UPDATE: Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading girls’ hockey falls in state quarterfinals

SHIRLEY WHITMORE, of North Reading, scored the game-winner in PLNR’s 2-1 Sweet 16 victory over Pope Francis on the road Sunday afternoon. (Eric Evans Photo)

After press time: Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading falls to Notre Dame of Hingham 2-0 (March 6)

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

SPRINGFIELD — On Sunday afternoon, the Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading co-op girls’ hockey team traveled west to Springfield to take on Pope Francis at the Smead Arena in the MIAA Division 1 state tournament Round of 16 game.

It was a fun ride home for the Tanners as they won, 2-1.

North Reading’s Shirley Whitmore was the hero scoring the game-winning goal with 6:10 left in the game. Mia Lava, also of North Reading and Maura Flaws both assisted.

Eleni Spack scored the first goal of the afternoon in the second period with 9:29 remaining. The North Reading duo of Alexa Pepper and Erin Dee assisted.

Kaitlyn Ondrick tied the game in the third on a slap shot on a 5-on-3 power play with 8:40 left in the game.

Late in the third, the Cardinals had two other power play chances but the Tanners were able to kill both of them.

Tanner goalie Alyse Mutti made 19 stops while Cardinal netminder Felix Goeckel made 18 saves as both teams had 20 shots on net.

Mutti, of North Reading, improved to 18-4-2 in goal.

THE TANNERS lock in before their 1-0 victory over Winchester in the first round of the Div. 1 state tournament. Pictured are North Reading’s Alexa Pepper (9) and Alyse Mutti (30). Mutti followed up her shutout with a 2-1 win over Pope Francis on Sunday, a game in which Pepper had an assist to help lead the Tanners to victory. (Eric Evan Photo)

With the victory, the 9th-seeded Tanners improved to 18-4-2 and took on top-seeded Notre Dame of Hingham on March 6 in the D1 quarterfinals (results not available at press time).

The 8th-seeded Cardinals, meanwhile, ended the year at 13-8-2.

In the opening-round game on Feb. 28, the Tanners edged guest Winchester, 1-0, at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody.

Catie Kampersal had the lone goal of the night scoring with 8:38 left in the opening period. North Reading’s Abby McInerney assisted.

Mutti was the star of this game turning back all 31 Red and Black shots as the Tanners had only 17 shots on net. It was her ninth shutout of the year.

Winchester goalie, Molly Hillier, made 16 stops.

The 24^th-seeded Red and Black, who play in the very tough Middlesex League, ended the year at 9-10-2.

The winner of PLNR vs. Norte Dame of Hingham will advance to the Final Four where they will meet the winner of No. 4 Malden Catholic vs. No. 5 Hingham.