Published January 20, 2021
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
PEABODY — Last Saturday afternoon, the Peabody-Lynnfield-North Reading High co-op girls’ hockey team lost 3-1 to guest Winthrop at the McVann-O’Keefe Rink in Peabody. It was the first loss of the season for PLNR as they fell to 2-1 overall.
The Tanners scored first at the 6:25 mark of the first period as PaigeThibedeau scored assisted by Jenna DiNapoli.
However, the Vikings erupted for three goals in the second period. They scored at the 11:54, 8:48 and 8:41 marks.
“That was tough,” acknowledged PLNR sixth-year head coach Michelle Roach, about allowing two goals in a seven-second span. “Two of their goals came on deflections.”
All four goals in the game were even strength.
PLNR goalie Audrey Buckley fell to 2-1 in net with the defeat.
On Jan. 13, also at home, the Tanners rolled over Marblehead 7-1.
“We played really well,” said Roach. “Most of our bench got to see some time and we got several players on the scoreboard.”
The Tanners led 3-1 after the first period. Then, after a scoreless second stanza, they turned the game into a rout finding the back of the Magician net four times in the third period.
Penny Spack led the way with two goals while DiNapoli had a goal and two assists. Caroline Burton, LHS freshman Catie Kampersal, LHS junior Catherine Sweeney and LHS senior Jen Flynn had the four other goals.
Burton’s and Kampersal’s were both on the power play.
The Tanners opened the season on Jan. 9 with a 5-3 home win over Masconomet.
“They have a tough team and that is the first time we have beat them in 17 years so it was meaningful for our program,” stated Roach.
Thibedeau scored the first goal on the power play assisted by DiNapoli with 11:40 remaining in the first. The Chieftains tied it with 7:32 left but a power-play tally by Lynnfield senior Chloe Shapleigh gave the Tanners the lead for good. Flynn and LHS senior Reilly Ganter both assisted.
Just 59 seconds into the second, Thibedeau made it 3-1 assisted by Shapleigh. Shapleigh then made it 4-1 with an unassisted goal with 8:05 left in the second.
Masco scored with 7:09 left in the game but DiNapoli tacked on an insurance goal with 3:41 left.
The Chieftains then got their final goal with 9.5 seconds left.
On Jan. 20, the Tanners visit the Talbot Rink to take on host Gloucester at 8 p.m. They then welcome Medford-Malden this Saturday (Jan. 23) at 4 p.m.