Murray. McNeely then netted her second goal of the afternoon with .26 seconds left with Murray assisting as that tally turned out to be the game-winner.

Gloucester scored their first goal with 6:15 left and then cut the lead to two with 4:57 left. They then made it a one-goal game with 3:21 remaining. The Lady Fishermen then pulled their goalie with 1:30 left but Melrose was able to hold on.

“I was proud of how we held on in that last minute or so,” said Sorrenti.

Both teams finished with 22 shots on goal as Melrose goalie Ruby Hansen made 19 stops to go to 3-2. This game was also penalty free.

It was a similar story on Dec. 21 as Melrose held off a late rally to defeat host Winchester, 3-2, at the O’Brien Rink in Woburn. “This was a signature win for us,” stated Sorrenti. “This is the first (Middlesex) league we have had in over two years.”

Daniels scored the first goal 4:48 into the game, assisted by McNeely and Murray. In the second, Melrose found the back of the Red and Black’s net twice. Murray had the first one with 5:44 remaining. Line-mates McNeely and Daniels both assisted. Then, with just 12 seconds left, Grace Daniels, Ella’s younger sister, made it 3-0. The assists on that tally went to junior Jessie Zulon and freshman Riley Bolduc. Winchester fought back scoring 11:15 into the third and then again at the 4:44 mark. They then pulled their goalie with 1:20 left in the game but, again, Melrose held on. “That Winchester team is pretty good,” said Sorrenti. The Red and Black out-shot Melrose on net, 17-10, as Hansen had 15 stops.

On Dec. 18, the news was not so good as Melrose was blanked, 4-0, in their home opener to Reading. “They have the best team in the league along with Woburn,” said Sorrenti, about the Rockets, who have been a league power for years. The Rockets scored twice in the first period and twice more in the second with the final goal coming on the power play. Reading out-shot Melrose on net, 22-13, as Hansen made 18 saves.

The next game for Melrose will be back at the O’Brien Rink as they take on host Woburn on Jan. 6 at 5:00 p.m. On Jan. 8, they host Wakefield with that game starting at 6:00 p.m. That will be Melrose Senior Night as right winger Charlotte Demers and center Ella Bonacorsi will be honored before the game.