Young team will return plenty in 2020
Published March 8, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Lady Raider hockey team saw their successful season come to an end on Wednesday, February 27 at home at the Flynn Rink in Medford in the preliminary round of the MIAA Div. 1 North tournament against a tough Masconomet team, 5-1.
The 2019 Middlesex League Freedom champs finish their season at 14-5-2.
It was a solid first season for coach Frank Sorrenti, who brought Melrose to their second straight title this year. But on Wednesday, Melrose couldn’t get past a fast breakout lead by the Chieftains, who came into the game lower seeded and with a record of 12-7-2. “Unfortunately, you can’t let a good team like Masco take an early lead,” said the coach after the game. “They’re well coached and play a tough schedule. We had our chances to get some dirty goals and we did outshoot them in the last period, but just couldn’t convert.”
THE MELROSE High girl’s hockey team fell in the opening round of the Div. 1 North playoffs against Masconomet, 5-1, on Feb. 28. The league champs finish their season a strong 14-5-2. (Steve Karampalas photo)
The game was essentially decided early when Masco scored three quick goals to give them an early 3-0 lead five minutes into the game. Isabel Hulse found the net first at 10:34, the first of her three goals. Masco’s Mikayla Vincent scored the next goal on the power play and Sierra Harris finished the job in the third.
Melrose senior goalie Courtney O’Connor had a solid 19 saves in her last effort as a Red Raider.
“Defensively, I feel like we let Courtney down,” says Sorrenti. “She’s always been there for us, was capable of making the big plays. We were just a little out of synch.”
Melrose got on board in the second when Mckenzie Cerrato scored the lone Melrose goal of the game.
For Sorrenti, while the outcome was disappointing, the team’s effort this season has been commendable. In fact, Melrose surprised many by boasting such a high record and winning a league title just one season after graduating a formidable senior class.
“It’s been a great year and we’re a young team with a lot of talent coming up. I also expect leadership from Marie (Maher) Emma (Lynch-Galvin) and Sofia (Gukelberger) during their senior years. They will bring a lot to the team.”
As for his outgoing seniors, Mairead Clark, Linnea Kelley, Courtney O’Connor, Maggie O’Donnell and Maggie Doyle, Sorrenti indicated there will be big shoes to fill. “The group went above and beyond their roles as leaders on the team. I can’t say enough about our seniors. Our captains, Mairead and Linnea did more than I could ever ask for. They’ve all been stellar.”
Next year, Melrose will look to shore up defense and replace their goalie O’Connor, who has been in the net her entire varsity stint.
Says the coach, “We have lots to look at, in terms of replacing positions, but we also some 7th and 8th-grade prospects coming through. I think this year the team proved we can surprise anyone. We hope to catch lightning in a bottle twice.”
