THE PLNR seniors were honored before their 6-3 win over Shawsheen-Bedford on Feb. 3 at McVann-O’Keefe Rink. Pictured from left to right is Jewel Mahnfeldt (LHS), Addi Mikulski, Catie Kampersal (LHS, C) and Yasmine Giacalone (C). (Courtesy Photo)
After press time: PLNR defeats Marblehead 5-0 and secures Northeastern League Title (Feb 14)
PLNR defeats Medford 7-0 (Feb 17)
PLNR defeats defeats Bishop Fenwick 5-0 (Feb 19)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — Last Saturday night, the Lynnfield-North Reading-Peabody High girls’ hockey team steamrolled host Newburyport, 10-3, at the Graf Rink.
That win gave the Tanners a season sweep over the Clippers as they improved to 13-2 overall and 13-0 in the Northeastern Hockey League. Newburyport, meanwhile, fell to 3-12 and 3-11 in the NHL.
With the scored knotted a two in the first period, PLNR erupted for five goals in just over five minutes to take command.
Ava Buckley led the offense with a pair of goals and four assists. Mia Lava and Shirley Whitmore both lit the lamp twice as well.
Alexa Pepper, Erin Dee and Lynnfield’s Catie Kampersal all had one goal and one assist. Abby McInerney had the other tally.
PLNR goalie Alyse Mutti improved to 13-2 in net with the win.
It was a playoff tune-up game for the Tanners on Feb. 5 as they took on power St. Mary’s of Lynn in a non-league contest at Connery Rink.
PLNR ended up losing, 3-1, to the Catholic Central League leading Spartans.
After a scoreless first period, the Spartans scored on the power play as Vanessa Hall lit the lamp 3:42 into the second period. Alyssa Norden and Keira Towmey assisted,
Dede McCarron then made it 2-0 with 5:04 left with Hall assisting.
St. Mary’s then made it 3-0 on the power play with 5:35 left in the game as Bella Freitas scored an unassisted goal.
Pepper had the Tanner tally on the power play with 2:34 left to avoid the shutout.
The Spartans out-shot the Tanners, 38-18, as Mutti, made 35 stops.
The two teams could meet up again next month in the Division 1 state tournament as the Spartans are the top-seed in the MIAA power rankings while the Tanners are slotted fifth.
On Feb. 3, the Tanners defeated guest Shawsheen-Bedford, 6-3, at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody on Senior Night.
PLNR completed the season sweep with the win as they improved to 12-0 in the Northeastern Hockey League.
Kampersal led the offense with two goals while Buckley had one goal and two assists.
On Feb. 14, the Tanners host Marblehead at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody at 5:15 p.m. They then go to the LoConti Rink on Feb. 17 to face Medford-Malden.
Face-off for that game is at 3 p.m. PLNR is looking for the season sweep against both schools.
On Feb. 19 at 11 a.m., the Tanners welcome Bishop Fenwick in a non-league tilt.
