Tanners host Winthrop in D1N Prelim Wednesday

Published February 27, 2019

PEABODY — The Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading co-op girls’ hockey team finished up their season with a three-game win streak after winning the Carlin Cup over Bishop Fenwick, 9-1 on Feb. 18, then beating Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover 6-3 on Feb. 20.

The two wins earned the Tanners a share of the Northeastern League title as both they and Masconoment closed the year up with 16 league points. 

PLNR won the Carlin Cup with ease over the Crusaders. 

Fenwick scored the first goal of the game (their lone goal) at 13:45 of the first period, only to be answered by Kat DiGiulio 13 seconds later, tying the game at 1-1. The second period featured goals by Lynnfield’s Jen Flynn and Jess Robert sending the game into the third with PLNR up 3-1.

LYNNFIELD’s Catherine Sweeney (13) and Reilly Ganter (3) defend an oncoming Haverhill/Pentucket/North Andover skater. Sweeney had three assists during PLNR’s 6-3 win. The Tanners will host Winthrop in the Div. 1 Tournament Preliminary Round. (Mark Grant Photo)

The third period was an onslaught. PLNR had goals by Maria Pierce, Lynnfield’s Sadie Gearan , Sammie Mirasolo, Pioneer Jenna Mack (her first career goal) and two more by Jess Robert, earning her the hat trick and game MVP honors.

Against HPNA, the Tanners continued their hot scoring with a 6-3 win as plenty of Pioneers made the score sheet. 

Sammie Mirasolo scored the first three goals of the game, earning her the hat trick.

Jen Flynn netted two goals and Sadie Gearan scored one goal. Catherine Sweeney of LHS had a strong game with three assists. Lynnfield’s Abby Buckley made 15 saves in goal to secure the win. 

The Tanners earned the 11 seed in a loaded Div. 1 bracket. Unlike most sports, the girls’ bracket is not broken into sectional tournaments so that 11 seed means the Tanners were ranked 11 in the entire state. 

PLNR will host No. 22 Winthrop (10-6-2) in the Preliminary Round on Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. at McVann-O’Keefe Rink. Should they advance, the Tanners will get the winner of No. 6 St. Mary’s (16-2-2) vs. No. 27 Mansfield (9-8-3) in the first round. Date, time and location to be announced.