Published in the February 1, 2017 edition
TENACIOUS Sammy Mirasolo (8) takes one of many shots on net against Bishop Fenwick Friday. She lit the lamp in the first period to give the co-op girls’ hockey team a 1-0 lead. Her sister Cassie’s goal put the Tanners up 2-0. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. (Mark Grant Photo)
By DAVID McCOUBREY
PEABODY — The Peabody–Lynnfield–North Reading girls’ co–op hockey team dominated the Bishop Fenwick Crusaders at McVann–O’Keefe Skating Rink, owning the puck for much of the game, leading to plenty of scoring opportunities. But sometimes puck control and good looks at the net don’t lead to goals. Sometimes this doesn’t even lead to victory, as the teams tied 2-2 last Friday night.
Freshman goalie Jeny Collins was a brick wall in the first period with eight stops, making athletic saves all over the net to stifle the Crusaders, who were getting counter attack chances.
“She played a little more aggressive than we’re used to,” said head coach Michelle Roach.
All of the puck control led to a breakaway by freshman forward Sammy Mirasolo at the eight minute mark of the first. Her initial shot was swatted away to the right but she collected the puck and swung around the back of the net, scoring from the opposite side. Mirasolo’s speed and craftiness created many scoring chances all night for the Tanners.
Just two and half minutes later, Sammy’s older sister Cassandra Mirasolo, who had several shots on goal in the game, scored on a smooth wrister to put Peabody up 2-0.
“They were phenomenal tonight,” said Roach. “That line, I really look to them for leadership, and they got us on the board. I thought that line was really clicking tonight.”
ELISE MURPHY (20) pressures Bishop Fenwick’s goalie at the net. It was an exciting game that ended in a 2-2 tie between the Tanners, a co-op girls’ hockey team comprised of Peabody, North Reading and Lynnfield, and the Crusaders. (Mark Grant Photo)
In the second period, as Peabody continued to control the puck and swarm the net, shooting and hitting the post several times, Bishop Fenwick managed to harden its defensive shell, and the Tanners couldn’t punch it in.
Despite looking like they were in the power play most of the game, Peabody couldn’t light the lamp even with an actual power play at 11:49. And after allowing the two early goals, Fenwick’s goalie became an acrobat and Peabody wouldn’t score again.
The final frame, at least for the first eight minutes, seemed to be more of the same, with the Tanners putting heavy pressure on Fenwick’s end. Time and time again the Tanners would swing the puck around the zone, creating good scoring chances, only to be thwarted by Fenwick’s goalie.
Finally Fenwick broke the pressure and mounted a counter attack that led to its first goal at 7:37. Perhaps frustration set in as the tables turned again, with Peabody peppering Fenwick’s net with shots, but was unable to score. Senior forward Caroline Buckley dinged one off the post with a hard slap shot at 6:10.
Down the stretch, it was Fenwick that was putting pressure on Peabody. The final two minutes of the third was a frantic time, with the Tanners staving off shot after shot from a suddenly possessed Crusaders team. And at 11.1 seconds the dam broke and Fenwick scored, tying the game at two apiece.
Despite losing a point in the standings at the final hour, Roach was optimistic.
“I think we played a great game overall. I think we dominated the play for most of the game,” she said.
Defeat Marblehead
The Tanners improved their overall record to 5-6-2 after defeating the Marblehead Magicians 6-2 Sunday night (details available next week). Both teams return to the ice tonight, Feb. 1 at 5:15 p.m. at Peabody’s McVann-O’Keefe Rink for the home half of the two-game series.
On Saturday, the co-op team hosts the Beverly Panthers at 4 p.m.
